Friendship difficult to find
though without Preud’hommie, and so of all things else. Even as he that was found riding upon an hobby-horse, playing with his children, besought him, who thus surprized him, not to speak of it, until he were a father himself supposing the tender fondness, and fatherly passion, which then would possess his mind, should make him an impartial judge of such an action. So would I wish to speak to such as had tried what I speak of: but knowing how far such an amity is from the common use, and how seldom seen and rarely found, I look not to find a competent judge. For, even the discourses, which stern antiquity hath left us concerning this subject, seem to me but faint and forceless in respect of the feeling I have of it: And in that point the effects exceed the very precepts of Philosophy.
‘Nil ego contulerim jucundo sanus amico.’
Hor., i. Sat. v. 44.
For me, be I well in my wit,
Nought, as a merry friend, so fit.
The shadow of a true friend
Ancient Menander accounted him happy, that had but met the shadow of a true friend: verily he had reason to say so, especially if he had tasted of any: for truly, if I compare all the rest of my forepassed life, which although I have by the mere mercy of God, past at rest and ease, and except the loss of so dear a friend, free from all grievous affliction, with an ever-quietness of mind, as one that have taken my natural and original commodities in good payment, without searching any others: if, as I say, I compare it all unto the four years, I so happily enjoyed the sweet company, and dear-dear society of that worthy man, it is
Montaigne’s friend
nought but a vapour, nought but a dark and irkesome [night]. Since the time I lost him,
‘quem semper acerbum,
Semper honoratum (sic Dii voluistis) habebo.’
Virg., Aen. v. 49.
Which I shall ever hold a bitter day,
Yet ever honor’d (so my God t’ obey).