then assigne for them that are vnthankfull Assuredly I would assigne but one kinde of punishment to be dew to them all in generall And for that all kinde of benefits are not of lyke quantitie nor valew but some gretter som lesser I wold the sayde penaltye should be also diminished or increased accordyng to the quaÌ„titie and qualitie of the benefit so receiued and not requited Well theÌ„ admitte that there are some kind of benefites of whyche we ought to make as good accompt as of our lyfe And some againe whiche we haue cause to weigh déerer of then of our life If he that hath receiued these shew himself vnthankfull for the same what paine shal we iudge him worthy of Ought it to be any lesse then the benefit was whiche he receiued It were against conscience it should Shal it be then equall with it and lyke Alas what thing were there more miserable and crewel then that the end of benefits whiche in eche thing ought to be y e best shoulde be requited and payed with the death and bloud shedyng of those whom they should benefit Chap. 11. BUt some will say that Parentes yet ought to haue certeine priuiledges aboue others for suche benefites as they shall doo to their ChildreÌ„ I say nay For in receiuing benefites done by them to vs we obserue neyther order nor degrée more then wée doo in benefites receyued at anye other bodies hande Howbeit we ought to obserue and kéepe the reuerent respect oâ— dewtie that is and ought â—o be betwene the parentes and their children sacred and vnstayned for this that it is expedient they shoulde beget children And to them in bestowynge of benefites a manne can not well saye as he woulde doo to an other persone Consider and marke well with thyself on whome thou bestowest thy benefites any more henceforth If thou haue shewed pleasour and hast not found the lyke aunswered blame no manne but thye selfe who shouldest haue bene well aduised to haue pleasoured sâ—che onelye as thou knewest woorâ—hy of the same But though the hauynge or not hauyng of Children resteth not at the pleasour and discreciâ—n of the parentes but in the handes and pleasour of God yet is it méete when they haue them that they shoulde haue power and authorytie ouer them whyche maye some what recomfort them agayne in the pacient abydynge and willinglye suffryng suche chaunces and casualties as are incident to them that aduenture themselues to attempt that kynde of fortune Againe greate oddes is there betwene the parentes and others in bestowynge of benefites For Parentes though they haue ones or oftener benefitted their Children and haue hadde cause to think the same euill bestowed yet maye not they cesse from benefiting them still for all that Moreouer the benefites of all Fathers are lyke for what is required of anye one in that respect that same is required of euerye one that beareth the denominacion of a Father and not of one or other more or lesse But thée Nature of benefites whyche whiche are done frome one to an other where there is no respect of causes why is far other And as those benefites are different among themselues so can they not be coÌ„prehended vnder any one Rule Chap. 12. DIuers thynges there are that are very costly chargeable to the geuers and other some thynges there are that are as thankfullie accepted and yet not so painfull for charges to be geuen Some thinges we geue to our Frindes and familiar acquainted and some againe to straungers and persons not knowen Though the giftes which thou geuest to seueral persons be to eche of them acceptable yet is that most commendable that thou geuest to him whom thou knewest not before but beginst by that to knowe in respect of that thou gauest to hym whome thou knewest before Some are able to grauÌ„t ayd in troubles Others to confort with counsel in heauines And others some to geue promocions and sondry prefermentes whereby the hauers countenaunce is muche amended and his astate bettered and as al these diuers sortes of benefits differ one from an other so shall you see diuers men diuersely desier thesame Some one you shal finde that shal thinke nothynge so excellent as to haue one that in the depest extremitie of hys miserye and when he is allmost desperate with sorow can yet wisely recoÌ„fort him with good councell Some other is there that hath more regard far to worship and preferment attayning then to liuing in safetie Again some other therâ— is that doth accompt himself more beholding to him that saueth him from perils and daungers then to him that carefully prouideth for his honestie So that wee se any of these thinges is so much more or lesse estéemed of as the partye who is to geue his sentence vpon the same doth more or lesse frame hys fansye to lyke thereof In money matters I chose my Creditour whome I lyst my selfe But benefits sometime I haue at his handes that willinglye I would not and otherwhiles I am vnwittingly bounden And what will you doo in this case will you call him vnthankfull that dothe not requite the benefit whych he receyued eyther vnwittingly or against his will Chap. 13. ONe that hath done me a plesour heretofore w c in a while after woorketh me a greate displesour Tell me nowe Should I thynke myself bounde to endewer asmany wronges and iniuries as he would lay vpoÌ„ me for that he plesoured me one time or ells shall I sette the wrong he dyd me against the plesour I founde before at his handes and as the prouerbe is the hares hed againste the goose ieblets If you were to be iudge in this case whether â—yde woulde you thinke the heuyer The benefit to charge the receiuer or ells the iniurye to be a barre to the geuer Time shoulde faile me if I woulde attempt to recyte all the matters of diffycultye that myght aryse in these cases by whyche the Iudge if it were so that thys matter shold come to pleadynge woulde by so troubled that hée coulde hardely saye what sentence to geue But you will saye that hereof it groweth that menne are so vnwillynge to shewe pleasours as they are partelye for that wée are soo slacke in requitynge the same partelye for that they that are so slacke are still permitted to escape vnpunished Not so neither There are few or none that enforce beneâ—ites vppon anye man whether he will or not and againe who that doth benefitte any man beyng moued so to doo for the goodnes and honesty of the cause that geueth him encouragement therto he doth that he doth gladlye and forthwith dischargeth him whoÌ„ he hath benefited from somuch as thinking that he should be endetted therefore he doth the same so franckly Except it be so that the party benefited of hys owne voluntarye will will willingly acknowledge himself his detour and séeke to requyte it For if he should looke fâ—r recompense or demaunde it all the whole glorie and
good opinioÌ„ of him that with hys good wil we shall at his handes receiue asmuch commodity again if we néede as we presently doo vnto him Whych hope conceiued though we hap to faile to find it satisfied yet is it a most dishonest and vyle part to make complaint therof For why in him that is to discharge suche credit conceyued it is not welthe ne substaunce that are to be required but onely a mindful and thankfull hart For he hath sufficiently requited the benefitte which he hath receiued at an others handes who willingly doth acknowledge himself his debtour But lyke as ther resteth a fault in those whyche shew themselues to be both in word and déed vnthankfull forgetting vtterly and refusyng to requite the plesures that haue bene shewed theÌ„ so riseth there oftentymes on our parts no small cause of this their Ingratitude For as wée finde diuers that are of their owne natures vnthankfull so doo wee our selues make many Ingrat whyche otherwise parhaps would not haue bene so For sometime we cast in their tethe and vpbraid vnto them what wee haue done for them and otherwhile we exact importunatly at theyr handes recompense for suche benefites as wee before haue done vnto theÌ„ Otherwhiles again we shew our selues to be so inconstant of minde that forthwith it repenteth vs of the plesure that we erst dyd And thus complaininge our case and chaungyng our mindes in the torning of a hand we doo not onely disgrace the pleasour wee before shewed and loose the thankes which otherwyse should haue bene dew for the same but also we agreue gretly the party to whom we dyd the same For who is he almost that will shew himself easy to be entreated or that woulde doo any plesour to speake of with only ones beyng desired Who is â—e that vnderstandyng that his Frind being in néede wold request any thing of him but either he bended the browes at it or turned his face asyde or feigned to haue a thousande lettes and a thousande businesses otherwayes Or who is he that by longe proces and manifest feigned excuse hath not sought busyly to shift of the occasion of dealynge for hys frinde whereby he thought he should be troubled or hathe not deuised a nomber of delayes to dispatche himself of suche matters as haue bene vrged vpon hym To be short who is he that beyng very ernestly requested by his frinde to doo him a plesure hath not long tracted the time before he wold assume it on him or ells plainlye made deâ—yall to doo it Or if haples hys promys scaped him with muche a doo and after longe entreatye weryed hath not yet done thesame with such doutes casting and ceremonyes vsing that far better it wer to be quyte deuoid of his suche pleasour then with such a doo to haue it Nowe is there any man iudge you that hath cause to thincke himself beholdyng to such one at whose handes with hart-grutching he hath bene plesured or that hath benefited him to this end only that he may brag therof or for that he woulde be ridd from being any longar disturbed with suche importunat suet If there be any that thinketh he shoulde account himself his dettour whom he hath deluded with delayes annoyed with attendance and weryed with scornefull talke before he would plesour hym he is much deceiued For plesures ought to be requited with