Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/97

Rh what is done, maketh a plain report and narration in modest manner; but of himself he will never say word. After which sort did the Lacedaemonians in times past, when they had sent corn unto the Smyrnaeans, which, in their extreme necessity, they craved at their hands: For at what time as the men of Smyrna magnified, and wonderfully extolled this liberality of theirs, they returned this answer again: This is not so great a matter that it should deserve so highly to be praised or wondered at: for (say they) gathered we have thus much, and made this supply of your necessities, only by cutting ourselves and our labouring beasts short of one day's pittance and allowance. Bounty in this wise performed is not only gentleman-like and liberal indeed, but also more welcome and acceptable to the receivers; inasmuch as they think it was no great damage, nor much out of their way that did it. Furthermore, not only this odious fashion of doing any service with such pain and trouble, or the readiness to make offer and promise so quickly, doth principally bewray the nature of a flatterer: but herein also much more he may be discovered: for that a friend is willingly employed in honest causes: but a flatterer in shameful and dishonest: as also in the divers ends that they purpose; for the one seeketh to profit his friend, the other to please only. A friend, as Gorgias was wont to say, will never require that his friend should do him a pleasure, but in just things only: whiles a flatterer serve th his turn in many things that are unjust: For why? To do good deeds friends should be joint. But not to sin in any point; whereas he should endeavour to avert and withdraw him from that which is not decent, or seemly: Now if it happen that the other will not be persuaded by him, then were it not amiss to say unto him, as Antipater once answered Phocion; You cannot have me to be a friend and flatterer too, (that is to say) a friend, and no friend. For one friend is to stand to another, and to assist him in doing, and not in misdoing, in consulting, and not in complotting and conspiring, in bearing witness with him of the truth, and not in circumventing any one by falsehood, yea, and to take part with him in suffering calamity, and not to bear him company in doing injury: For say that we may chance to be privy unto some shameful and reproachful deeds of our friend; yet we ought not to be party unto them therein, nor willing to aid them in any undecent action. For like as the Lacedaemonians being defeated in battle by King Antipater,