SECTION XVIII.

OF FOOLISH FLATTERERS AND GLOSSERS.

The lip of truth shall be established for ever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

*

SOLOMON.

These are the fools that know not why,

Yet always must be civil † ;

Who spite of common sense, will lie,

And shame the very devil.

* Flatterers are the Will o'the wisps of fools, who mean nothing, yet lead them into the mire; and so prevalent is now become this bifronted vice, that

Vitium fuit, nunc mos est, adsentatio.

The well known Jemmy B- -1, the Biographer of the famous Dr. Johnson, who might well be termed his toad eater or flatterer, used to narrate the following anecdote of the Lexicographer.

Upon the publication of one of the Doctor's literary performances, Jemmy B-1, on the first of the ensuing month, repaired, according to custom, to the lodgings of his idol with the several Magazines of the day, in order to read the strictures which were given on his per

You look divinely *, Hal will swear,
Although to him disgusting;

And Rose loves Ned, beyond compare,
Though Rose for Will is thirsting.

formance. After perusing two or three criticisms, which were not of the most civil kind, the petulance of the Doctor got the better of his good sense, and he exclaimed peevishly," Enough, enough, sir, now you have taken infinite pains to bring an account of what is thought of me individually; give me leave to ask what you imagine the world says of you and me conjointly.” "Upon my word Dr. I cannot pretend to say," answered Jemmy. "Why then I'll tell you," continued the Dr. "They say that I am a mad dog, sir, and that you are the tin cannister tied to my tail."

In the publication of the Dr's. Tour to the Hebrides, written by the same gentleman, there is an account of the inhabitants of villages flocking out to see the great literary phenomenon, which is alleged as a proof of the veneration in which the Dr. was held by all ranks of society. In a copy of that Tour, which once fell into the hands of the annotator, some sarcastic reader had annexed, in the margin, the following couplet, by no means inapplicable to the parties :

How ev'ry clown must gape and stare,

To see a Monkey lead a Bear!

* Nothing can possibly be so degrading to the mind of

Than Lady Bab, without a joke,
None plays whist so correctly;
No matter though she may revoke,
She finds it out directly *.

O how enchanting Laura plays,
How syren like her singing;
Though time and concord dance the hays,
And squalling discord's ringing.

feeling, as the incessant duplicity which characterizes the chit-chat of fashionable societies; for it is not merely sufficient to know, that the falsehood can be productive of no harm to others, (even should such be the case), for he who does not scruple to debase himself, will not long refrain from injuring others.

Lasino si conosce dall' orecchie, e il matto dal troppo parlare.

*It is most provokingly fulsome, to hear women, only because they are such, receive the adulation of a coxcomb, although the conviction of his palpable flattery stares her in the face. But, if the female who tolerates his prattle, were other than his companion in folly, she would be led to resent rather than feel gratified at the falsehood, for Pope has truly said,

Praise undeserv'd is satire in disguise.

A place? 'tis yours, exclaims Lord D-
His promise merely rotten;

Command my interest, swears M. P.—
Soon said as soon forgotten *.

—as

The friend, the foe; the love, the hate:
The word of God from sinner,
Who loud extols a future state,
Yet better loves his dinner t.

*These are the species of deceivers, of whom it may be said with truth, "Pessimum genus inimicorum laudantes ;" for they not only promise without the least intention of performing, but by fallaciously flattering the hopes of the petitioner, make him neglect pursuits which would enable him to live with credit, and not reduce him to the state of a slave and pander, while loss of precious time too frequently brings on beggary, and the loathsome confines of a gaol.

† How often does the sanctified flatterer practise on the minds of bigots, and at the very moment when his panegyrics are passed on holy writ, his thoughts are perhaps down in the kitchen, where from the savory effluvia which catches his nose, he learns that a goose will that day be his fare. These are a class of glossers who add profaneness to hypocrisy, using the sacred name of Omnipotence to pamper their appetites and fill their purses.

Adulandi gens prudentissima laudat,
Sermonem indocti, faciem deformis amici,

Bifronted fool, if such thy store,

I grant thee wondrous cunning;
A salve thou hast for ev'ry sore,
Then stop thy tongue from running.

L'ENVOY OF THE POET.

As basest coin will frequently deceive,
The flatt'rer equally may current pass;
For vanity prompts ideots to believe,

Who fool'd are by their kindred friend, an ass.

THE POET'S CHORUS TO FOOLS.

Come, trim the boat, row on each Rara Avis, Crowds flock to man my Stultifera Navis.