Of Praise

Praise is the Reflection of Vertue. But it is as the Glasse or Bodie, which giveth the Reflection. If it be from the Common People, it is commonly False and Naught: And rather followeth Vaine Persons, then Vertuous: For the Common People understand not many Excellent Vertues: The Lowest Vertues draw Praise from them; The middle Vertues worke in them Astonishment, or Admiration; But of the Highest Vertues, they have no Sense, or Perceiving at all. But Shewes, and Species virtutibus similes, serve best with them. Certainly, Fame is like a River, that beareth up Things Light and Swolne, And Drownes Things waighty and Solide: But if persons of Qualitie and Judgement concurre, then it is, (as the Scripture saith) Nomen bonum instar unguenti fragrantis. It filleth all round about, and will not easily away. For the Odours of Oyntments, are more Durable, then those of Flowers. There be so many False Points of Praise, that a Man may justly hold it a Suspect. Some Praises proceed meerely of Flattery; And if hee be an Ordinary Flatterer, he will have certaine Common Attributes, which may serve every Man; If he be a Cunning Flatterer, he will follow the Arch-flatterer, which is a Mans selfe; and wherein a Man thinketh best of himselfe, therein the Flatterer will uphold him most: But if he be an Impudent Flatterer, look wherin a Man is Conscious to himselfe, that he is most Defective, and is most out of Countenance in himselfe, that will the Flatterer Entitle him to, perforce, Spretâ Conscientiâ. Some Praises come of good Wishes, and Respects, which is a Forme due in Civilitie to Kings, and Great Persons, Laudando præcipere; When by telling Men, what they are, they represent to them, what they should be. Some Men are Praised Maliciously to their Hurt, therby to stirre Envie and lealousie towards them; Pessimum genus Inimicorum laudantium; In so much as it was a Proverb, amongst the Grecians; that, He that was praised to his Hurt, should have a Push rise upon his Nose: As we say; That a Blister will rise upon ones Tongue, that tell's a lye. Certainly Moderate Praise, used with Opportunity, and not Vulgar, is that which doth the Good. Salomon saith, He that praiseth his Frend aloud, Rising Early, it shall be to him, no better then a Curse. Too much Magnifying of Man or Matter, doth irritate Contradiction, and procure Envie and Scorne. To Praise a Mans selfe, cannot be Decent, except it be in rare Cases: But to Praise a Mans Office or Profession, he may doe it with Good Grace, and with a Kinde of Magnanimitie. The Cardinals of Rome, which are Theologues, and Friars, and Schoole-men, have a Phrase of Notable Contemptand Scorne, towards Civill Businesse: For they call all Temporall Businesse, of Warres, Embassages, Judicature, & other Emploiments, Sbirrerie; which is, Under-Sheriffries; As if they were but matters for Under-Sheriffes and Catchpoles; Though many times, those Undersherifferies doe more good, then their High Speculations. St. Paul, when he boasts of himselfe, he doth oft enterlace; I speake like a Foole; But speaking of his Calling, he saith; Magnificabo Apostolatum meum.