Gesta Romanorum Vol. I (1871)/Of Fidelity (b)

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Of Extortion

Gesta Romanorum Vol. I (1871)
Anonymous, translated by Charles Swan

Of Fidelity

Of good Rulers, who are not to be changed

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There is another story in this volume with the same title: Of Fidelity.

Anonymous2268557Gesta Romanorum Vol. I — Of Fidelity1871Charles Swan

TALE LII.

OF FIDELITY.

Valerius (53) records, that Fabius redeemed certain captives by the promise of a sum of money; which when the senate refused to confirm, he sold all the property he possessed, and with the produce paid down the stipulated sum, caring less to be thought poor in lands than poor in honesty.

APPLICATION.

My beloved, Fabius is Christ, who at the expence of life, ransomed mankind from eternal death.

Note 53.⁠Page 173.

The occasion of this noble proceeding is thus detailed. "Captivos ab Annibale interposita pactione nummorum receperat. Qui cum a senatu non præstarentur, misso in Urbem filio, fundum, quem unicum possidebat, vendidit, ejusque pretium Annibali protinus numeravit. Si ad calculos revocetur, parvum, utpote septem jugeribus, et hoc in Pupinia addictis, redactum: si animo erogantis, omni pecunia majus. Se enim patrimonii, quam patriam fidei, inopem esse maluit: eo quidem majore commendatione, quod proni studii certius indicium est supra vires niti, quam viribus ex facili uti. Alter enim quod potest, præstat: alter etiam plus quam potest."^[1] Valerius Maximus, Lib. iv. c. 8. Ex. 1.

The Fabius of whom this is told, is Fabius Maximus.

↑ Rough translation of the Latin: He had recovered some captives from Hannibal, after agreeing to pay a sum of money. When the Senate refused to supply the funds, he sent his son to the City to sell the only estate that he owned, and immediately remitted the proceeds to Hannibal. The actual amount involved was rather small, given that the estate was a mere four and a half acres in Pupinia, but the spirit shown was greater than any riches, for he preferred to see himself deprived of the inheritance from his father, rather than see his fatherland deprived of honor. This is all the more laudable, in that exerting oneself beyond one's strength is a clearer proof of dedicated zeal than is the easy deployment of sufficient strength. The one does what he can, the other does even more than he can. (Wikisource contributor note)

[1] Rough translation of the Latin: He had recovered some captives from Hannibal, after agreeing to pay a sum of money. When the Senate refused to supply the funds, he sent his son to the City to sell the only estate that he owned, and immediately remitted the proceeds to Hannibal. The actual amount involved was rather small, given that the estate was a mere four and a half acres in Pupinia, but the spirit shown was greater than any riches, for he preferred to see himself deprived of the inheritance from his father, rather than see his fatherland deprived of honor. This is all the more laudable, in that exerting oneself beyond one's strength is a clearer proof of dedicated zeal than is the easy deployment of sufficient strength. The one does what he can, the other does even more than he can. (Wikisource contributor note)

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