Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/233

Rh ensueth a filthy corruption and confusion which overthroweth the state of the body and the creature itself; semblably, by the concord of brethren, the whole race and house is in good case and flourisheth, the friends and familiars belonging to them (like a melodious quire of musicians) make a sweet consent and harmony: for neither they do, nor say, nor think anything that jarreth or is contrary one to the other,

to wit, some ill-tongued varlet and pickthank carry-tale within the house, or some flattering claw-back coming between, and entering into the house, or else some envious and malicious neighbour in the city. For like as diseases do engender in those bodies which neither receive nor stand well affected to their proper and familiar nourishment, many appetites of strange and hurtful meats; even so, a slanderous calumniation of jealousy being gotten once among those of a blood and kindred, doth draw and bring withal evil words and naughty speeches, which from without are always ready enough to run thither where as a breach lieth open, and where there is some fault already.

That divine master and soothsayer of Arcadie, of whom Herodotus writeth, when he had lost one of his own natural feet, was forced upon necessity to make himself another of wood: but a brother being fallen out and at war with a brother, and constrained to get some stranger to be his companion, either out of the market-place and common hall of the city as he walketh there, or from the public place of exercise, where he useth to behold the wrestlers and others; in my conceit doth clothing else but willingly cut off a part or limb of his own body made of flesh, and engraffed fast unto him, for to set another in the place which is of another kind and altogether a stranger. For even necessity itself, which doth entertain, approve and seek for friendship and mutual acquaintance, teacheth us to honour, cherish and preserve that which is of the same nature and kind; for that without friends' society and fellowship we are not able to live solitary and alone as most savage beasts, neither will our nature endure it: and therefore in Menander he saith very well and wisely: