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absolutely self…dependent； it is then that he is most conspicuous for
seeking out and keeping up friendships。 Did Africanus； for
example； want anything of me？ Not the least in the world！
Neither did I of him。 In my case it was an admiration of his virtue；
in his an opinion； may be； which he entertained of my character；
that caused our affection。 Closer intimacy added to the warmth of
our feelings。 But though many great material advantages did
ensue； they were not the source from which our affection
proceeded。 For as we are not beneficent and liberal with any view
of extorting gratitude； and do not regard an act of kindness as an
investment； but follow a natural inclination to liberality； so we
look on friendship as worth trying for； not because we are attracted
to it by the expectation of ulterior gain； but in the conviction that
what it has to give us is from first to last included in the feeling
itself。
Far different is the view of those who； like brute beasts； refer
everything to sensual pleasure。 And no wonder。 Men who have
degraded all their powers of thought to an object so mean and
contemptible can of course raise their eyes to nothing lofty； to
nothing grand and divine。 Such persons indeed let us leave out of
the present question。 And let us accept the doctrine that the
sensation of love and the warmth of inclination have their origin in
a spontaneous feeling which arises directly the presence of probity
is indicated。 When once men have conceived the inclination； they
of course try to attach themselves to the object of it； and move
themselves nearer and nearer to him。 Their aim is that they may be
on the same footing and the same level in regard to affection； and
be more inclined to do a good service than to ask a return； and that
there should be this noble rivalry between them。 Thus both truths
will be established。 We shall get the most important material
advantages from friendship； and its origin from a natural impulse
rather than from a sense of need will be at once more dignified and
more in accordance with fact。 For if it were true that its material
advantages cemented friendship； it would be equally true that any
change in them would dissolve it。 But nature being incapable of
change； it follows that genuine friendships are eternal。
So much for the origin of friendship。 But perhaps you would not
care to hear any more。
_Fannius_。 Nay； pray go on； let us have the rest； Laelius。 I take on
myself to speak for my friend here as his senior。
_Scaevola_。 Quite right！ Therefore； pray let us hear。
10。 _Loelius_。 Well； then； my good friends； listen to some
conversations about friendship which very frequently passed
between Scipio and myself。 I must begin by telling you； however；
that be used to say that the most difficult thing in the world was for
a friendship to remain unimpaired to the end of life。 So many
things might intervene： conflicting interests； differences of opinion
in politics； frequent changes in character； owing sometimes to
misfortunes； sometimes to advancing years。 He used to illustrate
these facts from the analogy of boyhood； since the warmest
affections between boys are often laid aside with the boyish toga；
and even if they did manage to keep them up to adolescence； they
were sometimes broken by a rivalry in courtship； or for some other
advantage to which their mutual claims were not compatible。
Even if the friendship was prolonged beyond that time； yet it
frequently received a rude shock should the two happen to be
competitors for office。 For while the most fatal blow to friendship
in the majority of cases was the lust of gold； in the case of the best
men it was a rivalry for office and reputation； by which it had
often happened that the most violent enmity had arisen between
the closest friends。
Again； wide breaches and； for the most part； justifiable ones were
caused by an immoral request being made of friends； to pander to
a man's unholy desires or to assist him in inflicting a wrong。 A
refusal； though perfectly right； is attacked by those to whom they
refuse compliance as a violation of the laws of friendship。 Now the
people who have no scruples as to the requests they make to their
friends； thereby allow that they are ready to have no scruples as to
what they will do for their friends； and it is the recriminations of
such people which commonly not only quench friendships； but
give rise to lasting enmities。 〃 In fact；〃 he used to say； 〃these
fatalities overhang friendship in such numbers that it requires not
only wisdom but good luck also to escape them all。〃
11。 With these premises； then； let us first； if you please； examine
the question…how far ought personal feeling to go in friendship？
For instance： suppose Coriolanus to have had friends； ought they to
have joined him in invading his country？ Again； in the case of
Vecellinus or Spurius Maelius； ought their friends to have assisted
them in their attempt to establish a tyranny？ Take two instances of
either line of conduct。 When Tiberius Gracchus attempted his
revolutionary measures he was deserted； as we saw； by Quintus
Tubero and the friends of his own standing。 On the other hand； a
friend of your own family； Scaevola； Gains Blossius of Cumae；
took a different course。 I was acting as assessor to the consuls
Laenas and Rupilius to try the conspirators； and Blossius pleaded
for my pardon on the ground that his regard for Tiberius Gracchus
had been so high that he looked upon his wishes as law。 〃Even if
he had wished you to set fire to the Capitol？〃 said I。 〃That is a
thing；〃 he replied； 〃that he never would have wished。〃 〃Ah； but if
he had wished it？〃 said I。 〃I would have obeyed。〃 The wickedness
of such a speech needs no comment。 And in point of fact he was
as good and better than his word for he did not wait for orders in
the audacious proceedings of Tiberius Gracchus； but was the head
and front of them； and was a leader rather than an abettor of his
madness。 The result of his infatuation was that he fled to Asia；
terrified by the special commission appointed to try him； joined
the enemies of his country； and paid a penalty to the republic as
heavy as it was deserved。 I conclude； then； that the plea of having
acted in the interests of a friend is not a valid excuse for a wrong
action。 For； seeing that a belief in a man's virtue is the original
cause of friendship； friendship can hardly remain if virtue he
abandoned。 But if we decide it to be right to grant our friends
whatever they wish； and to ask them for whatever we wish； perfect
wisdom must be assumed on both sides if no mischief is to
happen。 But we cannot assume this perfect wisdom； for we are
speaking only of such friends as are ordinarily to be met with；
whether we have actually seen them or have been told about
them…men； that is to say； of everyday life。 I must quote some
examples of such persons； taking care to select such as approach
nearest to our standard of wisdom。 We read； for instance； that
Papus Aemilius was a close friend of Gaius Luscinus。 History tells
us that they were twice consuls together； and colleagues in the
censorship。 Again