Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/247

 Rh bears a Bunch of Grapes without expecting any Thanks for it. A Fleet Horse or Greyhound, don't use to make a Noise when they have perform'd handsomly, nor a Bee neither when she has made a little Hony : And thus a Man that's rightly Kind, never proclaims a Good Turn, but does another as soon as he can; just like a Vine that bears again the next Season. Now we should imitate Those who are so obliging, as hardly to remember their Beneficence : But you'l say, a Man ought to understand the Quality of his own Actions. 'Tis somewhat natural for One that's Generous, to be Conscious of his Generosity ; yes truly, and to desire the Person oblig'd, should be sensible of it too ; I grant what you say, is in a great measure True : And if you don't take me right, you'l make one of those untoward Benefactors I first mention'd : Indeed, They think their grounds plausible enough; for their Vanity imposes upon them, but if you'l view the case in its true Colours, the privacy of doing a good-turn will never discourage you.

VII. The Athenians us'd to be mighty Clamorous to Jupiter for Rain upon their own Lands, but not a word for other People. Now to my mind, They had e'en better have held their Tongues, or else Rh