And softe unto hymself he seyde, "Fy
Upon a lord that wol have no mercy,
But been a leon, bothe in word and dede,
To hem that been in repentaunce and drede,
As wel as to a proud despitous man
That wol mayntene that he first bigan.
That lord hath litel of discrecioun,
That in swich cas kan no divisioun
But weyeth pride and humblesse after oon."
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Knight’s Tale. Theseus criticizes leaders who shows no mercy towards the law-breaker who is in repentence and fear but treats him the same as the proud and spiteful law-breaker. Such a lord considers pride and humility equal and has little sound judgment. He is explaining why he is extending mercy to Arcite and Palamon.