Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/331

Rh deserve that we should love and make account of them. And like as Xeuxis the painter answered sometime to those who found fault with him for his slow hand in painting: I confess indeed (quoth he) that I am long in drawing a picture, for I purpose that my work should continue long; and even so that friendship and familiarity is like to last and be preserved long which was a good while in proof and trial. Is it then no easy matter to make trial and choice of many friends together? and is it no hard thing to converse and keep company with many at once, or rather is this also impossible? for surely it is conversation and fellowship whereby we enjoy the benefit of friendship, and the most sweet and pleasant fruit of amity consisteth in keeping continual society, and daily frequenting one another's company, like unto those who uttered these words:

As Homer reporteth in one place: and in another Menelaus, speaking of Ulysses, saith thus:

But this plurality of friends whereof we now speak, seemeth to do clean contrary; for whereas the simple amity of twain draweth us together, holdeth and uniteth us by frequent and continual conversation, fellowship, and duties of kindness.

according to the words of Empedocles; and surely desirous it is to make the semblable union and concorporation: this friendship of many separateth, distracteth and diverteth us, calling and transporting us sundry ways, not permitting the commixture and soldering (as it were) of goodwill and kind affection to grow into one, and make a perfect joint by familiar conversation, enclosing and fastening every part together. But the same anon bringeth withal a great inequality in offices and reciprocal services meet for friends, and breedeth a certain foolish bashfulness and straining of courtesy in the performance thereof, for by occasion of many friends those parts in amity, which other-