his love makes so many writers take such pains, so many
historiographers, physicians, &c., or at least, as they pretend, for common
safety, and their country's benefit. [4595]_Sanctum nomen amiciticae,
sociorum communio sacra_; friendship is a holy name, and a sacred communion
of friends. [4596]"As the sun is in the firmament, so is friendship in the
world," a most divine and heavenly band. As nuptial love makes, this
perfects mankind, and is to be preferred (if you will stand to the judgment
of [4597]Cornelius Nepos) before affinity or consanguinity; _plus in
amiciticia valet similitudo morum, quam affinitas_, &c., the cords of love
bind faster than any other wreath whatsoever. Take this away, and take all
pleasure, joy, comfort, happiness, and true content out of the world; 'tis
the greatest tie, the surest indenture, strongest band, and, as our modern
Maro decides it, is much to be preferred before the rest.

[4598] "Hard is the doubt, and difficult to deem,
When all three kinds of love together meet;
And do dispart the heart with power extreme,
Whether shall weigh the balance down; to wit,
The dear affection unto kindred sweet,
Or raging fire of love to women kind,
Or zeal of friends, combin'd by virtues meet;
But of them all the band of virtuous mind,
Methinks the gentle heart should most assured bind.

For natural affection soon doth cease,
And quenched is with Cupid's greater flame;
But faithful friendship doth them both suppress,
And them with mastering discipline doth tame,
Through thoughts aspiring to eternal fame.
For as the soul doth rule the earthly mass,
And all the service of the body frame,
So love of soul doth love of body pass,
No less than perfect gold surmounts the meanest brass."

[4599]A faithful friend is better than [4600]gold, a medicine of misery,
[4601]an only possession; yet this love of friends, nuptial, heroical,
profitable, pleasant, honest, all three loves put together, are little
worth, if they proceed not from a true Christian illuminated soul, if it be
not done _in ordine ad Deum_ for God's sake. "Though I had the gift of
prophecy, spake with tongues of men and angels, though I feed the poor with
all my goods, give my body to be burned, and have not this love, it
profiteth me nothing," 1 Cor. xiii. 1, 3. 'tis _splendidum peccatum_,
without charity