Sin Stigmatized, Part 1 · Section 67
§ 67.
ANd as for pride, 5 Cauſe reputation of good fellowſhip.they know not what it meanes; it's an ill ſigne they are proud, when they goe in rags, being able to ſpend ſo much as they doe: and yet any eyes, but their owne, may ſee, that they care not what they ſpend, or how much they drinke, (yea even forcing nature beyond their ability) for popular applauſe, and to have others commend them for joviall: as one to get him a name, built Diana's Temple (which was one of the worlds wonders) another to get him a name, burnt it, but failed of his expectation, for to prevent his hopes, they ſuffered not his name to be put in the Chronicle.
But theſe have their aime, are reputed generous, and brave blades: which commendations is like the praiſe that Homer gives of Paris, that is, praiſing the beauty of his Locks, but making him to be the ruine of his country: or like that which is ſpoken of Pope Boniface the eight, viz. that he was famous, yet for nothing, but his wickedneſſe. Since they cannot be notable, they would be notorious, and, with Caine, marked, though for murtherers. Opinion is all they ſtand upon, and that from men more gallant then wiſe, that have more heart then braine, yea, more luſt, pride, and ignorance then either.
Yea, the fame and reputation of good fellowſhip with them is more ſweete then life, then ſalvation; for they had rather be famous men upon earth (though it be for infamy) then glorified Saints in Heaven; yea, they had rather goe to Hell, then be counted Puritans, for ſhaking hands with their old aſſociats; wherin they reſemble Saul, who ſtood more upon the praiſe of men, then the favour of God; or Vlyſſes, who pretended to love his native country Ithaca ſo dearely, that for it he would refuſe to be immortall; or the Lord Cordes, with whom it was a common by-word, that he would be content to be in Hell ſeven yeares, ſo he might have the honour of winning Cales from the Engliſh; or ſome unconſcionable Fathers, who will goe to the Devill, to make their Sonnes Gentlemen, live miſerably, and damne their owne ſoules, that their's may be left rich, they ſo love their children above themſelves; for as theſe, ſo drunkards are proud of baſeneſſe I can feele their Pulſes beate hither. But when all's done; a good name is more to be reſpected, then a great.
Forſooth, they would get a name; and indeede, they doe get the names of common drunkards, which will never be done away. Or admit they get the name of good fellowes, how ridiculous is that name, when it is gotten? Achitophel hath a name, Iudas hath a name, Beelzebub hath a name, the powder Traytors have got them a name; but it were happy for ſuch names if they might dye, for they will ſtinke while they live, and ſo doth the drunkards, when he hath obtained the name of good fellow, in my judgment; and if I cannot beate the Vulgar from their contrary opinion, yet I will be ſure, the Vulgar ſhall never beate it into me.
I could here tell you of another pride, Or pride of wit.which occaſions many to drinke, and keepe company, Pride of wit; not that drunkards are thereof guilty, but, as Narciſſus doted upon his owne ſhadow: ſo they conceit of their owne Embryan diſcourſe (as the Crow of her owne Birds) that it is fairer and better then ordinary, or elſe they would not be at ſuch charges to have you heare it. If ye doubt his pride, marke whether all his diſcourſe tends not, either to the praiſe of himſelfe, or the diſpraiſe of others; unleſſe his prayſing of another may redound alſo to his owne praiſe.
But wherein doth his vaine lye, and the excellency of his braine conſiſt? The Beane of all his honour lyes in ſcoffes, and jeeres; for take from theſe Aſpes but their poyſon and ſting, you undoe them, they have nothing left of any uſe; all their worth lyes in witcrackers, as ſome in the Netherlands have their wealth in Squibs and fire-workes, others in Mouſe traps and Tinderboxes. Now in caſe he hath broken a jeſt well, he ſits him downe, and ſings plaudits to his own braine, and not onelyonly falls in love with all, as Pygmalion fell in love with his Ivory Image, but if others doe not commend and admire it for rare and excellent, as though it were found in the Phoenix neſt, he thinkes he hath great wrong. It is not enough, that he thinkes himſelfe wiſe; but we alſo muſt thinke him ſo, though he knowes in his conſcience wee thinke wrong: as once a Souldier, to have his friends in England thinke him ſomebody, gave it out that he was Captaine of a hundred, when his conſcience told him, and one of the company was able to reply, that they were not men but Vermine, which were under his conduct.
Indeed it were happy for him, if he wanted the wit he hath herein; and Sathan ſhould doe him a greater pleaſure, if he did not ſo prompt him in ſcoffes; for, like Abſalom's haire, it proves but an ornament to hange himſelfe withall: the beſt office his wit doth him, is either to ſpit out friends with his tongue, or laugh them into enemies. When one brake a bitter jeſt upon his friend, he requited him with his Dagger, ſaying, I cannot breake a jeſt, but I can breake your head. Now he payes deere for a jeſt, who ſpends his time, and mony, and ſells his honeſty for it: but moſt unhappy is that wit, which ſtirres up enemies againſt the owner, and proves a ſnare to it ſelfe; well may ſuch an one have a good wit, but ſure I am, a foole hath the keeping of it. And ſo much of the fift cauſe, for I feare to be tedious.