Works of Joseph Hall, Character 24 – Character 25
Of the Ambitious.
AMbition is a proud couetouſneſſe, a dry thirſt of honour, the longing diſeaſe of reaſon, an aſpiring, and gallant madneſſe. The ambitious climbes vp high and perillous ſtaires, and neuer cares how to come downe; the deſire of riſing hath ſwallowed vp his feare of a fall. Hauing once cleaued (like a Burre) to ſome great mans coat, he reſolues not to be ſhaken off with any ſmall indignities, and finding his hold thorowly faſt, caſts how to inſinuate yet neerer; and therefore he is buſie and ſeruile in his endeuours to pleaſe, and all his officious reſpects turne home to himſelfe. He can be at once a ſlaue to command, an Intelligencer to informe, a Paraſite to ſooth and flatter, a Champion to defend, an Executioner to reuenge any thing for an aduantage of fauour. He hath proiected a plot to riſe, and woe be to the friend that ſtands in his way. He ſtill haunteth the Court, and his vnquiet ſpirit haunteth him; which hauing fetcht him from the ſecure peace of his Country-reſt, ſets him new and impoſſible taskes; and after many diſappointments, incourages him to try the ſame ſea in ſpight of his ſhipwracks, and promiſes better ſucceſſe. A ſmall hope giues him heart againſt great difficulties, and drawes on new expenſe, new ſeruilitie; perſwading him (like fooliſh boies) to ſhoot away a ſecond ſhaft, that he may finde the firſt. He yeeldeth, and now ſecure of the iſſue, applauds himſelfe in that honour, which he ſtill affecteth, ſtill miſſeth; and for the laſt of all trials, will rather bribe for a troubleſome preferment, than returne void of a title. But now when he findes himſelfe deſperately croſſed, and at once ſpoiled both of aduancement and hope, both of fruition and poſſibilitie, all his deſire is turned into rage, his thirſt is now onelyonly of reuenge; his tongue ſounds of nothing but detraction and ſlander: Now the place he ſought for, is baſe, his riuall vnworthy, his aduerſary iniurious, officers corrupt, Court infectious; and how well is he that may bee his owne man, his owne maſter; that may liue ſafely in a meane diſtance, at pleaſure, free from ſtaruing, free from burning? But if his deſignes ſpeed well; ere he be warme in that ſeat, his minde is poſſeſſed of an higher. What hee hath, is but a degree to what he would hauehave: now he ſcorneth what he formerly aſpired to; his ſucceſſe doth not giuegive him ſo much contentment, as prouocation; neither can he be at reſt, ſo long as he hath one, either to ouer-looke, or to match, or to emulate him. When his Country-friend comes to viſit him, he carries him vp to the a…full Preſence; and now in his ſight crowding neerer to the Chaire of State, deſires to be lookt on, deſires to be ſpoken to by the greateſt, and ſtudies how to offer an occaſion, leſt he ſhould ſeeme vnknowne, vnregarded; and if any geſture of the leaſt grace fall happily vponupon him, he lookes backe vponupon his friend, leſt he ſhould careleſly let it paſſe, without a note: and what hee wanteth in ſenſe, hee ſupplies in Hiſtory. His diſpoſition is neuer but ſhamefully vnthankfull: for vnleſſe he hauehave all, he hath nothing. It muſt be a large draught, whereof he will not ſay, that thoſe few drops doe not ſlake, but inflame him: ſo ſtill he thinkes himſelfe the worſe for ſmall fauours. His wit ſo contriues the likely plots of his promotion, as if he would ſteale it away without Gods knowledge, beſides his will: neither doth he euer looke vp, and conſult in his fore-caſts, with the ſupreme Moderator of all things; as one that thinkes honour is ruled by Fortune, and that heauen medleth not with the diſpoſing of theſe earthly lots: and therefore it is iuſt with that wiſe GOD to defeat his faireſt hopes, and to bring him to a loſſe in the hotteſt of his chace; and to cauſe honour to flie away ſo much the faſter, by how much it is more eagerly purſued. Finally, he is an importunate ſuter, a corrupt client, a violent vndertaker, a ſmooth Factor, but vntruſty, a reſtleſſe maſter of his owne; a Bladder puft vp with the wind of hope, and ſelfe-louelove. He is in the common body, as a Mole in the earth, euer vnquietly caſting; and in one word, is nothing but a confuſed heape of enuy, pride, couetouſneſſe.
Of the Ʋnthrift.
HE ranges beyond his pale, and liues without compaſſe. His expence is meaſured, not by abilitie, but will. His pleaſures are immoderate, and not honeſt. A wanton eye, a lickoriſh tongue, a gameſome hand hauehave impoueriſht him. The vulgar ſort call him bountifull, and applaud him while he ſpends, and recompence him with wiſhes when he giues, with pitie when hee wants. Neither can it be denied that he raught true liberalitie, but ouer-went it. No man could hauehave liued more laudably, if when he was at the beſt, he had ſtaied there. While he is preſent, none of the wealthier gheſts may pay ought to the ſhot, without much vehemency, without danger of vnkindneſſe. Vſe hath made it vnpleaſant to him, not to ſpend. He is in all things more ambitious of the title of good fellowſhip, than of wiſdome. When he lookes into the wealthy cheſt of his Father, his conceit ſuggeſts that it cannot be emptied; and while he takes out ſome deale eueryevery day, hee perceiues not any diminution; and when the heape is ſenſibly abated, yet ſtill flatters himſelfe with enough. One hand couzens the other, and the belly deceiues both: hee doth not ſo much beſtow benefits, as ſcatter them. True merit doth not carie them, but ſmoothneſſe of adulation. His ſenſes are too much his guides, and his purueyors; and appetite is his ſteward. He is an impotent ſeruant to his luſts; and knowes not to gouerne either his minde or his purſe. Improuidence is euer the companion of vnthriftineſſe: This man cannot looke beyond the preſent, and neither thinkes, nor cares what ſhall be; much leſſe ſuſpects what may be: and while he lauiſhes out his ſubſtance in ſuperfluities, thinkes he onelyonly knowes what the world is worth, and that others ouerprize it. He feeles pouertie before he ſees it, neuer complaines till he be pinched widi wants; neuer ſpares till the bottome, when it is too late either to ſpend or recouer. He is eueryevery mans friend ſaue his owne, and then wrongs himſelfe moſt, when he courteth himſelfe with moſt kindneſſe. He vies Time with the ſlothfull, and it is an hard match, whether chaſes away good houres to worſe purpoſe; the one by doing nothing, or the other by idle paſtime. Hee hath ſo dilated himſelfe with the beames of proſperitie, that he lies open to all dangers, and cannot gather vp himſelfe, on iuſt warning, to auoid a miſchiefe. Hee were good for an Almner, ill for a Steward. Finally, he is the liuing tombe of his fore-fathers, of his poſteritie; and when he hath ſwallowed both, is more emptie than before he deuoured them.