Selected quad for the lemma: virtue_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
virtue_n	iron_n	part_n	touch_v	1,197	5	9.5651	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B11821	Horæ subseciuæ observations and discourses.	Chandon, Grey Brydges, Baron, d. 1621.; Cavendish, Gilbert.; Newcastle, William Cavendish, Duke of, 1592-1676.; Hobbes, Thomas, 1588-1679.	1620 (1620)	STC 3957; ESTC S105996	135,065	562

which they be not branded Neuerthelesse anciently and in popular States the liberty of euil tongs hath been more tolerated then now it is when they haue not onely pointed at on the Stages but also vsually named with derision and taunts the men of greatest dignitie and that in presence of themselues so touched And indeede in manie Common-wealthes it hath beene a bridle to the licētiousnesse of Greatnesse in their morall conuersation though that were but an euill remedie But in a Monarchie the same would but haue beene as a spurre to seditions and tumults For it is not so much euery particular man that suffers by these mens rancor and malice as the whole Fabricke of the Republike The actions of great men their liues their orders be most seuerely and strictly viewed That which they do for the publike these will pretend to bee done for priuate ends If things according to former consultation succeed wel they wil take the praise wholly from them and bestowe it vpon chance if otherwise they will take it from chance and lay it wholly vpon their consultations In briefe they will misconstrue and mis-apply all manner of acts and whatsoeuer tends to the peace and good of the State they with their best subtilties will oppose but howsoeuer disapproue In which respect they iustly deserue the punishment that is layd vpon them Ecclesiasticus 28. verse 13 14. Curse the whisperer and double-tongued for such haue destroyed many that were at peace The backbiting tongue hath disquieted many and driuen them from Nation to Nation Strong Cities hath it pulled downe and ouerthrowne the houses of great men This so fully touches the danger that the greatest men and Nations fall into by suffering this kinde of people that I need not in this point further to illustrate it In the next place it will not bee amisse by way of example to shew that by this meanes the worst causes doe alwaies set themselues of in disgrace of the better which rule will neuer faile One instance I will giue The Separatists or Sanctified as they terme themselues what doctrine haue they more frequent what point more vrged then for the propagation as they say of the holy cause First with the Pharise to magnifie themselues and their own opinions then with termes vnfit to be heard talke of Ecclesiasticall functions Ceremonie and Gouernment with that disdaine and reproch that they graffe in their followers such an opinion against them that they thinke all of the contrary opinion children of Perdition in the state of Damnation sonnes of Belial vnsanctified lewd profane and vngodly persons But leauing this path that hath been so often beaten let vs view it in other colours Commonly if hee heare any man out of discontent or choller let slip a word to the derogation of another he presently takes his aduantage and his Exordium thence for some malicious Oration Which with that person confirmes the ill opinion already conceiued strengthens his malice increaseth his hate and makes him glory with himselfe that hee goes not alone but hand in hand with other company in his erroneous conceits and that which priuate respects made him formerly to dislike that now hee thinkes the others merits might as well prouoke By this artifice the Detractor would bee thought but a second in the point whereas hee is indeed the first or rather onely deprauer Sometimes hee will professe loue to a person whom notwithstanding for truth and sincerities cause hee will pretend not to be able to praise and so fall into an inquisition of his life and manners like the fellow in Horace Me Capitolinus conuictore vsus amico-Que à puero est causaque mea permulta rogatus Fecit incolumis laetor quod viuit in vrbe Sed tamen admiror quo pacto Indicium illud Fugerit Hic nigrae succus loliginis haec est Aerugo mera c. Hee deales with a man as the stone in Nabuchadnezzars dreame mentioned in the second of Daniel did with the great Image which it ouerthrew But thus it medled not with the gold nor the siluer nor the brasse in the Statue but the lower parts the legges and feete which were of iron and clay those it brake in pieces and so ruined the rest In like manner the Detractor touches not the Gold that is a mans Vertue which shines like it nor the siluer which is a mans wisedome and iudgement and resembles it nor the brasse that is a mans Nobility which glisters like it but the iron and clay feete that is a mans infirmities weakenesses errours those with an vncleane tongue they wound and strike and by that meanes ouerthrow his Honor and Fame in all other parts and qualities though neuer so eminent in the meane time no body forcing him without cause to vtter that truth to the preiudice of another that charity would haue concealed Here it will be pertinent to enquire something touching the liberty of censuring with what cautions it is limitted and how farre to be allowed A Censurer is more thē any other obnoxious to Cēsure for he thrusteth himselfe into the office of a Iudge by which eminency he conuerteth mens eyes on himselfe and because hee is to be supposed lesse faulty then the reprehended they are therefore also inuited to a more strict consideration of his life and no lesse but rather much more to censure him then he another Yet vpon occasion giuen or vrged when a man is freely to speake his opinion the concealing or couering or blanching a knowne or publique errour in any man confirmes and strengthens him that is vicious and by this approuing or at least not blaming incourageth others to the like and withall greatly darkens our owne reputation for conniuency in this kinde makes men beleeue that we our selues bee subiect to the same fault But this liberty of censuring I do thus farre onely allow that it be amongst such as do particularly know that mans deformities and not others that be strangers vnto it For then we should encrease rumor and cause an ill opinion to be had of him Next the liberty of loue and respect will freely allow a man to doe it priuately to his friend but thē let not any foole be his friend lest he take the benefit for an iniury And it must be without any bitternesse or spleene which will rather gall then correct him that we so speake vnto If the particular errours of any one doe iudicially and pertinently to the cause come in question there is no doubt but the blemishes especially in Publique bee to be taxed with all manner of aggrauation but the man in charitie is not to bee triumphed ouer though this cannot but reflect vpon him Yet humane frailety which is cōmon to vs al is inducement enough so long as no preiudice follow by the example to make the best interpretation that so ill a cause so ill a man can deserue And certainly there is a great deale of caution and sparing to be