Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/328

306 fresh and flowering; which fickle and inconstant affection causeth us to change often and to begin many friendships and finish none; to enter still into new amities and bring none to perfection; and for the love of the new which we pursue and seek after, we pass by that which we held already and let it go.

To begin then first and foremost at antiquity (as it were) from the goddess Vesta (according to the old proverb), let us examine and consider the common fame of man's life which hath been delivered unto us from hand to hand time out of mind, by the succession and progress of so many ages from the old world unto this day, and take the same for a witness and counsellor both in this matter, we shall find in all the years past these only couples and pairs of renowned friends, to wit, Theseus and Pirithous; Achilles and Patroclus; Orestes and Pylades; Pythias and Damon; Epaminondas and Pelopidas. For friendship is indeed (as I may so say) one of these cattle that love company and desire to feed and pasture with fellows; but it cannot abide herds and droves, it may not away with these great flocks, as jays, daws and choughs do. And whereas it is commonly said and thought, that a friend is another own self, and men give unto him the name of or  in Greek, as if a man would say,, that is, such another: what implieth all this, but that friendship should be reduced within the measure and compass of the dual number, that is, of twain. Well, this is certain, we can buy neither many slaves nor purchase many friends with a small piece of coin: but what may be this piece of money that will fetch friends? Surely, kind affection or goodwill, and a lovely grace joined with virtue, things, I may tell you, so rare, as look throughout the world and the whole course of nature, you shall find nothing more geason. No marvel, then, if it be impossible either to love many or to be loved of many, perfectly and in the height of affection. But like as great rivers, if they be divided into many channels, and cut into sundry riverets, carry but an ebb water, and run with no strong stream; even so a vehement and affectionate love planted in the mind, if it be parted many and divers ways, becometh enervate and feeble, and cometh in manner to nothing. This is the reason in nature that those creatures which bring forth but one and no more, love their young more tenderly and entirely than others do theirs. Homer also, when he would signify a child most dearly beloved, calleth it, that is to say, only begotten and toward old age, to wit, when the parents have no more between them, nor ever are like or do look to have another: for mine own part, I