The academie of eloquence containing a compleat English rhetorique, exemplified with common-places and formes digested into an easie and methodical way to speak and write fluently according to the mode of the present times : together with letters both amorous and moral upon emergent occasions / by Tho. Blount, Gent.

Friendship.

AS Passion hath been well said to be Friend∣ship run mad; So Friendship may be proper∣ly stiled Sober passion, as having all the spirit and cordiality of the wine of Love, without the offen∣sive fumes and vapours of it. Mr. Montagu in his Misce••lenea

The love of men to women is a thing common, and of cou••se; but the friendship of man to man is infinite and immortall. Plato.

The words of a friend joyned with true affecti∣on, give life to the heart, and comfort to a care-oppressed mind. Chylo.

The mutual habitude of no intermiting-friend∣ship between us, hath strongly confirmed —

(Receiving so dear witnesses of your friendship)

The resemblance of their beauties and of their wits, joyned their souls together, and soon after, that of their fortunes made this friendship per∣fect. Ar.

(which your friendship rather finds, then I ac∣knowledg••)

Hence gr••ws the height of friendship, when two similiary souls shal blend in their commixions. Fel∣tham.

As nothing unites more then a reciprocall ex∣change of affection: So there is nothing hinders the knot of friendship more then then apparent neglect of courtesies. Feltham.

Friendship a diligen•• Officer, takes care to see the bonds thereof fully executed.

Frindship i•• the soul of humane society.

F••iendship is a pleasant sauce to any temporall happiness. Bacon.

The worst solitude is be destitute of sincere friendship.