self a twitch of the ear. I will punish my own rashness in
promising by the loss of what I gave. "See how grieved you are; mind you
take more care what you say in future." As the saying is, I will take
tongue money from you. If the matter be important, I will not, as
Maecenas said, let ten million sesterces reproach me. I will weigh the
two sides of the question one against the other: there is something in
abiding by what you have promised; on the other hand, there is a great
deal in not bestowing a benefit upon one who is unworthy of it. Now, how
great is this benefit? If it is a trifling one, let us wink and let it
pass; but if it will cause me much loss or much shame to give it, I had
rather excuse myself once for refusing it than have to do so ever after
for giving it. The whole point, I repeat, depends upon how much the
thing given is worth: let the terms of my promise be appraised. Not only
shall I refuse to give what I may have promised rashly, but I shall also
demand back again what I may have wrongly bestowed: a man must be mad
who keeps a promise made under a mistake.

XXXVII. Philip, king of the Macedonians, had a hardy soldier whose
services he had found useful in many campaigns. From time to time he
made this man presents of part of the plunder as the reward of his
valour, and used to excite his greedy spirit by his frequent gifts. This
man was cast by shipwreck upon the estate of a certain Macedonian,
who as soon as he heard the news hastened to him, restored his breath,
removed him to his own farmhouse, gave up his own bed to him, nursed him
out of his weakened and half-dead condition, took care of him at his own
expense for thirty days, restored him to health and gave him a sum of
money for his journey, as the man kept constantly saying, "If only I
can see my chief, I will repay your kindness." He told Philip of his
shipwreck, said nothing about the help which he had received, and at
once demanded that a certain man's estate should be given to him.
The man was a friend of his: it was that very man by whom he had been
rescued and restored to health. Sometimes, especially in time of war,
kings bestow many gifts with their eyes shut. One just man cannot deal
with such a mass of armed selfishness. It is not possible for any one
to be at the same time a good man and a good general. How are so many
thousands of insatiable men to be satiated? What would they have,
if every man had his own? Thus Philip reasoned w