is old thou shalt drink it with pleasure."

14. With what strength of allusion, and force of thought, has he
described the breaches and violations of friendship! "Whoso casteth a
stone at the birds, frayeth them away; and he that upbraideth his
friend, breaketh friendship. Though thou drawest a sword at a friend,
yet despair not, for there may be a returning to favor; if thou hast
opened thy mouth against thy friend, fear not, for there may be a
reconciliation; except for upbraiding, or pride, or disclosing of
secrets, or a treacherous wound; for, for these things, every friend
will depart."

15. We may observe in this and several other precepts in this author,
those little familiar instances and illustrations which are so much
admired in the moral writings of _Horace_ and _Epictetus_. There are
very beautiful instances of this nature in the following pages, which
are likewise written upon the same subject:

16. "Whoso discovereth secrets, loseth his credit, and shall never find
a friend to his mind. Love thy friend, and be faithful unto him; but if
thou betrayest his secret, follow no more after him; for as a man hath
destroyed his enemy, so hast thou lost the love of thy friend; as one
that letteth a bird go out of his hand, so hast thou let thy friend go,
and shall not get him again: follow after him no more, for he is too far
off; he is as a roe escaped out of the snare. As for a wound, it may be
bound up, and after reviling, there may be reconciliation; but he that
betrayeth secrets, is without hope."

17. Among the several qualifications of a good friend, this wise man has
very justly singled out constancy and faithfulness as the principal; to