Tractatus duo

But friends not only preserve themselves and their own things mutually, but also strive, as much as they can, to see them increased. Therefore, they labor under no stain of envy. For the most certain plague and ruin of friendship, after flattery, is envy or jealousy.

CHAPTER VII.

What are the ends of true and Christian friendship.

When the ends of true and Christian friendship are discussed, two certain things are sought which usually come into controversy. The first is about the time until which it ought to last and remain. The second is about the manner and method by which it is to be cultivated and preserved, that is, what and how much is to be performed by a friend for the sake of his friend.

And regarding the time, this can be answered entirely: if the vow and the mind of those who contract friendship among themselves are considered, the friendship once begun ought to last and remain among them perpetually, as long as both live in this age.

However, many things can often happen, either beyond their fault or by error, why a friendship must be loosened or even dissolved. For what if one of the friends has become from faithful, unfaithful; from a Christian, a Turk, or a pagan? Certainly, if he remains such even after frequent warnings, the friendship ought to be loosened and dissolved: although that matter brings both grief and often hesitation out of the hope for a better mind and the repentance of the friend. For even the death of a friend, although we believe him to be received into the seat of the blessed, brings also sickness and grief, and often the greatest, as we see in David 2 Samuel 1:26. Nevertheless, one must obey the laws of both God and our own fragility: so that we do not fight against God like the giants, or irreverently consider our own affections to be more important than the fear of God. Therefore, often a very just occasion for loosening a friendship can be given: yet the vow to retain it perpetually should have been conceived at the beginning. Therefore, that voice and opinion of some is most wicked: "Love as if you were going to hate." If this prevails, all the force and security that ought to be among friends is undermined, so that they might safely and willingly communicate counsels among themselves, and one would both wish to and dare to deposit his secret with the other. Finally, so that they might live together gratefully and faithfully, that diabolical voice of distrust should be entirely expelled from their minds: "Love as if you were going to hate," even though it sometimes happens that we must hate those whom we once loved before. But that happens beyond the hope and vow of friends. Therefore, that voice full of trust should rather be heard: "Love as if you were never going to hate." Therefore, as long as those two friends live, friendship is to be preserved and protected by every vow