第468页 / 共734页

And further, the Friendship of the good is alone superior to

calumny; it not being easy for men to believe a third person

respecting one whom they have long tried and proved: there is

between good men mutual confidence, and the feeling that one's

friend would never have done one wrong, and all other such things

as are expected in Friendship really worthy the name; but in the

other kinds there is nothing to prevent all such suspicions.