(494)
And for as mochil as þat pacïence
Line 3452
To mercy as in lyne of blood atteyneth,
Now wole I do my payne and diligence,
To telle how hir benignyte restreyneth
The feruent hetë þat þe hertë pyneth
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Wrechë cruel to take, and scharp vengeaunce,
Of þat þe herte of man felith greuaunce.
Line 3458
[§ 7.] ¶ De Paciencia.
(495)
Gregórie seith, pacïencë verray [This page is illuminated with an initial G, and a scroll work border on three sides.—G. England.] [¶ Gregorius dicit, paci|encia vera est, aliena mala equanimiter pati, & contra eum qui mala irrogat, nullo dolore mori. ¶ Socrates dicit, Nemo bene sapiens est qui paci|enciam non habet; viri enim boni est scire [scire R, fore H.] pati &c.]
Line 3459
Is, of harm doon to man, softë souffraunce,
And naght be wrooth, by no manere of way,
With hym þat hath y-doon a man nusance.
Socrates seith, no mannës gouernance
Line 3463
Is wys, but it be by suffrancë preeued;
A good man souffrith wrong, and is not greued.
(496)
¶ The kynde of pacïence is to sustene [folio 60b]
Line 3466
Myghtily wrongës, and hem neuere wreke,
But hem for-yeue, and wratthe & irous tene
Out of þe hertë for to spere and steke.
Hir kynde is noght to lete a word out breke,
Line 3470
That harmful is; for hertë voyde of ire
Hath naght wherwith to sette a tonge afire.
Line 3472
(497)
¶ O pacïent, o humble kyng benyngne!
Line 3473
O kyng Dauid! þi pacïent meeknesse
Naght meeued was ageyn Semey maligne,
Whos hy malice and crabbid wikkidnesse
Yaf greet enchesoun to thy worthynesse
Line 3477
To vengë the; but þi benyngnite
ffor-bad þyn hand to kythë cruelte.
Line 3479
