The first book of Tullies Offices translated grammatically, and also according to the propriety of our English tongue; for the more speedy and certain attaining of the singular learning contained in the same, to further to a pure Latin stile, and to expresse the mind more easily, both in English & Latine. Done chiefly for the good of schools; to be vsed according to the directions in the admonition to the reader, and more fully in Ludus lit. or Grammar-schoole

Chap. 19.

How kindnesse is to bee requited to them who haue q wel

deserued of vs.

BVt if the de∣serts [of men] be such, that q we are not to seeke to creepe into fauour, but to requite kindnesse; a cer∣taine greater care is to be q vsed, be∣cause there is no Dutie more neces∣sarie then requi∣ting of thanks.

For if Hesiode cō∣mandes to restore those things which you haue q bor∣rowed for your vse, with a q larger mea∣sure, if that you can; what then ought wee to doe being prouoked by a q kindenesse? Ought wee not to

imitate the fertile fields; which bring much more then they haue recei∣ued? For if vvee q stick not to be∣stowe kindnesses vpon them, whom wee hope will q do vs good hereafter; q what manner of men ought wee to be towards them, who haue done vs good alreadie?

For whereas there bee two kindes of liberality, one of q bestowing a be∣nefit, the other of requiting, q it is in our owne power vvhether wee vvill giue or no: [but] q it is not lawefull for a good man not to restore,

if so that he can do it without iniurie. There are also q re∣spects to be had of benefits receiued: neyther [is there any] doubt, but most is due q to e∣uerie the greatest. Wherein yet it is especially to bee weighed, with what minde, affec∣tion, and good will q any man hath done it. For many men doe many things in a cer∣taine q headinesse, without q discreti∣on or measure, to∣wards all [alike:] or else being q carri∣ed with violence of affection, as with a certaine sudden winde: which be∣nefits

are not to be accounted so great, as those which are q offered with iudgement, q adui sedly and constant∣ly. But in bestow∣ing of a benefit, and in requiting kindnesse, (if [all] other things bee q correspondent) q this is a princi∣pall point of Duty; that as q any one stādeth q most in neede of [our] helpe, so to helpe him especially. Which is done q of verie many clean contrary.

For q of whom they hope for most, although he haue no neede q of them, yet they

serue him espe∣cially.

Tullie in this chapter giueth di∣rections for requi∣ting of me•…•…s kind∣nesses to vs; & first teacheth that wee ought to haue a spe∣ciall care heereof. Because there is no Duty more neces∣sarie then it.

2. That wee ought to repay such kind∣nesses with a grea∣ter measure then we receiued them.

This hee prooueth first, by the testimo∣nie of Hesiode, commanding to re∣store things bor∣rowed for our vse, with fuller measure, if we can; and ther∣fore much more such good turnes, as haue been done vs frankly, and where∣by we haue bin pro∣uoked; heerein i∣mitating

the fertile fieldes.

Secondly, he shew∣eth it by another reason from the less thu•…•…; That if wee sticke not to be∣stowe benefits on them who (wee hope) will doe vs good heereafter, much more ought we on them, who haue done vs good alreadie.

3. Whereas there are two kindes of liberalitie, one of bestowing a bene∣fit, the other of re∣quiting; hee teach∣eth, that howsoeuer it is in a mans owne power whether hee will freely giue a benefit or no; that yet it is not in any case lawfull for a good man, not to

requite a kindnesse, if he can do it with∣out iniurie to any.

3. For kindenesses receiued, that wee haue special regard: because howsoeuer wee owe most to him of whom wee haue receiued most; yet wee are to weigh with what mind & affectiō any one hath benefited vs. Because many men do such things vpon a certain hea∣dinesse without dis∣cretion, & towardes all alike, or carried with some violence of affection: which benefits he teacheth

not to bee so great, as those which are bestowed with iudgement, aduice and constancy.

Lastly, that in all these, this is a prin∣cipal part of Duty; that (all other things beeing an∣swerable) we helpe him most that stāds in most neede: though men com∣monly deale cleane contrarily; giuing to them most, of whom they looke for most, although they haue no need.

Notes

• q

  if there shall be deserts.
• q

  fauour is not to bee gone into or to besought, but to be requited.
• q

  added.
• for.
• thankfulnesse.
• thankfulnesse.
• q

  receiued to vse or occupy.
• q

  greater.
• q

  benefit.
• fruitfull.
• q

  doubt not.
• q

  profit vs.
• q

  what ones.
• q

  giuing.
• q

  whether we will giue or no is in our owne power, choice
• q

  not to restore is not lawfull for a good man.
• q

  choises.
• q

  to each greatest, or who hath done vs the greatest kindenesse.
• considered.
• q

  euery one.
• doth it.
• of or through.
• q

  rashnesse.
• q

  iudgement, reason
• q

  stirred vp by force of minde.
• rushing.
• kindenesses.
• q

  deferred or giuen
• q

  considerately.
• gratifying any.
• q

  alike.
• q

  this is chiefly of Duty.
• q

  euerie one.
• q

  especially.
• aide.
• q

  by the most.
• contrariwise.
• q

  from whome.
• q

  of these things
• respect him.
• chiefly.