1Now the foundation of that stability and constancy which we seek in friendship is good faith; 1for nothing is stable that is faithless. 1It is right, moreover, to choose a man who is straightforward, sociable and sympathetic, that is, one who is moved by the same things; 1all of which bear on faithfulness. 1For a complicated and devious nature cannot be faithful, nor indeed can a man who is not moved by the same things and does not agree in nature be either faithful or stable. 1To this must be added that he should neither take pleasure in bringing accusations nor believe them when they are brought; all these things bear on that constancy which I have been discussing for some time now.
1Thus that holds true which I said at the beginning, that friendship cannot exist except between good men. 1For it is the part of a good man, whom we may also call wise, to hold to these two things in friendship: first, that there be nothing feigned or pretended; 1for it is more becoming to a free-born man even to hate openly than to hide his feelings behind his face; 1secondly, not only to repel accusations brought by someone else, but not even to be suspicious himself, always thinking that his friend has done some wrong. 66To this should be added a certain pleasantness of conversation and manners, by no means a slight seasoning of friendship.
66Gloominess and severity in everything have, indeed, a certain dignity, but friendship should be more relaxed and freer and sweeter, and more inclined to every kind of courtesy and good nature.