STUDY X. 21 



tîon of human weaknefs and mifery ; for were 

 Man naturally ftrong, he would ftand in no need 

 of either affbciate or affiftance. Elephants and 

 lions live folitary in the forefts. They need no 

 friends, becaufe Nature has made them ftrong. 



It is very remarkable that, when the Ancients 

 give us a reprefentation of perfect friendfhip, it is 

 always reftricted to two, and no more, whatever 

 may be the extent of human weaknefs ; for Man 

 is frequently reduced to the neceffity of deriving 

 his felicity from the concurring interpofition of 

 many beings fimilar to himfelf. Several reafons 

 may be affigned for this reftriction, the principal 

 of which are deducible from the nature of the hu- 

 man heart, which, from it's very weaknefs, is ca- 

 pable of attaching itfelf to only one object at 

 once ; and which, being compounded of oppofite 

 parlions, that maintain a perpetual counterpoife, 

 is, in fome fenfe, both active and paffive, and ftands 

 in need of loving and of being beloved, of com- 

 forting and of being comforted, of honouring and 

 of being honoured, and fo on. Accordingly, all 

 the friendfhips celebrated in the hiftoric page, ex- 

 ifted only between two perfons ; fuch as thofe of 

 Cafior and Pollux ; of The/ens and Perithoiis ; oï 

 Hercules and Iotas; of Orejles and Pylades ; of 

 Alexander and Hepheftion, and many others. 



c 3 It 



