Part 26

A faithful friend is the true image of the Deity.

--Napoleon.

* * * * *

As I love nature, as I love singing birds, and gleaming stubble, and flowing rivers, and morning, and evening, and summer, and winter, I love thee, my friend.

--Thoreau.

* * * * *

A poet might sing you his sweetest of songs, But this must the poet have known: Of the heart whose love to you only belongs, Whose strength would be spent to save you from wrongs Of a soul knit to yours with the mightiest thongs, And sing them for you alone!

An artist might paint you a picture fair; That would equal the greatest known; But the heart of a friend, to do and to dare, To save you from sorrow, and trial, and care, Is something an artist, paint he ever so rare, Has never on canvas shown!

* * * * *

Ancient Menander accounted him happy that had but met the shadow of a true friend; verily he had reason to say so, especially if he had tasted of any; for truly, if I compare all the rest of my forepassed life, which, although I have, by the mere mercy of God, passed at rest and ease, and except the loss of so dear a friend, free from all grievous affliction, with an ever quietness of mind, as one that have taken my natural and original commodities in good payment, without searching any others; if, as I say, I compare it all unto the four years I so happily enjoyed the sweet company and most dear society of that worthy man, it is nought but a vapor, nought but a dark and irksome light.

I do but languish, I do but sorrow; and even those pleasures all things present me with, instead of yielding me comfort, do but redouble the grief of his loss. We were co-partners in all things. All things were with us at half; methinks I have stolen his part from him. I was so accustomed to be ever two, and so inured to be never single, that methinks I am but half myself.

--Montaigne.

* * * * *

A friend's bosom Is the inmost cave of our own mind Where we sit from the wide gaze of day And from the all-communicating air.

--Shelley.

* * * * *

A generous friendship no cold medium knows, Burns with one love, with one resentment glows; One should our interests and our passions be, My friend must hate the man that injures me.

--Pope.

* * * * * A friend should bear his friend's infirmities.

--Shakespeare.

* * * * *

Be yourself, simple, honest, and unpretending, and you will enjoy through life the respect and love of friends.

--Sherman.

* * * * *

Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or friends. Turn the old; return to them.

--Thoreau.

* * * * *

A man can scarce allege his own merits with modesty, much less extol them; a man cannot sometimes brook to supplicate or beg; and a number of the like; but all these things are graceful in a friend's mouth which are blushing in a man's own.