Languages & literature > Bacon's essays, and Goldsmith's essays

bacon’s ESSAYS. 97
it was a sparing speech of the ancients to say, ‘ that
a friend is another himself; for that a friend is far
more than himself.’ Men have their time, and die
many times in desire of some things which they prin¬
cipally take to heart; the bestowing of a child, the
finishing of a work, or the like. If a man have a
true friend he may rest almost secure that the care
of those things will continue after him : so that a man
hath, as it were, two lives in his desires. A man hath
a body, and that body is confined to a place; but
where friendship is, all offices of life are, as it were,
granted to him and his deputy ; for he may exercise
them by his friend. How many things are there
which a man cannot with any face or comeliness say
or do himself? A man can scarce allege his own
merits with modesty, much less extol them; a man
cannot sometimes brook to supplicate or beg ; and a
number of the like: but all these things are graceful
in a friend’s mouth, which are blushing in a man’s
own. So again, a man’s person hath many proper
relations which he cannot put off. A man cannot
speak to his son but as a father ; to his wife but as a
husband ; to his enemy but upon terms : whereas a
friend may speak as the case requires, and not as it
sorteth with the person: but to enumerate these
things were endless ; I have given the rule where a
man cannot fitly play his own part; if he have not a
friend he may quit the stage.
OF EXPENSE.
Riches are for spending, and spending for honour
and good actions; therefore extraordinary expense
VOL. XLIV. K