The Arcadian prophet in Herodotus was forced to
supply the loss of one of his feet with an artificial one
made of wood. But he who in a difference throws off his
brother, and out of places of common resort takes a stranger for his comrade, seems to do no less than wilfully to
mangle off a part of himself, attempting to repair the barbarous breach by the unnatural application of an extraneous
member. For the ordinary inclinations and desires of men,
being after some sort of society or other, sufficiently admonish them to set the highest value upon relations, to pay
them all becoming respects, and to have a tender regard
for their persons, nothing being more irksome to nature
than to live in that destitution and solitude that denies
them the happiness of a friend and the privilege of communication. Well therefore was that of Menander:
’Tis not o’ th’ store of sprightly wine,
Nor plenty of delicious meats,
Though generous Nature should design
T’ oblige us with perpetual treats;
’Tis not on these we for content depend,
So much as on the shadow of a friend.
For a great deal of friendship in the world is really no
better and no more than the mere imitation and resemblance of that first affection that Nature wrought in parents towards their children, and in their children towards
one another. And whoever has not a particular esteem
and regard for this kind of friendship, I know no reason
ally one has to credit his kindest pretensions. For what
shall we make of that man who in his complaisance, either
in company or in his letters, salutes his friend by the name
of brother, and yet scorns the company of that very brother
whose name was so serviceable to him in his compliment?
For, as it is the part of a madman to adorn and set out
the effigies of his brother, and in the mean time to abuse,
beat, and maim his person; so, to value and honor the
name in others but to hate and shun the brother himself is
likewise an action of one that is not so well in his wits as he
should be, and that never yet considered that Nature is a
most sacred thing.