Clem. 1.2.1Esse autem aliquōs sciō, quī clēmentiā pessimum quemque putent sustinērī, quoniam nisi post crīmen supervacua est et sōla haec virtūs inter innocentēs cessat.I know, however, that there are some who think that clemency props up all the worst men, since it is superfluous except after a crime, and this alone of the virtues lies idle among the innocent. Clem. 1.2.1Sed prīmum omnium, sīcut medicīnae apud aegrōs ūsus, etiam apud sānōs honor est, ita clēmentiam, quamvīs poenā dignī invocent, etiam innocentēs colunt.But first of all, just as medicine is used by the sick but honoured by the healthy too, so clemency, though it is those deserving punishment who invoke it, is revered by the innocent as well. Clem. 1.2.1Deinde habet haec in persōnā quoque innocentium locum, quia interim fortūna prō culpā est ;Secondly, it has a place in the case of the innocent too, because at times misfortune stands in place of guilt; Clem. 1.2.1nec innocentiae tantum clēmentia succurrit, sed saepe virtūtī, quoniam quidem condiciōne temporum incidunt quaedam, quae possint laudāta pūnīrī.and clemency comes to the aid not only of innocence but often of virtue, since through the circumstances of the times certain things happen which may be punished though they are praised.
Clem. 1.2.1Adice, quod magna pars hominum est, quae revertī ad innocentiam possit, sī 〈poenae remissiō fuerit〉.Add that there is a large part of mankind which could return to innocence if punishment were remitted. Clem. 1.2.1Nōn tamen vulgō ignōscere decet;Yet it is not fitting to pardon indiscriminately; Clem. 1.2.2nam ubi discrīmen inter malōs bonōsque sublātum est, cōnfūsiō sequitur et vitiōrum ēruptiō ;for where the distinction between bad and good has been removed, confusion follows and an outbreak of vices; Clem. 1.2.2itaque adhibenda- moderātiō est quae, sānābilia ingenia distinguere ā dēplōrātīs sciat sciat.and so moderation must be applied, such as knows how to distinguish curable characters from those past hope. Clem. 1.2.2Nec prōmiscuam habēre ac vulgārem clēmentiam oportet nec abscīsam;We ought to have a clemency neither indiscriminate and common nor cut off; Clem. 1.2.2nam tam omnibus ignōscere crūdēlitās quam nūllī.for to pardon all is as much cruelty as to pardon none. Clem. 1.2.2Modum tenēre dēbēmus;We must keep to the mean; Clem. 1.2.2sed quia difficile est temperāmentum, quidquid aequō plūs futūrum est, in partem hūmāniōrem praeponderet.but since the balance is difficult, whatever is to be more than fair should tip the scale towards the kinder side.