On Friendship

How fondly those mistake who seek for joys
In crowds, and mirth, and never ceasing noise:
Their mirth, how empty! and their joys, how vain!
Reflection ever flies the laughing train.
Stunn'd with the din, thought sickens; and the mind
No true delight, no taste of bliss can find.
Alike they err, who leave the world to dwell
With gloomy sadness in a lonely cell:
Heavy and dull, the joyless hours move on,
To all the sweets of social life unknown.

If pleasure smiles sincere below the skies,
That pleasure must from sacred friendship rise;
Of all which animates the human frame,
The noblest ardour, and the purest flame:
Offspring of heav'n! — there friendship all refin'd,
Immortal glows in each seraphic mind:
Mix'd with the streams of bliss forever flows,
Nor change, decay, nor interruption knows:
A glorious native of the realms of love,
And only, in perfection, known above:
Yet is the blessing, by indulgent heav'n,
Though in a less degree, to mortals giv'n:
Its pleasing pow'r by providence design'd
To soften human cares, and mend the mind;
To calm our passions by its gentle sway,
And bid them reason's sacred laws obey.
Friendship can often o'er the heart prevail,
When philosophic rules and maxims fail:
It turns to mutual tenderness the thought,
And views with kind indulgence ev'ry fault.
And where corrosives ought to be apply'd,
The gentle hand soft love and pity guide:
While each can bear reproof, and each reprove,
(All proud resentment lost in grateful love,)
Point out each fault, and blame yet not offend,
And free from nauseous flatt'ry, can commend,
To merit its proportion'd honours raise;
Alike exact the censure and the praise.

Friendship communicates our joys and pains,
And in each breast rejoices, or complains;
Divides our weight of woe, relieves our cares,
And ev'ry pleasure heightens, as it shares.

While sacred virtue lights the holy fire,
By time uninjur'd, it will ne'er expire:
No force of rough adversity can part,
Can tear the gen'rous passion from the heart.

O friendship, what sincere delights are thine!
Fair miniature of happiness divine;
Propitious, pleasing, heav'n-descended guest,
Who only with the virtuous few canst rest:
May thy kind influence smooth ray path of life,
Still calm and peaceful, free from noisy strife,
Be virtue, sweet content, and friendship mine,
I at my humble lot shall ne'er repine.
From these alone more real pleasures flow,
Than the gay round of mirth or gaudy show,
Or all the charms of greatness can bestow.