then the speaches of others Seuen sages of Greece Socrates onely adiudged vvise The true rycheste are the giftes of he minde ConstaÌ„cy Cato a vviseman Death of freendes greeuous To be ouer sorovvful for the death of them that dye vvell is to repyne at their vvelfare better state When he vvas but 22. yeares of age Carthage and Numantia Oldage Scipio brought home froÌ„ the Senat house honorablye Immortality of the soule Immortality of the soule What frendship is There haue not ben found aboue thre or fovver couples of perfect frends in manye hundred yeres space FreÌ„dship to be estemed more then all vvorldlye thinges FreÌ„dship onelye amonge good meÌ„ Nature the beste guide to frame our lyues by Order of FreÌ„dship What frendship is FreÌ„dshyp the beste thig next vnto vvisedome FreÌ„dshyp cannot be vvhere vertue is not â—Coâ—â—â—ditiâ—◠〈◊〉 FreÌ„dâ—â—â—â—â—â— FreÌ„dship no lesse necessarye then the Elements A true faythfull frend is as mannes ovvnse Withoute FreÌ„dshyp al things goe to hauocke and decaye Empedocles affirmed that the vvorlde and al thinges consisted of Frendeship Pylades Orestes vvherefore Freendes be sought for Loue. FreÌ„dshyp natural Vertue Pyrrhus Hannibal Loue confirmed by Benefites Base peda grevv of FreÌ„dship Scipio Laelius ij perfecte frendes Good turnes plesures laid out to vsurye FreÌ„dshyp must not be desired for profit Nature caÌ„not bee chaunged ne yet Frendship Continuance of FreÌ„dship Children in Freendshipp and loâ—e nevv fangled Couetousnes a great plague to FreÌ„dship Hovv far the bouÌ„ds of frendeshyp stretche CoÌ„motioÌ„ of Coriolanus A manne must not for his fredes sake do anye thing that is eyther vnlavvful or vnhonest Capitol Blosius desperate aunsvver Such aâ— vnexcusable as do attempte any thing vnlavvful to pleasure their frendes Requesâ—â—â— of frendâ— to frend As greate an offeÌ„ce to graunt an vnlavv full sute as to requeste it An vnhonest request must be denied There is not suche iuste dealinges among meÌ„ novv a dayes as was in the olde timâ— By these tvvo lavves made by Gabimus and Cassius the goods of certein good Citizens vvere vvholy forfeited proclamation made that they theÌ„ selues vvhere euer they vver fouÌ„d mighte lavvfully be slaine and a revvard a pointed for the sleiar If our freÌ„des conspyre against the coÌ„mon vvealthe vve ought to forsake them We oughte not to seeke the spoyle of oure countrye for anye iniury to vs done Coriolanus A noble and moste worthye care Lavvfull requestes graunts of frends one to an other Frendes maye not flatter but freelye boldlye aduertise counsel one an other Epicures FreÌ„dship is as the shininge Sun in the vvorlde We muste euer bee doinge of good Propertie of a vvell staid mind A man void of al affectioÌ„s is like a logg or a stone A preposterous absurde delight Enterchaungeable requitall of curtesies Likenes of manners and delights causethe FreÌ„dship Nature One vertuous maÌ„ loueth an other Vertue disdaigneth no man. Goodvvill of a Freende is more to be respected then the gaine that may be gotten by him A frend is best knovven in time of necessity True freÌ„dship sekes not after gaine Al vvorldly treasure vvithout a freÌ„d is to no purpose A TyrauÌ„ts lyfe We caÌ„not loue them of vvhom vve stand in feare Aduersitie tryeth Freends Riches blindeth men Fortune Frendes the beste treasure Bounds of Frendship Three opinions of Frendshippe 1 2 3 We caÌ„not do to mutch in freÌ„dshyp Comfort cheering of Frendes A saying repugnaÌ„t to frendshyp Among honeste frendes al thinges should be coÌ„moÌ„ Novv and then vvee must not sticke to step a little aside to saue our frendes life or credite Goodvvil of the people Tryal of Frendes Money Money novv a dayes more set by theÌ„ FreÌ„dship True freÌ„dship hard to befouÌ„d amonge great meÌ„ Men are loath to take parte vvith their freende in trouble A faithful frende in vveale and vvoe Choise of a frende A ruÌ„ning head A frend must neyther be a tale bearer nor a tale credirer Good meÌ„ Dissimulation An open enemie better theÌ„ a dissemblinge frende Suspicion Pleasaunt talke Curteous maners SulleÌ„nes Whether nevv or olde frendes be better Prouerbe Nevv acquaintance Old Familiaritye Custome A chiefe point in freÌ„dshipp ReuereÌ„ce to our elder A notable lesson Loue tovvards parentes Inferiors muste not repine at their superiors Vpbrayding of pleasures We ought to remember a good turne A man caÌ„not aduaunce al his freÌ„ds Respect in preferment of freendes FreÌ„dshyp to be iudged at ful grovven age Playfellovves compaignions in youth Nurses Tutors Vnlike maners dissolueth FreÌ„dship Wee must not be too fond ouer our frends againste their profite Fond loue 〈…〉 Requests must bee vvarely vvaighed Vulgare FreÌ„dshyp Hovv and vvheÌ„ vve must geue a frend ouer Warines to be vsed A dishonest part Hovv clenly Scipio shifted himselfe from the Frendship of ij that had bene hys freends A good caueat to be remembred Who bee vvorthy to be loued All excellent thinges are rare The commoÌ„ guise of the vvorlde novv a dayes Who is a frende A peruers reckening A freende must bee a good man No vnlavvfull request