meaning of the term, and do not let us define it in high-flown
language. Let us account as good the persons usually considered
so, such as Paulus, Cato, Gallus, Scipio, and Philus. Such men as
these are good enough for everyday life; and we need not trouble
ourselves about those ideal characters which are nowhere to be
met with.

Well, between men like these the advantages of friendship are
almost more than I can say. To begin with, how can life he worth
living, to use the words of Ennius, which lacks that repose which
is to be found in the mutual good-will of a friend? What can be
more delightful than to have some one to whom you can say
everything with the same absolute confidence as to yourself? Is
not prosperity robbed of half its value if you have no one to share
your joy? On the other hand, misfortunes would be hard to bear if
there were not some one to feel them even more acutely than
yourself. In a word, other objects of ambition serve for particular
ends-riches for use, power for securing homage, office for
reputation, pleasure for enjoyment, health for' freedom from pain
and the full use of the functions of the body. But friendship
embraces innumerable advantages. Turn which way you please,
you will find it at hand. It is everywhere; and yet never out of
place, never unwelcome. Fire and water themselves, to use a
common expression, are not of more universal use than friendship.
I am not now speaking of the common or modified form of it,
though even that is a source of pleasure and profit, but of that true
and complete friendship which existed between the select few who
are known to fame. Such friendship enhances prosperity, and
relieves adversity of its burden by halving and sharing it.