Tal por tal, like for like, or One good turn deserves another! If this has in all ages been esteemed a duty, in our commerce with persons who are indifferent to us, we are in a particular manner called upon to observe it, in our conduct to our parents, and to make the best return in our power, for their care in nourishing and supporting us in our infancy; for imbuing our minds with good principles; for cultivating and improving our understandings, and thereby enabling us to support ourselves in a mature age, and to fill with credit that rank, or situation in life, in which we may happen to be placed. The vine dresser, whom King Henry the Fourth of France is said to have met with in his rambles, seems to have understood and practised this duty, in a meritorious manner. «Having said, he earned forty sous a day, the king demanded in what manner he disposed of the money. He divided his earnings, he told the monarch, into four parts. With the first he nourished himself; with the second he paid his debts; the third he laid out at interest, and the fourth he threw away. This not being intelligible, the king desired an explanation. You observe, Sir, says the man, that I begin with applying the first part to my own maintenance, with the second I support my parents who nourished me, when I was incapable of supporting myself, and so pay my debt of gratitude; with the third I maintain my children, who may at some future time be called upon to return the like service to me; this part therefore is laid out at interest; the fourth is paid in taxes, which, though intended for the service of the king, is principally swallowed up by the collectors, and therefore may be said to be thrown away».
Something similar to the reasoning of this good man, is contained in the following enigmatical epitaph, which was inscribed on the tombstone of Robert of Doncaster.

«What I gave, that I have;
What I spent, that I had;
What I left, that I lost».

By prudence in the distribution of his benevolence, by giving only to good and deserving persons, he procured to himself friends, on whose advice and assistance he might depend, whenever occasion should require it; and by expending only what he could conveniently spare, and laying it out on such things as administered to his comfort, he enjoyed, and therefore had what he expended; but what he left, not being enjoyed by himself, nor going, perhaps, to persons of his choice, or being used in the manner he would have preferred, that portion might be truly said to be lost.

Like for like, or one good turn deserves another; we say also, give him a Rowland for his Oliver. Dionysius, having engaged a musician to entertain his company, to induce him to exert himself he promised to give him a reward proportioned to the amusement he should afford his guests; the singer, in the hope of obtaining a splendid present, selected some of his choicest pieces of music, which he performed with such excellent skill as to give entire satisfaction to the audience: on applying for his pay, he was told he had already received par pari, like for like. The pleasure he had enjoyed in expecting the reward, balancing that which the company had received in hearing him sing; he had also the further satisfaction of hearing his performance highly extolled, which is too often the only emolument that men of genius are able to obtain for their labours.