Forgiveness Instead of Retailiation

I Kings 1:49-53

49  And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way. 
50  And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. 
51  And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to day that he will not slay his servant with the sword. 
52  And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die. 
53  So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.