1You say that certain people have criticised me in your presence, on the grounds that I praise my friends beyond measure on every occasion. 2I acknowledge the charge, I even embrace it. 2For what is more honourable than the fault of kindness? 2Who are these people, though, who know my friends better than I do? 2But granting that they do know them, why do they begrudge me a most happy mistake? 2For even if my friends are not such as I proclaim them, I am still fortunate in that they seem so to me. 3So let them turn this perverse diligence on others; 3and there are plenty who call carping at their friends judgement.
3They will never persuade me to think that my friends are loved by me too much. 3Farewell.