must bee made to our frends Reuerent avve or modest bashfulnes in freÌ„dshyppe FreÌ„dshyp an aide to vertue The right felovvship Happy lyfe A vvyse sententious couÌ„sel Al men generally agree that FreÌ„dshyp is moste profitable Vertue despised Ryches Promotion FreÌ„dship generally praysed Euery seuerall mannes lyfe requireth frendship Tymon a hater of al companie All pleasure and plentye vvithout companie vnpleasaÌ„t Solttarines Architas Tarentinê° Nature loueth no solitarines Wee must frendlye admonish and chide our frend Flattrye getteth frendes Truth Flattrye is to bee eschued Truth must bee heard A vvise saying of Cato An absur de reckening Propertie of true Frèdshyp Flatterye the greatest plage in Frendeshyp Dissimulation In Eunucho Gnato Hurtfull flatterye Papyrius Pithy Oration of Scipio 〈…〉 They most â—oue flattry vvhich be flatterers of themselues Vertue Manye vvoulde rather seeme honest then be honest in deede Men that set by theÌ„selues are easy to beleeue flatterers Thraso Gnato Flatterye of a litle maketh a great deal Conclusion of this matter Vertue Amor Amicitia ab Aman do To loue vvhat it is Lyke delighteth vvith like The fame of a vvorthy man neuer dyeth A true frend is the surest possession Effects of FreÌ„dships Ennius Because he vvas called Atticus For the Ciuile discension For Cato by interpretacion signifieth a vvittye man To resiste againste Nature is to keepe vvarre against the Gods. Like to like Themistocles Fittest vvepons for Oldage * By this Lavv professors of Rhetorik and pleaders of lavve might take no monie for their labor but do it of a certeâ— noblâ—â—es of minde Ennius A taunt pretelye rebouÌ„ded backe again Novv called Marca Anconitana Gallia Cisalpina novv LuÌ„bardy Prayse of Fabius Plato dyed as hee sate vvryting Which coÌ„teyned the prayses of Minerua her feastes at Athens vvherein all learned men shevved forth their Cunning A vvorthy aunsvver Ennius * By this lavv a maÌ„ hauing no Children but daughters
whiche is the Wellspringe of Freendshippe appointed by Nature But this same goodnesse apperteyneth also to the common sort For Vertue is not churlish not exempted not statelye or proude for her custome is to preserue all men in generall and to doe the best for them that shee can whiche thynge doubtlesse shee woulde not doe if shee disoayned or thought skorne of the loue of the vulgar sort Furthermore me thinckes that they whiche for profite sake feigne Freendeshippe do take awaye the louelyest knot that is in Freendshippe For the profit gayned by a freende doeth not so muche delice as doth the very loue of a freend And then is that which commeth from a mans freende pleasaunt if it proceede of an hartie loue and good will. And so farre of is it that Freendshippe shoulde bee desired for needinesse that they which beinge endued with wealth Riches and speciallye with Vertue wherein is most ayd not standing in neede of any other are men most liberal bouÌ„tifull And I know not whether it be expedient and meete that frendes should neuer want any thing at all For wherein should my hartie goodwill haue appeared if Scipio had neuer stoode in neede neyther at home in time of peace nor abroade in time of warres of my fauour couÌ„sel assistauÌ„ce Therfore Frendship prowles not after profit but profit ensueth Frendship And therefore men that slow in wealthe are not to be hearde if at any time they dispute of Frendship wherof they haue neither by Practise neyther by knowledge anye vnderstandinge For what man is hee I pray you in good sadnesse that would desire to wallowe in all wealth and liue in all abundaunce of worldlye Rychesse and neyther hee to loue any body nor any to loue him For this were a life such as Tirantes lyue to witte wherin there can be no fidelity no harty loue no trust of assured goodwil al thinges euermore suspected ful of care no place at al for Frendship For who caÌ„ either loue him whoÌ„ hee feareth or him of whoÌ„ he thiÌ„keth himselfe to be feared notwithstanding such persons be honored crowched vnto by a couÌ„terfeit shew of FreÌ„dship only for a time But if it happen as ofteÌ„times it doth that they haue a downfal theÌ„ is it wel perceiued how bare naked of frendes they were Which thing the report goeth that Tarquiniê° said that at suche time as hee was banished hee throughly vnderstood what faithful freÌ„des he had who were vnfaithful wheÌ„ as he was not able to require or gratify nether of theÌ„ Howbeit I do meruaile if in the his proude insolent life hee could haue any frend at al. And as this mans maners whoÌ„ I last meÌ„tioned could not procure any true freÌ„ds so that great welth of meÌ„ set in high power authoritye do quite shut out al faithful FreÌ„dship For Fortune is not onely blinde but for the most parte also shee maketh theÌ„ starke blinde whom shee fauoureth And therfore commonly they are puffed vp with disdaynfulnesse and selfe will and there is nothinge so wearisome as a wealthye man beeing foolishe And this may we see that some which afore time were of manners gentle nothing squeimish if they bee reysed to rule authoritye and wealth are cleane