第514页 / 共734页

The man who is better than the other thinks that having the

greater share pertains to him of right, for that more is always

awarded to the good man: and similarly the man who is more

profitable to another than that other to him: "one who is

useless," they say, "ought not to share equally, for it comes to

a tax, and not a Friendship, unless the fruits of the Friendship

are reaped in proportion to the works done:" their notion being,

that as in a money partnership they who contribute more receive

more so should it be in Friendship likewise.

On the other hand, the needy man and the less virtuous advance

the opposite claim: they urge that "it is the very business of a

good friend to help those who are in need, else what is the use

of having a good or powerful friend if one is not to reap the

advantage at all?"