Wher pite dwelleth, in the same place
Ther mai no dedly cruelte sojorne,
Wherof that merci schulde his weie torne.[1971]
To se what pite forth with mercy doth,
The croniqe is at Rome in thilke empire
Of Constantin, which is a tale soth;
Whan him was levere his oghne deth desire 340
Than do the yonge children to martire,
Of crualte he lafte the querele,
Pite he wroghte and pite was his hele.