147
A Bishop entertaining several Prelates at Dinner, had a Side-board Table covered with a Set of large and fine Plate, made by the best Artists; and as his Brethren admir’d the Magnificence of it: I bought it, said he to them, in order to relieve the Poor of my Diocese: My Lord, answer’d one of the Prelates, You might very well have sav’d them the making. Giving him to understand by this answer, that he had purchas’d that Plate not so much out of Charity, as out of Pride and Vanity.
147
Un Evêque donnant à Diner à plusieurs Prelats, fit dresser un Buffet composé de beaux & grands Ouvrages d’argenterie, faits par les meilleurs Ouvriers. Et comme ses Confreres admiroient la magnificence de ce Buffet, Je l’ai acheté, leur dit-il, à dessein d’en assister les Pauvres de mon Diocese: Monseigneur, lui repondit un de ces Prelats, vous auriez pû leur en épargner la façon. Lui faisant entendre par cette réponse, que sa charité avoit eu moins de part que sa vanité & son luxe en l’achapt de cette Vaisselle.