True friendship's laws are by this rule express'd,
Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest.

True friendship's laws are by this rule express'd,
Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest.

When friends are at your hearthside met,
Sweet courtesy has done its most
If you have made read more

When friends are at your hearthside met,
Sweet courtesy has done its most
If you have made each guest forget
That he himself is not the host.

There are hermit souls that live withdrawn
In the place of their self-content;
There are souls like read more

There are hermit souls that live withdrawn
In the place of their self-content;
There are souls like stars that dwell apart,
In a fellowless firmament;
There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths
Where highways never ran,--
But let me live by the side of the road,
And be a friend to man.

For I, who hold sage Homer's rule the best,
Welcome the coming, speed the going guest.

For I, who hold sage Homer's rule the best,
Welcome the coming, speed the going guest.

My master is of churlish disposition
And little recks to find the way to heaven
By doing read more

My master is of churlish disposition
And little recks to find the way to heaven
By doing deeds of hospitality.

No one can be so welcome a guest that he will not become an
annoyance when he has stayed read more

No one can be so welcome a guest that he will not become an
annoyance when he has stayed three continuous days in a friend's
house.
[Lat., Hospes nullus tam in amici hospitium diverti potest,
Quin ubi triduum continuum fuerit jam odiosus siet.]

There is no hospitality like understanding.

There is no hospitality like understanding.

Hospitality should have no other nature than love.

Hospitality should have no other nature than love.

Be it not in thy care. Go,
I charge thee, invite them all; let in the tide
read more

Be it not in thy care. Go,
I charge thee, invite them all; let in the tide
Of knaves once more; my cook and I'll provide.