Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/165

Rh prattling abroad; which is the reason that Pythagoras enjoined young men five years' silence, which he called echemychia, abstinence from all speech, or holding of their tongue.

Moreover, it cannot otherwise be chosen but that foul and cursed language also should accompany curiosity; for look what thing soever busybodies hear willingly, the same they love to tell and blurt out as quickly; and such things as with desire and care they gather from one, they utter to another with joy: Whereupon it cometh to pass that over and above other inconveniences which this vice ministereth unto them that are given to it, an impediment it is to their own appetite. For as they desire to know much, so every man observeth them, is beware of them, and endeavoureth to conceal all from them. Neither are they willing to do anything in their sight, nor delighted to speak aught in their hearing, but if there be any question in hand to be debated, or business to be considered and consulted of, all men are content to put off the conclusion and resolution unto another time; namely, until the curious and busy person be out of the way. And say, that whiles men are in sad and secret conference, or about some serious business, there chance one of these busybodies to come in place, presently all is hushed, and everything is removed aside and hidden, no otherwise than folk are wont to set out of the way victuals where a cat doth haunt, or when they see her ready to run by; insomuch as many times those things which other men may both hear and see safely, the same may not be done or said before them only.

Therefore also it followeth by good consequence, that a busy and curious person is commonly so far out of credit that no man is willing to trust him for anything; in such sort that we commit our letters missive and sign manual sooner to our servants and mere strangers than to our friends and familiars, if we perceive them given to this humour of much meddling. But that worthy knight Bellerophontes was so far from this, that he would not break open those letters which he carried, though they were written against himself, but forbare to touch the king's epistle, no less than he abstained from the queen his wife, even by one and the same virtue of continence. For surely, curiosity is a kind of incontinency, as well as is adultery; and this moreover it hath besides, that joined there is with it much folly and extreme want of wit: For were it not a part (think you) of exceeding blockish senselessness, yea, and madness in the highest degree, to pass by so many women that be common, and everywhere to be had; and then to make means with great