Selected quad for the lemma: friend_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
friend_n	answer_v	good_a	time_n	779	5	3.3369	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33412	Conversations written in French by Monsieur Clerombault ; and put into English by a person of honour.; Conversations. English	Palluau, Philippe de Clérembault, comte de, 1606-1665.; Méré, Antoine Gombault, chevalier de, 1610-1684.; Person of honour.	1672 (1672)	Wing C4642; ESTC R914	61,828	158

This was the Letter and are you not amazed that Alexander should write it in the middle of his Glory and in the strength of his Ambition Must he not needs have a very vast mind and a wit of great extent to be concerned for such things as these which Conquerours commonly make little account of What a man was this said the Mareshal he aimed to be the first in every thing and who after all this can think that it was Fortune alone that rendred him so puissant and that merit had the greatest part therein But to return to the Sciences I apprehend very well that this able Preceptor applied himself to that which was most necessary It seems to me that in order to become a great Prince and to govern the World a man cannot know too many things I agree with you said the Chevalier but there is an extreme difference in being instructed as an Artist who would excel in his Trade and in Learning how to discourse and understand the reason of any Subject which is offered without any other design than to learn what it is and not to be mistaken This last knowledge though it be very ornamental and of great use yet it costs but little pains when we meet with such persons as go directly to the point That which I would principally wish in a King is that he should have wit and be a just man and every way accomplished and in my judgment he cannot be too perfect in either of these Qualities Besides 't is true how happy soever we are or whatsoever new advantages we may have either of body or mind we should strive to be able and skillful in affairs and begin there if we can for without that the rest succeeds not always well and it oftentimes happens that for want of skill that which is best in us turns to our ruine But it is not good to discover too much of this crast and fore-sight for the generality of the World affect not naturally those that have so much of caution and prudence but are rather most favourable to those who put themselves upon adventures and expose all to hazard Hence it comes that so many persons especially the Ladies like not Caesar so well as Alexander This Talent of being able consists in a certain dexterity and particular Genius and is conversant in making a right use of that which is in our power and of that which we know but if we are ignorant and have nothing in our power such a kind of Genius will but little avail us Therefore to have wherewith to imploy it we must get our selves a Repute and be well informed of things how they may be of use to us Those who have this kind of wit love to make themselves valued and to take their advantages but they take no great pains to compleat themselves in any thing Besides the affairs of the World hinder them from fixing on any particular thing nor do you find that the ablest excel in all things I should be of an opinion said the Mareshal that a Prince should addict himself to History for it discovers so many things that one may by it render himself able and knowing at least it is a good guide as to what concerns life 'T is true said the Chevalier History may be of great use were it only to perswade by Examples that which we have a mind to when we have but weak reasons to give for it or that we cannot make good ones be hearkned to But the events being different although the Conjunctures are alike it is difficult to establish any thing certainly upon it and I believe that one may be able and knowing without the help of History When there was neither track nor mark of it did not our Fore-fathers understand the good and the evil Besides all things possible that we can imagine to our selves are as so many Histories if not of the past or of the present at least of the time to come for in this infinite space of time and of the World all that which can happen meets with its time and its place In the mean time History being a kind of Experience 't is certain that we may profit much by it besides there are some of them which come from so good hands that though we know them 't is a pleasure to us to read them Kings do well to read them and also to inform themselves of things which pass in their own times that they may have an eye to what may be done therein and not lose any opportunities or advantages 'T is principally necessary to bring the young Prince to consider that those Kings and Emperours who have been worthy men besides the glory which remains to them that they led also a most happy and pleasant life But the best time for taking the Air is almost past and methinks it were good to go and take two or three turns by the River side Let us go said the Mareshal I had not thought of it if you had not put me in mind THE THIRD CONVERSATION THE Chevalier came in good time to the Mareshals Lodgings who had a mind to go forth that morning there being neither wind nor heat but one of those pleasant days which are not too light nor too gloomy The Mareshal was alone in his Chamber leaning against the Window which looks upon the Gardens and seeing the Chevalier come in he told him with a chearful countenance that he took it kindly that he forsook not his Friend at a time of need and that he had thoughts of taking the Air it being such fine Weather and that he should be glad to have so good Company The Chevalier answered He was very sorry that it was no better I doubt it not said the Mareshal smiling you are the most concerned in it One ought to wish himself of an agreeable Conversation if it were only to entertain himself For a man is sometimes alone and when he is tired with his own thoughts he cannot be rid of them as he would That happens to me but too often said the Chevalier and even at this instant that I am speaking to you I am glad to be with you for I find that if I were alone I should be but little satisfied with any thing that comes into my mind That which you tell me doth not at all please me replied the Mareshal for as a man always loves himself a little so he is apt to flatter himself and when he is not contented with his own thoughts what likelihood is there that others should be pleased who for the most part excuse nothing But I will not be so nice and walking towards the Garden Come let us not droop said he speaking in a pleasant manner for by stirring we animate our vigour and spirits There were in this Garden Orange-trees full of flowers the sight and odour of which rejoyced and pleased them They fetched some turns in the Walks entertaining themselves on

