The fountaine of selfe-loue. Or Cynthias reuels As it hath beene sundry times priuately acted in the Black-Friers by the Children of her Maiesties Chappell. Written by Ben: Iohnson.

SCENA. 3.

Criticus.

Crit.

Do good Detraction, do: and I the while Shall shake thy spight off with a carelesse smile. Poore pitteous Gallants, what leane idle sleights Their thoughts suggest to flatter their steru'd Hopes! As if I knew not how to entertaine These Straw-deuises; but of fo••ce must yeeld To the weake stroake of their calumnious tongues. Why should I care what euery Dor doth buzze▪ In credulous eares? it is a Crowne to me, That the best iudgements can report me wrong'd; Them Liars; and their slanders impudent. Perhaps (vpon the rumor of their speeches) Some grieued friend will whisper, Criticus, Men speake ill of thee: So they be ill men, If they spake worse, twere better: For of such To be disprais'd, is the most perfect praise. What can his Censure hurt me, whom the world Hath censur'd vile before me? If good Chre••tus, Euthus, or Phronimus, had spoake the words, They would haue moou'd me; & I should haue cal'd My thoughts and Actions to a strict accompt Vpon the hearing: But when I remember Tis Hedon and Anaides: Alasse, then, I thinke but what they are, and am not stir'd: The one, a light voluptuous Reueller,

The other a strange arrogating Puffe, Both impudent, and ignorant enough; That talke (as they are wont) not as I merit; Traduce by Custome, as most Dogs do barke, Do nothing out of iudgment, but disease; Speake ill, because they neuer could speake well: And who'ld be angry with this race of Creatures? What wise Phisitian haue we euer seene Moou'd with a frantique man? the same affects That he doth beare to his sicke Patient, Should a right minde carry to such as these: And I do count it a most rare Reuenge, That I can thus (with such a sweet neglect) Pluck from them all the pleasure of their Mallice. For that's the marke of all their enginous drifts, To wound my Patience (how soe're they seeme To ayme at other obiects) which if mist, Their Enuy's like an Arrow shot vpright, That in the fall endangers their owne heads.