ay even of dislike is
more becoming to an ingenuous character than a studied concealment of
sentiment. Secondly, he will not only reject all accusations brought
against his friend by another, but he will not be suspicious himself
either, nor be always thinking that his friend has acted improperly.
Besides this, there should be a certain pleasantness in word and
manner which adds no little flavour to friendship. A gloomy temper and
unvarying gravity may be very impressive; but friendship should be a
little less unbending, more indulgent and gracious, and more inclined to
all kinds of good-fellowship and good-nature.

19. But here arises a question of some little difficulty. Are there any
occasions on which, assuming their worthiness, we should prefer new to
old friends, just as we prefer young to aged horses? The answer admits
of no doubt whatever. For there should be no satiety in friendship, as
there is in other things. The older the sweeter, as in wines that keep
well. And the proverb is a true one, "You must eat many a peck of salt
with a man to be thorough friends with him." Novelty, indeed, has its
advantage, which we must not despise. There is always hope of fruit,
as there is in healthy blades of corn. But age too must have its proper
position; and, in fact, the influence of time and habit is very great.
To recur to the illustration of the horse which I have just now used.
Every one likes _ceteris paribus_ to use the horse to which he has been
accustomed, rather than one that is untried and new. And it is not
only in the case of a living thing that this rule holds good, but
in inanimate things also; for we like places where we have lived the
longest, even though they are mountainous and covered with forest. But
here is another golden rule in friendship: _put yourself on a level with
your friend_. For it often happens that there are certain superiorities,
as for example Scipio's in what I may call our set. Now he never assumed
any airs of superiority over Philus, or Rupilius, or Mummius, or
over friends of a lower rank stilt. For instance, he always shewed a
deference to his brother Quintus Maximus because he was his senior, who,
though a man no doubt of eminent character, was by no means his equal.
He used also to wish that all his friends should be the better for his
support. This is an example we should all follow. If any of us have any
advantage in personal character, intellect, or fortune, we should be
ready