(482)
¶ He moost is like to god, as seith Bernard, [¶ Ait beatus Bernardus, 'Ille maxime deum imitat, qui nichil iudicauerit preciosius quam mise|reri.']
Line 3368
Þat holdeth no þing morë precious
Than to be merciful; it is ful hard
To lakkë mercy and ben vnpitous.
"Mercy wole I," seith oure lord glorious; [¶ Matthaei. ij. clamauit deus, miseri|cordiam volo; qui quod vult deus, deo negat, a deo sibi quod desiderat, vult negari.]
Line 3372
He þat denyeth god, þát he wolde haue,
God nayte [nay R.] hym schal, þat he wil axe or craue.
(483)
¶ Senek seith how þe kyng and þe ledere [[R, om. H] Seneca dicit, quod rex apium om|nino sine aculeo est; voluit enim natura nec seuum esse, nec ulcionum expetere.]
Line 3375
Of bees is prikkëles; he haþ right non
Wherwith to styngen, or annoye, or dere;
But othir bees, prikkës [prikles R.] han euerichon;
Natúrë woldë sche schulde it [hir R.] for-goon,
Line 3379
And do no cruelte vnto þe swarm,
But mekely hem gouerne, & do non harm.
Line 3381
(484)
¶ Of þis, ensample schuldë kyngës take,
Line 3382
And princes, þat han peple for to gye;
ffor to hem longith it, for goddës sake,
To wayuë cruelte and tyrannye, [folio 59a]
And to pitee, hir hertës bowe & wrye,
Line 3386
And reule hir peple esily and faire:
It is kyngly, be meeke and debonaire.
Line 3388
(485)
¶ I rede of á kyng, þat Pirus was named, [¶ De miti animo [De misericordia R.] Regis Piri.]
Line 3389
Whan hym was tolde, how þat men of Tarente
Hadde, at a festë, his estat diffamed,
He for þe samë folkës blyuë sente;
And whan þey cam, axid to what entente
Line 3393
They of hym spak so, and so foulë ferde;
And oon of hem, as ye schulle here, answerde: [answerde R, answere H.]
