who was wont to display the utmost sincerity and candor in speech and action towards thee.
Nevertheless, as I said, I do not now accuse you of any of these things, or reproach you for
the lonely position in which you have placed me by breaking off those conferences from
which we often derived no small pleasure and profit; but all these things I pass by, and bear
in silence and meekness, not that thou hast acted meekly in transgressing against me, but
because from the day that I cherished thy friendship I laid it down as a rule for myself, that
whatever sorrow you might cause me I would never force you to the necessity of an apology.
For you know yourself that you have inflicted no small loss on me if at least you remember
what we were always saying ourselves, and the outside world also said concerning us, that
it was a great gain for us to be of one mind and be guarded by each other’s friendship. Every
one said, indeed, that our concord would bring no small advantage to many besides ourselves;
I never perceived, however, so far as I am concerned, how it could be of advantage to others:
but I did say that we should at least derive this benefit from it: that those who wished to
contend with us would find us difficult to master. And I never ceased reminding you of
these things: saying the age is a cruel one, and designing men are many, genuine love is no
more, and the deadly pest of envy has crept into its place: we walk in the midst of snares,
and on the edge of battlements;50 those who are ready to rejoice in our misfortunes, if any
should befall us, are many and beset us from many quarters: whereas there is no one to
condole with us, or at least the number of such may be easily counted. Beware that we do
not by separation incur much ridicule, and damage worse than ridicule. Brother aided by
brother is like a strong city, and well fortified kingdom.51 Do not dissolve this genuine in-
timacy, nor break down the fortress. Such things and more I was continually saying, not
indeed that I ever suspected anything of this kind, but supposing you to be entirely sound
in your relation towards me, I did it as a superfluous precaution, wishing to preserve in
health one who was already sound; but unwittingly, as it seems, I was administering medicines
to a sick man: and even so I have not been fortunate enough to do any good, and have gained
nothing by my excess of forethought. For having totally cast away all these considerations,
without giving them a thought, you have turned me adrift like an unballasted vessel on an
untried ocean, taking no heed of those fierce billows which I must encounter. For if it should
ever be my lot to undergo calumny, or mockery, or any other kind of insult or menace (and
such things must frequently occur), to whom shall I fly for refuge: to whom shall I impart
my distress, who will be willing to succour me and drive back my assailants and put a stop
50 A metaphorical expression to denote a perilous position, as those who walked on the edge of the walls
would be exposed to the missiles of the enemy.
51 Proverbs xviii. 19. LXX. version.
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Book I