chaunged and vtterlie dispisinge their olde Frendshippes cleane vnto new But what foolisher thinge is there then for a man to th ende he maye beare greate Porte and Swaye throughe hys wealth rychesse and reuenues to get other things that are sought for as monye Horses Seruauntes Apparayle Worshippe and costlye Plate and not to gette freendes being the best and as I may say the goodlyest furniture that can bee in this lyfe For other thinges when they are gotten they know not for whoÌ„ they haue gotten theÌ„ nor for whose vse and behoofe they labour For euerye whit of all these is his that can winne it with maine strengthe but the possession of Freendshippe once gotten remayneth and continueth vnto euerye man stedfast and assured and although these other thinges should continue whiche are but as it were the Giftes of Fortune yet a clownish life deuoide of freendes cannot be pleasaunte But of these matters hytherto Now must we set down the Bounds that are in Frendshippe as it were the Lymites or Buttinges of Loue whereof I doe see three opinions of the which I do allow neuer a one One is that wee shoulde in the very same sort be affected towardes our freÌ„d as wee be towardes our selues An other is that oure goodwyll towards our frendes be likewise equally correspondeÌ„t to their good wil towards vs. The thirde that so much as euerye man setteth by himselfe so much hee should be set by of his frendes To none at al of these three opinions do I agree For the firste is not true that as euery man is towardes himselfe so also shoulde hee bee affected towardes his freende For how many thinges do wee for oure Freendes sake which wee woulde neuer doe for our owne cause As to crouche sue in oure freendes behalfe to an vnworthye man to bee sore bent against any body and to rattle him vp very sharpely which things to do in cases of oure owne standeth not well with honestye but in our frendes behalfe are most honest coÌ„mendable And manye things there be wherein honest men do abridge themselues somewhat of theire owne gaines and are well contented that it should so be that their frendes rather then themselues might enioy them The second opinion is it which defineth Frendeship with equal Curtesies wills but truly this were too strict dealiÌ„g to cal Frendshippe to accouÌ„t reckning how many pleasures haue bene done to thinteÌ„t so many may again be receiued Me thinkes that true Frendshippe is a greate dease richer and pleÌ„tifuller and doth not so strictly see to his recknings that he graunt no more theÌ„ he receiued For there is no such feare to bee taken least there be any thinge lost or leaste it should be spilt vpoÌ„ the grouÌ„d or least we heap vp too much measure in FreÌ„dship The third Bound or End is worst of al whiche is that howe much euerye man setteth by himselfe so much hee shoulde be set by of his frends In some there is manye times eyther a quayled courage or a comfortles hope of amending their estate Therefore it is not a freendes parte to be suche vnto him as hee is to himselfe but hee ought rather to study and deuise which way hee maye recomforte the appalied mynde of his freende and to put him in good hope of a better amendement Wee must therfore prescribe an other kind of true Frendship but first I wyl tel you what thing it was that Scipio was wont most to find fault withal He sayd that there coulde not bee deuised anye worde more directlye againste Freendshippe then his was which sayde
whether new frēdes being not vnworthy of Frendship ought to bee preferred and more set by then the old as we vse to set more store by younge Horses then wee doe by olde ones A doubt doubtlesse vnsemely for a mā to stand vpon For there ought not to be saciety of frendship as there is of other thinges The oldest like olde Wynes ought to be pleasaūtest true is the old common Prouerbe that wee must eate manye Bushels of Salte together with those with whom wee shall throughlye perfourme all the partes of Freendeshyppe But newe Acquaintaunces if there bee hope that they wyll as younge towardly shootes and fructifying budds bringe foorthe fruict are not surely to bee refused but yet notwithstāding old familiaritye muste still bee continued in his due place and estimation For the force of Auncientnesse and Custome is exceedinge greate And as touchinge the Horse wherof I spake erewhile if there bee no cause of lette to the contrary there is no man but had leyfer occupie him whom hee hath beene vsed vnto then one that is straunge to hym and vntamed And not onelye in this which is a liuing Creature doeth Custome beare greate Swaye but in thynges also that are without Lyfe is it of the lyke force For euen in Hyllyshe and Wyelde Countryes wherein wee haue of a long dwelled we haue a pleasure delight still to continue But this is a very high pointe in Frēdshyp that the Superiour is equal with the Inferiour For there be oftentymes certain preheminences as that was of Scipio in our fraternitie Hee neuer aduaunced nor preferred hymselfe before Philus neuer before Rutilius neuer before Mummius neuer before his other freends of baser calling But