ssesses, is common to us, but is the
property of him who owns it; I cannot make use of it against his will.
"You are laughing at me," say you; "if what belongs to my friend is
mine, I am able to sell it." You are not able; for you are not able to
sell your place among the knights' seats, and yet they are in common
between you and the other knights. Consequently, the fact that you
cannot sell a thing, or consume it, or exchange it for the better or the
worse does not prove that it is not yours; for that which is yours under
certain conditions is yours nevertheless.

XIII. I have received, but certainly not less. Not to detain you longer
than is necessary, a benefit can be no more than a benefit; but the
means employed to convey benefits may be both greater and more numerous.
I mean those things by which kindness expresses and gives vent to
itself, like lovers, whose many kisses and close embraces do not
increase their love but give it play.

XIV. The next question which arises has been thoroughly threshed out in
the former books, so here it shall only be touched on shortly; for the
arguments which have been used for other cases can be transferred to it.

The question is, whether one who has done everything in his power to
return a benefit, has returned it. "You may know," says our adversary,
"that he has not returned it, because he did everything in his power to
return it; it is evident, therefore, that he did not not do that which
he did not have an opportunity of doing. A man who searches everywhere
for his creditor without finding him does not thereby pay him what
he owes." Some are in such a position that it is their duty to effect
something material; in the case of others to have done all in their
power to effect it is as good as effecting it. If a physician has done
all in his power to heal his patient he has performed his duty; an
advocate who employs his whole powers of eloquence on his client's
behalf, performs his duty even though his client be convicted; the
generalship even of a beaten commander is praised if he has prudently,
laboriously, and courageously exercised his functions. Your friend has
done all in his power to return your kindness, but your good fortune
stood in his way; no adversity befell you in which he could prove the
truth of his friendship; he could not give you money when you were
rich, or nurse you when you were in health, or help you when you were
succeeding; yet he repaid your kindness,