Anxious to please. O! when my friend and I
In some thick wood have wander'd heedless on,
Hid from the vulgar eye, and sat us down
Upon the sloping cowslip-covered bank,
Where the pure limpid stream has slid along,
In grateful errors through the under-wood,
Sweet murmurings, methought the shrill-tongued thrush
Mended his song of love; the sooty blackbird
Mellow'd his pipe, and soften'd every note;
The eglantine smell'd sweeter, and the rose
Assumed a dye more deep.
O! then the longest summer's day
Seem'd too, too much in haste: still the full heart
Had not imparted half: 'tis happiness
Too exquisite to last!

--_Blair_.

* * * * *

Friendship was given us by nature as the handmaid of virtues, and not as
the companion of our vices.

--_Cicero_.

* * * * *

Friendships, like trees, bring forth fruit after their kind. Corrupt
friendships, corrupt fruit; good friendship, good fruit.