.

One would think that the larger the company is, in which we are engaged, the greater variety of thoughs and subjects would be started in discrouse; but instead of this, we find that conversation is never so much straitened and confined as in numerous assemblies. When a multitude meet together upon any subject of discrouse, their debates are taken up chiefly with forns and general postitions; nay, if we come into a more contracted assembly of men and women, the talk generally runs upon the weather, fashions news, and the like public topic. In proportion as conversation gets into clubs and knots of friends, it descends into particulars, and grows more free and communicative: but the most open, instructive, and unreserved discrouse is that which passes between two persons who are familiar and intimate friends. On these occasions, a man gives a loose to every passion and every thought that is uppermost, discovers his most retired opinions of persons and things, tries the beauty and strength of his sentiments, and expose his whole soul to the examination of his friend.

Among the several qualifications of a good friend, this wise man has very justly singled out constancy and faithfulness as the princial: to these, other have added virtue, knowledge, discretion, equality in age and fortune, and as Cicero calls it, “a pleasantness of temper.” If I were to give my opinion upon such an exhausted subject, I should join to these other qualifications a certain equability or evenness of behaviour. A man often contracts a friendship with one whom perhaps he does not find out till after a year's conversation; when on a sudden some latent ill-humour breaks out upon him, which he never discovered or suspected at his first entering into an intimacy with him. There are several persons who in some certain periods of their lives are inexpressibly agreeable, and in others as odious and detestable.Martial has given us a very pretty picture of one of this species, in the following epigram:
“In all thy humours, whether grave or mellow,
Thou'rt such a touchy,testy, pleasant fellow;
Hast so much wit, and mirth, and spleen about thee,
There is no living with thee, nor without thee.”

It is very unluckly for a man to be entangled in afriendship with one who, by these changes and vicissitude of humour, is sometimes amiable and sometimes odious: and as most men are at some times in admirable frame and dispostition of mind, it should be one of wisdom to keep ourselves well when we are so, and never to go out of that which is the agreeable part of our character.

—————THE END—————

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