Who feek a friend, fhould come difpofed. To exhibit in full bloom disclosed The graces and the beauties, That form the character he feeks, Mutual attention is implied, Our own as much diftorted. But will fincerity suffice? It is indeed above all price, And must be made the bafis; But every virtue of the foul Muft conftitute the charming whole, All fhining in their places. A fretful temper will divide The closest knot that may be tied, In vain the talkative unite In hopes of permanent delight- They drop through mere defire to prate, How bright foe'er the profpect seems, An envious man, if you fucceed, As envy pines at good poffeffed, On good, that feems approaching, And hates him for encroaching. Hence authors of illuftrious name, A man renowned for repartee Whoever keeps an open ear A friendship, that in frequent fits The sparks of difputation, Like hand in hand insurance plates, Moft unavoidably creates The thought of conflagration. Some fickle creatures boaft a foul True as a needle to the pole, Their humour yet so various They manifeft their whole life through The needle's deviations too, Their love is so precarious The great and small but rarely meet Plebeians muft surrender, And yield fo much to noble folk, Some are fo placid and ferene Unmoved and without quaking. Courtier and patriot cannot mix Without an effervescence, Like that of falts with lemon juice, Which does not yet like that produce A friendly coalefcence. Religion should extinguish ftrife, But friends that chance to differ On points, which God has left at large, How freely will they meet and charge, No combatants are ftiffer! To prove at laft my main intent No cutting and contriving- To adopt the chymifts golden dream, Sometimes the fault is all our own, Our friend's defect iong hid from fight, Then judge yourself, and prove your man As circumfpectly as you can, And having made election, Beware no negligence of yours, Such as a friend but ill endures, Enteeble his affection. That fecrets are a facred truft, That friends fhould be fincere and juft, Are obfervations on the cafe, That favour much of common place, And all the world admits them. |