22–28 May 1826

Friendship is something very delicious to my understanding. Yet the friends that occupy my thoughts are not men, but certain phantoms clothed in the form and face and apparel of men by whom they were suggested and to whom they bear a resemblance. The gods gave life to Prome- theus's ivory statue, and the revolution of events may one day give me the men for the prototypes. You love your friend for your sake, not for his own, might say Hobbists and wolves, for you would not have that good fortune befall him that should raise him above your reach and your society. I please myself that I can dimly see how it would gratify me to promote that very good fortune of my friend.' In God's name what is in this topic ? It encourages, ex- hilarates, inspires me. I feel that the affections of the soul are sublimer than the faculties of the intellect. I yi??/ immortal. And the evidence of immortality comes better from consciousness than from reason.