In confederacies, which hold but by one end, men have nothing to provide for, but for the imperfections, which particularly do interest and concern that end and respect. It is no great matter what religion my Physician or Lawyer is of: this consideration hath nothing in common with the offices of that friendship they owe me. So do I in the familiar acquaintances that those who serve me contract with me. I am nothing inquisitive whether a lackey be chaste or no, but whether he be diligent: I fear not a gaming muleteer, so much as if he be weak; nor a hot swearing Cook, as one that is ignorant and unskillful; I never meddle with saying what a man should do in the world;
there are over man others that do it; but what myself do in the world.
Concerning familiar table-talk, I rather acquaint myself with and follow a merry conceited humour, than a wise man: And in bed I rather prefer beauty than goodness; and in society or conversation of familiar discourse, I respect rather sufficiency though without sincerity, and so of all things else.
还有一种友谊,朋友间并不需要付出什么,只是为了更好地维护各自的利益,对于这种关系，我们只需关注影响自己的那一部分即可。我不必关注我的医生和律师有什么信仰,这种问题与他们应该对我尽的义务毫不相干。同样，我对仆人也是如此。我从不询问某个仆人是否崇尚某种思想,只关心他是否勤劳。我同样不会因为马夫生性喜爱玩乐,而担心他是个愚笨之人。我也不在乎厨师言语粗俗,因为他并不会因此而缺乏应有的技能。我从不干涉别人的事情,因为乐于管闲事的人实在太多了,我只要知道自己在做什么就可以了。
至于在餐桌上,我喜欢不拘小节,与同伴轻松交谈;在床上,我喜欢美丽胜于善良;在社交中,我欣赏有才能的人,即使他不够真诚。在其他方面亦得如此。
Ancient Menander accounted him happy that had but met the shadow of a true friend: verily he had reason to say so, especially if he had tasted of any: for truly, if I compare all the rest of my forepassed life, which although I have, by the merecy of God, past at rest and ease, and except the lose of so dear a friend, free from all grievous affliction, with an ever-quietnesse of mind, as one that have taken my natural and original commodities in good payment, without searching any others: if, as I say, I compare it all unto the foure yeares I so happily enjoyed the dear society of that worthy man, it is nought but a vapor, nought but a dark and irksome light.
Since the time I lost him, I do but languish, I do but sorrow: and even those pleasures, all things present me with, instead of yielding me comfort, doe but redouble the grief of his lose. We were copartners in all things. All things were with us at half; I think I have stolen his part from him. I was so accustomed to be ever two, and so inured to be never single, that I thinks I am but half myself.
There is no action can betide me, or imagination possesse me, but I hear him saying, as indeed he would have done to me; for even as he did excel me by an infinite distance in all other sufficiency and vertues, so did he in all offices and duties of friendship.
古人米南德认为，能够在内心留下朋友的影子就是一件幸福的事情了。我很费同他的说法,因为他也曾拥有过真正意义上的友谊。由于上帝的怜爱，我过着平静的生活,除了痛失挚友的悲恸之外，我无忧无虑,内心一片安宁。我过着自给自足的日子,不会刻意追求什么。可是,如果把现在的日子与那些有朋友相伴的快乐日子相比,眼前的一切不过是一片虚无缥缈的迷雾,是令人厌倦的漫漫长夜。
自从我失去了他，我的生活就开始变得暗淡无光,陪伴我的,只有无尽的忧伤。那些快乐的事情，不但无法为我带来慰藉,反而加深了我的悲伤。从前，我们志同道合;而今,我觉得自己掠夺了他应该拥有的那份快乐。我已经习惯了与他有福同享、有难同当的日子。如今,却只剩下我一人，我感到自己不再完整，另一半已离我远去。
无论在做些什么,或想些什么,我仿佛都能听到他的声音,就像他也会听到我的倾诉一样。甚至,他所感受的,会比我更多,因为无论在才能和品德上，还是在友谊的职责和义务上，他都胜我一筹。
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