ND SO the beloved
who, like a god, has received every true and loyal service from his
lover, not in pretence but in reality, being also himself of a
nature friendly to his admirer, if in former days he has blushed to
own his passion and turned away his lover, because his youthful
companions or others slanderously told him that he would be
disgraced, now as years advance, at the appointed age and time, is
led to receive him into communion. For fate which has ordained that
there shall be no friendship among the evil has also ordained that
there shall ever be friendship among the good. And the beloved when
he has received him into communion and intimacy, is quite amazed at
the good-will of the lover; he recognises that the inspired friend
is worth all other friends or kinsmen; they have nothing of
friendship in them worthy to be compared with his.