smartness and frowardness will at length tire them I find that those Women who have the most wit like much better a little more reservedness and commonly those people are unfortunately disappointed of their aims that do not know that they are gained by the same ways that we are gained and likewise lost after the same manner They throw as it were their hearts at their heads and at first dash tell them more of their Love than can in any probability be true and many times more than they desire to hear They give them not time so much as to wish that they were loved and to taste of a certain sweetness which is only found in the progress of Love That pleasure must be long enjoyed to make Love last for ever there is but little pleasure in obtaining that which we have not very much desired and when we have it so easily we accustom our selves to neglect it and commonly come there no more But troubel not your self about Ladies for our young Prince there will enough offer themselves when the time comes As they were speaking one came to tell them that there was something in dispute amongst the Ladies who were as I told you at play in another Room and they desired them to come and give their opinion It could not have happened more opportunely said the Mareshal just when we were so seasonably upon the Theme of Ladies For if we would not displease any of them we had need to summon all our wits to judge between them Let us do the House right and we will conclude for this day To morrow I will expect you and give order that we may not be disturbed THE SECOND CONVERSATION THose who are at the Court make more Friends and Acquaintance than those who live retired But of that number of Friends few of them are really so and for the most part they are as little understood by any of the Court as they themselves perfectly understand the Court Not that it is so as 't is generally said That Courtiers love nothing and that they study their own interest more than how to discern and esteem true merit For peoples hearts and minds are much the same there as in other places and Interest sways through all the World But in that place we are divided amongst so many people that every one has but a little of us and that superficially according as every one desires and commonly we fix not upon any one either to love or perfectly to understand The Chevalier who had seen the Mareshal so much abroad in the World and who knew well enough that he was a very gallant man yet had not so great an opinion of him then when he seldom saw him as now and having frequented him seven or eight days in retirement he knew not how to be absent from him He therefore failed not to come the next day as they had appointed and being with him betimes he engaged him to pass the morning at play and before they left off he ordered it so that they should be obliged to set to it again after dinner though it was a great delight to him to hear him discourse yet he always found some invention or other to hinder him from speaking much For the Mareshal to whom any great agitation was hurtful was easily moved and contrary to the custom of other persons that are much in the World and who dive but little into things is excessively thoughtful and speaks often with much eagerness and with as much action as if he were in perfect health They plaid only to pass the time as one ought always with true friends for if high play destroy not friendship yet it may lessen it After they had played a long time the Mareshal spake of going into a Meadow by the side of a little River which runneth at the foot of the Town but the heat of the day being not yet past he began to walk in the Chamber and told the Chevalier he was thinking of that Queen of Egypt As I was rising this morning said he I was laughing at that man that you represented to me I fancied that I saw him with her entertaining her with such fine things as martial men use to say to Ladies That which pleased you said the Chevalier was that you have no cause to fear if you should meet with any persons that are so nice and delicate Not too much of that said the Mareshal for I should be apt enough to shew something of my Profession if I had not a care And some persons have done me the favour to give me an Item of it and to say the truth I have but little Learning and you cannot imagine how I am vexed at it but I hope my Children will be more knowing than their Masters themselves Do not regret so much said the Chevalier that having studied so little you have only lost a little Latine by it which they would have taught you That is very much replied the Mareshal if there were nothing else but besides would they not have instructed me in those Sciences which my Friend X. esteems so much As he was enlarging himself upon the discourse which he had had with that Friend You speak not like a man without Learning said the Chevalier that which I have now heard from you would make you be admired and in truth you know very much for a Souldier and a great Courtier The Mareshal began to laugh and told him that he knew nothing of the Science but their names The Masters themselves replied the Chevalier know but very little more They would have taught you all that which they ordinarily teach others with much expence of time and great pains and you should not have understood the more nor been more learned unless perhaps by that means you might have been undeceived as to the value you set upon them What you say answered the Mareshal after a little consideration in probabilty may be true and you make me call to mind how I have spent whole days with this man to hear him discourse of the Sciences I confess freely to you that it always happened that I could not apprehend him the more he took pains to explain himself the less he made himself understood For to judge of Philosophy by the Idaea that he gave me of it I represented it to my self like the night and I asked him whether it were essential to it to be dark and obscure This said he is a very fair beginning I have known those who have been longer at it who could not have said so much But to disguise nothing to you all this is never well understood but when it is learned in our Youth One understands it not the better said the Chevalier for being exercised in it in our youth but we are less surprised with the obscurity of it These people are accustomed from their youth to speak of all things without discerning any thing distinctly That which they say