Some Clarkes doe doubt in their deuicefull art, i Whether this heauenly thing, whereof I treat, To weeten _Mercie_,[345] be of Iustice part, Or drawne forth from her by diuine extreate. This well I wote, that sure she is as great, And meriteth to haue as high a place, Sith in th’Almighties euerlasting seat She first was bred, and borne of heauenly race; From thence pour’d down on men, by influence of grace. For if that Vertue be of so great might, ii Which from iust verdict will for nothing start, But to preserue inuiolated right, Oft spilles the principall, to saue the part; So much more then is that of powre and art, That seekes to saue the subiect of her skill, Yet neuer doth from doome of right depart: As it is greater prayse to saue, then spill, And better to reforme, then to cut off the ill. Who then can thee, _Mercilla_ throughly prayse, iii That herein doest all earthly Princes pas? What heauenly Muse shall thy great honour rayse Vp to the skies, whence first deriu’d it was, And now on earth it selfe enlarged has, From th’vtmost brinke of the _Armericke_[346] shore, Vnto the margent of the _Molucas_? Those Nations farre thy iustice doe adore: But thine owne people do thy mercy prayse much more. Much more it praysed was of those two knights; iv The noble Prince, and righteous _Artegall_, When they had seene and heard her doome a rights Against _Duessa_, damned by them all; But by her tempred without griefe or gall, Till strong constraint did her thereto enforce. And yet euen then ruing her wilfull fall, With more then needfull naturall remorse, And yeelding the last honour to her wretched corse. During all which, those knights continu’d there, v Both doing and receiuing curtesies, Of that great Ladie, who with goodly chere Them entertayn’d, fit for their dignities, Approuing dayly to their noble eyes Royall examples of her mercies rare, And worthie paterns of her clemencies; Which till this day mongst many liuing are, Who them to their posterities doe still declare. Amongst the rest, which in that space befell, vi There came two Springals of full tender yeares, Farre thence from forrein land, where they did dwell, To seeke for succour of her and of her Peares[347], With humble prayers and intreatfull teares; Sent by their mother, who a widow was, Wrapt in great dolours and in deadly feares, By a strong Tyrant, who inuaded has Her land, and slaine her children ruefully alas.