For then, according to the beautiful figure of the poet, they will be like two ships who set sail at morning from the same port, and ere nightfall lose sight of each other, and go each on its own course, and at its own pace, for many days, through many storms and seas; and yet meet again, and find themselves lying side by side in the same haven, when their long voyage is past. And if not, my friends; if they never meet; if one shall founder and sink upon the seas, or even change his course, and fly shamefully home again: still, is there not a Friend of friends who cannot change, but is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever? What says the noble hymn:-- 'When gathering clouds around I view, And days are dark and friends are few, On him I lean, who, not in vain, Experienced every human pain: He sees my griefs, allays my fears, And counts and treasures up my tears.' Passing the love of woman was his love, indeed; and of him Jonathan was but such a type, as the light in the dewdrop is the type of the sun in heaven. He himself said--and what he said, that he fulfilled--'Greater love hath no man than this--that a man lay down his life for his friends.' In treachery and desertion; in widowhood and childlessness; in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment, when each soul must stand alone before its God, one Friend remains, and that the best of all. {285} From a charter quoted by Ingulf--and very probably a spurious one.