The line of liberalitie dulie directinge the wel bestowing of benefites and reprehending the comonly vsed vice of ingratitude. Anno. 1569.

Chap. 10.

ARchesilaus on a time hauynge a deare Frinde of his fallen in to pouerty, and yet for bashful∣nes woulde not discouer hys greate néede, and were it for thought, or for disease fallen sycke, Archesilaus seynge and pitieng hys case, thought it was then high time of hys owne accord to socour hym though his frynde by no meanes woulde make him priuie to his necessitie. Whereuppon, takyng with hym a bagge of money went with spéed to this sycke man makynge ••ys errande to vysyt him: and beyng sette on his b••d besydes hym, finding and takynge occa∣sion of Talke,* 1.1 preuilie conueyd the bagge of money vnder the pillow of the sickeman without anye woorde speking of it, and when he saw hys tyme, toke hys leue and departed.

Wysshynge that hys frende that was more bashefull then wysedome woulde, myght yet by chaunce fynde that that myghte serue hys wantte, rather the••

then lacke still, or ells be haplye striken out of conceit with himself that any man should know his penurye. But here will some one perhaps say. What? should not he that receiued a benefit know of whō he had it?* 1.2 I aunswere agai••e. That at the fi••st, though he know not, it maketh no matter: & yet doth that so bestowynge of benefites, include a great part of prin∣cipall benefic••nce. But when I haue thus benefited him priuilie, I will not there cesse, I will doo him sondrie other plesures besides. I will doo manye moe thinges for him whereby he may gather that it was I that did him that other ple∣sour also tofore. And yet though perhaps he neuer know that he had that benefit through me, I shall notwithstandyng be sewer myself that I gaue it. But thou mayst say perhaps. That is but a simple reward. Truthe it is if thou didest it to haue gaine therby, and to reape recom∣pense. But if thou hast as thou shouldest haue, respect to this point onelye, that

that which thou geuest may plesour him to whom thou geuest it, thou geue it frée lie without any suche regard takynge. Let it suffice thee, that thy self art preuy to the gift, for els thou shouldest not sée∣me to take delight in weldoing, but that thy desier were to be seene to doo well. Thou art not yet satisfied perhaps, but wilt stil saye I will néedes haue hym know it. Then tell me this. Whether thou wouldest he should thinke himself beholding to thée or no? Still thou sayes•• thou wil•• haue him that receyueth ple∣sour at thy hādes, know whense he hath it. What if it be more profitable, if it be more honest, if it be more acceptable for him that is pleasoured, not to haue it knowen? Wilt thou not then chaunge thie minde? But all this notwithstan∣ding thou wilt say he shall néedes know that he had the pleasour at thy handes. I sée wel then thou wilt not suffer hym to continew in ignoraunce and darknes. In verye deed I graunt that so often as

the matter shall permit, the geuer maye if he plese take plesour of the acknow∣ledging receiuer. Howbeit if it lie hym vppon that we helpe him, and agayne that it will turue him to reproche if our plesouring him shold be knowen abrod, in this case I would not that that bene∣fit should be Chronicled. Thou wilt yet perhaps say. And wherfore should I not doo him to vnderstand that it was I that plesoured him? What though thys be one of the most principal preceptes to be obserued in bestowing of benefites that I shoulde not vpbrayde the same and cast hym in the tethe with it to whome I dyd it, maye I not for that shewe hym that it was I that plesoured him? No suerlye. For betwene anye two this is the Lawe positife touchyng the doynge and takyng of benefites.* 1.3 That he that gaue, for gette so sonne as he hath geuen that he gaue anye thynge. That he that receiued the same, be neuer vnmindfull that he receiued a benefit at his handes.

There is nothynge that more vexeth or troubleth the mynde of anye man then the often repetyng and reciting the ple∣sours whiche haue bene done to him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A trew liberall act.
• * 1.2

  whether it be re∣quisit that he that is plesoured know by whom he was ple∣soured,
• * 1.3

  the l••w of benefi¦••es.