Fruits of Retirement Or, Miscellaneous Poems, Moral and Divine. Being Some Contemplations, Letters, &c. Written on a Variety of Subjects and Occasions. By Mary Mollineux ... To which is Prefixed, Some Account of the Author |
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Of FRIENDSHIP.
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 | Fruits of Retirement |  |
153
Of FRIENDSHIP.
Vertue is the right sacred Spring, whence flows
Those Christal Streams, whereby true Friendship grows;
That dear Affection, that firm Unity,
That Interwoven free Community,
Which so engageth Hearts and Minds together,
No stormy Sea, nor utmost Lands, can sever
These willing Captives: For the Gen'rous Mind
Is not by place, though far remote, confin'd.
True Friends, when they by distance are bereaven
Of Verbal Converse, have their Names engraven
In one anothers Hearts, which cannot be
Cancell'd or Raz'd by Earths vain obloquy:
Yet, lest the same should, as a Glimm'ring Spark,
Seem to expire, as buried in the Dark,
There is by Mediums (if the place deny
Them, viva voce, free Community)
Reciprocal Reflections of its Beams
Unto each other, couch'd in sable Streams;
Tho' the abounding Solace doth increase,
When Friends converse together Face to Face;
Then freely they Unbosom their Requests,
And treasure Secrets in each others Breasts,
As in firm Cabinets, close lock'd, where none
Can find the Key, but only each his own.
Is one oppress'd with Grief? He lays a share
Upon his Friend, that he may help to bear:
Swims one in Solace? Finds he cause of Joy?
'Tis then re-doubled by Community:
Mourns one? the other Mourns: Doth one Rejoyce?
His Second Self then, both in Heart and Voice,
Doth Sympathize: True Friendship may not be
Without an inward secret Sympathy.
But fawning Parasites, tho' they pretend,
In Complement, to be each others Friend,
For meer Self-int'rest, or some close design,
Become, if not proud Enemies, in time
Absolute Strangers; and so manifest
True Friendship ne'er was grounded in their Breast.
Altho' there was some formal Shew, whereby
Some were deluded, through Hypocrisie,
T'impart their hidden Secrets, which are now
Made Proclamations, with a scornful Brow;
Nor are Reproaches, taunting Calumnies,
Backbiting, Railing, other Injuries,
With-held, as opportunity affords
Them vent for Wrath, with either Tongue or Swords;
Surely, because such do not rightly know
That Innate Spring, which makes true Friendship grow:
For this, by Covenant, doth so engage
Their Noble Hearts, that no Self-wounding Rage
Can here prevail, or once dissolve the Knot
Friendship hath ty'd: Mistakes are soon forgot,
If any interpose, or would present
Some Crime, to cause a Frown in discontent.
There's Charity in Friendly Breasts, that heals
Such Scars, whereby true Love, not Rage, prevails:
And when it is unto Perfection grown
In both their Hearts, such Scars are seldom known.
Gentle Advice, whereby one may reclaim
A Friend from Error, doth not wrong the Name,
Or make a Breach in Friendship: None may be
Rightly esteem'd a Friend, that if he see
His Neighbour lose his Way, will not direct
Unto a better; or that will reject
Good Exhortation, fancying Reproof
A greater Crime than he is guilty of.
Self-hood is often Blind; therefore a Friend
Is not prohibited to reprehend,
So he proclaim not Faults. But they that would
Sin uncontroul'd, and hug their Errors, should
Never contract a Friendship, lest thereby
That sacred Name be stain'd with Infamy.
Is any Wise, that when Distempers do
Begin to seize, would not desire to know?
Diseases known, are sooner cur'd; but they
That would indulge and hide them, that they may
Thereby increase, do frequently expose
Themselves, as a Derision to their Foes.
True Cordial Friends, without offence, can bear
Kind Admonition, though it be severe.
The faithful Wounds of Friends are like Incision,
Made by the Skilful Hand of some Physitián,
To let out noxious Humours, that invade
The afflicted Part, and stubbornly impede
The hoped Cure; which afterward with speed
Doth, by some suppling Ointment, well succeed.
Those Christal Streams, whereby true Friendship grows;
That dear Affection, that firm Unity,
That Interwoven free Community,
Which so engageth Hearts and Minds together,
No stormy Sea, nor utmost Lands, can sever
These willing Captives: For the Gen'rous Mind
Is not by place, though far remote, confin'd.
