ruthful

adj

1. Full of sorrow; sorrowful; woeful; rueful.
2. Causing pity; piteous.

   “An if it please thee! why, assure thee, Lucius, / 'Twill vex thy soul to hear what I shall speak; / For I must talk of murders, rapes, and massacres, / Acts of black night, abominable deeds, / Complots of mischief, treason, villainies, / Ruthful to hear, yet piteously perform'd:”

   “When last this ruthful month was come, / And in Linlithgow’s holy dome / The King, as wont, was praying; [...]”

3. Full of ruth or pity; merciful; compassionate.

   “Then he bestowed robes of honour on the nurses wet and dry and said to them, "Be ye ruthful over them and rear them after the goodliest fashion."”