man than it suited a tyrant for anyone to be. This man, when he was
receiving subscriptions from many of his friends to cover his
expenses in exhibiting public games, would not receive a large sum
which was sent him by Fabius Persicus; and when he was blamed for
rejecting it by those who think more of what is given than of who
gives it, he answered, "Am I to accept a present from a man when I
would not accept his offer to drink a glass of wine with him?"

When a consular named Rebilius, a man of equally bad character,
sent a yet larger sum to Graecinus, and pressed him to receive it.
"I must beg," answered he, "that you will excuse me. I did not take
money from Persicus either." Ought we to call this receiving
presents, or rather taking one's pick of the senate?

XXII. When we have decided to accept, let us accept with
cheerfulness, showing pleasure, and letting the giver see it, so
that he may at once receive some return for his goodness: for as it
is a good reason for rejoicing to see our friend happy, it is a
better one to have made him so. Let us, therefore, show how
acceptable a gift is by loudly expressing our gratitude for it; and
let us do so, not only in the hearing of the giver, but everywhere.
He who receives a benefit with gratitude, repays the first
instalment of it.

XXIII. There are some, who only like to receive benefits privately:
they dislike having any witnesses and confidants. Such men, we may
believe, have no good intentions. As a giver is justified in
dwelling upon those qualities of his gift which will please the
receiver, so a man, when he receives, should do so publicly; you
should not take from a man what you are ashamed to owe him. Some