lyke minde and will as they are doneâ— and for this cause is it requisite that they be not done negligently For eche one ought to rendre both that whyche he receiued and in suche order as he receiued it Whereupon who that hath shewed plesour after long entreaty or by constraint as it were is worthy after the same sort to be rewarded Wherfore the benefitte or plesour that is done shold not be done slowly or with ouer great deliberacion For as of eche thing that is done the mind of him that doth it declareth the order how it is done so the benefitt that is done slowly and with muche requesting argueth that he who dyd it in suche sort refused long to doo the same Neyther ought plesures to be done iniuriousely and with reproche For as by naturall reason those thinges persist longest and are of longest continuauÌ„ce which ar engrauen déeper in respect of them which haue but a very light imprint so likewise iniuries who naturally haue a déepar séet then benefits parsist also longar and rifar in mynde What reward or guerdon may he iustly claym that wold séeme to plesour a man and yet in verie déed worketh him greuaunce and displesour He doeth sufficiently acknowledge the plesour and good that hath bene shewed him who confesseth the same And albeit that the nomber of vnthankful people be in dede very great yeâ— ought we not this not withstanding to become any whit the slower or lesse willing to doo good For first as I haue saide we augment and encrease thereby the nomber of theÌ„ Moreouer wâ— leaue therby to shew our selues to be folowers of the liuing God who wil not chaÌ„ge we sée his largesse liberality for the hainouse offences sacrileges of such as contemne and despise him but eâ—tendeth his goodnes stil indiffereÌ„tly to those that are suche offendours aswel as to theÌ„ that offended not For as his nature is to doo good to all men I should say to all thinges so with them y â— be good socoureth he also theÌ„ which shew themselues far vnworthy therof Let vs therfore followe him as our guide so farre as our fraile and weke nature will parmit Let vs doo good succour others that without desiring vsury therfore He is wourthy to faile of his purpose who doth a benefit for this cause onely y t he may repe the like again But som one perhaps wil say that I am much deceiued herein To whom I aunswere thus That albeit y t our wyues childreÌ„ do often hap to frustrat deceiâ—e thexpectacioÌ„ which we coÌ„ceiued of theÌ„ yet notw tstanding we may not cesse to foster bring vp our childreÌ„ nor seke therfore to be diuorced from our wiues Againe if it be so y â— we arme our selues to endure the thorough tryall of worldly affaires that for no maner losse in battail or wreck on sea we faint to attempt thesame again of more stroÌ„g reason theÌ„ is it fitting fit for vs to persist coÌ„tinew on in our weldoings FroÌ„ whiche if a man cesse ones for y â— he was not rewarded for y e lyke he hath done toforetime it is to be presupposed y â— that which he then did he did it to no other end but for that he hoped by doing therof to reap the lyke again Whereby right well he excuseth thunthaÌ„kfull man who for this cause only is accused that he doth not requite the plesour that others haue shewed him Sée we not how many there are in the world vnworthy to behold the brightnes of the SoÌ„ne and
yet he casteth his beames aswell vppon them as vpon the good menne How many are there I praye you that exclaim againste nature cursing her that euer she suffred them to be borne into the worlde and yet geueth shée ofâ—pring to this vnthankfull sort that wished erst not to haue bene and for all their vnkindnes permitteth them to lyue It is the propertie of a stowt and princely courage and of a worthie man not to pursew and follow after the frute reward which follow benefites plesure shewed but to regard the worthines onâ—ly or the same good déedes themselues so that though he happen to light vppon some vnthankfull persons yet he dismayeth nowhit thereat but séeketh to bestow the residew of his benefites vppon suche as wil more thankfully accept the same For in all this world who is he that benefiteth a multitude and among them all findeth not some that will frustrate his expectacion But vppon this point dependeth the force and efficacie of a benefitte when the geuer therof loketh not after any rewarde for the same Of which benefit in suche sort bestowed a noble hart hath therby alredy reapt sufficient recoÌ„pence Undoutedly it is so farre vnséemely that the want of findyng plesour for the lyke shewed should dismay vs from perseuering in so honest a thing that out of question if I wer exempt from all hope that I should euer finde any one that would beare in mind and acknowledge the plesour whiche I should doo to hym I would yet rather wishe to find no one of my plesures requited then for anye ingratitude that I might haue shewed me I woulde suâ—cesse froÌ„ doing good wherein I might For who that will not applie himself to benefit others is farre worse to be iudged of then any vnthankful person And to conclude this is my opinion He that neyther will acknowledge nor render the benefites whiche he hath receyued is no more to be blamed then he that being requested refuseth in dew time and season to plesour him that standeth in necessitie Chap. 2. Beneficia in vulgus cuÌ„ largiri institueris PerdeÌ„da sunt multa vt semel ponas bene Qui veult faire plaisir a plusieurs pour vng coup quil addressera bien il perdra beaucoup Who that on a multitude pleasours bestowes For one that he geues well a noÌ„ber shall louse IN the first line immoderat and bestowing of plesours without dew regard before had vpon whoÌ„ they are imploied is reprehended For indéed we shuld geue nothing after such a careles sort But of our benefites especialy we should not be so lauash for yf they happen at anye time to be geuen vnaduisedly and without dew consideracion forthwith thereby they lose the name of benefites by dew right wolde rather be termed by some other name The second line is straung as that whiche with the wel bestowing of one only benefit and good déed recomforteth the grief which might haply grow by y e losse of a nomber Marke wel I pray thée and tell me if it be not mete agreable with the worthines of him that may doo good that we exhort and moue him thoroughly to perseuer in weldoing and plesouring of all men notwithstanding that it be not his chaunce to employ any of his benefites so that he may think them wel bestowed For verely I suppose that that is not to be much acompted of whiche is in thend of the secoÌ„d verse to wit That he shal lose a nomber of his benefites For why no benefit is lost For he who is to doo anye benefitte muste beforehand when he mindeth to bestowe any suche benefit make this accompâ— that he looketh not to receiue any thyng again for that whiche he is to doo The reason whiche moueth men to plesour one an other is plaine and single Grutche not to bestow thie benefites If he that doth receiue them yeld thée the like take it for aduauntage If thâ—u hap not to find the like but contrarywise Ingratitude for thie benefites yet art thou nowhit daÌ„nified hereby For thou must thus thinke with thyself That whych I gaue I dyd it as fully resolued and determined before hand to geue it and to that end that I might accompt it geuen without looking to receiue anye the lyke againe None shoulde note in his booke of RemeÌ„braunces the plesours and benefites which he doth to others For the niggish and gréedy vsurer wée sée dothe not alwayes obiect to his dettour the very hower when his det was dew The honest fraÌ„ckharted maÌ„ neuer taketh regard to the plesures which he hath done when they are ones past nor mindeth them any more except he that receyued them by his acknowledging and thankesgeâ—ing reuiue the memorye of them For if he shoulde otherwise doo and requyer recompense as I saide for them then might they not iustly be said to be geuen but lent as it were for a season onely And questionles there can be none so foule and dishonest vsury of anye thing as to loke for recompense for that plesour that ones hath passed thée Howsoeuer thou hast bene considered by them to whom thou hast heretofore done good yet câ—sse not thou to doo good still And persuade thyself that those benefites are of all others best bestowed that are done to vnthaÌ„kful persons For eyther shame or the lyke néede or feare shall at one time or other cause theÌ„ to acknowledge the benefits precedent and shew themselues thankefull at length Ceasse not therfore to benefit still Strayn thine abilitie playe the part of a good manne Helpe hym with thine own goodes Ayd him with thy worde credit Assyst that other with thy fauour Let him haue thine aduise Geue him some of thy holsome councell Chap. 3. THere is not one amonge the very brute bestes that hath not perseuerance of suche good as is done vnto himâ— Againe there is not one of them so wild and sauluage of nature and hard to be made tame but diligeÌ„ce and paines taking with them causeth them to forget wholly their olde feritie and loue them that kéepe them The Lyons keper may handle him with suche securitie that without al perill he thrusteth his hand in his mouth The Elephant of nature most hauty and crewel to his Foster yet humbleth himselâ— in most lowly wyse Somuche preuayleth and of such efficacie are benefites that the continuall doing and renewing of them maketh the very brute bests deuoyd of all Reason and vnderstandyng kepe them rife in memorye The lyke effect whereof they shall also woorke assuredly in thunthankfull man Who though perhaps he forgat one good torne done to him he will not so neglect the second or if he shew himselfe to haue sklenderly remembred those two yet dowtles the third shall enforce hym too call to mind the former twayn which he had erst forgotten He may well be sayd to haue loste the benefit whyche he dyd that forthwith thinketh it lost so sone as he
