Part 32

Of all the heavenly gifts that mortal men commend, What trusty treasure in the world can countervail a friend? Our health is soon decayed; goods, casual, light and vain; Broke have we seen the force of power, and honor suffer stain. In body's lust man doth resemble but base brute; True virtue gets and keeps a friend, good guide of our pursuit. Whose hearty zeal with ours accords in every case; No term of time, no space of place, no storm can it deface.

--Nicholas Grimoald.

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When we have fallen through story after story of our vanity and aspiration, and sit rueful among the ruins, then it is that we begin to measure the stature of our friends; how they stand between us and our own contempt, believing in our best.

--Stevenson.

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Reason is the torch of friendship, judgment its guide, tenderness its aliment.

--De Bonald.

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Some I remember and will ne'er forget My early friends, friends of my evil day; Friends in my mirth, friends in my misery too, Friends given by God in mercy and in love; My counsellors, my comforters, and guides; My joy in grief, my second bliss in joy; Companions of my young desires; in doubt My oracles; my wings in high pursuit. Oh, I remember, and will ne'er forget Our meeting spots, our chosen sacred hours; Our burning words that utter'd all the soul; Our faces beaming with unearthly love; Sorrow with sorrow sighing, hope with hope Exulting, heart embracing heart entire.

--R. Pollok.

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Some love the glow of outward show, Some love mere wealth, and try to win it; The house to me may lowly be, If I but like the people in it!

What's all the gold that glitters cold, When link'd to hard or haughty feeling? Whate'er we're told, the nobler gold Is truth of heart and manly dealing!

Then let them seek, whose minds are weak, Mere fashion's smile, and try to win it; The house to me may lowly be, If I but like the people in it!

--Swain.

* * * * * Talk not of wasted affection, Affection never was wasted; If it enrich not the heart of another, Its waters returning Back to their springs like the rain, Shall fill them full of refreshment; That which the fountain sends forth Returns again to the fountain.

--Longfellow.

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There is no greater bane to friendship than adulation, fawning, and flattery. For this vice should be branded under as many names as possible, being that of worthless and designing men, who say everything with a view of pleasing, and nothing with regard to truth. Now while hypocrisy in all things is blamable (for it does away with all judgment of truth, and adulterates truth itself), so especially is it repugnant to friendship, for it destroys all truth, without which the name of friendship can avail nothing.

--Cicero.

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These things do not require to be spoken; there is something in the hand grip and the look in the eye that makes you know your man.

--Chambers.

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The man who prefers his dearest friend to the call of duty will soon show that he prefers himself to his dearest friend.

--Robertson.

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