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26 A PANEGYRICK that it is a Thing fo ufeful and necefary as the very Elements could not long fubfift without a natural Combination 5 fo pleafant, that it affords as warm an Influence as the Sun itfelf; fo honeft, (if Honeſty in this Cafe deferve any Confideration,) that the very Philofophers have not {tuck to place this as one among the reft of their different Sentiments of the chiefeft Good. But what if I make it appear that I alfo am the main Spring and Original of this Endearment ? Yes, l can eafily demonftrate it, and that not by crabbed Syllogifms, or a crooked and unintelligible Way of Arguing, but can make it (as the Proverb goes) as plain as the Nofe in your Face. Well then, to fcratch and curry one another, to wink at a Friends Faults ; nay, to cry up fome Failings for virtuous and commendable, is not this the next Door to the being a Fool? When One looking fedfaftly in his Miftrefs’s Faceadmires a Mole as much as a Beauty-Spot; when another fwears his Lady’s Stinking Breath is moft redolent Perfume; and at another time the fond Parent hugs the Squint-eyed Child, and pretends it is rather a Becoming Glance and Winning Afpeët than any Blemiſh of the Eye-Sight, what is all this but the very Height of Folly ? Folly (I ſay) that both makes Friends, and keeps them ſo. I ſpeak of Mortal Men only, among whom there are none but have ſome fmall Faults; he is moft happythat has feweft. If we pafsto the Gods, we fhall find that they have fo much of Wifdom, as they have very little of Friendfhip ; nay, nothing af that which is true and hearty. The Realon why