True Friends, when they by distance are bereaven
Of Verbal Converse, have their Names engraven
In one anothers Hearts, which cannot be
Cancell'd or Raz'd by Earths vain obloquy:
Yet, lest the same should, as a Glimm'ring Spark,
Seem to expire, as buried in the Dark,
There is by Mediums (if the place deny
Them, viva voce, free Community)
Reciprocal Reflections of its Beams
Unto each other, couch'd in sable Streams;
Tho' the abounding Solace doth increase,
When Friends converse together Face to Face;
Then freely they Unbosom their Requests,
And treasure Secrets in each others Breasts,
As in firm Cabinets, close lock'd, where none
Can find the Key, but only each his own.
Is one oppress'd with Grief? He lays a share
Upon his Friend, that he may help to bear:
Swims one in Solace? Finds he cause of Joy?
'Tis then re-doubled by Community:
154
His Second Self then, both in Heart and Voice,
Doth Sympathize: True Friendship may not be
Without an inward secret Sympathy.
But fawning Parasites, tho' they pretend,
In Complement, to be each others Friend,
For meer Self-int'rest, or some close design,
Become, if not proud Enemies, in time
Absolute Strangers; and so manifest
True Friendship ne'er was grounded in their Breast.
Altho' there was some formal Shew, whereby
Some were deluded, through Hypocrisie,
T'impart their hidden Secrets, which are now
Made Proclamations, with a scornful Brow;
Nor are Reproaches, taunting Calumnies,
Backbiting, Railing, other Injuries,
With-held, as opportunity affords
Them vent for Wrath, with either Tongue or Swords;
Surely, because such do not rightly know
That Innate Spring, which makes true Friendship grow:
For this, by Covenant, doth so engage
Their Noble Hearts, that no Self-wounding Rage
Can here prevail, or once dissolve the Knot
Friendship hath ty'd: Mistakes are soon forgot,
If any interpose, or would present
Some Crime, to cause a Frown in discontent.
There's Charity in Friendly Breasts, that heals
Such Scars, whereby true Love, not Rage, prevails:
And when it is unto Perfection grown
In both their Hearts, such Scars are seldom known.
Gentle Advice, whereby one may reclaim
A Friend from Error, doth not wrong the Name,
Or make a Breach in Friendship: None may be
Rightly esteem'd a Friend, that if he see
155
Unto a better; or that will reject
Good Exhortation, fancying Reproof
A greater Crime than he is guilty of.
Self-hood is often Blind; therefore a Friend
Is not prohibited to reprehend,
So he proclaim not Faults. But they that would
Sin uncontroul'd, and hug their Errors, should
Never contract a Friendship, lest thereby
That sacred Name be stain'd with Infamy.
Is any Wise, that when Distempers do
Begin to seize, would not desire to know?
Diseases known, are sooner cur'd; but they
That would indulge and hide them, that they may
Thereby increase, do frequently expose
Themselves, as a Derision to their Foes.
True Cordial Friends, without offence, can bear
Kind Admonition, though it be severe.
The faithful Wounds of Friends are like Incision,
Made by the Skilful Hand of some Physitián,
To let out noxious Humours, that invade
The afflicted Part, and stubbornly impede
The hoped Cure; which afterward with speed
Doth, by some suppling Ointment, well succeed.
Thus, by this needful Freedom, Friendship shines
With greater Lustre; but its Light declines,
Where this is limited. Who can but grieve
To be so overpow'r'd, not to relieve
A Friend afflicted; that may not apply
A precious Balm to heal his Malady?
But there's Rejoycing, when with equal Mind
Exchanging Thoughts, they may in any kind
Express their Sentiments, and signify
Reproof or Approbation faithfully.
Thus still persisting in the sweet Increase
Of Love unfeign'd, and firm abiding Peace:
Here Innocent Delights more freely springs,
Than may be found in Courts of mighty Kings.
But as true Vertue's rarely to be found,
So Friendship grows not up in every Ground:
He that would choose a Friend, should prove and try;
Before the Knot be knit, none should unty,
While either Friend remains; for Friendship must
(Though one be separated unto Dust)
If poor Mephibosheth survive, extend
To the Posterity and Name of Friend;
Else that's imperfect, which should rather be
A little Ray of Immortality.
