Friendship tried

Tho' it surpasseth Winter's Skill, T' Impede the flowing Tide, Which from the Spring in Hermon's Hill Each Moment is supply'd: Tho' Icy Walls cannot immure Its Christal Streams that run secure;

Nor yet the scorching Fiery Beams Of Summer's Heat exhale, Or to drink up those purling Streams, With all its Drought prevail; Which ever flowing, freely bring Their Pleasures from a Living Spring.

Yet have I seen a pretty Well, Deriv'd from Showers of Rain, Which into Nature's Cistern fell, And did some Time remain, By Summer's Drought, exhal'd away, And vanish in a scorching Day.

So little Brooks and Torrents flow, While they have fresh Supply From the distilling Clouds, But grow (when most they're wanted) dry Like Cherith's Brook, whole pleasant Stream Ceas'd when the Drought was most extream,

So common Kindnesses may flow In some Sinister Hearts, And petty Favours seem to grow, Whilst sometimes they impart Renewed Bribes, in hopes to obtain The Stock, with Interest, back again.

But then, if any Fret arise, Or Disappointment come, How soon Upbraiding testifies, True Friendship found not room Within those narrow bounded Breasts, The Lodging of Self-Interest,

True Friendship, that from Vertue springs, Doth so enlarge the Mind, It cannot be block'd up with things Of such a servile Kind, As makes dull Misers fret and rage In this our mercenary Age.

'Tis not the nipping stormy Winds Of sharp Adversity, Nor Winter's Frost, can chill the Minds, Or stop the Sympathy, Which with unfeigned Love doth flow, Where Friendship doth sincerely grow.