Better to donate half of what is asked than lend all. Two farmers ask a priest to lend two measures of grain to each of them. The priest refuses to lend them any but donates one measure to each. Thus he saves two measures — Mythoi

Motif

Better to donate half of what is asked than lend all. Two farmers ask a priest to lend two measures of grain to each of them. The priest refuses to lend them any but donates one measure to each. Thus he saves two measures.

The wise and the foolish. · Cleverness. · Clever practical retorts. · Practical retorts: borrowers and lenders. · view the constellation · filed as J1552.4

Filed across the traditions

Italian Novella Rotunda.

Within the index

Filed under Loans refused.

Filed beside it

The ass consulted about the loan. A man wants to borrow an ass. The owner goes to see what the ass says. The ass is unwilling Three reasons for refusing credit. A man asks for credit, although he has always paid cash before. He is refused on these grounds: either (1) he has never found anyone to trust him, (2) he has never bought anything, or (3) he is rich and does not need an extension of time Man refuses to lend horse: sued for consequent damages. The would-be borrower gets one from another neighbor. He overworks the horse and renders him useless. The owner of the horse sues the man who had refused to lend his animal. Reasoning: "If he had lent his horse this would not have happened to mine." Settled by compromise

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