(486)
¶ "My lord, if þat þe wyne noght faillëd hadde,
Line 3396
Al þat we spak, nerë but game and play,
Hauynge rewardë [rewarde R, reward H.] to þe wordës badde
That we thoghte haue I-spoken in good fay."
The kyng took a laghtre, and wente his way,
Line 3400
And of al þat, he heeld hem [hem R, hym H.] ful excused:
He seide it wás wyne, þat so hem accused.
Line 3402
(487)
¶ Wengeance, in þis good lord, haddë no stide;
Line 3403
Mercy and humble disposicïoun
Dispensid [Dispendede he R.] with tho men, and grace hem dide,
And thriste vndír foote cruelte adoun.
O myghty princë! this condicïoun
Line 3407
To your highnessë is ful ácordant,
And vnto god al-myghty ryght plesant.
Line 3409
(488)
¶ Power withouten mercy, a kyng tourneth [¶ Potestas sine miseri|cordia vertit Regem in tirannum: ita scriptum est.]
Line 3410
Into a tyraunt, war þat feendly spek!
ffor in what man þat cruelte soiourneth,
Vnto his soule it is an odious spek. [folio 59b]
Tho men of god han nouthir look ne bek,
Line 3414
But if þat it be bekkës of manace,
Where as his [his R, is H.] mercy folweþ mochë grace.
Line 3416
(489)
¶ Salomon in his prouerbis expressith, [¶ Prouerbi|arum capitu|lo xxo. Misericordia & veritas Regem cus|todiunt; & roboratur clemencia thronus eius.]
Line 3417
'Mercy and trouthë, [trouthe R, trouche H.] wardeynes ben of kyngës;
And with iustice also,' as he witnéssith,
'His trone is strengþed:' what man þat a kyng is,
But if þat he, amongis oþir thyngës,
Line 3421
Endowëd he wiþ allë þisë thre,
Men seyn he halteth in his hyge [hye R.] degre.
Line 3423
