Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/213

 eay; for we are not always to conclude, that a wie Man is not hurt, becaue he doth not cry out and lament himelf, like thoe of a childih or effeminate Temper. But indeed it is poible he might ee ome Faults in the Captain, without any Uneaines at all: For Men of true Widom and Goodnes are contented to take Perons and Things as they are, without complaining of their Imperfections, or attempting to amend them. They can ee a Fault in a Friend, a Relation, or an Acquaintance, without ever mentioning it to the Parties themelves, or to any others; and this often without the leat leening their Affection. Indeed unles great Dicernment be tempered with this overlooking Dipoition, we ought never to contract Friendhip but with a Degree of Folly which we can deceive: For I hope my Friends will pardon me, when I declare I know none of them without a Fault; and I hould be orry if I could imagine I had any Friend who could not ee mine. Forgivenes, of this Kind, we give and demand in Turn. It is an Exercie of Friendhip, and, perhaps, none of the leat pleaant. And this Forgivenes we mut betow, without Deire of Amendment. There is, perhaps, no urer Mark of Folly, than an Attempt to correct the