Rich. Flecknoe's ænigmatical characters being rather a new work, than new impression of the old.

Character 28. Of a common Acquaintance.

HE wearies out his bosome with embracing every one, and dirties his Palm with sha∣king them by the hand. Like a Spanniel, he fawns upon every one he meets, and will needs know them whether they will or no. If they but look on him, he smiles on them; and but smile on him, and the Acquaintance straight is made. He picks acquaintance out of every face he ha's but seen once before, and calls eve∣ry one he ha's but seen twice, a friend. After which follows Kindred and Affinity, he having more Couzens then your common Curtizans, or Will Summers had; and they are much as near a kin as Patch and he. Mean time, he

glories in the store of them, and thinks him∣self rich, never considering, that one findes enow of such acquaintances every day in che streets, whilst procul & de ultimis sinibus terrae, a Friend is a Cabinet-piece indeed, and one we should go to the end of the world to seek: Betwixt whom and such common Acquain∣tance there is as much difference, as betwixt Diamonds and Pebble stones: and he ought to be asham'd, that every ordinary Carver shu'd be more choice of the wood he makes his Statua's of, then he of the men whereof he makes his friends; ône being too hard and knotty to work upon, t'other too light and spungy, and worth nothing when they are wrought. Non ex omni ligno sit Mercurio, one makes not Friends out of every sort of Wood.