The lenity with which the Lacedæmonians treated the Messenians at first, was of no long duration.
Juba, by the lenity of his government, gained the hearts of all his subjects; who, out of a grateful sense of the felicity they had enjoyed during his reign, ranked him in the number of their gods.
In fact, the conduct of the authorities, from the day of the surrender at Preston till the termination of the whole tragedy, is perfectly unaccountable; so capricious and strange were the alternations of lenity and severity.
The French had also shown as little lenity in their treatment of Italy.
Besides," said he, "I think I can justify myself to my prudent advisers by pleading the good effect such lenity will produce on the minds of the great English families with whom Colonel Talbot is connected.
You are therefore once more a free man, and I have promised for you that you will be a good boy in future, and remember what you owe to the lenity of government.
His father's fate could not intimidate him; the lenity of the laws which had restored to him his father's property and rights could not melt him.
Newton's theistic theory of matter is as absurd a one as any man of science ever framed; but he has earned by it the tenderness of later theists, while his fame secures the lenity of later physicists.
The deliberate setting aside of the statutes as obsolete, too, while a civil action was admitted to lie, was an act of lenity to Mr Newdegate, contrasting favourably with the attitude of other judges towards Bradlaugh.
I confess the justice of your honours' displeasure and humbly beg to add my thanks for the candour and lenity with which you at that unfortunate time indulged me.
Which sinful lenity encouraged him, not only to persist in the same errors, but also to the venting of Arian heresies among his students.
Another evidence of this church's unsoundness and unfaithfulness in doctrine, is their excessive, sinful lenity toward the most gross heretics.
Henry has been called a backslider because of the lenity of his counsels, but I cannot but think it is the Spirit of Christ that influences him.
For this reason he has always advocated lenityof measures towards them.
In the days of King Charles the Second how did the Church reward their bloody doings withlenity and mercy, except the barbarous regicides of the pretended court of justice?
On this Priestley says, "Certainly the obvious construction of this passage is, that Mr. Hume ought not to be treated with the indulgence and lenity due to a good citizen, but ought to be punished as a bad one.
Let me be treated with the lenity due to a good citizen no longer than I act as becomes one.
He extended his lenity also to the remaining chieftains of the conspiracy; promising great favors and rewards, if they should continue firm in their loyalty; but terrible punishments should they again be found in rebellion.
I therefore flatter myself that the congress will receive with indulgence and lenity the opinion I shall offer.
It is the same with debts; for, however much we may beg for lenity at the time, accumulations of interest wear a very hostile aspect when they present themselves in a sum-total, at a moment it is inconvenient to balance the account.
Besides," said he, "I think I can justify myself to my prudent advisers, by pleading the good effect such lenity will produce on the minds of the great English families with whom Colonel Talbot is connected.
You are therefore once more a free man, and I have promised for you that you will be a good boy in future, and remember what you owe to the lenity of Government.
Though it must be confessed, it is a nice point and extremely difficult, so to temper this lenityas to preserve the authority of the government.
And you must acknowledge," the prior resumed, "that great forbearance and lenity have been shown towards you.
My lord and your reverence, be pleased to allow me a few minutes, in which I may set plainly before the prisoner both the wonted mercy and lenity of the Holy Office to the repentant, and the fatal consequences of obstinacy.
This lenity has even been carried, by this princess, to a degree unexampled, in the history of any nation.
This instance shews, that the lenity which is now practised in Russia, is much preferable to the former severities; and is better calculated to retain those in their duty, who by a good education, have a proper sense of honour.
If Catherine had poisoned her son-in-law and her husband she would have committed crimes; whereas, so far from being suspected of cruelty, she had a remarkable character for lenity and sweetness of temper.
Suffice it to say, I have a very bad opinion of them: and were I disposed to dilate on the subject, I should feel no inclination to treat them with the lenityshewn to them by other travellers.
And here I must observe, that the Americans can no longer anticipate lenity from the English traveller, as latterly they have so deeply committed themselves.
Totally devoid of resentment, as well from natural lenity as carelessness of his temper, Charles the Second ensured pardon to the most guilty of his enemies, and left hopes of favour to his most violent opponents.
But Lord Mansfield said, "What passed in Boston is the last overt act of high treason, proceeding from our ownlenity and want of foresight.
Or was taking away the Charter and all the rights of the people without trial or forfeiture the measure of lenity from which such applause was now sought?
The extreme suffering of the prisoners, during this march, inspired the savages with pity, and induced them to exercise an unusual lenity towards their captives.
The duty which more especially concerns criminal justice, is equity; namely, a moderate justice, intermediary between a dangerous lenity and an excessive severity.
Yet to make a careful and successful choice is of no use, if one is ignorant of the art of directing and governing, which consists in a just medium between too much lenity and too much severity.
Robertson has been the subject of much blame for his real or supposed lenity towards the Spanish murderers and tyrants in America.
Footnote 67: Tertullian, in his epistle to the governor of Africa, mentions several remarkable instances of lenity and forbearance, which had happened within his knowledge.
