71. It is then a special quality of
liberality to redeem captives, Cic. de
Off. II. 16. especially from
barbarian enemies who are moved by no spark of human feeling to show
mercy, except so far as avarice has preserved it with a view to
redemption. It is also a great thing to take upon oneself
another’s debt, if the debtor cannot pay and is hard pressed to
do so, and where the money is due by right and is only left unpaid
through want. So, too, it is a sign of great liberality to bring
up children, and to take care of orphans.