A VULGAR-SPIRITED MAN

Is one of the herd of the world. One that follows merely the common cry,

and makes it louder by one. A man that loves none but who are publickly

affected, and he will not be wiser than the rest of the town. That never

owns a friend after an ill name, or some general imputation, though he

knows it most unworthy. That opposes to reason, "thus men say;" and

"thus most do;" and "thus the world goes;" and thinks this enough to

poise the other. That worships men in place, and those only; and thinks

all a great man speaks oracles. Much taken with my lord's jest, and

repeats you it all to a syllable. One that justifies nothing out of

fashion, nor any opinion out of the applauded way. That thinks certainly

all Spaniards and Jesuits very villains, and is still cursing the pope

and Spinola. One that thinks the gravest cassock the best scholar; and

the best clothes the finest man. That is taken only with broad and

obscene wit, and hisses any thing too deep for him. That cries, Chaucer

for his money above all our English poets, because the voice has gone

so, and he has read none. That is much ravished with such a nobleman's

courtesy, and would venture his life for him, because he put off his

hat. One that is foremost still to kiss the king's hand, and cries, "God

bless his majesty!" loudest. That rails on all men condemned and out of

favour, and the first that says "away with the traitors!"--yet struck

with much ruth at executions, and for pity to see a man die, could kill

the hangman. That comes to London to see it, and the pretty things in

it, and, the chief cause of his journey, the bears. That measures the

happiness of the kingdom by the cheapness of corn, and conceives no harm

of state, but ill trading. Within this compass too, come those that are

too much wedged into the world, and have no lifting thoughts above those

things; that call to thrive, to do well; and preferment only the grace

of God. That aim all studies at this mark, and show you poor scholars as

an example to take heed by. That think the prison and want a judgment

for some sin, and never like well hereafter of a jail-bird. That know no

other content but wealth, bravery, and the town-pleasures; that think

all else but idle speculation, and the philosophers madmen. In short,

men that are carried away with all outwardnesses, shows, appearances,

the stream, the people; for there is no man of worth but has a piece of

singularity, and scorns something.

Character Writings of the Seventeenth Century · 第 199 / 429 题