A fretful temper will divide The closest knot, that may be tied, In vain the talkative unite In hopes of permanent delight The secret just committed, Forgetting it's important weight, They drop through mere desire to prate, And by themselves outwitted. How bright soe'er the prospect seems, All thoughts of friendship are but dreams, But not a friend worth keeping. 70 As envy pines at good possess'd, So jealousy looks forth distress'd On good, that seems approaching; And, if success his steps attend, Discerns a rival in a friend, And hates him for encroaching. Hence authors of illustrious name, And pluck each other's laurel. A man renown'd for repartee By way of balm for healing. 80 90 Whoever keeps an open ear For tattlers will be sure to hear To listen is to lend him aid, And rush into dissension. A friendship that in frequent fits The sparks of disputation, Like hand in hand insurance plates, Most unavoidably creates The thought of conflagration. Some fickle creatures boast a soul True as a needle to the pole, Their humour yet so various They manifest their whole life through The needle's deviations too, Their love is so precarious. 100 110 The great and small but rarely meet On terms of amity complete, Plebeians must surrender And yield so much to noble folk, Obscurity with splendour. Some are so placid and serene Unmov'd and without quaking. Courtier and patriot cannot mix Their het'rogeneous politics Without an effervescence, Like that of salts with lemon juice, Which does not yet like that produce A friendly coalescence. 120 130 Religion should extinguish strife, But friends that chance to differ On points, which God has left at large, To prove at last my main intent No cutting and contriving Seeking a real friend we seem Sometimes the fault is all our own, Some blemish in due time made known By trespass or omission; Sometimes occasion brings to light Our friend's defect long hid from sight, And even from suspicion. 140 150 |