which carries with it the sanction of all nations; but in dealing
with benefits it is most shameful. "Pay!" How is a man to pay who
owes his life, his position, his safety, or his reason to another?
None of the greatest benefits can be repaid. "Yet," it is said,
"you ought to give in return for them something of equal value."
This is just what I have been saying, that the grandeur of the act
is ruined if we make our benefits commercial transactions. We ought
hot to encourage ourselves in avarice, in discontent, or in
quarrels; the human mind is prone enough to these by nature. As far
as we are able, let us check it, and cut off the opportunities for
which it seeks.

XV. Would that we could indeed persuade men to
receive back money which they have lent from those debtors only who
are willing to pay! would that no agreement ever bound the buyer to
the seller, and that their interests were not protected by sealed
covenants and agreements, but rather by honour and a sense of
justice! However, men prefer what is needful to what is truly best,
and choose rather to force their creditors to keep faith with them
than to trust that they will do so. Witnesses are called on both
sides; the one, by calling in brokers, makes several names appear
in his accounts as his debtors instead of one; the other is not
content with the legal forms of question and answer unless he holds
the other party by the hand. What a shameful admission of the
dishonesty and wickedness of mankind! men trust more to our signet-
rings than to our intentions. For what are these respectable men
summoned? for what do they impress their seals? it is in order that
the borrower may not deny that he has received what he has
received. You regard these men, I suppose, as above bribes, as
maintainers of the truth: well, these very men will not be