A Treasury of Similes, Part S · Part 16 – Part 20
Slaunder.
1 AS the hayres of the beaſt Tarandrus is not to be pearſed with any weapon: So ſome men are ſuch, as are neuer hurt with Slaunder, or reproach.
2 Like as the Camelion, can chaunge himſelfe into all colours ſaue white: Euen ſo the Slaunderer can frame his tongue to ſpeake anything, ſaue for his neighbors credit; but that he can as hardly be induced vntounto, as the Leopard to chaunge his ſpots; the Blacke-amore his skinne, or the Bricke his colour.
3 As the good name is to be much more eſteemed then ſiluer: So the wound of Slaunder & defamation, is almoſt incurable; ſo that a mā may better beware of ſuch as ſteale his goods, then of the Slaunderer & backbiter, that taketh away his good name. Numb. 16. 1. &c. 2. Sam. 16.3. Heſt. 3.8. 1. Sam. 24.1. &c. 2. Sam. 15. 1. &c. Ioh. 7.20. Math. 11.19.
4 As when a wound is cured, there remaineth a ſcarce: So againſt a Slaunder, howſoeuer a man purge & iuſtifie himſelfe, yet will there ſtil remaine an euill opinion, at the leaſt in ſome. Pſal. 101.5. 1. Cor. 4.6. & 6.10.
5 Like as Cham, the Father of the Canaanites, hauing ſeene the ſhame of his Father Noah, and in lieu of couering it, hauing ſhewed it to his brethren, was accurſed, both he and his poſteritie, by the mouth of his owne Father: Euen ſo they (who knowing the frailtie, faults, and infirmities, and conſequenly, the ſhame and reproach of their brethren, where they ought in charitie, to couer the ſame) doo neuertheleſſe by backbiting, and euil ſpeaking, lay them open, doo well deſerue to bee accurſed with Cham, and called Canaanites. Gene. 9.22. Pſal. 50.19, 20, 21. Act. 24.5. 1. Sam. 21.1. &c. Pſal. 52.2. &c.
6 Like as if when ſundrie Faggots lie each by other, thou ſhouldeſt kindle the one, and ſo by degrees burne them all: So likewiſe, if he to whom thou haſt opened thy mouth, to Slaunder and backbite thy brother, hath no more hold of his tongue, then thou haſt of thine, ſo thou haſt put into his hand a ſtaffe, wherwith, by reuealing thy ſecret, to bring thee into brabling and ſtrife; and therefore thou oughteſt not to reueale that to an other, which thou wouldeſt ſhould be kept ſecret.
7 As in a Country, vppon any murther, or other heinous treſpaſſe, they ring the Towne bell, which when other Townes or Villages doo heare, they likewiſe doo ring theirs, and ſo from one to an other, whereby all the Countrie is ſoone aduertiſed, that their is ſome offender to bee taken or ſtayed: Euen ſo thou, when the clocke of thy tongue hath ſtrooken, looke that he that heard it, will likewiſe ſtrike his; and his neighbour that heareth it, his; and ſo ſhall the infirmitie of thy neighbour ſoone come to the eares of many. And therefore if thou beeſt loath it ſhould be knowne, then thou oughteſt not to hauehave vttered that, which thou knoweſt euerie man will bee readie likewiſe to vtter.
8. Like as if there were no receiuer of thefts, there would not be ſo many theeues: So if none would harken to Slaundring and backbiting, there would not be ſo many backbiters. Prou. 25.23. Pſal. 15.3.
9 As a ſhaft ſhot againſt a ſtone, reboundeth, and ſomtime hurteth him that ſhot it: So when a Saunderer or backbiter, ſeeth his countenance that heareth, or indeed harkeneth not vntounto him, ſad, or frowning, hee holdeth his peace, hee waxeth pale, his countenance is troubled, and his tongue ſtoppeth ſuddenly. Exod. 23.1.
10 As one ſtripe of the tongue woundeth three, the backbiter, him that giueth eare to the backbiting, and the backbitten: So the two firſt, doo thereby wound their conſciences to death, by deſeruing the ſentence of eternall fire; but the third is no whit damnified, but in his good name, and that peraduenture but for a ſhort ſpace.
Sober in youth, and childiſh in old age.
THere is a nation in India called Pandora, which people in their youth hauehave gray hayres, but in olde age their hayres are altogether blacke: So ſome in their youth be Sober and modeſt, but when they wax older, then they are giuen to more folly and trifles, in ſo much that they may ſeeme to wax children againe.
Spirit.
1 AS Comfrey, ſod and put with minſed meate, bringeth it altogether againe into one maſſe or lumpe: So the Spirit, ioyneth in one thoſe which were ſeuered, if it be among them.
2 As Baulme put into Beehiues, cauſeth the Bees to keepe together, and other to come vntounto them: So where the Spirit of God is, it cauſeth Chriſtians to abide in one, and draweth other vntounto them.
Some ſnared with their owne deuiſes.
AS Perillus, who gaue the brazen Bull to the Tyrant Phalaris, who cauſed the ſaid Perillus to be firſt pained and tormented in the ſame engine, which he had inuented: Euen ſo ſome doo fall into the pitte and ſnare which they had made and deuiſed for other. Pſal. 57.6. Pro. 26.2. Eccle. 10.8.
Some hauehave better liking to other mens things, then to their owne.
EVē as Adulterers are greatly pleaſed with other mens wiues, but their owne they do contemne, and litle regard: So ſome men doo more delight in the pleaſure, or things of other mens, then in their owne.