I see the two as relating to balance yet we have the scales in this card. If it truly were balanced why is the card so 'masculine' - why are there three men?
One of the 'beggers' seems better dressed than the other yet the merchant gives to him first. He doesn't give first according to need. The card is very conscious, there are no subconscious or feminine elements. He is very consciously giving - this is not totally an act of benevolence. The expression on his face is wily, as though he knows he will be rewarded in one way or another by this act, hence he gives to those who can better give back, first. One gets the feeling that he enjoys the power aspect of giving, he isn't doing it for purely philanthropic reasons - there is a method behind his gesture.
It's remininsent of a Christian giving to the poor to ensure their place in heaven - a selfish act of giving. Or a large company giving to charity as a form of tax break. Does he enjoy the poorer fellow begging for his favours? Does he like the fact that these two men are kneeling before him in an act of submission and suplication?
The pentacles surrounding the figures are also tipped on the right hand side. Tipped in favour of the first recipient. The merchant gives with his right hand, his body faces to the right as does his head. Very masculine. The right side of the body can represent the conscious mind - also all that is just and good. Yet, is this act good? I'm sure its result is good, but are the motivations behind the gesture good?
There are five numbers in this card. The six, four, eight, three and two. Two coins hover above the poorly dressed begger. Four coins are given to the first figure in two sets of two. Four coins are left in his hand and the total is eight. Two sets of three coins above the figures and on the right hand side.
The red of the merchants clothing can indicate, among other things earthly desire and the reddish brown of his hat; sensuality. Red is also the colour of passion and will power. A cloak can also represent discretion. He gives at his own discretion.
The yellow of the first recipient is symbolic of consciousness, the green of the other figure: healing, youth, immaturity, fertility and prosperity. Maybe this man has learnt, through experience and maturity, how to give in order to get back. Also, if you look at the way the coins are dropping, it's as though he's doing it deliberately slowly, enjoying that feeling he's getting of power and enjoying the sense of trepidation on the faces of the receivers. He's turned away from the more needy applicant because he wants him to wonder if he will receive anything. He is enjoying tormenting him.
The Scales: Balance, judgement, equilibrium and the symbol of Libra. Yet the scales are tipped, just slightly to the right.
The number six is representative of: the union between Fire and Water and therefore of the human soul, ambivalence and effort, the cessation of effort.
Therefore, maybe this card is a message against materialism, a message to give freely and without calculation. It could be telling the querent that they have reached a comfortable point in life and should now give something back, to society, to the poor, to their family. Without expecting anything in return. To give for the sake of giving. To question what and why they give. To question power play in their lives. To open up to the spiritual, to open up to more feminine elements perhaps.
Also, to examine their problem or question in light of give and take. Is there an imbalance in the situation, is it fair to all parties? Is it fair to the querent? Are they giving simply in order to get back? Have they lost their sense of fair play? Are they forgetting what it felt like to be young, immature and needy?