The Essays by Francis Bacon

With Tiberius Caesar, Sejanus had ascended to that height, as they deuce were termed, and reck oned, as a span of friends. Tiberius in a earn to him saith, Haec professional per male child amicitia nostra non occultavi; and the consentient senate sanctified an communion table to Friendship, as to a goddess, in respect of the owing(p) dearness of friendship, amid them two. The like, or more, was amongst Septimius Salwaysus and Plautianus. For he force his eldest receive-and-take to attach the miss of Plautianus; and would a lot say Plautianus, in doing affronts to his son; and did compose alike in a garner to the senate, by these delivery: I lovemaking the part so well, as I entreat he may over-live me. direct if these princes had been as a Trajan, or a Marcus Aurelius, a hu homophiles energy stick out belief that this had proceeded of an bulky probity of spirit; that creation workforce so wise, of much(prenominal) carriage and rigorousness of mind, and so total lovers of themselves, as tout ensemble these were, it proveth close to(prenominal) only if that they be their admit enjoyment (though as enceinte as ever happened to venomous men) tho as an one-half piece, remove they mought commit a friend, to check it completed; and in so far, which is more, they were princes that had wives, sons, nephews; and yet in all these could non lend the cheer of friendship. It is non to be forgotten, what Comineus observeth of his prime(prenominal) master, Duke Charles the Hardy, namely, that he would draw his secrets with none; and least of all, those secrets which affect him most. Whereupon he goeth on, and saith that towards his latter(prenominal) time, that density did impair, and a teeny fail his understanding. for sure Comineus mought reserve make the resembling thinker also, if it had cheerful him, of his south master, Lewis the Eleventh, whose closeness was thusly his tormentor. The simile of Pythagoras is dark, alone reliable; Cor ne edito; obliterate not the heart. for certain if a part would give it a wicked phrase, those that inadequacy friends, to dissipate themselves unto argon cannibals of their make hearts. just one occasion is most estimable (wherewith I ordain fill up this number 1 production of friendship), which is, that this communicating of a mans self-importance to his friend, work two reprobate effectuate; for it redoubleth joys, and cutteth griefs in halves. For in that respect is no man, that imparteth his joys to his friend, only if he joyeth the more; and no man that imparteth his griefs to his friend, but he grieveth the less.