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and the full use of the functions of the body。 But friendship
embraces innumerable advantages。 Turn which way you please；
you will find it at hand。 It is everywhere； and yet never out of
place； never unwelcome。 Fire and water themselves； to use a
common expression； are not of more universal use than friendship。
I am not now speaking of the common or modified form of it；
though even that is a source of pleasure and profit； but of that true
and complete friendship which existed between the select few who
are known to fame。 Such friendship enhances prosperity； and
relieves adversity of its burden by halving and sharing it。
7。 And great and numerous as are the blessings of friendship； this
certainly is the sovereign one； that it gives us bright hopes for the
future and forbids weakness and despair。 In the face of a true
friend a man sees as it were a second self。 So that where his friend
is he is； if his friend be rich； he is not poor； though he be weak； his
friend's strength is his； and in his friend's life he enjoys a second
life after his own is finished。 This last is perhaps the most difficult
to conceive。 But such is the effect of the respect； the loving
remembrance； and the regret of friends which follow us to the
grave。 While they take the sting out of death； they add a glory to
the life of the survivors。 Nay； if you eliminate from nature the tie
of affection； there will be an end of house and city； nor will so
much as the cultivation of the soil be left。 If you don't see the
virtue of friendship and harmony； you may learn it by observing
the effects of quarrels and feuds。 Was any family ever so well
established； any State so firmly settled； as to be beyond the reach
of utter destruction from animosities and factions？ This may teach
you the immense advantage of friendship。
They say that a certain philosopher of Agrigentum； in a Greek
poem； pronounced with the authority of an oracle the doctrine that
whatever in nature and the universe was unchangeable was so in
virtue of the binding force of friendship； whatever was changeable
was so by the solvent power of discord。 And indeed this is a truth
which everybody understands and practically attests by experience。
For if any marked instance of loyal friendship in confronting or
sharing danger comes to light； every one applauds it to the echo。
What cheers there were； for instance； all over the theatre at a
passage in the new play of my friend and guest Pacuvius； where
the king； not knowing which of the two was Orestes； Pylades
declared himself to be Orestes； that he might die in his stead； while
the real Orestes kept on asserting that it was he。 The audience rose
_en masse_ and clapped their hands。 And this was at an incident in
fiction： what would they have done； must we suppose； if it had
been in real life？ You can easily see what a natural feeling it is；
when men who would not have had the resolution to act thus
themselves； shewed how right they thought it in another。
I don't think I have any more to say about friendship。 If there is any
more； and I have no doubt there is much； you must； if you care to
do so； consult those who profess to discuss such matters。
_Fannius_。 We would rather apply to you。 Yet I have often
consulted such persons； and have heard what they had to say with a
certain satisfaction。 But in your discourse one somehow feels that
there is a different strain。
_Scaevola_。 You would have said that still more； Fannius； if you
had been present the other day in Scipio's pleasure…grounds when
we had the discussion about the State。 How splendidly he stood up
for justice against Philus's elaborate speech。
_Fannius_。 Ah！ it was naturally easy for the justest of men to
stand up for justice。
_Scaevola_。 Well； then； what about friendship？ Who could
discourse on it more easily than the man whose chief glory is a
friendship maintained with the most absolute fidelity； constancy；
and integrity？
8。 _Laclius_。 Now you are really using force。 It makes no
difference what kind of force you use： force it is。 For it is neither
easy nor right to refuse a wish of my sons…in…law； particularly
when
the wish is a creditable one in itself。
Well； then； it has very often occurred to me when thinking about
friendship； that the chief point to be considered was this： is it
weakness and want of means that make friendship desired？ I
mean； is its object an interchange of good offices； so that each may
give that in which he is strong； and receive that in which he is
weak？ Or is it not rather true that； although this is an advantage
naturally belonging to friendship； yet its original cause is quite
other； prior in time； more noble in character； and springing more
directly from our nature itself？ The Latin word for friendship…
_amicitia_…is derived from that for love…_amor_； and love is
certainly the prime mover in contracting mutual affection。
For as to material advantages； it often happens that those are
obtained even by men who are courted by a mere show of
friendship and treated with respect from interested motives。 But
friendship by its nature admits of no feigning； no pretence： as far
as it goes it is both genuine and spontaneous。 Therefore I gather
that friendship springs from a natural impulse rather than a wish
for help： from an inclination of the heart； combined with a certain
instinctive feeling of love； rather than from a deliberate calculation
of the material advantage it was likely to confer。 The strength of
this feeling you may notice in certain animals。 They show such
love to their offspring for a certain period； and are so beloved by
them； that they clearly have a share in this natural； instinctive
affection。 But of course it is more evident in the case of man： first；
in the natural affection between children and their parents； an
affection which only shocking wickedness can sunder； and next；
when the passion of love has attained to a like strength…on our
finding； that is； some one person with whose character and nature
we are in full sympathy； because we think that we perceive in him
what I may call the beacon…light of virtue。 For nothing inspires
love； nothing conciliates affection； like virtue。 Why； in a certain
sense we may be said to feel affection even for men we have never
seen； owing to their honesty and virtue。 Who； for instance； fails to
dwell on the memory of Gaius Fabricius and Manius Curius with
some affection and warmth of feeling； though he has never seen
them？ Or who but loathes Tarquinius Superbus； Spurius Cassius；
Spurius Maelius？ We have fought for empire in Italy with two
great generals； Pyrrhus and Hannibal。 For the former； owing to his
probity； we entertain no great feelings of enmity： the latter； owing
to his cruelty； our country has detested and always will detest。
9。 Now； if the attraction of probity is so great that we can love it
not only in those whom we have never seen； but； what is more；
actually in an enemy； we need not be surprised if men's affections
are roused when they fancy that they have seen virtue and
goodness in those with whom a close intimacy is possible。 I do not
deny that affection is strengthened by the actual receipt of benefits；
as well as by the perception of a wish to render service； combined
with a closer intercourse。 When these are added to the original
impulse of the heart； to which I have alluded； a quite surprising
warmth of feeling springs up。 And if any one thinks that this
comes from a sense of weakness； that each may have some one to
help him to his particular need； all I can say is that； when he
maintains it to be born of want and poverty； he allows to friendship
an origin very base； and a pedigree； if I may be allowed the
expression； far from noble。 If this had been the case； a man's
inclination to friendship would be exactly in proportion to his low
opinion of his own resources。 Whereas the truth is quite the other
way。 For when a man's confidence in himself is greatest； when he
is so fortified by virtue and wisdom as to want nothing and to feel
absolutely self…dependent； it is then that he is most conspicuous for
seeking out and keeping up friendships。 Did Africanus； for
example； want anything of me？ Not the least in the world！
Neither did I of him。 In my case it was an admiration of his virtue；
in his an opinion； may be； which he entertained of my character；
that caused our affection。 Closer intimacy added to the warmth of
our feelings。 But though many great material advantages did
ensue； they were not the source from which our affection
proceeded。 For as we are not beneficent and liberal with any view
of extorting gratitude； and do not regard an act of kindness as an
investment； but follow a natural inclination to liberality； so we
look on friendship as worth trying for； not because we are attracted
to it by the expectation of ulterior gain； but in the conviction that
what it has to give us is from first to last included in the feeling
itself。
Far different is the view of those who； like brute beasts； refer
everything to sensual pleasure。 And no wonder。 Men who have
degraded all their powers of thought to an object so mean and
contemptible can of c