hath done it But he that doth perseuer still heaping afresh new benefites vpon them whiche he hath already done shall enforce the receiuer to acknowledge the same at one time or an other wer he neuer so hard harted or currish of nature For who that shalbe so ouerlayed wâ—th benefites shall not haue the hart to lyft vp his eyes agaynst thée but he shal forthwith condemne himself of Inâ—gratitude if he haue not delt with thée accordyngly as he ought which way soeuer he woulde turne him thy benefites shalbe so rife before his eyes that by no meanes he shalbe able to shake them out of minde By thy good desertes and heaping on of benefites geue him cause to thinke that he is thoroughly bound vnto thée Which benefites of what force and effect they are to make good nature in any man I shall herafter declare so sone as I haue shewed my faÌ„tasy in one point or two somewhat different froÌ„ our matter in hand That is to wit For what cause it is said that ther are thre Graces wherfore thy are called sisters why they go linked haÌ„d in hand what is the cause why they are allwayes smylinge and of mery countenaunce what is the Reason why they are euer yong Finally wherfore they are virgins attired with their garmeÌ„tes louse and vngyrt about them and the same so thin that a man may sée through them Of these thrée Ladyes called Graces thopinion of some is that the first of them bestoweth benefites the seconde receyueth the same and then third confesseth the recept and requiteth them Others some there are that by these thrée Graces would signifie thrée kind of benefytes Namely the benefites whych are geuen the benefites whiche are receiued and the benefits which are receiued and repayed togethers But whether of these two opinions is worthiest to be allowed it is not muche materiall to examin and for that I will leue it at large vndiscust Let vs then sée why these thrée Ladyes whom I called Graces do still beholde thone the other and make a ring as it wer eche holding other by the hand Uerely it is for thys cause The gyft that passeth from the geuer yf it keepe dew order from the one to the other it retorneth againe from hym that receiued it vnto the geuer by dew ordely course Which order if it be broken or anye whit discontinued forthwith thereby shoulde it lose all the worthy commendacion whiche the said benefit should requier like as wee sée yf any of these Ladyes should louse hands the facion of the King were broken and streight shoulde lose that name They are alwayes smyling and merye countenaunced for that they should represent to vs thereby that those that are of good natures ought when they bestow benefytes whyche maye sound to the furtheraunce of others no lesse to reioyce and shew themselues wellapaid therat then they should doo who are by them in such sort pleasured They are alwayes yong for this that the remembraunce of benefites ought in no wyse to waxe olde or fade forth of fresh memorye Uirgins they are for this that benefites ought to be pure incorrupted not stayned and to be done without constraint or enforcement They were their garments louse whyche are so clere and thin that a man may sée through to declare that benefites would be also séen and not hidden With those Ladyes Mercury is also by some associated as companion not for that eloquence is anye whyt requisyt to commend the benefyt that is done or the order of doing thesame but only for that it so lyked the paynter to deuise thesame Chrisippus to whom for his great subtilitie of wit diuers attribute no small praise for that he so exquisitely accustometh to sift out the truth of thinges applieng al his whole talke to the matter he treateth of and that with no longer proces of wordes then is requisite for y e thoroughvnderstandyng therof hath yet stuffed his whole booke full of these and suche lyke table so that he speketh hymselâ—e verye litle or nothing at all touchinge themployeng receiuing and rendring of benefites In whyche his booke he doth not onely now and then vse these tales but he doth so thoroughly store it with them that it sauoreth almost of nothing elles but of suche trifles For besides that whych he wryteth of Hecates he reporteth also that these thrée Graces wer Iupiters daughters begotten vpon Eurinome in youth comelines of countenaunce and beawty most excellent and for this cause were they all thrée apointed to haue the keping of Heauen gates and to be attendant on the Lady Uenus Moreouer Chrisippus in his sayde booke noteth also that not without good cause their mother whome I shewed you of was called Eurinome whoÌ„ for that thinterpretacion of her name sheweth her to be riche of great habilitie he feigneth therfore to distribute benefits and freÌ„dly plesures As though the mother of force muste be named after the qualities and condicions of her daughters or ells what name soeuer the Poetes plesed to attribute to any thyng was the very name of the thyng indéed Chap. 4. BUt least I myself offend in that whyche before I obiected against Chrisippus I will ouerpasse thâ—se thynges which as they vary froÌ„ our matter in hande so concerne they it no whytt at all For we haue taken in hande to spéeke of benefytes and to geue preceptes of that whyche aboue all other thynges knytteth and conioigneth the society of mankynd together Wée are I saye to prescribe rules and preceptes for menne to frame their lyues by least that vnder collour of courtesye some fall into excessiue prodigalitie and least that others some by ouernere scauuing and héed takynge in bestowinge of benefites shoulde happen cleane to extinct and lose the ryght waye of liberalitie Whyche as indéed it ought not to excéed so neyther should it be ouermuch skanted but to obserue a iust dew and lawdable meane Touching which matter these are thinstructioÌ„s that we geue That men accept thankfully such benefites as are done vnto them and that gladlye in lykemaner they requite the same We are moreouer to propose vnto them a great contencion which ought to be betwen the geuer and the receiuer of benefites Whiche is that we should not content our selues to render the lyke only of that which we haue receiued at the handes of those that haue pleasured vs but that we should stryue to excell them farre in well meaning and minde to plesour them againe And impossible it is that any man can requite a good tourne except before hand he haue found it For which cause they that do any plesures or employ any benefites are to be aduertised that they make none account of their benefit after they haue ones bestowed it and they that haue receiued thesame to thinke themselues somuch the more endetted to them for so doing Of whyche honest and commendable coÌ„tention this is the whole and thonly end
to stryue ernestly to ouer matche and excell them at whose handes we haue founde plesures by doinge gretter good to them theu we before receiued To whiche contending to matche or rather excel our benefactours Chrisippus in like maner exhorteth vs. Sayeng that forasmuch as these Ladyes Charites or Graces of whom I told you before are Iupiters dawghters we ought to accompt it no small offence if we should coÌ„mit any thing that might séeme repugnant to the natures of those fayer damoyselles But here would I gladly O Chrisippus that thou hadst shewed me the meane and waye howe I might haue become more liberal by shewing fréendship and plesours and more gratefull to them that for their goodnes and benefites haue well deserued at my handes How the mindes of the plesurers and those that are plesured ought to contend Again how they that haue benefited others shoulde tread the remembraunce of those their benefytes vnder fote without thiÌ„king on them any more And those who haue receiued the sayde benefites how they shoulde frame their memory to be allwayes thinking on theÌ„ without forgetting But as for those folish and fantastycall fables which Chrisippus reporteth in his boke so commonly let vs leaue them to Poetes whose whole drift and meaning is geuen only to please and delight mens eares and to deuise pleasauÌ„t tales But they that purpose to cure euill disposed mindes and to conserue faithfulnes honesty amonge men and cause them to call to remembrance without forgetting such benefits and plesours as are done vnto them had néed to order their wordes with good aduisement to talk ernesâ—ly chose to frame his tale with words of most weight and importaunce Unlesse you think that light and foolish talke and old wiues tales be able to redresse the cause and roote from whense so great hurt and mischefe is lyke to â—nsew that may wel sound to the vtter ruine and decaye of the whâ—le world Namely that a man should make no more accompt of him that hath highly benefited him then he would of suche one at whose haÌ„des he neuer found any kind of plesour or elâ—s that you suppose that this geuing of precepts touching y e welgeuing receiuing rending of benefites is but a newe found thinge and of late deuised Chap. 5. NOw therfore likewise as I passed ouer the thinges that were superfluouse concerned not our purpose right so it is requisite very necessary that I shew the way how wee shall learn to acknowledge the good and plesour that we haue receiued of others For som one y t hath at time of his néede receiued money at an others haÌ„d thiÌ„keth that he oweth that or somuch money as he receiued one other being pâ—eferred to y e dignitie of a Consull iudgeth he dothe owe y e enioyeng of his CoÌ„sulship to him by whose meanes he was so preferd Som other being rewarded with a spiritual promocioÌ„ supposeth he is to reÌ„dre the same Other like wyse that by the procurement of some or other haue attayned the rule and gouernement of a Prouince adscribe the same as dew to that person at whose handes he receiued his saide office Indéed truthe it is that eche of these who hath receiued any such or lyke thing at an other bodyes hand is to thinke himself of dewtye bounde and endetted for the same to them at whose handes or by whose meane they had or receiued any suche benefits or