[I show thee] Friendship is delicate, as dear, [Of tender violations apt to die?] Reserve will wound it, and distrust, destroy. Deliberate on all things with thy friend. But since friends grow not thick on every bough Nor every friend unrotten at the core, First, on thy friend deliberate with thyself, Pause, ponder, sift; nor eager in the choice, Nor jealous of the chosen; fixing fix; Judge before friendship, the confide till death.