Q. Maximus his brother a man doubtles right excellent but yet nothing like him beecause he was his Elder he reuerēced as his better and was willing that all hys freendes should fare the better by him Which thing is both to bee done to be imitated of all men that if they surmount their freendes in any excellencye of Vertue Witte and Fortune they should imparte the same to theyr freendes and communicate it ioyntlye with their Familiers as if they bee borne of baser parētage if they haue kinredde of smaller power and abilitie eyther in mind or substaūce thei ought to enlarge encrease their wealth and to be an honour and dignitie to their estate As we do read in Fables of some which hauīg continued for a certaine time in the state of meane seruauntes because their lignage Stocke was not knowen but after that they were knowen and found to be the Sōnes either of Gods or of Kinges did yet stil beare a zealous goodwil towardes the Sheepeheardes whom many yeares they tooke to be their own fathers Which thing surelye is muche more to be done towardes our true and well knowen fathers For then speciallye is the fruict of all witte Vertue excellencie taken when it is bestowed on him that is neerest to vs alied Euen as they therefore which in the familiaritye of entier Frendshippe bee superiours higher in degree ought to abase make themselues equal with their inferiors so ought not inferiors to be greued if their frends either in wit state or dignity do excell and go beyond them Of which sort many either are whyninge for somewhat or els doe twighte vpbrayde their Benefites namelye if they thincke they haue ought that they may say they haue done for their freendes curteously freendly and with some paynes and crauayle These vpbrayders of pleasures are surelye an odious kinde of people which pleasures he ought to remember on whō they were bestowed not hee that did bestowe them Wherfore as they which bee Superioures and of higher calling ought in Freendshippe to abase themselues So after a force should Inferiours aduaūce and put foorth themselues For there be some which make Frendeshyp vnpleasaunt yrkesome when as they thinck themselues to be cōtemned not cared for Which thinge happneth almoste to none but to suche as thinck themselues worthy to be contemned whiche muste not only by words but also by deedes be reclaymed from that opinion And first a man must doe asmuche for his frend as he is possibly able next asmuch as that party whō he loueth would further is able to discharge For a man cannot bring al his frends though he be neuer in such high authoritie himselfe to honorable aduauncemente as Scipio was able to make Rutilius Consul but his brother Lucius hee could not Yea admit that you could prefer your freend to what you lust yet must ther be a respect had how he is able to discharge the place of his preferment Wee must also thinke that Frendshyp can not be but in wittes Ages throughly stayed fully growen Neyther stādeth it vppon anye point of necessitie that they which in their boyes age phāsied others for some common delighte whiche they had together in Huntinge and Tenis playe should still take them as their verye deare Freendes whom they then loued and fauoured because they tooke pleasure in the same delightes that thei themselues did For so should Nurses and ouerseers of Chyldren by reason of olde acquaintaunce chalenge verye much who in deede muste not bee neglecttd or sleightly passed vppon but yet are after an other sorte to bee loued and regarded For otherwise Freendeshippe cannot long continue stedfast For vnlyke manners pursue vnlyke delightes the dissimilitude whereof disseuereth Frendshippes Neyther is it for any other cause that goodmen cānot bee freendes with the naughty and wicked then for that there is such greate oddes and difference in maners affections betwene them as possibly can bee It may also be geeuen for a good lesson in Frendship that no man through a certaine intemperate and fonde goodwil do binder as many times it happeneth the great profices that mighte redound to his freend For to come again to Fables Neoptolemus should neuer haue wonne Troye if hee wauld haue bene ruled by Lycomedes with whō he was brought vp going about with manye teares to disswade and hinder him from that iourney And manye times there happen such greate occasions of waightye affaires that Frendes must needes departe one from an other the which hee that would goe about to hinder because forsooth he can not wel forbeare his companye is both a weakelinge a Cockeney natured person and consequentlye in Freendshippe is vniuste and vnreasenable And in al things good consideration must be had both what thou doest request of thy freend and what thou suffrest to bee obteyned at thy handes There is also somtimes as it were a certain calamity or mishap in the departure from frendes euen necessary for nowe I turne my speache from the famlliarities that is among Wisemen to the Frendshippe that is among the vulgare sorte of people The faultes committed by
