If we do mark what is done in many (might I not say, in most?)
companies, what is it but one telling malicious stories of, or
fastening odious characters upon another? What do men commonly
please themselves in so much, as in carping and harshly censuring,
in defaming and abusing their neighbours? Is it not the sport and
divertisement of many, to cast dirt in the faces of all they meet
with; to bespatter any man with foul imputations? Doth not in every
corner a Momus lurk, from the venom of whose spiteful or petulant
tongue no eminency of rank, dignity of place, or sacredness of
office, no innocence or integrity of life, no wisdom or
circumspection in behaviour, no good-nature or benignity in dealing
and carriage, can protect any person? Do not men assume to
themselves a liberty of telling romances, and framing characters
concerning their neighbour, as freely as a poet doth about Hector or
Turnus, Thersites or Draucus? Do they not usurp a power of playing
with, or tossing about, of tearing in pieces their neighbour's good
name, as if it were the veriest toy in the world? Do not many
having a form of godliness (some of them, demurely, others
confidently, both without any sense of, or remorse for what they do)
backbite their brethren? Is it not grown so common a thing to
asperse causelessly that no man wonders at it, that few dislike,
that scarce any detest it? that most notorious calumniators are
heard, not only with patience, but with pleasure; yea, are even held
in vogue and reverence as men of a notable talent, and very
serviceable to their party? so that slander seemeth to have lost its
nature, and not to be now an odious sin, but a fashionable humour, a
way of pleasing entertainment, a fine knack, or curious feat of
policy; so that no man at least taketh himself or others to be
accountable for what is said in this way? Is not, in fine, the case
become such, that whoever hath in him any love of truth, any sense
of justice or honesty, any spark of charity towards his brethren,
shall hardly be able to satisfy himself in the conversations he
meeteth; but will be tempted, with the holy prophet, to wish himself
sequestered from society, and cast into solitude; repeating those
words of his, "Oh, that I had in the wilderness a lodging-place of
wayfaring men, that I might leave my people, and go from them: for
they are .
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