Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/65

Rh that a flatterer seeth well enough that there is nothing in the world so pleasurable as friendship, nor yieldeth more contentment unto man than it doth: He windeth himself into favour by means of pleasure, and wholly is employed to procure mirth and delight. Also for that both grace and commodity doth always accompany amity; in which regard the common proverb saith, that a friend is more necessary than either fire or water. Therefore a flatterer is ready to put himself forward, and offereth his service with all double diligence, striving in all occasions, and businesses to be ever prompt and officious. And because the principal thing that linketh and bindeth friendship sure at the beginning, is the conformity and likeness of manners, studies, endeavours, and inclinations, and in one word, seeing that to be like affected, and to shew pleasure or displeasure in the same things, is the chief matter that knitteth amity and both combineth, and also keepeth men together, by a certain mutual correspondence in natural affections: the flatterer knowing so much, composeth his nature (as it were) some unformed matter ready to receive all sorts of impressions, studying to frame and accommodate himself wholly to all those things that he taketh in hand; yea, and to resemble those persons just by way of imitation whom he meaneth to set upon and deceive, as being supple, soft, and pliable, to represent them lively in every point, so as a man may say of him after this manner:

But the craftiest cast of all other that he hath is this, that seeing (as he doth) liberty of speech (both in truth and also according to the opinion and speech of the whole world) to be the proper voice of friendship (as a man would say) of some living creature; insomuch, as where there is not this freedom of speaking frankly, there is no true friendship nor generosity indeed. In this point also he will not seem to come short, nor leave it behind for want of imitation; but after the fashion of fine and excellent cooks, who use to serve up tart, bitter and sharp sauces together with sweet and pleasant meats, for to divert and take away the satiety and fulness which soon followeth them, these flatterers also use a certain kind of plain and free speech; howbeit, neither sincere and natural is it, nor profitable, but (as we commonly say) from teeth outward, or (as it were) beckoning and winking slightly with the eye under the brows, not touching the quick, but tickling aloft only, to no purpose.