2.3.8. Familiarity
801 Familiarity is friendship’s silent pact, That puts restraint on no familiar act. Imtimate friendship is that which cannot in the least be injured by (things done through the) right (of longstanding intimacy).
802 Familiar freedom friendship’s very frame supplies; To be its savour sweet is duty of the wise. The constituents of friendship are (things done through) the right of intimacy; to be pleased with such a right is the duty of the wise.
803 When to familiar acts men kind response refuse, What fruit from ancient friendship’s use? Of what avail is long-standing friendship, if friends do not admit as their own actions done through the right of intimacy?
804 When friends unbidden do familiar acts with loving heart, Friends take the kindly deed in friendly part. If friends, through the right of friendship, do (anything) without being asked, the wise will be pleased with them on account of its desirability.
805 Not folly merely, but familiar carelessness, Esteem it, when your friends cause you distress. If friends should perform what is painful, understand that it is owing not only to ignorance, but also to the strong claims of intimacy. 98
806 Who stand within the bounds quit not, though loss impends, Association with the old familiar friends. Those who stand within the limits (of true friendship) will not even in adversity give up the intimacy of long-standing friends.
807 True friends, well versed in loving ways, Cease not to love, when friend their love betrays. Those who have (long) stood in the path of affection will not give it up even if their friends cause (them) their ruin.
808 In strength of friendship rare of friend’s disgrace who will not hear, The day his friend offends will day of grace to him appear. To those who understand that by which they should not listen to (tales about) the faults of their friends, that is a (profitable) day on which the latter may commit a fault.
809 Friendship of old and faithful friends, Who ne’er forsake, the world commends. They will be loved by the world, who have not forsaken the friendship of those with whom they have kept up an unbroken long-standing intimacy.
810 Ill-wishers even wish them well, who guard. For ancient friends, their wonted kind regard. Even enemies will love those who have never changed in their affection to their long-standingfriends.
2.3.9. Evil Friendship
811 Though evil men should all-absorbing friendship show, Their love had better die away than grow. The decrease of friendship with those who look as if they would eat you up (through excess of love) while they are really destitute of goodness is far better than its increase.
812 What though you gain or lose friendship of men of alien heart, Who when you thrive are friends, and when you fail depart? Of what avail is it to get or lose the friendship of those who love when there is gain and leave when there is none ?
813 These are alike: the friends who ponder friendship’s gain Those who accept whate’er you give, and all the plundering train. Friendship who calculate the profits (of their friendship), prostitutes who are bent on obtaining their gains, and thieves are (all) of the same character. 99
814 A steed untrained will leave you in the tug of war; Than friends like that to dwell alone is better far. Solitude is more to be desired than the society of those who resemble the untrained horses which throw down (their riders) in the fields of battle.
815 ‘Tis better not to gain than gain the friendship profitless Of men of little minds, who succour fails when dangers press. It is far better to avoid that to contract the evil friendship of the base who cannot protect (their friends) even when appointed to do so.
816 Better ten million times incur the wise man’s hate, Than form with foolish men a friendship intimate. The hatred of the wise is ten-million times more profitable than the excessive intimacy of the fool.
817 From foes ten million fold a greater good you gain, Than friendship yields that’s formed with laughers vain. What comes from enemies is a hundred million times more profitable than what comes from the friendship of those who cause only laughter.
818 Those men who make a grievous toil of what they do On your behalf, their friendship silently eschew. Gradually abandon without revealing (beforehand) the friendship of those who pretend inability to carry out what they (really) could do.
819 E’en in a dream the intercourse is bitterness With men whose deeds are other than their words profess. The friendship of those whose actions do not agree with their words will distress (one) even in (one’s) dreams.
820 In anywise maintain not intercourse with those, Who in the house are friends, in hall are slandering foes. Avoid even the least approach to a contraction of friendship with those who would love you in private but ridicule you in public.
2.3.10. Unreal Friendship
821 Anvil where thou shalt smitten be, when men occasion find, Is friendship’s form without consenting mind. The friendship of those who behave like friends without inward affection is a weapon that may be thrown when a favourable opportunity presents itself. 100
822 Friendship of those who seem our kin, but are not really kind. Will change from hour to hour like woman’s mind. The friendship of those who seem to be friends while they are not, will change like the love of women.
823 To heartfelt goodness men ignoble hardly may attain, Although abundant stores of goodly lore they gain. Though (one’s) enemies may have mastered many good books, it will be impossible for them to become truly loving at heart.
824 ‘Tis fitting you should dread dissemblers’ guile, Whose hearts are bitter while their faces smile. One should fear the deceitful who smile sweetly with their face but never love with their heart.
825 When minds are not in unison, ‘its never; just, In any words men speak to put your trust. In nothing whatever is it proper to rely on the words of those who do not love with their heart.
826 Though many goodly words they speak in friendly tone, The words of foes will speedily be known. Though (one’s) foes may utter good things as though they were friends, once will at once understand (their evil, import).
827 To pliant speech from hostile lips give thou no ear; ‘Tis pliant bow that show the deadly peril near! Since the bending of the bow bespeaks evil, one should not accept (as good) the humiliating speeches of one’s foes.
828 In hands that worship weapon ten hidden lies; Such are the tears that fall from foeman’s eyes. A weapon may be hid in the very hands with which (one’s) foes adore (him) (and) the tears they shed are of the same nature.
829 ‘Tis just, when men make much of you, and then despise, To make them smile, and slap in friendship’s guise. It is the duty of kings to affect great love but make it die (inwardly); as regard those foes who shew them great friendship but despise them (in their heart).
830 When time shall come that foes as friends appear, Then thou, to hide a hostile heart, a smiling face may’st wear. When one’s foes begin to affect friendship, one should love them with one’s looks, and, cherishing no love in the heart, give up (even the former). 101