Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-05-20

life, even at the expense Of their own.
They defended the bridge against all
the consular troops till Gracious was
out Of their reach; but at length be-
ing overpowered by numbers and COW
cred with wounds, they both expired
on the bridge which they had so vail
lantly defended. In the meanwhile.
Gracious fled to a sacred wood, ded-
licated to the Furies, and there order
ed a generous slave, by name Euph-
orus, or as others call him, Philos-
, ,tratus, who had attended him, to put
an end to his life. The faithful
slave, resolving not to outlive his mas
ter, stabbed himself with the same
dagger which he had plunged into the
breast of Gracious, and expired with
| him. Others tell us that Gracious, be-
ing overtaken by his pursuers, Euph-
orus, embracing his master, covered
him with his own body SO that his
enemies could not hurt him without
first killing the faithful slave, who
after receiving many wounds, breath
ed his last over Gracious, whom the
rabble dispatched.-Plut. In Gracch.
Never perhaps was there a more
sincere and elevated friendship than
that which existed between Scipeo and
Laelius. The former was one OF the
greatest generals and the best men
that Rome ever produced; the other
for his probity and prudence. was dis
Itinguished by the surname. or the
Wise. They were almost Of the same
age and had the same inclination,
lbenevolence of mind, taste for learn
ing of all kinds, principles of gov
ernment and zeal for the public good.
| II Scipeo took place In point OF mil
itary glory, (though Laelius did not
want merit even Of that kind) his
friend had, perhaps, the superiority
in respect Of eloquence; but let us
hear Laelius himself upon so inter-
esting a subject: "As for me- says
| he, "of all the gifts Of nature or for
tune, there are none, I think, COM
parable to the happiness Of having
Sc.peo for my friend. I found in our
Friendship a perfect conformity OF
sentiments in respect to public affairs
an inexhaustable fund of counsels
and supports in private life, with
tranquility and delight not to be ex'
pressed. I never gave Scipeo the least
offence to my knowledge, nor ever
heard q word escape him that did not
please me. We had but one house
and one table at our common expense,
the frugility Of which was equally the
taste of both; for in war. in travel
ing, in the country, we were always
together. I do not mention our stud
les, and the attention Of us both al
ways to learn something; this was the
employment of our leisure hours, re-
moved from the sight and commerce
Of the world"
Is there anything comparable to
Friendship like that which Laelius had
just described? What a consolation
is it to have a second life, to whom
we have nothing secret, and whose
heart we may pour out our own with
perfect effusion. Could we taste pros
perity so sensibly If we had no other
share in our Joy with US? And what
relief is 1t in adversely to have a
friend still more affected with 1t
than ourselves!"
What highly exalts the value Of the
friendship we speak Of, was its not
being found at all upon interest, but
solely upon esteem for each others
virtues. What OCCASION" says
Laelius, "could Scipeo have Of me?
Undoubtedly none, nor I for him. But
my attachment to him was the effect
OF my high esteem and admiration Of
his virtues; and his to me, from the
favorable idea he had of my charac-
ter and manners. This friendship in
creased afterwards on both sides. by
habit and commerce. We both Of US,
indeed, derived great advantages
from It; but these were not our view
when we began to love each other."-
De Amicit. %. 80.
Nothing upon earth can be so de-
sirable as such friendship as we have
now described; but in vain do we seek
for 1t among the ignorant, the vain,
the selfish, or men Of loose and pro-
figate principles, for we shall soon be
ashamed Of loving a man whom we
cannot esteem. Pure friendship Is
something which none can truly taste,
but those Of warm passions and a re-
fined genius; such may say with Ovid,
Nos duo turba sumus, we two are
multitude.
When Damon was sentenced by
Dionysius of Syracuse to die on a GER
tain day. he begged permission in the
interim to retire to his own country
to set the affairs Of his disconsolate
family in order. This the king in
tended peremptorily to refuse by
granting it, as he conceived, on the
Impossible conditions of his procur-
ing some one to remain as hostage for
his return, under equal forfeiture Of
life. Pythias heard the conditions and
did not wait for an application on the
part of Damon; he instantly offered
himself as security for his friend,
which being accepted. Damon was i'm
mediately set at liberty. The king and
all the courtiers were astonished at
this action and, therefore, when the
day Of execution drew near. his ma
jesty had the curiosity to visit Py-
thias in his confinement. After some
conversation on the subject Of friend
ship, in which the king delivered 1t as
his opinion that self-interest was the
sole mover of human actions; as for
virtue. friendship, benevolence, love
Of ones country and the like, he look
ed upon them as terms invented by
the wise to keep in awe and impose
upon the weak. my lord" said Py-
thias, with a firm voice and noble as
pect, II would 1t were possible that
might suffer a thousand deaths rather