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part of the colleges was by this proposal to be transferred to the
people。 It was this man； by the way； who began the practice of
twrning towards the forum when addressing the people。 In spite of
this； however； upon my speaking on the conservative side； religion
gained an easy victory over his
plausible speech。 This took place in my praetorship； five years
before I was elected consul； which shows that the cause was
successfully maintained more by the merits of the case than by the
prestige of the highest office。
26。 Now； if on a stage； such as a public assembly essentially is；
where there is the amplest room for fiction and half…truths； truth
nevertheless prevails if it be but fairly laid open and brought into
the light of day； what ought to happen in the case of friendship；
which rests entirely on truthfulness？ Friendship； in which； unless
you both see and show an open breast； to use a common
expression； you can neither trust nor be certain of anything…no； not
even of mutual affection； since you cannot be sure of its sincerity。
However； this flattery； injurious as it is； can hurt no one but the
man who takes it in and likes it。 And it follows that the man to
open his ears widest to flatterers is he who first flatters himself and
is fondest of himself。 I grant you that Virtue naturally loves
herself； for she knows herself and perceives how worthy of love
she is。 But I am not now speaking of absolute virtue； but of the
belief men have that they possess virtue。 The fact is that fewer
people are endowed with virtue than wish to be thought to be so。 It
is such people that take delight in flattery。 When they are
addressed in language expressly adapted to flatter their vanity； they
look upon such empty persiflage as a testimony to the truth of their
own praises。 It is not then properly friendship at all when the one
will not listen to the truth； and the other is prepared to lie。 Nor
would the servility of parasites in comedy have seemed humorous
to us had there been no such things as braggart captains。 〃Is
Thais really much obliged to me？〃 It would have been quite
enough to answer 〃Much；〃 but he must needs say 〃Immensely。〃
Your servile flatterer always exaggerates what his victim wishes to
be put strongly。 Wherefore； though it is with those who catch at
and invite it that this flattering falsehood is especially powerful；
yet men even of solider and steadier character must be warned tn
be on the watch against being taken in by cunningly disguised
flattery。 An open flatterer any one can detect； unless he is an
absolute fool the covert insinuation of the cunning and the sly is
what we have to be studiously on our guard against。 His detection
is not by any means the easiest thing in the world； for he often
covers his servility under the guise of contradiction； and flatters by
pretending to dispute； and then at last giving in and allowing
himself to be beaten； that the person hoodwinked may think
himself to have been the clearer…sighted。 Now what can be more
degrading than to be thus hoodwinked？ You must be on your guard
against this happening to you； like the man in the _Heiress_：
How have I been befooled！ no drivelling dotards
On any stage were e'er so p1ayed upon。
For even on the stage we have no grosser representation of folly
than that of short…sighted and credulous old men。 But somehow or
other I have strayed away from the friendship of the perfect； that is
of the 〃wise〃 （meaning； of course； such 〃wisdom〃 as human nature
is capable of）； to the subject of vulgar； unsubstantial friendships。
Let us then return to our original theme； and at length bring that；
too； to a conclusion。
27。 Well； then； Fannius and Mucius； I repeat what I said before。 It
is virtue； virtue； which both creates and preserves friendship。 On it
depends harmony of interest； permanence； fidelity。 When Virtue
has reared her head and shewn the light of her countenance； and
seen and recognised the same light in another； she gravitates
towards it； and in her turn welcomes that which the other has to
shew； and from it springs up a flame which you may call love or
friendship as you please。 Both words are from the same root in
Latin； and love is just the cleaving to him whom you love without
the prompting of need or any view to advantage…though this latter
blossoms spontaneously on friendship； little as you may have
looked for it。 It is with such warmth of feeling that I cherished
Lucius Paulus； Marcus Cato； Galus Gallus； Publius Nasica；
Tiberius Gracchus； my dear Scipio's father…in…law。 It shines with
even greater warmth when men are of the same age； as in the case
of Scipio and Lucius Furius； Publius Rupilius； Spurius Mummius；
and myself。 _En revanche_； in my old age I find comfort in the
affection of young men； as in the case of yourselves and Quintus
Tubero： nay more； I delight in the intimacy of such a very young
man as Publius Rutilius and Aulus Verginius。 And since the law of
our nature and of our life is that a new generation is for ever
springing up； the most desirable thing is that along with your
contemporaries； with whom you started in the race； you may also
teach what is to us the goal。 But in view of the in…stability and
perishableness of mortal things； we should be continually on the
look…out for some to love and by whom to be loved； for if we lose
affection and kindliness from our life； we lose all that gives it
charm。 For me； indeed； though torn away by a sudden stroke；
Scipio still lives and ever wilt live。 For it was the virtue of the man
that I loved； and that has not suffered death。 And it is not my eyes
only； because I had all my life a personal experience of it； that
never lose sight of it： it will shine to posterity also with undimmed
glory。 No one will ever cherish a nobler ambition or a loftier hope
without thinking his memory and his image the best to put before
his eyes。 I declare that of all the blessings which either fortune or
nature has bestowed upon me I know none to compare with
Scipio's friendship。 In it I found sympathy in public； counsel in
private business； in it too a means of spending my leisure with
unalloyed delight。 Never； to the best of my knowledge； did I
offend him even in the most trivial point； never did I hear a word
from him I could have wished unsaid。 We had one house； one
table； one style of living； and not only were we together on foreign
service； but in our tours also and country sojourns。 Why speak of
our eagerness to be ever gaining some knowledge； to be ever
learning something； on which we spent all our leisure hours far
from the gaze of the world？ If the recollection and memory of
these things had perished with the man； I could not possibly have
endured the regret for one so closely united with me in life and
affection。 But these things have not perished； they are rather fed
and strengthened by reflexion and memory。 Even supposing me to
have been entirely bereft of them； still my time of life of itself
brings me no small consolation： for I cannot have much longer
now to bear this regret； and everything that is brief ought to be
endurable； however severe。
This is all I had to sa