Employs the utmost skill she can
To counterfeit the faithful man,

The friend of long duration.

Some will pronounce me too severe But long experience speaks me clear;

Therefore, that censure scorning, I will proceed to mark the shelves, On which so many dash themselves,

And give the simple warning. Youth, unadmonished by a guide, Will trust to any fair outside :

An error soon corrected ; For who but learns, with riper years, That man, when smoothest he appears,

Is most to be suspected. But here again a danger lies ; Lest, thus deluded by our eyes,

And taking trash for treasure, We should, when undeceived, conclude Friendship, imaginary good,

A mere Utopian pleasure.

An acquisition, rather rare,
Is yet no subject of despair ;

Nor should it seem distressful,
If either on forbidden ground,
Or where it was not to be found,

We sought it unsuccessful.
No friendship will abide the test
That stands on sordid interest

And mean self-lovo orected ;

Nor such, as may awhile subsist 'Twixt sensualist and sensualist,

For vicious ends connected.

Who hopes a friend, should have a heart,
Himself, well furnished for the part,

And ready on occasion
To show the virtue that he seeks ;
For 'tis an union that bespeaks

A just reciprocation.

A fretful temper will divide
The closest knot that may be tied,

By ceaseless sharp corrosion :
A temper, passionate and fierce,
May suddenly your joys disperse

At one immense explosion.

In vain the talkative unite
With hope of permanent delight :

The secret just committed
They drop through mere desire to prate,
Forgetting its important weight,

And by themselves outwitted.

How bright soe'er the prospect seems,
All thoughts of friendship are but dreams,

If envy chance to creep in ;
An envious man, if you succeed,
May prove a dang’rous foe indeed,

But not a friend worth keeping.
As envy pines at good possess’d,
So jealousy looks forth distress'd,

On good that seems approaching ;

And if success his steps attend,
Discerns a rival in a friend,

And hates him for encroaching,
Hence authors of illustrious name
(Unless belied by common fame)

Are sadly prone to quarrel ;
To deem the wit a friend displays
So much of loss to their own praise,

And pluck each other's laurel.
A man renown'd for repartee,
Will seldom scruple to make free

With friendship's finest feeling ; Will thrust a dagger at your breast, And tell you 'twas a special jest,

By way of balın for healing.

Beware of tatlers ;

your ear Close stopt against the tales they hear,

Fruits of their own invention ; The separation of chief friends Is what their kindness most intends ;

Their sport is your dissension. Friendship that wantonly admits A joco-serious play of wits,

In brilliant altercation, Is union such as indicates, Like Hand-in-Hand Insurance plates,

Danger of conflagration. Some fickle creatures boast a soul True as the needle to the pole,

Yet shifting, like the weather,