frenzy, do brutish acts against such as wish them well. Others have a determinate Envy, and a formall habi∣tude, which proceedeth to rage, to glut themselves in bloud, and massacres; such was that of Josephs bro∣thers, and of Cain who embrewed his hands in the bloud of Abel, out of the jealousie of a sacrifice.
It seldome happens, but that this Fury concludeth in some execrable Tragedy. At least, it hath calumny for a perpetuall companion, which is a hideous monster whose picture anciently Apelles drew. He figureth it unto us a woman; for it is a feminine vice to skirmish with the Tongue in the want of courage, and virtue. It hath by its sides two waiting-women, one whereof is called Surprizal, and the other Deceit, because these are the two vices which make Calumny prevail; the one surprizing credulous spirits; the other sophistica∣cating and disguizing Truth. It is very curiously deck∣ed and pranked up; for, who would not abhorre it, if it had not some exteriour attractive to surprize the un∣wary? It neverthelesse shews in its countenance passion and rage; for it is as hard to hide Love and Hatred, as a Cough, or Fire. It holds in one hand a Torch, like that of the Furies; and who hath not heard that a great personage called it the Phaeton of the world, because it sets all a fire, and in combustion? With the other hand she catcheth a poor man by the hair, as if she were ready to strangle him; and albeit he implore heaven and earth to his aid, there is not any one to deliver him out of the hands of this murtheresse. These are the effects of the tyranny of this Passion. Before it marcheth a vast fellow, dry, frightfull, and lean, whose eyes are sharp: He is Envy's Agent, and the insepara∣ble companion of Slander. On the right hand is seen a man with great ears, such as were Midas'es, who makes a shew to receive this impostresse with open arms. Ignorance and Suspicion (seeing the disposition and inclinations he hath) do put a yoke about his neck, and lead him by the nose. Behold! just so they are composed who readily hear Detractions. They for the most part are open-eared to receive all poured in; but otherwise suspicious and ignorant. Lastly, Re∣pentance cometh behind all mourning, and ill clad, say∣ing, What have we done? This creature was innocent; and then with a finger sheweth Truth, which in the Evening presenteth her self to enlighten darknesse. It is the misery of humane things, that one never almost repenteth a wickednesse, but when it is remedilesse. Nothing may be added to the conceit of this excellent Painter, so happily he hath hit it. I will onely say, that if you desire to know the officers and inferiour mi∣niste••s of this tyrannicall Passion (they are not all equall in qualities or vices) I find three principall Or∣ders of them.
The first is, of those who slander of purpose to vilifie the actions of others, and to weaken their repu∣tation, whether they be disposed thereto by some mo∣tive of pride which cannot endure any thing eminent but it self, or through some jealousie; (as it happeneth in concurrencies of professions and conditions) or out of some pretension of interest. These are not gone so far yet as to black Slander: for they do not report any criminall matters; but content themselves to fall upon some defects, sometimes slight, and sometimes suffici∣ently apparent: yea, they seem to be reserved in matter of Slander; for they do as the spies of the Land of Pro∣mise, who first told its beauties and singularities, before they mentioned its monsiers: They lick the person be∣fore they bite, they know the number of his virtues and perfections, as if they had undertaken to make a Panegyrick of them, saying, This man is witty, is so∣ber, is temperate, is just and other such like; neverthe∣lesse there is alwayes a Conclusion which in the end marrs all. You see likewise of this sort, who cover the praises of another under a sad silence; others, who ascribe to chance that which was out of virtue; others, who by comparison of excellent men extenuate the acts of him whom they would blame; others, who punctu∣ally decipher all the defects of a good action; others, who say they have great compassion of his imperfecti∣ons of whom they speak, and would have supplied them at their own charge, if it were in their power. To conclude, all such have some honest cloake for their Passion.
The second order is much more dangerous; for it comprehendeth those who publickly and confidently speak of defects not common and incident, but impor∣tant and notable. So you find an infinite number of them in the world, who seem to have studied the lives, the estates, the families, and genealogies of a whole City; and, as nothing can exempt it self from the curio∣sity of their eyes, so none escapeth the poison of their tongues.
The third order is that of the Devill, the father of Calumniatours, and conteineth such as invent mischiefs and crimes with defamatory libels, to brand the repu∣tation of persons most innocent, and many times very virtuous. And as it is said, that the ink of the Cuttle∣fish poured into lamps, maketh the bravest pieces of Painting to be seen with horrour; so these wicked tongues, when they have cast their poison upon the lights of a life the most innocent, make it appear with hideous deformities. One cannot say how damnable this vice is, for it proceedeth from a source of Hell, to ruine and extirpate all the members of humane society: and if there be a disorder which deserveth that all men detest it, and by common consent make warre against it; This stands in the first place. Such as forge Ca∣lumnies are extreamly detestable; but those who lend their ears to receive them, and do easily believe all which is suggested to their credulity (against the same persons whom they have loved, without hearing their justification) grievously offend the divine Majesty, and shew they have little judgement but much wilful∣nesse. An ear very hard to evil reports, is needfull in a time when the tongue is so soft, and streaming in an overflow of words.