Moral essays. With an English translation by J.W. Basore

ON MERCY, II. VII. 4-5is about words, but concerning the fact there isagreement. The wise man will remit many punishments,he will save many whose character thoughunsound can yet be freed from unsoundness. He>vill be like the good husbandman who tends, notmerely the trees that are straight and tall, but alsoapphes props to those that for some reason havegrown crooked in order that they may be straightened;others he will trim, in order that their branchingmay not hamper their height ; some that are weakbecause set in poor soil he will fertilize ; to somesuffering from the shade of the others he will openup the sky. So the ^vise man will see what methodof treatment a given character should have, howthe crooked may be made straight.".