plesours Howbeit if we will néerely examine the nature of benefites and lyst to sée what a benefit is we shall then find that anye those thynges aboue named or anye the lyke of them are not to be called benefites but onely the signes and shewes of benefits For no benefyt may be handled with the hand but hath his seat and abiding place in the minde alone And there is great diuersitie betwene the benefyt it self and the matter or substaunce by which the benefit is represented Whervpon we must know y t neither siluer nor gold nor laÌ„d nor offices nor fées nor any thing ells what soeuer our dearest frindes bestow vppon vs ought to haue the names of benefites sith as I sayde they consist onely and wholly in the minde of the bestower of them Neuertheles the rude and ignorant people suppose that thinge onely that is séene with the eyes geuen with the hand subiect to our senses and in our possession to be the benefytâ— And asfor the fréendly minde which indéed ought chefely to be had in pryce and regarded that weigh they nothyng at all Wherein howmuche they are deceyued eche one may wel and easyly discerne For why those thinges whyche we possesse whiche we sée and whiâ—hewe so gredely hunt after are very vncertein and transitory The mutabilitie of fortune the daunger of the time the violence and force of enemyes may quickly bereft and depriue vs of all these things But the trew benefit still persisteth and decayeth not no though all that perrish and be lost quite that was geuen vs. That onely shoulde be called a benefyt which no violence no force no misfortune is able to vndoe plucke from vs or make frustrate As by way of example I reskewed a frind of mine from Pyrates and robbers on sea and when I had deliuered him on this sort and was gone other enemyes toke him and caste him In prison In this case they that so toke him depriued him not of the benefit whiche I did to him but the vse therof only Again I deliuered a nomber of men froÌ„ drowning or burning Of which coÌ„pany sith that time certain of theÌ„ dyed by sicknes certein of them by other mysfortunes ended their liues I say yet notwithstandyng the benefit I did to them remaineth stil and decaieth not no though the parties be dead themselues to whom it was done Then appereth it that all those things which falsly abuse thapellacion or name of benefites ought rather to be called freÌ„dly tournes or such thinges by which the fréendly mind doth declare it self The like wherof is to be gathered in other matters wheras otherwhiles a word is vsed only significatiuely to represeÌ„t as it wer y e truth of things by significatioÌ„ or colour of sence otherwhiles is vsurped for the thing it self As you may sée here The Chefetain of the baÌ„d rewardeth such as he hath approued valiaÌ„t after the feat wherin he hath experimented his said valiauntnes soÌ„time with a Chain or collar of gold otherwhiles with a garland properly appointed for suche as geue the onset at skalynge the walls at any séege otherwhiles w t a garland assigned to him that saueth a Citisens life in warres Whiche eyther Chain or garland if a wan will consider apart by it self and not hauynge anye relacion to anye farther thinge what great exceleÌ„cie or preciousenes coÌ„sisteth in them What great magnificence or worshyp resteth there I praye you in the Senatours gowne trayling on y e grouÌ„d purfled and embrowdred round
about if we consider it onely in that it is a gown or hath this or that facion There is no one of these that is the honour it selfe but the onely signes and shewes of honour In lyke maner none of those can be sayde a benefit that is discerned with the eye but are onely mere tokens of benefites Chap◠6. THen mayst thou well demaunde of me what it is that I call a benefit The trew descripsion whereof admit this to be A benefyt is a courteouse and frendly deed whyche beyng done geueth cause of reioycing to others and conceiueth plesure it self in doing the same thing redy of it self without constraint to doo that whiche it doth So that it appereth it maketh no matter what the thing is that is geuen or done For that as it is sayd The benefit consisteth not in the thyng that is geuen or done but onely in the minde of the geuer And that there is a great diuersitie betwene these twayne thou mayst easely know hereby The benefyt allwayes is simply and of his owne nature good But the thing that is geuen or done is of it self commonly neyther good nor euill It is the minde that extolleth and commendeth thynges of small valour and of no regard and disgrateth quyte debaseth other some thinges of estimacion and great price The thyngs which we séeke and pursew after so ernestlye are of themselues neyther good nor euill The diuersitie of their qualities ryseth onely vpon the mindes of them that haue the rule and disposynge of the same by whyche disposing they purchace eyther their commendacion or the contrarye Then maye we thus conclude That a benefit is not that thing whiche is geuē with the hand Lyke as thinges offred vp in sacrifice be thesame neuer so fatte and fayre or richely adourned with gold and ryche iewelles yet the diuine honour dothe not rest nor consiteth in anye of the same oblacions but onely in the well meaninge and disposed myndes of the sacrificers For the immolations and offringes of godly deuout and wel-disposed persons God accepteth wel and in good part be the gift neuer so simple Yea though it were but a courtsye of Corne and that in an earthen vessell whereas wycked men shall not escape the punyshement of their impiety and the reuenge thereof no though they offer vp neuer so plentiful and the same riche sacrifices Chap. 7. FOr yf it were so that benefites consisted in the thynges whyche are geuen and not in the mind of him who geueth the same then should it also follow that lok how much greatter in valewe the thynge is that is geuen so muche gretter shoulde the benefit be to be accompted of But that is vntrew For somewhiles wée are more beholdyng and to thinke our selues depelyer bounde to hym that geueth vs thynges but of small valew whose goodwill notwithstandynge ought to be more deere to vs and hygher in estimacion then any the greate abundance and ryches of Princes For admitte that his gift was but simple his hart yet was magnificent and liberall in that he regarded not hys owne pouertie he was so glad he had to serue my greate want presentlye Wherein he declared himself not onely to meane well to mewarde but also to haue an earnest zele and desier in himself to declare accōplish the same In which his weldoing he séemeth to take delight bestowing those his benefits as one not loking or hoping after anye Recompence more then if he had geuen me no whyt at all But of his owne accord séeketh to find and take occasion to proffit and plesour me On thother syde as I haue sayde before these thinges are neyther plesant nor acceptable whiche though of themselues they séeme to be of great valew and pryce yet they are not without great entreaty and importunate seute and request obtained at the hands of the graūters or els whiche by chaunce and vnaduisedlye escape them But farre more thankefully is the litle simple gift to be receiued geuen with assured goodwill and franckly then is plenty and affluēce geuen with grutching and repining For why in suche case thus may I saye Truthe it is that whiche this man hath geuen me is but a small thing but wayeng his abilitie he is muche to be commended for he gaue it me with a very good wil and besides his welthe coulde not extend to geue me any thing of gretter valew Againe the present of that other I confesse was very muche and of great pryce but with what distrust did he it and longe delaye and how muche did he repent him after that he had done it He dyd it for vaine glory onely and to thend he might triūphe ouer me and reporte to others howe much he had plesoured me and in what necessity I stode of his help So that good cause I haue to perswade myself that he dyd it not for good will and earnest loue or affection he bare to me but to blase abrode his own name and take occasion so to doo at my necessitie Who that to this end bestoweth his benefytes I saye he doth not onely deserue notes to be accompted liberall but rather an euill natured niggard Chap. 8. ANd for profe that smal giftes geuen franckely and of a méere good will deserue gretter commendacion far then richer and costlier giftes whiche are bestowed with difficulty and euil will this notable example may make profe abundantlye Socrates that worthie and famous Philosopher being accustomed to réede publiquely and geue preceptes of good gouernement had repayring to his sayde Lectour a great and populouse audience Among whom there were both ryche and poore It fortuned that his scollers with a common concent on a time concluded among thēselues that eche of them after their habilitie in token of their goodwills towardes their sayde maister shoulde present him with litle or much whych they did Eschines one of the companye in welth farre vnequall to the residew as he that had vtterlye nothynge and yet in good wil to gratifye his maister not inferiour to anye the best when he sawe euerye one of hys companions to geue vnto Socrates their mayster presentes of great Price came with a mery chere also to Socrates and sayde Syr in all thys woorlde haue I nothyng that I may present thee withall Whereby I acknowledge easely my great pouertie Howbeit in all this hard extremity that onely one gift whiche I haue to geue I make present with Namely mine owne person Which simple present I beseche thee accept in so good parte as I nowe wilingly offre thesame to thee perswading thyself that though my companiōs here haue indéed richely presented thee with giftes yet hath eche of them left himself farre more in store then he hath here departed withall Whereas I haue geuen thee all without reseruynge to myself anye whytte at all To whome Socrates as thankefully aunswerynge sayd And why Thinkest thou not that thou haste also geuen to me a great present