frendes doe many times burst out partely vpon the freendes themselues and partly vpon straungers but y infamie discredite redoundeth to their Freendes Such Frendshippes ther fore must be salued by lesse vsinge theire company and as I haue hearde Cato say muste by little and little be cleanlye shifted of rather then bluntly and grossely brokeÌ„ vnlesse there be so apparant euidence of some such vnsufferable iniurye that we can neither with honestie neither credite neyther any way possible otherâ—â—se choose but presently to make an alienation and disseueraunce But if there bee a certaine chaunge in them of manners and disposition as commonly hapneth or if there chaunce any farring or variaunce in some pointe touching the CoÌ„mon wealth for I speake now as I said a litle before not of wisemens â–ª FreÌ„dships but of vulgar aâ—ities we must beware least Frendship seeme not onely to be layde asyde but Enemitie and mallice rather to be taken vp For there is not a more dishonest thing then to be at warre with him with whoÌ„ afore time thou hast lyued familiarlie Scipio for my sake as ye know vntwined himselfe from the Freendeshippe of Q. Pompeius and by reason of the Dissention that was in the Common Wealth was cleane aliened from our Fellowe in office Metellus Hee did both these discretely by authoritie without any bitternesse or offence of mynde to eyther partye Wherfore we must take no smal beede firste that no dissention nor fallinge oute amonge Freendes doe happen but if any such thing do happen that Freendshyppe maye seeme rather by little and little to goe out and quenche of itselfe then sodeinly and rashely to bee choaked and put out Wee must also beware that Frendshippe turne not into greate hatred out of which chydinges raylinges and reproachfull tearmes are engendred which notwithstanding if they bee any thynge tolerable must be borne withal And this honor is to be attributed to old Frendshippe that the fault is alway in him that doth not in him that suffereth wrong Now of all these vices and discommodities there is one caueat or Prouiso to bee considered whiche is that wee neither beginne to loue too soone ne yet the vnworthye For they bee worthye of Frendshippe in whom there is good cause why they should be loued It is a rare thing for surely al excellent things are rare theris nothiÌ„g harder then to finde a thing which in euery respect in his kinde is throughlye perfect But many ther be which neither know any thiÌ„g that is good in this world sauing that which is gainfull and lyke Beastes they loue those Freendes most of whom they hope to receiue most profite And therefore they doe lacke that most goodly most natural FreÌ„dship which is of itselfe for itselfe to bee desired sought neyther do they showe in themselues any example howe greate and of what sort the force of this Frendship is For euerye man loueth himselfe not to th ende to exact any rewarde of hymselfe for his tender loue towardes hymselfe but because euery man is beare vnto himselfe Which thinge if it bee not semblably vsed in Frendshippe there caÌ„ neuer be found any true freend For he is a freend which is as it were an other himselfe Nowe if these thinges appeare so euident in Beastes Birdes Cattall Fyshes Swyne and other Creatures both tame and wilde that they haue a loue to their owne selues for this is naturallye engraffed in all lyuinge Creatures and also that they desire luste after some other of the same kind wherof they themselues be to company withall and that with a certaine longing desire and likenesse of humane loue how muche more is the same apparaunt in Man by nature who both tenderlye loueth himselfe and getteth an other to whom hee may so francklye impart his mynde as thoughe of two hee woulde make in a maner but one But most men peeuishlye I will not say impudeÌ„tly would haue such freÌ„des as they them selues cannot bee such things do they looke for to haue at their freendes handes as they themselues do not yelde and geeue vnto them But it is fitte that he himselfe should first be a good man and then afterwards to seeke for another like himselfe In such maner of persons maye that Stability of Frendship which ere while wee reasoned vpon be confirmed when as men ioyned together with goodwil shall first rule and maister those sensuall lustes and affections whereunto others do serue and obaye and when they shall delighte in Iustice and equitie and the one to vndertake and attempt al things for the other neuer the one to request any thinge of the other but that which shal be honest and right shall not onelye louinglye agree together and loue one an other but also as it were reuereÌ„t lye feare stand in awe one of an other For hee that taketh awaye reuerent awe from Frendship taketh awaye the greatest Ornament that is in it They therfore nozzle theÌ„selues with a very pernicious error which thinke that in Frendshippe the gate is set wide open freelye to pursue all licentious lusts and lewdenesse For Freendshippe is geeuen by Nature to bee an ayde to Vertue and not a Compagnion to vices that sith Vertue being solitarye alone could not reache to those thinges which are moste excellente yet beinge combined and cowpled