What I am not, and what I fain would be, Whilst I inform myself, I would teach thee, My gentle Arthur; that it might be said One lesson we have both learned, and well read; I neither am, nor art thou one of those That hearkens to a jack's pulse, when it goes. Nor ever trusted to that friendship yet Was issue of the tavern, or the spit: Much less a name would we bring up, or nurse, That could but claim a kindred from the purse. Those are poor ties, depend on those false ends, 'Tis virtue alone, or nothing that knits friends: And as within your office, you do take No piece of money, but you know, or make Enquiry of the worth: so must we do, First weigh a friend, then touch, and try him too: For there are many slips, and counterfeits. Deceit is fruitful. Men have masks and nets, But these with wearing will themselves unfold: They cannot last. No lie grew ever old. Turn him, and see his threads: look, if he be Friend to himself, that would be friend to thee. For that is first required, a man be his own. But he that's too much that, is friend of none. Then rest, and a friend's value understand: It is a richer purchase than of land. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MY CREED by HOWARD ARNOLD WALTER LOVE'S CALENDAR by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH LATIMER AND RIDLEY, BURNED AT THE STAKE IN OXFORD, 1555 by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN PSALM 43. JUDICA ME DEUS by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE THE WANDERER: 5. IN HOLLAND: A DREAM by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON THE TAPESTRY WEAVERS by ANSON G. CHESTER |