always keep their word? and are they not constant in friendship? Ment. Else they could not be esteemed sincere. It is necessary to inform your Ladyship, there are two kinds of promises: the one absolute, the other conditional. The former ought to be performed, though to our own prejudice or inconvenience; the latter, from intervening circumstances may be postponed, and even annihilated. Respecting constancy in friendship, there requires little to be said to evince the necessity of our being steady in our attachments, and faithful in our engagements. We should be cautious in the choice of our friends, and ever choose to associate with those who possess valuable rather than shining qualities. Lady L. I suppose we should never forsake our friends, whatever changes happen to take place in their situation. Ment. No alteration in their outward condition ought to lessen your affection for them. On the contrary, if they labour under any affliction, or have felt any shock in their fortune, you should industriously seck every opportunity to convince them they are not of less consequence in your esteem. You ought also to be more more observant in paying them every mark of attention than when they were your equals, lest they ascribe your negligence to pride, and consider it as an insult offered to their situation. Lady M. If any of my friends were to act inconsistent with prudence, would it be blameable to forsake them? Ment. The bonds of friendship, under particular circumstances, may be broken, notwithstanding it is a serious and solemn engagement. For instance, if a young lady of your acquaintance was a notorious story-teller or disobedient to her parents, I should not only think it a pardonable, but a justifiable measure to strike her from the list of your friends, as you are no further obliged to associate with a dangerous companion, than you would be required to visit her if she were infected by the plague. In both cases, most probably the contagion would spread; the latter would only endanger your constitution, but the former would prejudice, what is infinitely of more importance, your reputation! Lady L. Are there any other duties belonging to Sincerity? Ment. The keeping of secrets is a branch of Sincerity, on which it is necessary for me to make make a few observations. You ought never to betray the trust reposed in you, or divulge any circumstance your friend wishes to conceal; as nothing can render a person more contemptible than a breach of confidence. Lady M. I suppose there would be no harm, if I told you, only, the secrets I was entrusted with? Ment. Your Ladyship will scarcely believe, notwithstanding you mean to pay me a compliment, that I should for this be extremely disgusted with you; and be apt to imagine you would divulge my concerns to your young acquaintance. Whatever injunctions you lay me under not to speak of the anecdotes you had revealed, if I chose to break through them, you could not with justice upbraid me, as you have been guilty of the same offence. I beg you will avoid reserve and duplicity in your conduct. If your actions are regulated by the rules here prescribed, concealment will be unnecessary. Vanity and self-importance induce many persons to be treacherous, with no other view than to increase their consequence: by which means they counteract their own purpose, in convincing us they were unworthy the trust reposed in them; and ought to be shunned as traitors. Lady Lady M. I fancy, my good Mentoria, you are no friend to secrets. Ment. No person can be less mysterious in their own concerns than I am; though none can retain a secret more inviolably. If I think it prudent, and for the advantage of my friends, to conceal any circumstances or event of their lives, I do not require to be bound by promises, or any other ties: but am guided by the Christian principle, of "doing to others as I would they should do unto me.' Lady L. I hope, my dear Lady Mary, we shall both be what good Mentoria wishes. How rejoiced she will be to see us distinguished by the amiable qualities of Truth, Sincerity, and Industry! Ment. Blend them with the three Christian virtues, Faith, Hope, and Charity; and on such a basis you cannot fail to raise a fair temple, which you are indispensably bound to dedicate to Virtue. Obey her dictates, at her altar bend; Convinc'd she is thy true, and surest friend. The The great Creator wisely does dispense, DIALOGUE |