Englands Parnassus: or the choysest flowers of our moderne poets, with their poeticall comparisons Descriptions of bewties, personages, castles, pallaces, mountaines, groues, seas, springs, riuers, &c. Whereunto are annexed other various discourses, both pleasaunt and profitable.

Mercie.

Some Clarkes do doubt in their deuisefull art, Whether this heauenly thing whereof I treat, To weeten Mercie be of Iustice part, Or drawne forth from her by diuine extreat. This well I wot, that sure she as great, And meriteth to haue so hie a place: She first was bred and borne of heauenly race, From thence powr'd downe of men by influence of grace. Ed. Spencer.

O who shall shew the countenance and gestures Of Mercie and iustice; which faire sacred sisters, With equall poize do euer ballance euen,

Th'vnchaunging proiects of the King of heauen. Th'one sterne of looke, th'other mild aspecting, The'one pleasd with teares, th'other bloud affecting: Th'one beares the sword of vengeance vnrelenting, Th'other brings pardon for the true repenting. I. Syluicter.

— Still as rage kindleth the fire of wrath, Mercie to quench it, store of water hath. S. I. Harrington.

— This noble vertue and diuine, Doth chiefly make a man so rare and od, As in that one, he most resembleth God. Idem.

Then come we nearest to the Gods on hie, When we are farthest from extremitie, Giuing forth sentence of our Lawes with Mercie. Tho. Achely.

Mercie may mend whom malice made offend, Death giues no thankes, but checks authoritie, So Rulers mildnesse, subiects loue do nourish. S. Daniell.

Soft pittie enters at an Iron gate. ƲƲ. Sh.

Mercie but murders, pardoning those that kill. Idem.

Pittie drawes loue bloud-shed, as natures griefe, Compassion, followeth the vnfortunate. S. D.

ƲƲhen pittie runneth afore, loue alwaies followeth after, A. Fraunce.

As it is greater praise to saue then spill, So better to reforme, then to cut off the ill. Ed. Spencer.

How deare is mercie hauing power and will, When pittie helpes where equitie doth kill? M. Drayton.