with an other she mighte attaigne thereto which felowshippe if eyther it bee or hath beene or hereafter shall happeÌ„ to bee betweene any I say their felowship coÌ„pany is to be accouÌ„ted for the attainmeÌ„t of Natures chiefe goodnes the best and happiest that can be This very felowship I say is it wherin are all those things which men doe account worthy to be desired as Honesty Glory TraÌ„quillity of mynd pleasantnesse so that where these bee there is the lyfe happye and without these it cannot bee happy Which thing being the greatest and the best thing that can be if wee bee desirous to obteyne wee must applye our selues to vertue without the which we neyther can attaigne to Freendshippe ne any thing else that is to be desired For who soeuer despising Vertue do think theÌ„selues to haue frendes do then perceiue their owne errour when any waighty plunge of necessitye driueth theÌ„ to try theÌ„ And therfore for it is a thing often to be repeated a man oughte to loue when hee hath iudged not to iudge when hee hath loued But wheras we be in many things much punished for negligence yet namely specially in chosing regarding our freendes For we go preposterously to worke contrary to the aduise of the old prouerbe we ouerthwartly doe vndoe labour against the grain For being enwrapped too fro with busines either through som long familiarity acquaintaunce or els through some kindenesse curtesies we sodeÌ„ly in the middest of our course breake of our Frendship
loue wher of frendlye loue or Frendship is named is the chiefest cause that fastneth goodwil together For profite is oftentimes gotten euen at their handes who vnder the couÌ„terfeit shew of Frendship are sought vnto as the time serueth are wayted vpoÌ„ at an inche But in Frendshippe there is no glauering no dissemblinge what soeuer is in it the same is true and voluntarye Wherfore me thinkes Frendship had his first beginning rather of nature theÌ„ of imbecillitye of castinge ones phansie towards another with a certaine feeling of Loue rather then by considering how much profit might eniue therupon The which surely what maner of thing it is maye euen in certeine Beastes bee perceiued which for a certen time so teÌ„derlye loue their young ones and bee again so loued of them that their feeling therof easely appeareth which thing in man is much more euident First by that deare loue that is betweene Children Parentes which cannot without detestable bill anye bee disseuered Secondarilye when as there is a like feelinge of Loue againe as when wee haue found one with whose Manners and Nature wee well agree because to oure owne thinckinge wee espye in him as it were a certeine Lighte of Honestie and vertue For nothinge is more louelye and amiable then Vertue nothinge that more allureth men to loue one another Insomuche that for Vertue and honestie we doe after a sort loue euen them whom wee neuer saw Who is hee that doeth not with a certen singuler Loue and Goodwyll towardes the parties vse the remembrauÌ„ce of C. Fabritius and M. Curius whom notwithstanding hee neuer saw Who againe dothe not hate Tarquinius the proude Sp. Cassius and Sp. Melius Wee stroue for the Empire in Italye with two Capitaines Pyrrhus and Hannibal and yet from the one of them because of his honest name wee did not altogether estraunge oure hartes The other for his crueltie this Citie of oures will for euer deteste Nowe if the force of Honestye bee so greate that wee loue the same yea in those whom wee neuer sawe and whiche is more euen in oure Enemies what meruayle is it if mennes hartes bee mooued when they seeme to perceiue and see Vertue and goodnesse in them with whom they maye bee ioyned in acquaintaunce and coÌ„uersation Albeit Loue is confirmed by benefites receiued by Goodwyll approued and by acquaintaunce adioyned All whiche thinges beinge layed together to that firste motion of mannes mynde and Loue there is enkindled a wonderfull greatenesse of Goodwyll and Freendlynesse Whiche if anye doe thincke to proceede and come of Imbecillitye as thoughe it shoulde bee but to serue euerye mannestourne thereby to gette the thynge whyche hee desireth suche men surelye doe make a verye base and as a man shoulde saye no Gentleman-like race vnto Freendeshyppe if they woulde haue it to descende and haue his beginning from needines and want Which thing if it were so then as euery man felt himselfe of smallest abilitie so should he bee most fittest for Frendship which thing is farre otherwise For as euery man trusteth moste to himselfe as euerye man is with vertue and wisedome so singulerlye furnished that hee standeth not in neede of anye other and thincketh that al which is his resteth in himselfe so in seeking and mainteining Frendship doth he especially surmount For what Had Aphricanus any neede of me Neuer a whit surely And I neither of him But I throughe a certeine admiration that I had of his vertue loued him and againe he for some opinion perchaunce that hee conceiued of my maners phansied mee and our dayly coÌ„uersation together encreased our goodwilles But although many and greate commodities