CHAP. IX.
WHat shall wee say of some thinges, which because they are much desired, are held for benefits? and of others, which are not estee∣med by the common sort, for such, although they are greater then they seeme. Thou callest it a benefit to haue giuen a man the freedome of a most rich and wealthy Citie, to haue made a man a Knight, and to haue placed him on the * 1.1 fourteenth scaffold, destinated for the Romaine Knights, to behold the plaies and publique spectacles? and to haue defended him vpon an indictment of life and death: but what thinke you of it to haue giuen a man good counsaile? to haue hindered him from executing a wicked enterprise? to haue wrung the sword out of his hand, where-with hee would haue slaine himselfe? to haue comforted him in his sorrow by holesome counsailes? and to haue brought him back to the fellowship of life, from his willfull seeking and longing to accompanie his deceased friends in death: what thinke you it to be, to sit by a sick-mans bed, and since his euill came by fits and at certaine houres, to haue waighted a fit time to giue him meate? and to haue bathed his veines with wine when he fainted? to haue brought him a Phisitian euen then when hee exspected to die? who is hee that can iustly value these thinges? what Iudge shall he be that shall command these benefits to be recom∣penced with the like? Some man perchance hath giuen thee a house, but I haue foretold thee that thine owne is falling downe on thy head. Hee hath giuen thee a patrimonie: but I a planck to floate vpon, and saue thy life in shipwrack. He hath fought and hath beene wounded for thy cause: but I haue giuen thee thy life by my silence on the rack. Whereas a benefit is giuen one way, and re∣compenced an other: it is a hard matter to make them equall.