He is a narrow-minded man that
affects a triumph in any glorious study; but to triumph in a lie,
and a lie themselves have forged, is frontless. Folly often goes
beyond her bounds; but Impudence knows none.
Non nova res livor.--Envy is no new thing, nor was it born only in
our times. The ages past have brought it forth, and the coming ages
will. So long as there are men fit for it, quorum odium virtute
relicta placet, it will never be wanting. It is a barbarous envy,
to take from those men's virtues which, because thou canst not
arrive at, thou impotently despairest to imitate. Is it a crime in
me that I know that which others had not yet known but from me? or
that I am the author of many things which never would have come in
thy thought but that I taught them? It is new but a foolish way you
have found out, that whom you cannot equal or come near in doing,
you would destroy or ruin with evil speaking; as if you had bound
both your wits and natures 'prentices to slander, and then came
forth the best artificers when you could form the foulest calumnies.
Nil gratius protervo lib.--Indeed nothing is of more credit or
request now than a petulant paper, or scoffing verses; and it is but
convenient to the times and manners we live with, to have then the
worst writings and studies flourish when the best begin to be
despised.
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