bene shewed them if it be not stil tofore their eyes But those that are verye forgetfull and vnthankfull the present remaining of the benefyt before their syght whiche hathe bene bestowed vppon them shall not permit them to be forgetfull but of force shall cause them by beholdyng the same forthwith to remeÌ„ber who it was that dyd them that benefitte Therefore in seekynge to doo plesour it behoueth vs to doo it by thynges of longest durance To thys ende that by the continuaunce of the thynge geuen the memorye of the geuer maye also remayne so ryfe that wée shall not néede our selues to vpbrayde them therewith again to whoâ— we haue done any suche benefites For better it were that the gyft it selfe should reuiue the remembraunce thereof when haplye it doith decay then the geuer by reportynge it hymselfe shoulde disgrace hys sayde gyft And asfor me yf I were to geue goodes rather woulde I chose to geue it Bullion or plate then Coyne Soner woulde I geue costely Images and Pictures of woode or stone then a gowne or other garment of smal continuaunce lasting whiche quickly fadeth with the time For there are a nomber of people who remember the gyft of any thing no longar while then the vse and occupacion of the same endureth For whyche cause I would not if I might chose geue suche a thynge that should passe ouer so lyghtly and come to nothyng but would doo it by suche thynges as by the same still remayning before their eyes the remembraunce of the plesour they founde by my meanes they might continew fixed and rooted as it were in the hart of them to whom I dyd suche plesour For as there is noman I gesse so voyd of vnderstandyng and depriued of his sences that would geue light and thin sommer gownes in cold wynter or thicke furred gownes for sommer So doth it behoue in employeng of benefites and fréendly plesours to way diligeÌ„tly both the time the place the nature and qualities of the person For certaine it is that there are some times yea and some minutes and instantes of time in which some things are plesaunt and acceptable which selfe same thynges at some other season are asmuche displeasaunt and vncommendable Who séeth not what great diuersitie there is betwene these twain To geue the thing that no man ells hath at that time and to geue that wherof then presentlye eche man hath abundauntly Againe to geue that whiche a man hath long sought after and could not fynd and to geue that whiche in euery place with out traueâ—l one may haue plâ—ntifully It appereth then that it dothe not skill somuch how deare and valewable the giftes are as it doth how rare and eâ—celleÌ„t they are wherby they purchace no small thankes euen among the richest sort As for example A few sorye apples whiche are timely ripe before any elles in anye other place wee sée what merueilouse great thankes the geuer getteth for the nouelty of them when as within a short while after a great multitude of them are not woorth godamercies wheras before they were taken in better stead then if they had bene thiÌ„ges of double valew Chap. 13. ALexander king of Macedonye who for hys innumerable and those great conquestes was surnamed the great as he retourned one time victorious from the east parts homwardes was so puâ—fed vp with pride and insolence that contemnyng to be called any more a man hauing deserued as he thought more then any man gan to parswade his army and charge them to To honour him as a God Whiche his good and fortunat successe eche countrey frind in legue with him seming to reioyce at sent some vnder the name of the whole to méet him as he retourned and to present him with one thing or other AmoÌ„g others thinhabitaÌ„tes of the Citie of Corinth to declare their vnfained reioycing at his good fortune sent embassadours also vnder the Cities name who in tokeÌ„ of their faithfullnes shoulde signifie to hym that the Corinthians were contented to assume him into the nomber of the Burgeses of that their Citie When Alexander had heard the tenour of their message and scorned their offer as nothing in respect of his magnificence one of thembassadours mildly aunswered What Aleâ—ander whye makest thou so lyght of this our offer Neuer was y e like made yet to any sauing to Hercules and now to the. Which when Alexander vnderstode he accepted with great thanks the offer as honour which y e CorinthiaÌ„s made vnto hiÌ„ gaue as courteous entertainemeÌ„t to thembassadors as possible he might Howbeit he regarded not y e simplenes of theÌ„ y t did him y e honour but in thassuming of the same so thaÌ„kfully respected onely y e worthines of hiÌ„ y t he was partener made w tall which was Hercules Thus maye you sée he was alltogether addicted to pursew honour whereof notwithstanding he knew neyther the trew waye nor meane to attaine there to but followed thexample of Bacchus whose minde was so houen vp with pride that he was some way matcht with Hercules that forthwith he thought he should reche the heauens and there ioyne with Hercules also as he did at Corinth But beholde howe vnfyt matches thâ—se twayn wer For Hercules neuer delightâ—d to spoile any place He went through the woorld too But not for any couetousnes or desyâ—r that he had to get any part therof to himself or any whit that he coueted that any part therof shold be subiect to him but onely for the zeale he had to reueÌ„ge the iniures of them that without desert were afflicted and to redresse the tirannye of naughty and cruell oppressours A defendour he was of them that were good and a pacifier of troubles both on sea and lande But Alexander euen froÌ„ his very youth trained himself in shewing and doinge oppression a decayer and vtter despoyler of all contreyes where so he became An vtter destruction aswell to his Frindes as hys enemyes Reposynge his onely felicitie in making himself to be dread of all meÌ„ Chap 14. BUt lette vs now retourne again to our purpose The good or plesour whiche is done to all men in coÌ„mon and a lyke deserueth singular thankes of no man priuately For why there is no cause why any manne should yéeld great thankes to any vintner or ordinarie tabler of gestes for that he had wine of him or dyned with hym For he may well say in this case What gâ—eat plesour hath anye of those I named shewed me for any the thingâ—s specified He hath done me herein no more plesour then he would do to his enemye or the most dishonest parsoÌ„ of the world For to what ende dyd he shewe me the frendlines whiche he dyd but onely to serue his owne turne That thing therfore whiche thou geuest and wouldest haue takeÌ„ in good part and well thought of let it in no wise be such as thou doest commonlye and to many And yet
would I not that anye man shoulde thinke I spéeke these thynges as though I would make anye restraint of liberalitie But yet must it be so done that it may séeme to keepe the ryght waye and that it purchace not reproche to the geuer It is lawfull to geue euery where And yet who that receyueth a benefitte in the open face and presence of a multitude ought not therefore to déeme lesse well of the gift as though the presens of the others were any whyt a disgracinge to it Agayne it doth behoue eche manne to haue a good perswasion with himselfe and to thinke that although others be benefited aswell as he and that at hys handes who benefited hym yet that he dyd it with a better will to hym then to the reste As thus I confesse I haue receyued but the lyke benefytte or plesour that thys other hath done howbeit it came to hys owne mocion that whiche he dyd to me and without anye request of myne He shewed suche one the lyke plesour as he dyd to me but yet he dyd it quickely to me and without delaye whereas that other had it not with out desert and that of longe time to Manye bestow sondry thynges to seueral parsons and yet not to eche man after one sort Fort to some it is done vpon lyght request and toâ— some vppon longe entreaty To some vppon condicion that they shall doo the lyke agayne when they are required thereto And to othersome for that olde age and wantte of children of theyr owne on whome they might bestow their plesours easely perswaded them to doo it there where they did But who that would haue his benefites and the plesures whyche he is to doo to diuers acceptable and wel accoÌ„pted of by eche of theÌ„ must fynd the meanes how to deserue a lyke well of them all and to cause that eche of them in his owne perswasion maye thynke himself preferd and estéemed aboue the residew I would be loth to seme to hinder the benefites and plesures that anye man is minded to doo what soeuer they are But this wote you wel that how much greatter and magnificent the benefites are so muche the greatter honour and commendacion shall they purchace to them that doo thesame And yet must a man vse discrecion in geuing For benefites whych are done rashly and without consideracion can by no meanes be eyther plesaunt or commendable So that wheÌ„ I councell that these thynges be vsed wisely with moderacion dew regard yf any one there be that for that thinketh that I prescribe boundes and limites to Liberalitie and restraine the same not to augment and encrese it rather verelye he dothe not vnderstande these my preceptes aryght For what vertew I besech you should we haue in gretter price then this Or to what vertew should we parswade people vnto rather then vnto this whiche continueth and lynketh together the society of mankynde Chap. 15. HOwbeit as ther is no honest vertew of the minde that is rooted and grounded aryght vnles the same be ruled and gouerned by Reason so is there no benefit rightly and dewly emploied except the same be done with moderacioÌ„ and discrecioÌ„ Wherfore I wold not aduise ne counsell anye manne to be â—uerlauash and prodigall in bestowyng his benefites sekyng thereby to purchace the name of liberalitie For that benefit is well bestowed and deserueth to be lyked of all men when he that doth thesame doth it with aduise and imployeth it