ensued thereof yet did not the causes of our loue one to the other issue from any hope of suche thinges For as wee bee bountifull and liberal not of purpose to get thanckes therefore for wee do not lay out our benefites to vsurye but are by nature enclineable to lyberalitie so likewise do we thincke that Freendship is to be desired of men not ledde thereto with hope of rewarde but because all the fruicte thereof resteth in very loue itselfe Wee farre disagree in opinion from them whiche after the manner of bruite Beastes doe referre al thinges to Pleasure Sensualitie And no meruayle For why They that haue abased caste al their cogitations vpon a thing so vile and contemptible cannot haue anye regarde to any high noble and heauenly thinge Wherefore let vs set aside suche maner of persons from this talke and let vs vnderstand that the feelinge of Loue and perfecte goodwill is engendred by Nature with hauinge some significatioÌ„ or proofe of honestye Whiche honestye they that desire and seeke after applye themselues and draw neerer thereunto that they may enioy both the companye and also the maners of him whom they haue begon to loue and that they may be Mates and alike in Loue readier to doe a good turne then to seeke for anye And let this bee an honest kinde of strife betweene them Thus shal verye great commodities bee taken of Freendship and the firste beginninge thereof beinge of Nature and not of Imbecillitie shall bee bothe waightier and truer For if Profite shoulde fasten and knitt Freendshyppe then the same beinge chaunged shoulde dissolue and lewse it agayne But beecause Nature cannot be chaunged therfore true Freendshyppes are euerlastinge Thus you see the beeginninge of Freendshyppe excepte peraduenture there bee some thinge elles that you would demaunde SCAE. Naye Laelius I praye you proceede in your matter for as for him heere that is my younger I dare vpon myne owne warrant aunswere FAN In deede you say wel wherfore let vs heare further LAELIVS GEeue eare then Gentlemen to those things whiche manye times and often haue beene reasoned betweene mee and Scipio concerninge Freendeshyppe Howbeit his sayinge was that nothing was harder then for Freendeshyppe to continue vnto the laste houre of Death For hee woulde saye that it oftentimes happened eyther that one and the selfe same thinge shoulde not be expediente for bothe parties or elles that they woulde not alwayes bee of one mynde in matters of the common wealthe Hee woulde also saye that mennes maners did often chaunge somtimes by the worlde goinge awrye somtymes by growinge forwarde in age And of these thinges hee woulde bringe an Example by a comparison made of Boyes age because the hoattest loue that Children had was oftentimes determined and ended at the age when theire voyces câ—aunge And albeit they continued it till the age of their Adolescencye yet hee sayde that their Freendshyppe was oftentimes broken of eyther throughe some contention or by reason of Ryotte or some other profite because both of theÌ„ could not obteyn one selfe thinge Insomuch that if anye of them by longer time continued in Frendshippe yet that they often times iarred if they happened to sue for Preferrement and Dignitye And further hee sayde that
not to bee reckened in the number of Good thinges Bias his vvise aunsvvere The vvorlde is novv chauÌ„ged from that it vvas then Couetousnes in old time abhorred Romulus for his valiauncie Vertue made a God. Numa PoÌ„pilius Wherein he offered Sacrifice Mutius ScÄ™uola priuily coÌ„ueighing himselfe into Porsenna his campe and mynding to haue slain the kinge missed him and killed an other in his sted Scipio Cato Vertue much more to bee desired then all pelfe or vvorldlye Riches One vertuous maÌ„ more to be accouÌ„ted of and esteemed then manye ryche and vveal thy Cobs that are euill Sensualitie plesure That is not to be reckened good vvhich bettereth not him in vvhom it resteth Most praise due to most Vertue A man maye honestly reioyse and glorye in himselfe for good thinges No man of any honesty vvyl make vauÌ„t and take pride in his ovvne filthy and leud lyfe Marcus Regulus Marius a noble paterne of constancy and patience Paâ—tâ—â—â—lâ—â—lye in neighing against Antonius but generally al others of his disposition He that leaneth altogether to biynde Fortune and hap hazarde hangeth in doubtfull ballaunce Hee that is armed vvith vertue and a good conscience feareth not the threates of the vvicked Learning comforteth a maÌ„in al extremities armeth him against al assayes Death Banishement TormeÌ„tes of a vvicked and guiltye CoÌ„sciens A vertuous and vviseman can neuer bee miserable The Stoickes doe not consider and respecte vvhat is done but vvith vvhat minde and entent it is done By negligence hee that drouneth a Shippe laden vvith Chaffe is asmuch to bee blamed in respect of his vnskilfulnesse as though it vvere fraught vvith golde Adulterie and fornication coÌ„mitted vvith a pore mayden as heinous in itselfe as vvith a Damsell of vvorshipful parentage Asmuch right in a peny as in a pouÌ„d Lusts and affections must bee brideled not once but