Unparalleld varieties: or, The matchless actions and passions of mankind.: Displayed in near four hundred notable instances and examples. Discovering the transcendent effects; I. Of love, friendship, and gratitude. II. Of magnanimity, courage, and fidelity. III. Of chastity, temperance, and humility. And on the contrary the tremendous consequences, IV. Of hatred, revenge, and ingratitude. V. Of cowardice, barbarity, treachery. VI. Of unchastity, intemperance, and ambition. : Imbellished with proper figures. / By R.B. ...

CVII. I think (saith Mr. Hakewell) that no former Histories of the Graecians or Romans can afford such a∣nother example of constant and faithful Friendship as that betwixt Barbadicus, and Trivisanus, two Gentlemen of Venice, in memory whereof there is a large inscripti∣on in Latine in that City, allowed by Authority in 1627. This example was held so strange, that several learned men have published Narratives thereof, one of which take as follows. Nicholas Barbadicus, and M. Trivisanus, two Patricians of Venice, of great reputation in respect of their own Virtues, the splendor of their Families, and the Dignities, and Offices they had honourably born in the Common-wealth; these two illustrious Per∣sons from their Youth had contracted a Friendship with each other, a solid, and most intire one it was, carried on all along with the performance of mutual good Offi∣ces, and kindness; at last it happened, that Trivisanus through extraordinary domestick expences, charges in Journies, indulgence in such pleasures as are common with the more generous sort of youth, and also by rea∣son of some losses he had sustained, and other casualties of Humane life, was reduced to a condition most unworthy of his birth and blood; his debts being

grown greater than his Fortunes, he was forsaken even by his own Brethren, yet then was he received into the House of his only Friend Barbadicus, who was a very noble and rich Person, and had before lent him four thousand Duckets gratis; which debt he forgave him as soon as he entred his House, he also paid for him two thousand more, which he had contracted with others, and after this, by an extraordinary and irrevocable act of his own, he made him Overseer, and Administrator of all his Goods moveable and immoveable, in such manner that he might dispose of them at his pleasure; nor was Barbadicus satisfied with this, but that he might provide for the benefit of his Friend, he leaves it in his Will, that though he had a Wife and Brother, yet Trivi∣sanus should be his sole Executor, that he should have the whole power of disposing his Daughters in Marri∣age, nor should he at any time be compelled to render an Account of his Trust, or of any thing pertaining to that Estate; he also bequeathed him a Legacy as large as his Estate would permit, without apparent prejudice to the Fortunes of his Children; Barbadicus was moved to do all this, because he perceived Trivisanus, as soon as he had entred his House, by a singular mo∣desty of mind, of a prodigal of his own Estate, became sparing of anothers, and from that moment had left off all Gaming, and other such pleasures of youth, he had also betaken himself to the company and converse of learned and wise men, and by addicting himself to the perusal and study of the best Authors, had shewed him, that he would answer his liberality with sincerity, uprightness, and unblameable fidelity, which fidelity Barbadicus had often before, and also since this liberali∣ty of his experienced in him his beloved and most con∣stant Friend, when he alone defenced the life and ho∣nour of Barbadicus in his greatest streights, and worst dangers, as well open as concealed, so that he openly professed to owe the safety of them both to Trivisanus; the whole City knows how he supported the innocency of his Friend in the salfe and devilish Calumnies that

were raised upon him, and would not desert him in the worst of his Fortunes, though he was slandered for ta∣king his part; while he did this, he not only interrupted the course of his preferments to the chiefest places of Honour in his Country, into which to the amazement of all men, he was in a most hopeful way; but he also for∣feited and lost all those opportunities. It is also well known to all men, that he contracted great and dange∣rous Enmities with some that had been aforetime his Companions, upon the sole score of this Friend of his; he despised all that extrinsick honour which depends upon the opinion of the brutish multitude, and at the last exposed his own life to frequent, and manifest haz∣ards, as he would also yet do in any such occasion as should require it, and whereas Trivisanus hath lived and is yet alive, and through the incomparable expression of a grateful mind in Barbadicus, he lives with great splen∣dour, and in great Authority. He is merciful to the af∣flicted, courteous to his Friends, and is especially a most worthy Patron of all those that are virtuous; he is ho∣nourably esteemed by the Daughters of his Friend, in such manner, as if he were their own Father; he is also chearfully received by his Wife, and truly honoured by her as her Brother as well because she is not igno∣rant of his merits in respect of her Husband, as also for his excellent temper, and such other uncommon quali∣ties, as render him worthy of the love and admiration of all men. Hakewils Apology. p. 439.