IS it true, Philander, what they say of you, that you never lov'd in your life?

If by loving you mean to be in love, I answer, that I never loved but very little, but still enough, to learn that love is a dangerous Passion, and which one ought to shun: But if by loving, you understand having of Friends, I confess that I have lov'd, that I love still, and that I find nothing that con∣duces so much to the sweet∣•ess of Life, as Friendship.

Pray, which are the Advantages you find in Friendship?

Friendship has all the sweetnesses of love with∣out any of its defects; it is Page  46 instead of all things to those that know how to love well, of Riches without Cares, and of Honours without Vanity. It encreases our Pleasures, and lessens our Troubles; for nothing allays one's Pain. so much as the liberty of Complaining; nothing ren∣ders the Sentiment of Joy so quick, as the Pleasure of Telling it.

I don't question but Friendship has often great Sweetnesses; but I believe too, that it has sometimes its Bitterness; and I know some, to whom Friends have given many a bad Night.

That may be very true; and I confess, That as Friendship allays the Miseries of Life, so nothing disturbs its Tranquility so much, if we want Discretion to chuse Friends.

Pray, how ought true Friendship to be formed?

Honesty and Ver∣tue must be the Principles of true Friendship, When our Discretion & Judgment have made us discover those Qua∣lifications in any Person, there arises in us a Sentiment of Benevolence; this is not yet Friendship, but the Cause that produces it. This first Sentiment we feel for the Vertuous Person, makes us Page  47 wish him well; and after that, the mutual Esteem and resemblance of Humour tie the Knot of true Friendship; which shews it self by the share we take in our Friend's Pleasures and Troubles; by that, we wish him to take in ours, and by the forwardness we ought to shew of serving him.

I take notice, that you allow no other Principle of Friendship, but Vertue; and yet methinks that most Friendships arise from the Communication of Diversions and Pleasures.

These things may serve indeed to get Acquain∣tances, and even to entertain Friendship, but Merit and Vertue only, ought to be the Foundation of it; for when all is done, if the sole Interest of Diversion ties the Knot of Friendship; Absence, Em∣ployments, or the Griefs of Life, may easily break it. And it falls out often, that the new Delight we relish with new Friends, blot out the remembrance of Content∣ments past.

Do you approve of the Maxim, That one ought to have many Friends; and that one can never have too many?

I am so far from approving of it, that I think that nothing is so troublesom as having too many, let them be never so honest and di∣screet; besides, one cannot rely but weekly upon those who are for a great many Friends. A Heart that's divided, can't but love by halves: And, I be∣lieve, I may apply here the Saying of the Wisest Man of Greece, Friends (said he) are no Friends. Signifying, that this Word ought to be restrain'd to one.