and induce. No receipt openeth the heart but a true friend, to whom you
may impart griefs, joys, fears, hopes, suspicions, counsels, and
whatsoever lieth upon the heart to oppress it, in a kind of civil shrift
or confession.

--_Bacon_.

* * * * *

Be true to thy friend. Never speak of his faults to another, to show thy
own discrimination; but open them all to him, with candor and true
gentleness; forgive all his errors and his sins, be they ever so many;
but do not excuse the slightest deviation from rectitude. Never forbear
to dissent from a false opinion, or a wrong practice, from mistaken
motives of kindness; nor seek thus to have thy own weaknesses sustained;
for these things cannot be done without injury to the soul.

--_Child_.

* * * * *

Be admonished not to strike leagues of friendship with cheap persons,
where no friendship can be.

--_Emerson_.

* * * * *

A day for toil, an hour for sport,
But for a friend life is too short.