, still to continue one and the same. And where this love
takes place there is peace and quietness, a true correspondence, perfect
amity, a diapason of vows and wishes, the same opinions, as between [4574]
David and Jonathan, Damon and Pythias, Pylades and Orestes, [4575]Nysus and
Euryalus, Theseus and Pirithous, [4576]they will live and die together, and
prosecute one another with good turns. [4577]_Nam vinci in amore
turpissimum putant_, not only living, but when their friends are dead, with
tombs and monuments, nenias, epitaphs elegies, inscriptions, pyramids,
obelisks, statues, images, pictures, histories, poems, annals, feasts,
anniversaries, many ages after (as Plato's scholars did) they will
_parentare_ still, omit no good office that may tend to the preservation of
their names, honours, and eternal memory. [4578]_Illum coloribus, illum
cera, illum aere_, &c. "He did express his friends in colours, in wax, in
brass, in ivory, marble, gold, and silver" (as Pliny reports of a citizen
in Rome), "and in a great auditory not long since recited a just volume of
his life." In another place, [4579]speaking of an epigram which Martial had
composed in praise of him, [4580]"He gave me as much as he might, and would
have done more if he could: though what can a man give more than honour,
glory, and eternity?" But that which he wrote peradventure will not
continue, yet he wrote it to continue. 'Tis all the recompense a poor
scholar can make his well-deserving patron, Mecaenas, friend, to mention
him in his works, to dedicate a book to his name, to write his life, &c.,
as all our poets, orators, historiographers have ever done, and the
greatest revenge such men take of their adversaries, to persecute them with
satires, invectives, &c., and 'tis both ways of great moment, as [4581]
Plato gives us to understand. Paulus Jovius, in the fourth book of the life
and deeds of Pope Leo Decimus, his noble patron, concludes in these words,
[4582]"Because I cannot honour him as other rich men do, with like
endeavour, affection, and piety, I have undertaken to write his life; since
my fortunes will not give me leave to make a more sumptuous monument, I
will perform those rites to his sacred ashes, which a small, perhaps, but a
liberal wit can afford." But I rove. Where this true love is wanting, there
can be no firm peace, friendship from teeth outward, counterfeit, or for
some by-respects, so long dissembled, till they have satisfied their ow