alvvaies Vertue a greeable vvith Reason CoÌ„stancie Nothing can be better then good ObiectioÌ„ Ansvvere Socrates Men of profoundest vvitt and learning fit test to decide controuersies in opinioÌ„ Equalitie of faultes Who after nyne monethes siege and extreeme famine rather then they would yelde to Anniball and come into slauerye burned all their ovvne goodes in the market place and slevvtheir ovvne fathers vvyues and children and last of al theÌ„ selues Liuius Lib. i Dec. 3. Diuers râ—sons to strike a reuerence in vs to vvardes our PareÌ„tes To doe a misse is of feÌ„siue but to do any thing that is expresly forbiddeÌ„ is heinous and detestable We muste bee so precise in the direction of our life that vvee should not trip so much as in a Syllable Reason order beeing perturbed all vertue goeth to hauocke The mind of a vviseman vnconquerable Rome Where tyrannye oppression and contempt of Lavves be practised no city nor Common-vvealth can rightlye be termed The common place vvher Courtes vverekept and Lavv matters pleaded So longe as Clodius ruled the roâ—t Worldlye pelfe and transitory goods are not rightlye to bee tearmed anye of ours Tyraunâ—es bloud-suckers haue no maner of povver ouer the mind of the vertuous Virescit vulnere virtus A notable Fencer vvho gathering an host of Bondslaues made vvarres against the Romains Not the chaunge of soyle Countrie vvhich maketh the banished man Antonius Hee can ill rule another that can not rule himselfe Vices specially emblemishing there novvme of noble men and magistrates Libertie vvhat it is Honest men obey Lavves not for feare but for loue of Vertue A freemaÌ„ described Fortune Who bee Free. Who bee Bond Cleopatra Fond delightes ObiectioÌ„ Ansvvere ObjectioÌ„ Ansvvere An excellent painter A Cunning Image maker Who vtterlye razed Corynth and caried avvay all the pretious sevvels costlye vvares thereof to Rome Who van quished the Samnites and draue Pyrrhus oute of Italye Vylest Slauerye Gapers for other mens Death AmbitioÌ„ and desire of Honor Cethegus Feare and remorse of Conscience Iudge L. Crassus reproued for his dasierdlye fearefulnesse What Slauery is Antonius Who may rightly be termed Rich. Who is Rych Levvde shiftes togather vvealth It is the mynde not the full Coffers that make a man rich Sufficiencie is vvealth ynough Hee that hath much to doe vvith Money hath neede of much Money The Pursute of foÌ„d AffectioÌ„s and fleshly Lustes coÌ„sumeth vvealth bee it neuer so much What maÌ„ Crassus iudged to be called Rich. A Legion containes 12500. Souldiers Shiftes vvhereby Crassus gatte all his vvelth Hee that hath nede is not rych Who beeing veryepoore refused greate SuÌ„mes of Money sent in revvard to him from King Pyrrhus Who refused agreat masse of Golde seÌ„t vnto hym from the Samnites True Ryches consist in vertue No vvorldly treasure comparable to Vertue Magnum vectigal Parsimonia Euery Sestertium is in value 25. FreÌ„ch Crovvnes Immoderate expeÌ„ces nede lesse charges about the fediÌ„g of affections Measurable spending best Ech man must speÌ„d according to his degree and calling A Rovv of houses so called because they vver built like to the heeles of shippes Contented lyfe is the Rychest life Causes vvhy Vertue is chieflye to be esteemed King of Nun. dia Ioy of freÌ„des at their Meeting Dreames coÌ„monlie represent to vs in Sleepe those thinges vvee most earnestlye delighted in and deuised vvaking Carthage Being not aboue 28 or 29 yeeres old To be called Africanus Scipio vvon Carthage and NumaÌ„tia Tib. Gracchus 56 yeeres olde A valiauÌ„t vvorthy Peere in a Realme is the sure Piller and stay thereof Mainteyners and protectors of their couÌ„try â–ª What a Citye is Vertuous and vvorthy persoÌ„s do lyue after death This Life is no lyfe We must not hasteÌ„ our ovvn Deathes before our apointed tyme. Why men vvere created Quicke motion of the Celestial Spheres Til God apointthe time vvee must not seeke to shorten the dayes of our life Loue to our CouÌ„trye The Milk vvay called novv adayes of some Watling strete of some the vvaye to S. Iames The Moue hath no Lighte but of the Sunne The least fixed star perfectlye seene is as big as the vvhole Earth Alfraganus Saturne the highest slovvest of the 7. Planets finisheth hys course in 30 yeres Iupiter in 12 yeres Mars in 2. yeres The SuÌ„ne in 1. yere Venus in 9. months Mercurye in 80. dayes These ij last bee alvvais nere vnto the Sunne The Moone endeth hercourse in 28 daies and hath no Light but of the Sunne Soules immortall All heauye thinges do svvaye dovvnevvard The svveete harmonye in the motion of the Celestiall Bodies Starry Firmament Moones heauen Earth Venus Mercurye The Septenary nuÌ„ber hath tn it many and mysticall conclusioÌ„s Aul. Gel. Nilus Catadupa Worldlye things are to be contemned heauenlie thinges to be desired Hovv the vvorld is habitable This is because of the roundnes globosity of the earthe Arcticke and Antarcticke Antipodes vvhich in respect of the roundnes of the vvorld seeme to dvvel vnderneathe vs to set their feete againste ours Nothinge deserueth to be called greate in this vvorld The greatest hyl