Life and Literature Part 47

646

TIMON'S SOLILOQUY.

My shadow, wheresoe'er I wend, Is with me, like a flattering friend.

But chiefly when the sun in June Is climbing to its highest noon, My fond attendant closes near, As I were growing still more dear; And then, to show its love complete, Falls even servile at my feet, Where, proud of place, it scarcely nods Before the temple of the G.o.ds.

But when the evening sun descends, It seems to seek for other friends, Making a dial of the town, To tell that Timon's day goes down; And when the stormy night comes on, I look, and lo! my shade is--gone.

--_Atlantic Monthly._

647

Ah, how good it feels; The hand of an old friend!

648

If you want enemies, excel others; if you want friends, let others excel you.

649

A man may have a thousand intimate acquaintances and not a friend among them all. If you have one friend, think yourself happy.

650

Go slowly to the entertainment of your friends, but quickly to their misfortunes.

651

LEAVE A FRIEND.

Leave a friend! So base I am not. I followed him in his prosperity, when the skies were clear and s.h.i.+ning, and will not leave him when storms begin to rise; as gold is tried by the furnace, and the baser metal is shown, so the hollow-hearted friend is known by adversity.

--_Metastasio._

652

Do not lose sight of old attachments for the sake of making new friends.h.i.+ps.

653

A man who is fond of disputing, will, in time, have few friends to dispute with.

654

AN OLD RHYME.

I once had money and a friend, By both I set great store; I lent my money to my friend, He was my friend no more.

If I had my money and my friend, As I had once before, I'd keep my money to myself, And lose my friend no more.

--_Living Age._

655

If you have a friend worth loving, Love him. Yes, and let him know That you love him, ere life's evening Tinge his brow with sunset glow; Why should good words ne'er be said Of a friend till he is dead?

656

It is more dishonorable to distrust a friend than to be deceived by him.

--_Rochefoucauld._

657

No life is so strong and complete, But it sometimes yearns for the smile of a friend.

--_Wallace Bruce._

658

He was never a friend who ceased to be so--for a slight cause.

--_Seneca._

659

A friend cannot be known in prosperity; and an enemy cannot be hidden in adversity.

660

When a friend asks, there should be no tomorrow.

661