mine own person, safe? My works are read, allowed, (I speak of
those that are intirely mine,) look into them, what broad
reproofs have I used? where have I been particular? where
personal? except to a mimic, cheater, bawd, or buffoon,
creatures, for their insolencies, worthy to be taxed? yet to
which of these so pointingly, as he might not either
ingenuously have confest, or wisely dissembled his disease?
But it is not rumour can make men guilty, much less entitle
me to other men's crimes. I know, that nothing can be so
innocently writ or carried, but may be made obnoxious to
construction; marry, whilst I bear mine innocence about me, I
fear it not. Application is now grown a trade with many; and
there are that profess to have a key for the decyphering of
every thing: but let wise and noble persons take heed how
they be too credulous, or give leave to these invading
interpreters to be over-familiar with their fames, who
cunningly, and often, utter their own virulent malice, under
other men's simplest meanings. As for those that will (by
faults which charity hath raked up, or common honesty
concealed) make themselves a name with the multitude, or, to
draw their rude and beastly claps, care not whose living
faces they intrench with their petulant styles, may they do
it without a rival, for me! I choose rather to live graved in
obscurity, than share with them in so preposterous a fame.
Nor can I blame the wishes of those severe and wise patriots,
who providing the hurts these licentious spirits may do in a
state, desire rather to see fools and devils, and those
antique relics of barbarism retrieved, with all other
ridiculous and exploded follies, than behold the wounds of
private men, of princes and nations: for, as Horace makes