vpon him that deserued the same We our selues willingly woulde not accept benefites at eche mans hande for feare least we should not be able to mak ameÌ„des thoroughly as wée woulde for all suche benefites as happly myght be bestowed vppon vs. Noman calleth that a benefitte wherof he is ashamed to confesse the Authour Crispus Passiona was wont to saye that there were some to whom he woulde repayer for theyr iudgement good aduise and councel rather then for their benefâ—tes And againe that there were othersome of whome he woulde rather accept theyr gyftes then theyr councell and expressed theyr names I woulde rather quod he haue the good and sage aduise of Augustus then of Claudius And rather would I wyshe to fynde the munificence aud lyberalitie of Claudius then the same of Augustus But in myne opinion a manne should not make anye greate accompte of the benefitte that suche one dothe to hym whose iudgement is but of small regarde Why then maye you saye Shoulde not a manne accepte the benefitte that Claudius geueth Yes verelye that shall he doo But yet he shall waye of it as of a thynge commynge by chaunce onelye which a thou wottest well is lyghtlye variable frome good to euill What meaneth it then that wée ioyne these thynges in suche order that the one of them maye not séeme to be parfit without that other It is assuredlye for this cause There canne not be any thynge ryghtlye sayde to bée a benefitte that wanteth the better parte whyche yt shoulde haue That is to saye iudgegemente and discrecion And therof it foloweth that if anye man haue geuen thee a great somme of money and hath not done it with good will and as a benefyt should be done it is nomore to be accounted for a benefit then if by chaunce or good fortune of thine thou shouldst happen to finde anye treasure So that it appereth that we must yet receiue some thynges when they are proffred vs for whiche not withstanding we are not any whit to thinke our selues to rest endetted The seconde Booke of the Line of Liberalitie Chap. 1. LEt vs then consyder that whiche followeth next vppon the firste parte of thys boke That is to say after what sort we should do our benefits For the parfitte knowledge whereof as me semeth I can not shew an easier or more brief waye then to say That we shoulde benefit and plesour others after the same maner and in suche sort as we woulde desyer our owne selues to be pleasured at others handes Whereby it followeth that we must doo it willinglye quickly and that without staye or tariaunce For that benefitâ—e or plesour is not acceptable that hath lyngred long time in thandes of the geuer which argueth that he dyd it with grutchynge and euill will and that it was by violence and perforce as it were gotten at his handes In lyke maner he that in doynge of a pleasour doubteth whether he were best to doo it or not is nexte neyghtbour to hym that playnlye denieth to doo it and deserueth at al neither commendacion nor thankes therefore For lyke as in anye benefitte bestowinge there is not anye thynge that commendeth the benefitte so muche as the vnfayned good will of hym that geueth the same so muste we say that who that by hys delayes hath declared that he dyd it with euill will canne not be sayde to haue done it trewlye and as it ought to be but for that he coulde not longar withholde it
vndid me Chap. 15. IT chaunceth oftentimes that ther is but smal oddes betwene the frendly fréendshyp that som men shew and the euil wishing of the enemy For what harme the fooe wisheth may chaunce to a man thesame his verie and déere frindes ouer timelye frindlines shewed otherwhyles procureth and performeth Then see what a miserable and piteous case this is that there should be but one the same effect and sequele both of hatred Loue euill wishing and well meanyng But let vs so néere as we caÌ„ to shew our good wills geue suche thinges as shall neuer turne to our reproche And for that it is the cheâ—est point of frindship to make our frinde equall with our self it foloweth that for his well doing and safegard we prouyde as for our owne I will geue my frinde that he néedeth but yet so that I bée not thereby dryuen into necessytie my self I will gladlye help him being in daunger to be lost but yet in suche sort that I casâ— not away myself I will not geue anye man any suche thing that I can not get but if I aske it myself with reproche and shame If I haue done plesour I will not sprede it abrode and by talke boast small thinges to make them seme great Neither will I accompt of benefites receiued lesse then they deserue And as he that casteth him in the téeth whome he hath benefited with the plesours he hath done for him loseth there by the coÌ„mendacioÌ„ and grace of his benefit so he that â—auÌ„teth what he geueth getteth not praise therby but reproche Let eche man haue an eye to hys owne habilitie and that accordyng to that he geue neyther more nor lesse Let him again in geuing haue a good respect to the person to whom he geueth For as there are some thynges whiche for their smalnes of vallew are not to be geuen to men of estimacion so are there again other some things more then méet to be geuen to meane or simple persons For which cause there is to be weighed aswel the qualitie condicioÌ„ and desert of the Receyuer as of him that geueth coutrarywise Wherfore suche thynges as thou geuest note well whether they be more then thow mayest wel geue or accordinge â—o thine abilitie and state Againe whether they be such that he to whom thou geuest the same maye wel enough accept for the worthines or refuse or at least make small accompte therof for their sclendernes Chap. 16. ALexander on a time as he was desirous to séeme magnificeÌ„t taking no regard nor makyng any accompt of any thing except it were of very great valew made offer to a simple man that hadde plesoured him some way to geue him a great lordshyp iâ— recompense He to whom this offer was made weighing with himselfe his own meane astate and fearing the enuye and disdaigne y t som others as he thought myght conceyue agaynste hym that he shoulde be so farre aboue many of them rewarded strayned muche courtesie to receiue it alledgyng that he was but a simple man far vnfit to haue suche a reward To whom Aleâ—ander aunswered It is not thye fytnes to receyue but my fytnes to geue that I regarde Dowtles this proceded of a stowt and bountifull hart and yet though a kynge pronounced it it was but folishly spokeÌ„ For hauing regard to himself onely and his owne wooâ—thinâ—s alone he shoulde geue nothing It is expedient in geuyng giftes to note both the gyft the persone his qualities the time y e cause the place and all other circumstaunces without whiche dew order in geuyng can not be obserued Note here the passinge great arrogancie and pryde of Alexander If it were not méete for the poore man to accâ—pt that offer neither was it fit for hym to gâ—uâ— it to him Dewe consideracion ought to be had bothe to the personagâ—s and their degrées And seyng that the â—hefest point of any vertew is to obserue a mesure and indifferencie it is aswell to be adiudged a faulte what excedeth is to muche as that that is ouersparing and wanteth Though fortune had delt so fauourablie with Alexander That he thought a Citie as small a gyft as he with his honour might geâ—e was it not also thinke you a tokeÌ„ of as noble a hart in the poore man that refused the acceptaunce of a towne when it was offred him Yet verely For though Alexander had suche an insaciable and gréedy appetite that he coulde deuoure and swallow vp a nomber of whole contreyes Realmes as â—e did in his dayes rasing them downe wasting them and leuyng them desolate as if there had neuer bene anye suche thynges and yet neuer surfet any whit vpon it yet he shoulde weigh that there were in lyke maner some febler stomackes that were not able to digest one lordshyp Chap. 17. DIogenes surnamed Cinicus for his bestly and dog-like lyfe desired king Antigonus on a time that he would geue him a Talent of siluer Antigonus aunswered that it was not fit for suche one as he was to demaunde so great a gift Then Diogenes seyng that he was denyed y e request for the valew besought him to geue him a peny That againe quod Antigonus is lesse then is fytâ—ing for a king to geueâ— Suche shifting of men is verie dishonest For by this meanes he ridde hymselfe from geuing any thing at all In the asking of a penye he regarded the honour of his owne astate in the demaundynge of a Talent he respected the simple condicion and degrée of Diogenes though he myght wellenough for hys habilitie haue geuen both the peny as a méet gift agreable with the pouerty of Diogenes and the Talent also as a gyft age fittinge with the magnificence of a kynge to geue And though that one sounded somewhat more in valew theÌ„ that Diogenes symple astate myghte well demaund that other notwithstandyng that it was verie small yet was it séemelye enough in dew place and time for hym to geue If any one therebe now will say that indéed Diogenes ought not to demaunde so great a somme I wil also assent thereunto For to saye the truthe it is not méete that any suche one shoulde request money whiche is himself an open despiser of the same And if he professe that he quite contemneth money it shall behoue him altogether to declare hymself to perseuer in that minde and to playe the part of Cinicus thoroughlye and not to haue a desyer to be riche and yet to colour it vnder a cloke of voluntarye pouertye But retourne we to our present matter in hand Who that is to geue any gyft ought to take as good regard to his own person as to his to whoÌ„ he geueth it and both alyke To the apt declaracion whereof me séemeth I can not vse a fytter similitude then that of Chrisippus whyche he vseth of tossynge the handeball For sewerlye when the ball falleth to the grounde it happeth so to doo through
