Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/79

Rh but being careful and very subtle in avoiding all suspicion, if haply he meet with one of these fine fools and delicate minions, well set out in gay apparel: or some rustical thick-skin, carrying on his back a good leather pilch; or (as they say) one that feedeth grossly: such he will not spare, but abuse with broad flattery, and make common laughing-stocks of them: Like as Struthias, making a very ass of Bias, and riding him up and down, yea, and insulting upon him for his sottishness with praises that he would seem to hang upon him: Thou hast (quoth he) drunk more than King Alexander the Great, and with that, turning to Cyprius, laughed as hard as ever he could till he was ready to sink again.

But if a flatterer chance to deal with them that be more civil and elegant, and do perceive that they have a special eye unto him in this point, namely, that they stand well upon their guard in this place for fear lest they be surprised by him: then he goes not to work directly in praising of them, but he keepeth aloof, he fetcheth about many compasses a great way off at first, afterwards by little and little he winneth some ground and approacheth nearer and nearer, making no noise until he can touch and handle them, much after the manner of those that come about wild beasts, assaying how to bring them to hand and make them tame and gentle. For one while he will report to such a one the praises that some other give out of him: imitating herein the rhetoricians who many times in their orations speak in the third person, and after this manner he will begin: I was not long since (quoth he) in the market-place, where I had some talk with certain strangers and other ancient personages of good worth, whom I was glad at the heart to hear how they recounted all the good in the world of you, and spake wonderfully in your commendation. Otherwhiles he will devise and fetch out of his own fingers' ends some light imputations against him, yet all forged and false, agreeable to his person and condition, making semblance as if he had heard others what they said of him, and very cunningly will he close with him, and bear him in hand that he is come in all haste to know of him, whether ever he said or did so as was reported of him: And if the other do deny it (as it is no other like but he will), thereupon he takes occasion to enter into the praise and commendation of the man in this wise: I marvel truly how that you should abuse and speak ill of any of your familiars and friends, who were never wont so much as to miscall or say otherwise than well of your very enemies? or how it possibly could be that you