1You praise to me your friend Nonius, often in person and now by letter, for being generous towards certain people: I too praise him, provided it is not towards these alone. 1For I want the man who is truly generous to give to his country, his relatives, his connections by marriage, his friends — but I mean poor friends — not like those who give above all to those who are best able to give. 2These men, I think, with their limed and hooked gifts, are not bringing out their own property but snatching that of others. 2Of a similar character are those who take from one what they give to another, and seek a reputation for generosity through greed.
3The first thing is to be content with one's own, and the next, supporting and cherishing those whom you know to be especially in need, to embrace them in a kind of circle of fellowship. 3If that man of yours does all this, he is to be praised in every respect; 3if just one thing, less indeed, but to be praised all the same: so rare is an example even of imperfect generosity. 4Such a lust for having has seized mankind that men seem to be possessed rather than to possess. 4Farewell.