To see what pitè, forth with mercy, doth,

The cronique is at Rome, in thilke empyre

Of Constantyn, which is a tale soth,

340

Whan him was lever his owne deth desyre

Than do the yonge children to martyre.

Of crueltee he lefte the quarele;

Pitè he wroughte, and pitè was his hele.

For thilke mannes pitè which he dede

345