[§ 6.] ¶ De Misericordia. [¶ Angustinus dicit, quod misericordia est aliene mi|serie ex corde vera com|passio, & hec vertus con|sistit in duo|bus, scilicet, dando & dimittendo.]
(474)
Mercy, aftir þe worde of seynt Austyn, [This page has an illuminated border and initial.]
Line 3312
Of herte is a verray compassïoun
Of othir menys harm, and þat comth yn
By gyfte of god, and by remissïoun;
As, if [if R, of H.] iniúrie or oppressioun
Line 3316
Be doon to vs, þat gilt for-yeue vs oghte,
ffor loue of crist, þat, by deth, our lif boghte.
Line 3318
(475) [¶ Matthaei vijo. Qui enim dimittit iniuriam, & si peccauerit ipse, dimit|tetur ei. ¶ Vnde domi|nus in euan|gelio: Date & dabitur vo|bis; dimitte & dimitetur vobis; sed qui dimittit & non dat, & si plene non operatus est, eam meliorem tamen par|tem tenet misericordie. ¶ Ambrosius. Quis fidelis sit, sobrius & castus & aliis vertuti|bus oneratus, si tamen mis|ericors non est miseri|cordiam non meritur. Di|cit enim Apos|tolus lacobus ijo. Iudicium sine miseri|cordia illi qui non facit misericor|diam.]
Who-so, wronge to hym doön, wole for-yeue,
Line 3319
His synnë schal to hym for-yeuen be;
Thogh þat he no þing of his goodës yeue,
The better part yit of mercy halt he;
Thus fynde I writen of auctorite:
Line 3323
but fully may þere no man do mercy,
But if þat he releuë þe nedy. [R. has the lines of this stanza wrong: 3319, 3324-5, 3320-1.]
Line 3325
(476)
Thogh þat a man be sobre, chaast, & trewe,
Line 3326
And be wiþ many an hy vertu endowëd,
And yeue, and naght for-yeue, it schal hym rewe:
Where as oure werkes mostë ben avowëd, [folio 58a]
The vnmerciáble schal be disallowëd:
Line 3330
Who naght forȝeueth, mercy dooth he non;
And mercyles man, mercy schal for-gon.
Line 3332
(477)
¶ Mercy, crist causëd to ben incarnate,
Line 3333
And humbled hym to take oure breþerhede.
God in-mortel, rewynge oure seek estate,
Mortel be-cam, to purge oure synful dede;
Hym lothid naght his precious body sprede
Line 3337
Vpon þe croys, this lord benyngne and good;
He wroot oure chartre of mercy with his blood.
