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Essay LIII: Of Praise
Essay LIII: Of Praise
Praise is the reflection of virtue; but it is ab the glass or body which
giveth the reflection. If it be from the common people, it is commonly false
and naught; and rather followeth vain persons than virtuous. For the common
people understand not many excellent virtues. The lowest virtues draw praise
from them; the middle virtues work in them astonishment or admiration; but of
the highest virtues they have no sense of perceiving at all. But shows, and
species virtutibus similes [qualities resembling virtues], serve best with
them. Certainly fame is like a river, that beareth up things light and swoln,
and drowns things weighty and solid. But if persons of quality and judgment
concur, ^1 then it is (as the Scripture saith) nomen bonum instar unguenti
fragrantis [a good name like unto a sweet ointment]. It filleth all round
about, and will not easily away. For the odors of ointments are more durable
than those of flowers. There be so many false points of praise, that a man may
justly hold it a suspect. Some praises proceed merely of flattery; and if he
be an ordinary flatterer, he will have certain common attributes, which may
serve every man; if he be a cunning flatterer, he will follow the
arch-flatterer, which is a man`s self; and wherein a man thinketh best of
himself, therein the flatterer will uphold him most: but if he be an impudent
flatterer, look wherein a man is conscious to himself that he is most
defective, and is most out of countenance in himself, that will the flatterer
entitle him to perforce, spreta conscientia [in disdain of conscience]. Some
praises come of good wishes and respects, which is a form due in civility to
kings and great persons, laudando praecipere [to teach in praising], when by
telling men what they are, they represent to them what they should be. Some
men are praised maliciously to their hurt, thereby to stir envy and jealousy
towards them: pessimum genus inimicorum laudantium [the worst kind of enemies
are they that praise]; insomuch as it was a proverb amongst the Grecians, that
he that was praised to his hurt should have a push ^2 rise upon his nose; as
we say, that a blister will rise upon one`s tongue that tells a lie. Certainly
moderate praise, used with opportunity, and not vulgar, is that which doth the
good. Solomon saith, He that praiseth his friend aloud, rising early, it shall
be to him no better than a curse. Too much magnifying of man or matter doth
irritate contradiction, and procure envy and scorn. To praise a man`s self
cannot be decent, except it be in rare cases; but to praise a man`s office or
profession, he may do it with good grace, and with a kind of magnanimity. The
cardinals of Rome, which are theologues, and friars, and Schoolmen, have a
phrase of notable contempt and scorn towards civil business: for they call all
temporal business of wars, embassages, judicature, and other employments,
sbirrerie, which is under-sheriffries; as if they were but matters for
under-sheriffs and catchpoles: though many times those under-sheriffries do
more good than their high speculations. St. Paul, when he boasts of himself,
he doth oft interlace, I speak like a fool; but speaking of his calling, he
saith, magnificabo apostolatum meum [I will magnify my mission].
[Footnote 1: Agree (in praising).]
[Footnote 2: Pimple.]
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