Which may be literally, or nearly so, according ‘to the best of my knowledge and belief,’ as the affidavits say:—
‘To you I give what I do have: for you I wish what you don’t have:
Golden, indeed, would be my gifts, were Fortune equal to my will.
If you should chance to think this levity, in equal levities have your revenge:
For me wish you what I don’t have: to me give you what you do have.’
Dr. Hume Brown puts it neatly into rhyme thus:—
‘I give you what I have: I wish you what you lack:
And weightier were my gift, were fortune at my back.
Perchance you think I jest? A like jest then I crave:
Wish for me what I lack, and give me what you have.’
Take another in the same strain:—
‘Ad Jacobum, Moraviæ Comitem.
‘Si magis est, ut Christus ait, donare beatum,
Quam de munifica dona referre manu:
Aspice quam faveam tibi: sis ut dando beatus,
Non renuo fieri, te tribuente, miser.’
‘To James, Earl of Moray.
‘If, as Christ says, it is more blessed to give than to receive gifts from a munificent hand, just see what a favour I am doing you: that you may be blessed in giving, I am ready to play miserable receiver to your happy donor.’
Or, to cite Dr. Brown again:—
‘It is more blest, saith Holy Writ, to give than to receive:
How great, then, is your debt to me, who take whate’er you give!’