It was the first time in the history of the Republic that such honors had been voted, for Venice was not wont to be over-generous in recognition of individual service; and this friend of statesmen, scholars, and princes temporal and spiritual, preserved the greatness of his simplicity unspoiled in prosperity and poweras was possible only to a spirit ruled by inflexible principle and faith.

Vergil in his eighth Eclogue, perhaps with over-generous praise, compares these plays with those of Sophocles.

To me you have always been over-generous.