Pagina 482 di 734

And that equality is thus requisite is plainly shown by the

occurrence of a great difference of goodness or badness, or

prosperity, or something else: for in this case, people are not

any longer friends, nay they do not even feel that they ought to

be. The clearest illustration is perhaps the case of the gods,

because they are most superior in all good things. It is obvious

too, in the case of kings, for they who are greatly their

inferiors do not feel entitled to be friends to them; nor do

people very insignificant to be friends to those of very high

excellence or wisdom. Of course, in such cases it is out of the

question to attempt to define up to what point they may continue

friends: for you may remove many points of agreement and the

Friendship last nevertheless; but when one of the parties is very

far separated (as a god from men), it cannot continue any longer.