For then would he himself
be likely to lack work. For surely the rich man's substance is the
wellspring of the poor man's living. And therefore here would it
fare by the poor man as it fared by the woman in one of AEsop's
fables. She had a hen that laid her every day a golden egg, till on
a day she thought she would have a great many eggs at once. And
therefore she killed her hen and found but one or twain in her
belly, so that for a few she lost many.
But now, cousin, to come to your doubt how it can be that a man
may with conscience keep riches with him, when he seeth so many
poor men on whom he may bestow them. Verily, that might he not
with conscience do, if he must bestow it upon as many as he can.
And so much of truth every rich man do, if all the poor folk that
he seeth are so specially by God's commandment committed unto his
charge alone that, because our Saviour said, "Give to every man
who asketh thee," therefore he is bound to give out still to every
beggar who will ask him, as long as any penny lasteth in his
purse. But verily, cousin, that saying hath (as St. Austine saith
other places in scripture have) need of interpretation. For, as
holy St. Austine saith, though Christ say, "Give to every man who
asketh thee," he saith not yet, "Give them all that they will ask
thee.
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