Des bienfaits Chapitre 1

Inspiciamus, Liberalis virorum optime, id quod ex priore parte adhuc superest, quemadmodum dandum sit beneficium ; cuius rei expeditissimam videor monstraturus viam : sic demus, quomodo vellemus accipere. Ante omnia libenter, cito, sine ulla dubitatione. Ingratum est beneficium, quod diu inter dantis manus haesit, quod quis aegre dimittere visus est et sic dare, tamquam sibi eriperet. Etiam si quid intervenit morae, evitemus omni modo, ne deliberasse videamur; proximus est a negante, qui dubitavit, nullamque iniit gratiam. Nam eum in beneficio iucundissima sit tribuentis voluntas, quia nolentem se tribuisse ipsa cunctatione testatus est, non dedit sed adversus ducentem male retinuit ; multi autem sunt, quos liberales facit frontis infirmitas. Gratissima sunt beneficia parata, facilia, occurrentia, ubi nulla mora fuit nisi in accipientis verecundia. Optimum est antecedere desiderium cuiusque, proximum sequi. Illud melius, occupare ante quam rogemur, quia, cum homini probo ad rogandum os concurrat et suffundatur rubor, qui hoc tormentum remittit, multiplicat munus suum. Non tulit gratis, qui, cum rogasset, accepit, quoniam quidem, ut maioribus nostris gravissimis viris visum est, nulla res carius constat, quam quae precibus empta est. Vota homines parcius facerent, si palam facienda essent ; adeo etiam deos, quibus honestissime supplicamus, tacite malumus et intra nosmet ipsos precari.

Let us consider, most excellent Liberalis, what still remains of the earlier part of the subject; in what way a benefit should be bestowed. I think that I can point out the shortest way to this; let us give in the way in which we ourselves should like to receive. Above all we should give willingly, quickly, and without any hesitation; a benefit commands no gratitude if it has hung for a long time in the hands of the giver, if he seems unwilling to part with it, and gives it as though he were being robbed of it. Even though some delay should intervene, let us by all means in our power strive not to seem to have been in two minds about giving it at all. To hesitate is the next thing to refusing to give, and destroys all claim to gratitude. For just as the sweetest part of a benefit is the kindly feeling of the giver, it follows that one who has by his very delay proved that he gives unwillingly, must be regarded not as having given anything, but as having been unable to keep it from an importunate suitor. Indeed, many men are made generous by want of firmness. The most acceptable benefits are those which are waiting for us to take them, which are easy to be received, and offer themselves to us, so that the only delay is caused by the modesty of the receiver. The best thing of all is to anticipate a person's wishes; the next, to follow them; the former is the better course, to be beforehand with our friends by giving them what they want before they ask us for it, for the value of a gift is much enhanced by sparing an honest man the misery of asking for it with confusion and blushes. He who gets what he asked for does not get it for nothing, for indeed, as our austere ancestors thought, nothing is so dear as that which is bought by prayers. Men would be much more modest in their petitions to heaven, if these had to be made publicly; so that even when addressing the gods, before whom we can with all honour bend our knees, we prefer to pray silently and within ourselves.

Poursuivons, vertueux Libéralis, ce qui nous reste à dire de la première partie : comment faut il donner ? Sur ce point, la voie la plus courte à indiquer est, ce me semble, celle-ci : donnons, comme nous voudrions recevoir ; mais avant tout, donnons de bon cœur, sans retard, sans nulle hésitation. On ne sait point gré d’un bienfait qui est resté longtemps cloué aux mains du bienfaiteur, qu’il semblait ne lâcher qu’avec peine, comme Si si lui-même se l’arrachait. Et si quelque retardement vient à la traverse, évitons à tout prix de paraître avoir délibéré. L’hésitation touche de près au refus et n’ aucun titre à la gratitude : comme en effet le grand charme du don est dans la bonne volonté de l’auteur, celui qui par sa lenteur même a fait preuve de mauvais vouloir, n’a pas donné ; il s’est laissé prendre ce qu’il n’a pas su retenir. Libéralité chez ; bien des gens n’est qu’impuissance de refuser en face. Les bienfaits les plus agréés sont ceux qui viennent d’eux-mêmes, faciles et empressés, et qui n’éprouvent de délai que par la pudeur de l’obligé. Le chef-d’œuvre de la bienfaisance est de prévenir les vœux ; sa seconde gloire est de les suivre, « Il sera donc mieux d’aller au-devant de la prière, parce que l’honnête homme qui sollicite a la physionomie contrainte et la rougeur au front : épargnons-lui cette gêne, nous l’obligerons deux fois » . Il n’a point obtenu gratis, s’il a demandé pour recevoir ; car, et nos sages ancêtres le pensaient, rien ne coûte comme ce qui s’achète avec des prières. On serait plus sobre de vœux, s’il les fallait émettre publiquement ; tant y a que même pour s’adresser aux dieux, qu’on peut certes supplier sans honte, on aime mieux le faire dans le silence et le secret du cœur.