able to give a Man Counsell: (They indeed are best); But even without that, a Man learneth of Himselfe, and bringeth his owne Thoughts to Light, and whetteth his Wits as against a Stone, which it selfe cuts not. In a word, a Man were better relate himselfe[1] to a Statua[2], or Picture, then to suffer his Thoughts to passe in smother[3].
Adde now, to make this Second Fruit of Frendship compleat, that other Point, which lieth more open, and falleth within Vulgar[4] Observation; which is Faithfull Counsell from a Frend. Heraclitus saith well, in one of his Ænigmaes, Dry Light is ever the best. And certaine it is that the Light that a man receiveth by Counsell from Another is Drier and purer then that which commeth from his owne Understanding and ludgement; which is ever infused and drenched in his Affections and Customes[5]. So as[6] there is as much difference betweene the Counsell that a Frend giveth, and that[7] a Man giveth himselfe, as there is between the Counsell of a Frend and of a Flatterer. For there is no such Flatterer as is a Man's Selfe; And there is no such Remedy against Flattery of a Man's Selfe as the Liberty of a Frend. Counsell is of two Sorts; The one concerning Manners[8], the other concerning Businesse. For[9] the First; The best Preservative to keepe the Minde in Health is the faithfull Admonition of a Frend. The Calling of a Man's Selfe to a Strict Account is a Medicine, sometime, too Piercing and Corrosive. Reading good Bookes of Morality is a little Flat[10] and Dead. Observing our Faults in Others is sometimes unproper[11] for our Case. But the best Receipt (best, I say, to worke, and best to take) is the Admonition of a Frend. It is a strange thing to behold what grosse Errours and extreme Absurdities Many (especially of the greater Sort) doe commit, for want of a Frend to tell them of them, To the great dammage both of their Fame and Fortune. For, as S. lames saith,
