Part 28

--Matthew Arnold.

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Friendship is power and riches a11 to me; Friendship's another element of life; Water and fire are not of more general use To the support and comfort of the world Than friendship to the being of my joy; I would do everything to serve a friend.

--Southerne.

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For every leaf the loveliest flower, Which beauty sighs for from her bower-- For every star a drop of dew-- For every sun a sky of blue--- For every heart, a heart as true.

--Bailey.

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Friendship receives its crown in marriage when love is mingled with admiration and respect.

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Friendship, one soul in two bodies.

--Pythagoras.

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Friendship! mysterious cement of the soul! Sweet'ner of life, the solder of society! I owe thee much. Thou hast deserved of me Far, far beyond whatever I can pay. Oft have I proved the labors of thy love, And the warm efforts of the gentle heart Anxious to please. O! when my friend and I In some thick wood have wander'd heedless on, Hid from the vulgar eye, and sat us down Upon the sloping cowslip-covered bank, Where the pure limpid stream has slid along, In grateful errors through the under-wood, Sweet murmurings, methought the shrill-tongued thrush Mended his song of love; the sooty blackbird Mellow'd his pipe, and soften'd every note; The eglantine smell'd sweeter, and the rose Assumed a dye more deep. O! then the longest summer's day Seem'd too, too much in haste: still the full heart Had not imparted half: 'tis happiness Too exquisite to last!

--Blair.

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Friendship was given us by nature as the handmaid of virtues, and not as the companion of our vices.

--Cicero.

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Friendships, like trees, bring forth fruit after their kind. Corrupt friendships, corrupt fruit; good friendship, good fruit.

--Diggle.

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Friendship is usually treated by the majority of mankind as a tough and everlasting thing which will survive all manner of bad treatment. But this is an exceedingly great and foolish error; it may die in an hour of a single unwise word.

--Ouida.

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Friendship is a vase, which when it is flawed by heat, or violence, or accident, may as well be broken at once; it can never be trusted after. The more graceful and ornamental it was, the more clearly do we discern the hopelessness of restoring it to its former state. Coarse stones, if they are fractured, may be cemented again; precious ones never.

--Walter Savage Landor.

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