And — to say in passing what I think about this other point — it is not quite proper even for a prince to bestow a gift in order to humiliate. “Yet,” it may be said, “Tiberius was not able even in this way to escape what he was trying to avoid; for after this a goodly number were found to make the same request, and he ordered them all to explain to the senate why they were in debt, and under this condition he granted to them specific sums.” But liberality that is not, it is censorship; I get succor, I get a subsidy from the prince — that is no benefit which I am not able to think of without a blush. It was a judge before whom I was summoned; I had to plead a case in order to obtain my request.