CHAP. III.

We should have fome Regard to the Opinions of others concerning us, particularly of our Enemies.

III. "WOULD we know ourselves, we "fhould not altogether ne"glect the opinion which' others have of "" us, or the things they may fay of us." Not that we need be very folicitous about the cenfure or applaufe of the world, which is generally very rafh and wrong, according to the particular humours and prepoffeffions of men; and a man that knows himself will foon know how to despise them both. "The judgment which "the world makes of us, is generally of

no manner of ufe to us; it adds no"thing to our fouls or bodies, nor leffens << any of our miferies. Let us constant"ly follow reafon, (fays Montaigne), and "let the public approbation follow us the "fame way if it pleases."

But ftill, I fay, a total indifference in this matter is unwife, We ought not to be entirely infenfible to the reports of others; no, not to the railings of an enemy: for an enemy may fay fomething out of

ill-will to us, which it may concern us to think of coolly when we are by ourselves; to examine whether the accufation be just, and what there is in our conduct and temper which may make it appear fo. And by this means our enemy may do us more good than he intended, and be an occafion of discovering fomething of our hearts to us which we did not know before. A man that hath no enemies ought to have very faithful friends; and one who hath no fuch friends, ought to think it no calamity that he hath enemies to be his ef fectual monitors.-"Our friends (fays Mr. "Addison) very often flatter us as much << as our own hearts. They either do not "fee our faults, or conceal them from us; 6c or foften them by their reprefentations, "after fuch a manner that we think them "too trivial to be taken notice of. An ad"versary, on the contrary, makes a strict<< er fearch into us, difcovers every flaw

and imperfection in our tempers; and "though his malice may fet them in too "ftrong a light, it has generally fome ground for what it advances. A friend exaggerates a man's virtues; an enemy "inflames his crimes. A wife man should give a juft attention to both of them, fo far as it may tend to the improve

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"ment of the one, and the diminution of "the other. Plutarch has written an ef"fay on the benefits which a man may "receive from his enemies; and, among "the good fruits of enmity, mentions "this in particular, that by the reproaches "it cafts upon us, we fee the worst fide "of ourselves, and open our eyes to fe"veral blemishes and defects in our lives "and converfations, which we should not "have obferved without the help of such "ill-natured monitors.

"In order likewife to come at a true, "knowledge of ourselves, we should con"fider, on the other hand, how far we "may deferve the praifes and approba❝tions which the world bestow upon us; "whether the actions they celebrate pro❝ceed from laudable and worthy motives, "and how far we are really poffeffed of "the virtues which gain us applause a"mongst those with whom we converse. "Such a reflection is abfolutely necef"fary, if we confider how apt we are ei"ther to value or condemn ourselves by "the opinions of others, and to facrifice "the report of our own hearts to the judgment of the world *."

• Spectat. Vel. Vi. No. 399.

In

In that treatise of Plutarch here referred to, there are a great many excellent things pertinent to this fubject; and therefore I thought it not improper to throw a few extracts out of it into the margin *. It

The foolish and inconfiderate fpoil the very friendships they are engaged in; but the wife and prudent make good ufe of the hatred and enmity of men against them.

Why should we not take an enemy for our tutor, who will inftruct us gratis in thofe things we knew not before? For an enemy fees and understands more in matters relating to us than our friends do: be caufe love is blind; but fpite, malice, ill-will, wrath, and contempt, talk much, are very inquifitive and quick-fighted.

Our enemy, to gratify his ill-will towards us, acquaints himself with the infirmities both of our bodies and minds, fticks to our faults, and makes his invidious remarks upon them, and fpreads them abroad by his uncharitable and ill-natured reports. Hence we are taught this ufeful leffon for the direction and management of our converfation in the world, viz. That we be circumfpect and wary in every thing we speak or do, as if our enemy always flood at our elbow, and overlooked our actions.

Thefe perfons whom that wildom hath brought to live foberly, which the fear and awe of enemies hath infufed, are by degrees drawn into a habit of living fo, and are compofed and fixed in their obedience to virtue by custom and ufe.

When one afked Diogenes how he might be avenged of his enemies, he replied, "To be yourself a good and honest man.'

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Antifthenes fpake incomparably well; "That, if a man would live a fafe and unblameable life, it was "neceffary

It is the character of a very diffolut mind, to be entirely infenfible to all that

"neceffary that he should have very ingenuous and "faithful friends, or very bad enemies; because the "firft by their kind admonitions would keep him "from finning, the latter by their invectives.'

He that hath no friend to give him advice, or reprove him when he does amifs, must bear patiently the rebukes of his enemies, and thereby learn to mend the errors of his ways; confidering fer oufly the object which thele fevere cenfures aim at, and not what he is who makes them: For he who de figned the death of Promotheus the Theffalian, inftead of giving him a fatal blow, only opened a swelling which he had, which did really fave his life. J ft fo may the harsh reprehenfions of enemies cure fome diftempers of the mind, which were before either not known or neglected; though their angry speeches do originally proceed from malice or ill-will.

If any man with opprobrious language objects to you crimes you know nothing of, you ought to inquire into the causes or reasons of fuch false accusations; whereby you may learn to take heed for the future, left you fhould unwarily commit thofe offences which are unjustly imputed to you.

Whenever any thing is fpeken against you that is not true, do not pafs it by, or defpife it because it is falfe; but forthwith examine yourfelf, and confider what you have faid or done that may administer a juft occafion of reproof.

Nothing can be a greater inftance of wisdom and humanity, than for a man to bear filently and quietly the follies and revilings of an enemy, taking as much care not to provoke him as he would to fail fafely by a dangerous rock.

It is an eminent piece of humanity, and a manifeft token of a nature truly generous, to put up the af

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