But an air of distinction and authority, to regard 'em with an air of contempt. 65. Disparaging what is generally applauded, makes men look'd upon as singular fops, or wretched judges. 66. 67. The famous Boccalini, in his advertisements from Parnassus, tells us, A Critic presenting Apollo with a very severe censure upon an excellent poem, was ask'd for the good things in that work; but the wretch answering, he minded only the errors, Apollo order'd a sack of unwinnowed wheat to be brought, and Critic to pick out, and take all the chaff for his pains. Flies naturally seek for blotches and sores; but when men concern themselves about others, why not, like Suetonius, of the twelve Cæsars, tell vertues as well as vices. Were our eyes made only for spots and blemishes. But go on. 68. 69. 70. DETRACTOR. Son. A SPLENETIC Detractor, excellent at misrepresenting, mis-understanding, and mis-interpreting his neighbour's thoughts, words, and actions, made it his business to raise false reports, or by repeating others lies to adopt 'em his own. He dealt much in malicious insinuations, and in sinister and covert reflections; uttering his calumnies and slanders in such ambiguous words, and half sentences, as left worse to be guess'd at than he durst express. All his stories began with a 'tis whisper'd, or an 71. 72. 73. I have heard, &c. And he never seconded a commendation, but meerly to smooth the way to some malicious remarks upon the party's defects, concluding still with an, oh! but; or an, I could wish one thing amended, which one thing he took care should blur all his former commendations. When by the party's presence his tongue happen'd to be bound to its good behaviour, his mien, eyes, tone of voice, malicious smiles, mysterious silence, or equivocal and ill-meaning expressions, discover'd the rancour of his envenom'd mind. Where he knew nothing of a person he'd seem to speak riddles, as if he cou'd tell strange stories if he wou'd; and after racking his invention to the utmost, cry, but he is my friend, and therefore I must hold my peace. He had ever an envidious eye upon the clergy, and men eminent for vertue, watching their halting, and if any the least obliquity could be spy'd, used them worse than the vilest malefactors. 74. At length Wiseman, who was come to see Youth his kinsman, asked the difference between smiting with the sword, and a killing tongue: whereat Detractor being dumb-founded, threw down his club, and left the room. 75. Father. Be not an Argus abroad, and a Mole at home. Think it no part of your business curiously to search into other men's lives, but narrowly inspect your own errors.—It's much better to mend one fault in your self, than to find an hundred in your neighbour. 76. 'Tis a maxim in herauldry, that all animals born. 77. in arms, or ensigns, are to be interpreted according to their most innocent and noble qualities: As, if a lyon be the charge of an escutcheon, valour and watchfulness are thereby represented, not cruelty and rapine; and if a serpent, not venom and malice, but wisdom and subtilty. Christianity teaches us the same rule in blazoning our neighbours characters; and Solomon tells us1 He that uttereth a slander is a fool. 1 78. Yet, alas! some can no more live a day without calumny and detraction, than Mithridates cou'd without poison; but like the looking-glasses in the temple of Smirna, represent the fairest and best featured face, exceeding ugly and deformed; without considering, that whoso sells his neighbour's credit at a low rate, makes the market for others to buy his own at the same price. 1 Prov. 10. 18. 79. Give no ear to such as seek to purchase your favour by malevolent reports. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. Officious tale-bearers are a pest to government, conversation, societies, relations, and families. What mischief is 't the craft and subtilty of a double tongue cannot work upon a credulous fool? Plautus says, Tale-bearers ought to be hung up by the tongue; tale-hearers by the ears. One begins a whisper, another makes it a report, a third enlarges it to a dangerous calumny, a fourth adds somewhat of his own, which is augmented and divulg'd by a thousand. "On eagle's wings immortal scandals fly, While vertuous actions are but born, and die." 85. He whose guilty conscience reflects dismal images of himself, is willing to put the like ugly shape upon others, and to conclude all men the same, were they closely inspected; and when he can see but the least glimmering of a fault, takes it as a proof of his hypothesis, and with an envious joy, calls in as many spectators as he 86. can. The mischief is, mankind being apter to believe evil than good, even doubtful accusations leave a |