Moral Pieces, in Prose and Verse/Friendship
FRIENDSHIP.
The emotions arising from mutual, unlimited friendship and entire confidence, are
SOMETHING than pleasure dearer, more elate
Than doubtful hope; more pensive too than joy;
More pure than love. They form a band of such
Confirmed alliance, so constrain the will,
Sooth the rough passions, mingle with such art
The hopes, the fears, the raptures of the soul,
That selfishness is lost, and one free aim
Inspires two spirits, while one magic band
Entwines each heart, and so unites their strength
That pressing onward they despise the front
And force of opposition; foil the shafts
Of envy, meet the armed hosts of care,
And find stern grief of half her power disarm'd.
Then if these souls unite in virtue's cause,
Their mystic union never shall dissolve,
Or in this life, or in the life to come.