Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/90

68 doth mightily enforce the poison thereof, and make it irremediable, for that by means of the heat it conveyeth the same more speedily unto the heart; even so these lewd and mischievous flatterers, knowing full well that frank speech is a singular help and remedy against flattery, abuse it to flatter withal. And therefore it seemeth that Bias answered not so well as he might have done, to one that asked of him, which was the shrewdest and most hurtful beast of all other: If (quoth he) your question be of wild and savage, a tyrant is worse; if of tame and gentle, a flatterer. For he might have said more truly; that of flatterers some be of a tame kind, such (I mean) as these parasites are who haunt the bains and stouphs; those also that follow good cheer and keep about the table. As for him who (like as the pourcuttle fish stretcheth out his claws like branches) reacheth as far as to the secret chambers and cabinets of women, with his busy intermeddling, with his calumniations and malicious demeanours, such a one is savage, fell, intractable, and dangerous to be approached.

Now one of the means to beware of this flattery is to know and remember always that our soul consisteth of two parts, whereof the one is addicted to the truth, loving honesty and reason; the other more brutish, of the own nature unreasonable, given to untruth and withal passionate. A true friend assisteth evermore the better part, in giving counsel and comfort, even as an expert and skilful physician, who hath an eye that aimeth always at the maintenance and increase of health: but the flatterer doth apply himself, and settleth to that part which is void of reason and full of passions: this he scratcheth, this he tickleth continually, this he stroketh and handleth in such sort, by devising some vicious and dishonest pleasures, that he withdraweth and turneth it away quite from the rule and guidance of reason. Moreover, as there be some kind of viands, which if a man eat they neither turn unto blood nor engender spirits, nor yet add vigour and strength to the nerves and the marrow; but all the good they do is haply to cause the flesh or genital parts to rise, to stir and loose the belly, or to breed some foggy, phantom and half-rotten flesh, which is neither fast nor sound within; even so, if a man look nearly and have good regard unto a flatterer, he shall never find that all the words he useth, minister or procure one jot of good to him that is wise and governed by reason; but feed fools with the pleasant delights of love; kindle and augment the fire of inconsiderate anger; provoke them unto envy; breed in them an odious and vain