handes but put my self wholly in your grace vse me as you shall thinke good and with that layd downe his hedde to them to be smytten of O what a noble courage was he of that willinglye without constraint offred himself to dye to saue his maister and that at suche time when faithfulnes was almost quite exiled forth of the Cytie And was it not more straunge at that time to find suche Loyaltie in suche one when nothinge reigned among the verye best but crueltie and treason And what gretter punishment could there be deuised against the rankest Traytour that euer was but death with which he chose to be rewarded for his most trustines Chap. 24. I Will not passe ouer with scilence what chaunced in Rome of later time In the reigne of Tiberius Cesar it was a commoÌ„ practise and a disease that held wâ—llnyghe euery maÌ„ there to exhibit and preferre billes of accusacion one agaiÌ„st an other to Tiberius Which deuise during the while that the warre Ciuile did last had shrewdly shaken the nobles of Rome There was presented what talke men had of him as they sat on their alebenche and scantly could a man haue anye talke familiarlye with his Frinde but it was blowen to Tiberius eare There was no astate in safetie nor any man all most trustye The least cause that might be was matter sufficient for him to shew his creweltye If any haply were detected it néeded not to listen what should become of him for euen before the time of his attainder it was knowen welenowgh whether he should The axe and the blocke sate in iudgement of him It fortuned Paulus y â— Pretor at that time to suppe abrode froÌ„ home and ware vpon his fingar a King in whiche was engraued the picture of Tiberius This Paulus after he had dronk hard had lyst to make water and chaunced to take the chamber pot in that hand wheron he ware that King by Reason whereof the King touched the pot also Whiche thing Maro one that was present in companie a Sicophant and picke thanke noted full well reioycing mithhimself that he had suche matter to report to Tiberius thinking for his tidinges as it might haue proued if he could haue brought his deuise about to haue had the spoile of Paulus â—ut as he torned him about to call witnesses to testifie the fact the seruaunt of Paulus who stode by his maister and eyed Maro wel misâ—rusting that there was treason working agaiÌ„st his maister sodeinly pluckt the King froÌ„ of his maisters hand So y t when Maro tourned him again about to haue shewed the others and charged theÌ„ to record how Paulus had vnreuerentlye and vnhonorably abused the Emperours picture with touchinge soo vnsemelye thinges with it the seruaunt of Paulus hys maister not able to saye for himself for dronkennes denied it was so and for profe shewed the King whiche he had in his hande affirming that his maister before he went about his necessaries deliuered it him to kéepe for the time Chap. 25. DUringe the Reigne of Augustus Cesar men might yet w t muche more liberty and safetye talke their fancies then they myght vnder Tiberius for that he was not replenished with suche furye and Tyrannye In that tyme it chaunced that one Ruffus a manne of good honour who had sometime bene Consul of Romeâ— as he sate at supper on a tyme and was ouer gone with drinke suffred this vnwise wish folishly to escape hym That Augustus myght not safelye retourne froÌ„ a viage whiche he was about to make but that he might miscary in it adding moreouer that the very oxen and calues about Rome had cause to wishe the same There wanted not to be those that harkned and marked well his wordes as they past him On the morowe morning very early in y e dawning of the daye a seruaunt of his that stode by the night afore and herd al his talke recounted orderly vnto him what he hadde vnwisely amoÌ„g his cuppes suffred to scape him and soberlye aduised him to preueÌ„t all mischéefes with all spéede to get him to Augustus there accuse himself and put him in his graceâ— When after a litle deliberating with himself he was fullie perswaded that his seruaunt councelled him for the best determined with himself to follow it Wherevppon makyng him readye with sâ—éed got him on hys way to Augustus ward and there attended to méet him at his firste comming abrode And hauinge done firste his obedience put himself wholly in his grace and exponing to him all the discourse of the matter and his disloyaltie with earnest repentaunce for his folly so sowlye ouer shot wishing it might rather hap on himself and his besought him humblie of his gracious pardon which Augustus as he was bountifull and debonayre graunted immediately But none quod Ruffus will credit that I stande in your fauour except it may appere to theÌ„ that you gaue me something and therevpon besought him that he would grauÌ„t him a resonable some of money as he then requested whyche Augustus gaue charge should be deliuered him And farther quod Cesar of my more ample grace this I promise thée that on my parte there shalbe no cause geuen why wee twayne will euer hereafter fall out again Did not Cesar graciously so lightly to remit the fact but more worthie of commendacion was it in that he annexed to hys clemencie such liberalitie Who that shall but heare this Historie reported can not chose but highly commende Augustus and yet can he not chose but praise this bondman before him But would you not now loke that I shold tel you that he was manumitted and made Frée for his labour I thinke you wold and that woorthely also He was so and Augustus himself paid the money for his redemption Chap. 26. VPon thalledging of somanye examples I suppose there is no man that will dout but that the mayster may well enough receiue a beneâ—it at his seruauntes hand And to say the truth what Reason is it that the parson of the man should more disgrace the thing y â— he doth theÌ„ the thing that is done may coÌ„mend the parson of him that doth it Al men ingenerall haue but one and the self same ofspring if we iudge things aright and the causes of the same as they ought to be then shall we confesse that he onely is most noble that is of best most vertuous nature and disposicion aboue others or more apt and geuen to good sciences then other One onely péece of mould was the first pareÌ„t to vs al how soeuer we deriue our parentage from thense by base or noble race The least cause of boastiÌ„g that is riseth of our auncetours who if they were noble famouse for any their vertewes in which only consisteth trew parfect nobility if we disseÌ„t disarge froÌ„ their said vertuousnes with our shame and reproche enowgh may we record them or make claime to them from whom wâ— so farre
degenerat that vnneth saf sauinge line of bloude and lineall discent wee sauour nowhytte of them Asfor their welthe honours dignities and preâ—errementes to whiche they were aduaunced for their noblenes namely their vertâ—wes were but only signes and shews and rewardes of noblenes Which who that hath by succession of inheritaunce enioyeth as in the Romaine weale publique he that had saued a Citizens lyfe and had merited y â— reward therof a garlande called Corona ciuica might leaue the same to his posteritie Who myght glory therin not for their owne factes but for the actes of an other who therby left to them an example of encouragement of attempting the lyke Contemne noman be he neuer so base and vnnoble of fame and simply preferd by fortunes giftes whether they haue bene bond heretofore or now presentlye are bond or people of farre and straunge contrâ—yâ—s of what estate or degre soeuer they be of lette them fortifie themselues and be of good cowrage Attaine vertewes shew them selues worthie and thinke not but as perfit nobility attendeth them as any other Why shoulde wee be so puffed vp with pryde that we shoulde take scorne to accept benefits and acknowledge the recept of the same at our seruauntes haÌ„des Onely regarding their estate and forgetting their desertes Chap. 27. THis thought I good and necessary to be sayde both for the repressing of the wanton pryde and folly of those men who alltogether hang on fortunes sléeue and also for the mainteinyng the right acceptaunce and trewe vnderstandynge of suche plesour and benefites as seruauntes maye doo to their maisters defendinge the same shewed by Children to their parents For it hath bene dowted by som whether Children can doo to their parentes any gretter benefits then they haue receiued of them Towching whiche matter this I know wilbe graunted that possible it is that Children may attaine to gretter welth aspire to higher promocions then euer their parents did that which is more to be better also which being so it maye be that they may also geue far better thiÌ„ges for that their fortune is better and perhaps their well meaning hart also But some may happen to say Well let the Child geue what he is able to his parentes it is yet lesse then dutie may duly demaund at his hands for that he oweth to them euen all that abilitie of geuyng as which without them he could not haue had So that it is not possible for hym to be ouercome with an other mans benefit wose precedent benefit was y e causer of that that was subsequent But see how greatly they are deceiued that are of this opinion At the first you know well a nomber of thinges take their originall and beginning of other thinges whyche notwithstanding in processe of time out-growe their sayde beginninges farre We sée that séedes are the caâ—ses of many thinges and yet are they the smallest of those thinges which by theÌ„ take their beginninges Behold Rhine Euphrates what are they and all the other notable and famouse Riuers that are ells where if we regarde the heddes onely from whense they â—irste breake out if there be any cause whye they are regarded they take it a great waye of from the head The great churches and Cyties walles stande not without their foundacions and yet that which is the grouÌ„d woorke and staye of all lyeth hyd vnder the ground and is not séene So fareth it in euerye other thynge For the subsequent encrease and groweth shadoweth quite and ouerwhelmeth as it were oftentimes the beginninges of the same