Part 15 (1/2)
”What a pity that Sidney makes such preposterous pretensions to learning in his conversation,” said Smith the next day to Arthur.
”It certainly is,” answered Arthur; ”but he is generally so when in the company of any he thinks educated. He aims at equality with them, and even to rise above them, with his comparatively limited acquirements. He rarely, or ever, attains his end. His folly almost invariably meets with an exposure in one way or another. I have met with him on several occasions previous to last night, and he was the same on every one.”
”It is to be hoped he will grow wiser as he grows older,” said Smith.
”I hope so,” said Arthur. ”If he do not, he will always be contemptible in the eyes of the wise and learned; and they will do their utmost to shun his society and keep him out of their reach. Were his professions of learning to accord with his real abilities there would be no objection--nothing unseemly; but he aims at that which he has little competency to reach, and so makes himself ludicrous in his attempts.
And then he does it withal in such self-confidence and ostentation as is perfectly revolting to good taste. As his friend, I feel very much for him, and wish he may get a knowledge of his real acquirements, and make no display of his learning beyond what he can honourably sustain, and in which he will be justified by wisdom and propriety. In this way he might obtain a position in which he would receive the respect of society according to the real merits of which he gave obvious proof.”
”Those are exactly my views,” said Smith, ”and I wish they were the views of Sidney too.”
XVII.
_THE DETRACTOR._
”The ign.o.ble mind Loves ever to a.s.sail with secret blow The loftier, purer beings of their kind.”
W. G. SIMMS.
”Detraction's a bold monster, and fears not To wound the fame of princes, if it find But any blemish in their lives to work on.”
Ma.s.sINGER.
A detractor is one whose aim is to lessen, or withdraw from, that which const.i.tutes a good name or contributes to it.
The love of a good name is natural to man. He who has lost this love is considered most desperately fallen below himself.
To acquire a good name and to maintain it, what have not men done, given, and suffered in the world of Literature, Labour, Science, Politics, and Religion?
And who has blamed them for it? It is declared by the highest wisdom, that ”A good name is better than great riches,” and ”better than precious ointment.” ”The memory of the just shall be blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot.” ”Whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
”It is,” as one says, ”that which gives us an inferior immortality, and makes us, even in this world, survive ourselves. This part of us alone continues verdant in the grave, and yields a perfume.”
Considering, then, the worth of a good name, we cannot wonder that a man should wish to preserve and guard it with all carefulness.
”The honours of a name 'tis just to guard; They are a trust but lent us, which we take, And should, in reverence to the donor's fame, With care transmit them to other hands.”
As the work of the detractor is the tarnis.h.i.+ng, or, it may be, the destruction of a man's good name, the evil nature of it may be seen at one view. Can he commit a greater offence against his brother? Can he be guilty of a more heinous motive and aim?
”No wound which warlike hand of enemy Inflicts with dint of sword, so sore doth light As doth the poisonous sting which infamy Infixeth in the name of n.o.ble wight; For by no art, nor any leeches' might, It ever can re-cured be again.”
”Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing; 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands: But he who filches from me my good name Robs me of that which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed.”
Let us notice some of the ways in which this talker seeks to accomplish his work.
1. _He represents persons and actions under the most disadvantageous circ.u.mstances he can_, speaking of those which may appear objectionable, and pa.s.sing by those which may be commendable. There is no person so excellent who is not by his circ.u.mstances forced to omit some things which would become him to do if he were able; to perform some things weakly and otherwise than he would if he had the power. There is no action so worthy, but may have some defect in matter, or manner, incapable of redress; and he that represents such persons or actions, leaving out those excusing circ.u.mstances, tends to create an unjust opinion of them, taking from them their due value and commendation.
Thus, to charge a man with not having done a good work, when he had not the power or opportunity, or is by unexpected means hindered from doing it according to his desire; to suggest the action was not done exactly in the best season, in the wisest mode, in the most proper place, with expressions, looks, or gestures most convenient--these are tricks of the detractor, who, when he cannot deny the metal to be good, and the stamp true, clips it, and so would prevent it from being current.
2. _He misconstrues ambiguous words or misinterprets doubtful appearances of things._ A man may speak never so well, or act never so n.o.bly, yet a detractor will make his words bear some ill sense, and his actions tend to some bad purpose; so that we may suspect his meaning, and not yield him our full approbation.