Hast thou a Friend, whose Ingenuity,
Well guarded with a right Simplicity,
Can both esteem what thou'lt communicate,
And of his own richly retaliate
The hidden Treasures of a knowing Breast,
Whose Cordial Love (too great to be express'd
By feigned Speeches) freely can reveal
His Secrets in thy Ear, but thine conceal
Close from all others, whose Fidelity
Will ne'er desert thee in Adversity,
Altho' the World Frown on thee, but remain
In Offices of Love, the very same,
Or more endear'd, than in Prosperity?
If likewise thou retain Integrity;
Or if thou'rt overtaken by surprize,
And hast transgress'd, can deeply sympathize,
(If thou forsake thine Error, and accept
Of Counsel, that advice may take Effect)
And, as in secret, mourning over thee,
Can with Love's Garment, wisely cover thee
From th'Eyes of others; yet if Scandals should
(When rais'd by others) in his Ear be told,
Will still thy true Intelligencer be;
Yet boldly guard thy Name, and plead for thee,
When thou art absent: Know, that he expects
Friendship should have in thee the same Effects;
Yet hates Upbraiding, or a Slanderous Tongue:
What can to Friendship be a greater Wrong?
But those that flatter thee in prosp'rous Times,
And subtilly indulge thy darling Crimes;
Will not endure a blust'ring Storm, but flee,
And, with thy Riches, haste away from thee.
This is a Friend indeed, that cannot be
Brib'd with thy Wealth, or lost in Misery:
O grant him in thy Heart a worthy place!
And see, as in a Glass Face answers Face,
Thou answer him; yea, prize him more than Gold
Of Ophir; for his Worth cannot be told.
'Tis but the wise and honest Heart, from whence
Deceit's exil'd, that's Friendships Residence.
With greater Lustre; but its Light declines,
Where this is limited. Who can but grieve
To be so overpow'r'd, not to relieve
A Friend afflicted; that may not apply
A precious Balm to heal his Malady?
But there's Rejoycing, when with equal Mind
Exchanging Thoughts, they may in any kind
Express their Sentiments, and signify
Reproof or Approbation faithfully.
156
Of Love unfeign'd, and firm abiding Peace:
Here Innocent Delights more freely springs,
Than may be found in Courts of mighty Kings.
But as true Vertue's rarely to be found,
So Friendship grows not up in every Ground:
He that would choose a Friend, should prove and try;
Before the Knot be knit, none should unty,
While either Friend remains; for Friendship must
(Though one be separated unto Dust)
If poor Mephibosheth survive, extend
To the Posterity and Name of Friend;
Else that's imperfect, which should rather be
A little Ray of Immortality.
Hast thou a Friend, whose Ingenuity,
Well guarded with a right Simplicity,
Can both esteem what thou'lt communicate,
And of his own richly retaliate
The hidden Treasures of a knowing Breast,
Whose Cordial Love (too great to be express'd
By feigned Speeches) freely can reveal
His Secrets in thy Ear, but thine conceal
Close from all others, whose Fidelity
Will ne'er desert thee in Adversity,
Altho' the World Frown on thee, but remain
In Offices of Love, the very same,
Or more endear'd, than in Prosperity?
If likewise thou retain Integrity;
Or if thou'rt overtaken by surprize,
And hast transgress'd, can deeply sympathize,
(If thou forsake thine Error, and accept
Of Counsel, that advice may take Effect)
And, as in secret, mourning over thee,
Can with Love's Garment, wisely cover thee
157
(When rais'd by others) in his Ear be told,
Will still thy true Intelligencer be;
Yet boldly guard thy Name, and plead for thee,
When thou art absent: Know, that he expects
Friendship should have in thee the same Effects;
Yet hates Upbraiding, or a Slanderous Tongue:
What can to Friendship be a greater Wrong?
But those that flatter thee in prosp'rous Times,
And subtilly indulge thy darling Crimes;
Will not endure a blust'ring Storm, but flee,
And, with thy Riches, haste away from thee.
This is a Friend indeed, that cannot be
Brib'd with thy Wealth, or lost in Misery:
O grant him in thy Heart a worthy place!
And see, as in a Glass Face answers Face,
Thou answer him; yea, prize him more than Gold
Of Ophir; for his Worth cannot be told.
'Tis but the wise and honest Heart, from whence
Deceit's exil'd, that's Friendships Residence.
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