XLVI. But to return to our subject, as all that was introduced in the
preceding section was by way of digression: I say, that among the
groupe of those severe saturnine geniuses, of whom we were just before
speaking, are to be found the worst species of hypocrites. I speak of
those censurers of other people’s conduct and behaviour, who pretend to
do it out of zeal, and to promote the welfare of those they fall upon.
These act as if they were ministers vested with full powers from Hell,
or were a _quid pro quo_ of the Devil, because their whole occupation
is pointing out the sins of mankind; a race so diabolical, that they
are at variance with their neighbours, and friends with their vices.
They pretend they love the first, and abhor the last, but it is quite
the reverse. They are always busied in throwing biting reflections
on their neighbours, and at the same time licking their chops with a
longing desire to taste of their sins. There is no news so pleasing to
them, as this or that person having made such and such a slip. This is
their favourite little aliment, because it affords pabulum to feed and
nourish their malevolence.
They exclaim furiously, and with all their might, against sinful
and sensual practices, and wreck their inventions for hyperboles to
exaggerate the wickedness of them; and after they have glutted their
revenge on a miserable individual they have been abusing, they direct
the rage of their thunder against the public at large, and cry out,
The people are all going the high road to perdition: God defend us,
sure the like never was seen! Their daily text is the _O tempora! O
mores!_ of Cicero. The matter of their ordinary conversations is truly
and properly matter, as it is all putrefaction and corruption; for they
talk of nothing but turpitudes and uncleanness. They reserve for their
own use and purposes Satan’s Gazette, where the news is distributed
in articles and paragraphs received from different quarters; as for
example: “We hear by an express arrived from such a street, dated
such a day of the month, which was brought by an herb woman, that Mr.
A---- has made great advances in his negotiations with Madam B----;
and although in the beginning he met with some difficulties, by
proposing more advantageous and agreeable terms, was at last admitted
to a private audience.” In this manner it proceeds to give an account
of various other matters, and always, as is customary, tells us
something about the court; as for instance; “His majesty Pluto and
all his family, although they cannot fail to be incommoded with the
excessive heats which prevail in his territories, continue for all
that to pass their time very jollily, by the entertainment they find
in hunting all sorts of sins, which is a game that is found in great
abundance in every quarter of his infernal majesty’s dominions.” But
to be serious: Those who blazon or aggravate the vices that are most
frequent or prevailing in a place or town, do a great injury which they
are not aware of, which is removing from many a certain impediment,
which withholds or restrains them from falling into those very vices.
When speaking of the vice of incontinence for example, a man exclaims,
“The city in this respect is in a total state of depravity; that the
dissoluteness which pervades it is horrid and unbridled; that already,
with a little reserve, or without any at all, you can scarce find a
man that is continent, or a woman that is chaste; and truly this is
the vice, against which they most frequently make such declamations.”
Some hear this, who till then had entertained no such idea of the
thing, and who were continent from the apprehension of being exposed,
and the fear of being repulsed by this or that woman. This, to those
who are withheld from being incontinent, principally or solely by
the shame of being remarked, or that of being ignominiously repulsed,
takes away in part, or removes totally, the chief impediment which
retrained them from rushing into criminal amours. If all, says each
of these to himself, or nearly all the men in the town, are guilty of
this vice, my share of disgrace by falling into it will be but small,
as I shall only bear my proportion as one among so large a number; and
if all, or nearly all the women, are disposed to be lewd and wanton,
it will rarely happen that I shall meet with one that will not yield
to my solicitations. Some, from not foreseeing the inconvenience, are
betrayed into this absurdity by their zeal, and commit the mistake with
the best intentions. I have many times heard preachers exclaim with
great fervour, that the town is filled with scandals and turpitudes;
that there is scarce a house, which in every corner of it is not
burning with the infernal fire of lust. I entreat most earnestly all
those who exercise this sacred function, and God is the judge of the
sincerity and pious intention with which I make the request, that
they would abstain from such-like declamations, for the mischief they
produce, is greater than the benefits which are derived from them.
XLVII. But to resume the thread of our discourse, what we have just
finished saying being rather an addition to, or digression from, our
main or principal subject. The hypocrites we mentioned last, are such
as conceal their malice under the cloak or pretence of zeal; but there
are others, who are such at their own expence, because in order to
appear virtuous they punish themselves, by abstaining from many things
their appetites prompt them to desire; whereas all the cost of the
first sort, is defrayed at the expence of their neighbour’s honour. It
is true that this rule admits of some exceptions, for there are those
so malignant, who, to wound with certainty another’s fame, would many
times commit a violence on their own inclinations. They would abstain
from the external exercise of those vices which they point out in
others, be it ever so painful to them, in order that they may censure
them with the greater freedom. Unhappy passion! Detestable hypocrisy!