I coulde not you saye haue had my being without which I had neuer attained to these thinges if my Father had not begot me nomore could I if after my Fathers begetting and time of my birth my Nurse had not fostred me vp Chap. 28. BUt let vs goe roundly too worke and proue y t though the sonne haue bene benefited by his Father verye muche yet he may rendre asmuche againe and more to Admitte my Father as â—e begatte me wherby he gaue me my beginning so he fostred me vp whereby I tooke encrease also If I render the lyke of the last part I render more then I receiued For in this case he shal haue to reioyce not onely that he is nourished but also that he is nowrished of his soÌ„ne taking more comforth in my naturall minde then delectacion or pleasour in the thing it self whiche he receyueth Again what and if any man should so vse himself that eyther for his eloqueÌ„ce his woorthie knowledge in Ciuill or Martial pollicie he becommeth famous and by the noblenes of his said vertewes shaketh of the darkenes and obscuritye of his base parentage and by meane of hys woorthines causeth the report of his fathers name to be crowned with perpetuall fame might not he worthely be said to haue done an inestimable beneâ—it to his parents Ariston and Grillus doutles long sith had bene raked vp in the duste and bene as if they had neuer bene with out all report if Xenophon and Plato their worthie sonnes had not by their noble memory caused theÌ„ also to be still remembred And wher had the famouse name of Sophroniscus bene now become if Socrates his sonne had not as it were made him liue a new It were ouer tedious and to long to goo about to recount here the names of al those whose names certeinlye hadde neuer continewed vnto these dayes had it not bene that thexcellent vertewes of their sonnes made theÌ„ famouse to their posteritie and as it wer immortalized them An infinite nomber of them assuredly had bene shut vp in the depe dungeon of obliuion if the famous memory of their soÌ„nes had not deliuered theÌ„ froÌ„ that dime darkenes And though perhapps eche benefit y â— the childreÌ„ may doo to their parents seuerally considered and apart by himself be not able to couÌ„teruaile the desertes of their said parentes yet a multitude of them conioyned may be able to matche them passe them also Chap. 29. IT was Scipioes chauÌ„ce to saue his Father in a great and sharp battel which to do he was forst being asyet but a very child to put spurs to his horse and abandone himself into y e thickest of his enemyes before he coulde come to the place wher his Father was And setting light by any neuer so perillouse aduenture that might befal stucke no whit to take to task any y e most beten and practised souldiours of his enemies far vnfit matches for his age or experience of dealing in wars as who that neuer before that time hadde bene in war fare The same Scipio also an other time pleaded his Fathers case at what time he was accused and by his well handeling of the matter discharged him from a great conspiracie of some that pretended his deth He also procured his father to be chosen Consull thrise arowe and aduaunced him to other honours Besydes all
be Wherevppon Manlius so sone as he had gotte oportunitie and that he hadde the Tribune alone drew forthe a naked sworde whyche he had priuely hidde vnder his gowne and layeng holde vppon the Tribune thretned him sayeng Assuredly except thou presentlye sweare vnto me that thou wilt neyther make nor meddle with my Father but discharge him quite of this matter without makyng anye farther a doo about it I will here presently runne thee through with this swoorde For well I stande assuâ—ed that it resteth wholly in thy hande whether my father shall haue anye accuser or not The Tribune seynge himself at suche a strayte sware he woulde doo as he required him and ryght soo perfourmed it Chap. 33. A Uerye easie matter if is to recite one after an other an infinitie noÌ„ber almost of notable examples of such as haue delyuered their parentes from great and present daungers whiche haue aduâ—unced them from base to high degree and whereas they were neyther of name nor fame but inglorious they haue by their meanes made them to be remembred and as it were to lyue perpetuallye By no efficacie of fytt and sufficient woordes by no exactnes and exquisitenes of wit is it able to be sufficientlye expressed howe excâ—llent a thinge it is and prayse worthie to make a mans fame to liue perpetuâ—llie What a noble prayse and commeâ—dâ—cion is it for the childe to be haue hâ—â—selfâ— so that indéed without trip he may iustâ—ly saye I haue shewed my self obedient to my parentes I haue done after their commaundements wer it right or wrong to my self that they required of me I haue framed my self to serue their appetites In this onely thyng haue I shewed myself disobedient to them that I woulde not willingly geue place ne yeeld to them in bestowing benefites on theÌ„ and requyting theyr receyued Eche child I wish to contend on this sort No maner pesons I would should yéeld herin to be vanquished namely in rendring benefits whiche at any mans hand they haue receiued And if it happen anye to waxe dull herein let them whet theyr edges agayne and begine afresh Happy are they that shall get the victorie and happy they that shalbe vanquished if it be not a yéelded victorye What more noble thinge is there then when a man may iustly saye I haue excelled my Father in doing him plesours yea there is none at whose handes I euer receiued benefitte but I haue passed hym farre in requiting the same Who is there that lyueth more fortunat then the olde parentes that maye vppon good proofe reporte that they haue suche a childe that hath with great encrease yeelded them the benefits whyche they bestowed vppon him Generallye who can be called more happy then he that reportyng the truthe may saye I neuer did plesour nor bestowed benefit that I had cause to repent or thinke lost but had it as redily repaid and requited as I was willing to do it and that doubled many folde And then hauyng brought eche partie to that passe that they may iustly so say and find what thing can there happen more happy and so happly to make an ende FINIS Ingratitude the mâ—st coÌ„mon vice the cause why Uery vnthankfulnes in worde dede and the causes The true descripsion of him that dothe no pleasour but by importunat request Benefits ought not to be done slowly vpoÌ„ request The multitude of ingrate pleople shold not make vs y â— slower to doo goodâ— That we shold persist on in weldoiÌ„g Wheriâ— coÌ„sisteâ—h the force of a benefyt Immesurable geuinge is commeÌ„dable in no thynge Benefitâ—s done shold not be remeÌ„brâ—d by him that dyd them Brute bests acknowledge good done to them Thre graces Why y e .iii Graces holde one thother by y e hand Whi thei laughe Whi thei are yoÌ„g Uirgins why thei are so aparelled The law of lyfe â—s to showe the waye how to liue to be conuersante amonge others The coÌ„teÌ„cion of honesty resteth in geuiÌ„g takiÌ„g rendriÌ„g benefites The right vse of this coÌ„teÌ„cion Poetes common lyers and flaterers What hurt ryseth by Ingratiâ—ude Wher is the very seate and plaâ—e of benefits Benefits neuer decay Corona muralis Corona Ciuita The discripsion of a benefyt The hart al one coÌ„mendeth al things Symple thynges gyuen with a goodwiâ— more acceptable then rich giftes with gruâ—chyng A notable example of liberality of one hauing nothing to geue gaue hiÌ„ self â—he courtyar Cause of coÌ„plainte vppon naughtines hath not wanted in old time Ingratitude the roâ—e of al vyces Ingratitude the greattest vyce that may be done and y e lightest that may be suffered The perfit trial of a liberall hart The maner how meÌ„ shold do their benefites One as euil as an ingrate person A diuisioÌ„ of benefites Causes why benefyts seme the gretter Causes by which our benefites may sâ—me â—â—e gretter we â—uâ—ht to shew profitable plessours Thinges to be noted in sending presentes UnthaÌ„kful forgetful meÌ„ Giftâ—s ought to be oâ— longest continâ—auÌ„ce Thyngs rare most acceptable Omne rarum charum A notable exaÌ„ple of arrogaÌ„cy pryd Uery maÌ„hod plesour generall to al men is acceptable to noâ— in priuat Regarde to be had in beneâ—iting what plesour is well employed â— wittye â—â—yinge Now we shold plesour others Whiche benefites are moste commendable Nothing so dere boughtâ—s that is boughtâ— with entreaty A benefit done vpoÌ„ requeste cometh to late That benefitte most thaÌ„kefull y t is done without request A preâ—ye similitude Wantâ— of spekynge bredeth want of speeding Trewe acknowledgiÌ„g of good wil The woorst kinde of nature that doo good Better easier leuyng to y e hed â—heÌ„ to the fet Long delaye bredeâ—h werynes Folish pryde Courtesy seketh quickly to plesour Delay to doo pleaâ—our hurtfull â—nplesant plesours Odiousâ— maner of benefites A trew liberall act whether it be requisit that he that is plesoured know by whom he was plesoured the lâ—w of benefiâ—es An exaÌ„ple of theÌ„ that vpbrayd others w t their benefites A benefiâ— ought noâ— to be recited by hiÌ„ that dyd it to hiÌ„ to whom he dyd it Inconueniences that grow by repetyng our benefites The nobler the personage is y â— courtâ—ouslye dâ—th hys benefit so muche more praise worthi Uanglorie 〈◊〉 full Confide racioÌ„s to be had in doing ouâ— benefites Regarde to be had whom howe we benefyt CircuÌ„stances to be noted in bestowyng benâ—fites An honorable aâ—Ì„swere of antigonê° â— good similitude of Tenis playe Ingratitude oft growth by vs. The vsâ—râ—r How we ought to râ—ceiue benefits Benefits ought not to be takeÌ„ at eche maÌ„s haÌ„d To whoÌ„ these precepts are geuen A benefâ—te enforced not to bee repayd as of dewty Some receiue Plesours and yeâ— are to thiÌ„ke theÌ„ seluâ—sboÌ„â— for â—he â—ame Monarchy y â— best state of wele publique A plesoâ—r shold not be receyued at a naughty persons hande we ought not to receiue plesour at our friÌ„des hande if y â— doing of y e aâ—â—e may hurt him