LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP.

CCCLXXIII.

Love.

'Tell me, gentle traveller, who hast wandered through the world, and seen the sweetest roses blow, and brightest gliding rivers, of all thine eyes have seen, which is the fairest land?'

Child, shall I tell thee where Nature is most blest and fair? It is where those we love abide. Though that space be small, ample is it above kingdoms; though it be a desert, through it runs the river of paradise, and there are the enchanted bowers.'

Grades of Love.

CCCLXXIV.

Because love is the soul of this sphere, it, too, is celestial; a pendulum vibrating in accord with the universe. Many paths hath love, each with its own finger-post. The first is right intention, whither good fortune leads; then reach we the longing of affection, leading to the source of friendship; thence open desire and benevolence, guiding the heart aright to faith

and sincerity, which lead straight to love. But this love? It is another road; at its end is the shining palace where dwells the Lord of love.

Love.

CCCLXXV.

Is there any bolt that can shut in love? A tear will publish it.

Those destitute of love appropriate all they have. to themselves those who possess love consider even their bones to belong to others.

The domestic state of that man who is without love is like the flourishing of a withered tree in a desert. Divine virtue will burn up the soul that has no love. The ignorant say love is an ally to virtue only, but it is also the one help of vice, consuming it.

That body which enshrines a heart came by the path of love; when life leaves those without love it leaves-dust.

Love begets desire, and desire the immeasurable excellence of friendship. They say that the union of soul and body in man is the fruit of the union of Love and Virtue.

They say that the felicity of heaven and the happiness of earth is the fruit of the union of Love and Virtue.

The Wife.

CCCLXXVI.

Every wise woman buildeth her home; but a foolish woman overthroweth her home with her own hands.

A virtuous wife who can find?

For her price is above pearls.

The heart of her husband trusteth in her.
She worketh with the delight of her hands.
She openeth wide her hand to the afflicted;
And she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Strength and honour are her clothing;
And she laugheth at the future day.
Her mouth she openeth with wisdom;
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
She watcheth the goings of her household;
And the bread of sloth she eateth not.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband riseth up and praiseth her:

Many daughters have done excellently,
But thou excellest them all!'

CCCLXXVII.

The Wife.

In three things I (Wisdom) was adorned, and stood up beautiful before God and men: the unity of brethren, the love of neighbours, a man and a wife that agree together.

Blessed is the man that hath a virtuous wife, for the number of his days shall be double. He shall fulfil the years of his life in peace. A silent and loving woman is a gift of God; and there is nothing so much worth as a mind well instructed. A modest and faithful woman hath double grace, and her purc

mind cannot be valued. As the sun when it riseth is the beauty of a good wife in the ordering of her house. My son, keep the flower of thine age sound, and give not thy strength to strangers. When thou hast gotten a fruitful field, sow it with

thine own secd,

trusting in the goodness of thy stock. So shall thy race which thou leavest be magnified, having the confidence of their good descent.

Gentleness.

CCCLXXVIII.

The wise tongue maketh knowledge pleasant. A healing tongue is a tree of life. A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.

Faithfulness.

CCCLXXIX.

Naomi, bereaved of her two sons and her husband, arose with her daughters-in-law to return from Moab (there being famine in the land) into Judah. And Naomi said to her daughters-in-law, 'Return each of you to her mother's house; and the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt by the dead and by me!' Orphah kissed her mother-in-law: Ruth clave unto her. And Ruth said, 'Entreat me not to leave thee, nor to return from following thee; for whither thou goest I will go, and where thou dwellest I will dwell; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. Where thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried. Nought but death shall part thee and me!'

CCCLXXX.

Good Company.

One day as I was in the bath, a friend of mine put into my hand a piece of scented clay. I took it, and said to it, Art thou of heaven or earth? for I am charmed with thy delightful scent.' It answered, 'I was a despicable piece of clay; but I was some time in company of the rose: the sweet quality of my companion was communicated to me; otherwise I should have remained only what I appear to be,—a bit of earth.

Low Society.

CCCLXXXI.

Better the desert brake for a home, herbs for food, foliage for raiment, grass for a couch, and wild creatures for companions, than to herd with the base and

How great a delight is good health to all creatures! How great a satisfaction is friendship! How high a gratification to the wise is the completion of works well begun! The tree of the world hath its poisons, but beareth two fruits of exquisite flavour,-poetry sweet as nectar, and the society of the good.

Friendship.

CCCLXXXIII.

I shun a friend who pronounces my actions to be good though they are bad. I like a simple friend,