His actions are polypragmaticall, his feet peripatetical. Erasmus pictures him to the life. He knows what every Merchant got in his voyage, what plots are at Rome, what stratagems 1with the Turk &c. He knows strangers troubles, not the tumultuous fightings in his own bosom, &c. His neighbours estate he knows to a penny; and wherein he fails, ⟨p. 65⟩he supplies by intelligence from their flattered servants: he would serve well for an Informer to the Subsidy-book. He delays every passenger with inquiry of news; and because the country cannot satiate him, he travels every term to London for it: whence returning without his full lode, himself makes it up by the way. He buys letters from the great city with Capons; which he wears out in three days, with perpetual opening them to his companions. If he hears but a word of some State-act, he professeth to know it, & the intention, as if he had been of the Council. He hears a lie in private, and hastes to publish it; so one knave gulls him, he innumerable fools, with the strange Fish at Yarmouth, or the Serpent in Sussex. He can keep no secret in, without the hazard of his button. He loves no man a moment longer, then either he will tell him, or hears of him news. If the spirit of his tong be once raised, all the company cannot conjure it down. He teaches his neighbour to work unsent for, and tells him of some dangers without thanks. He comments upon every action, and answers a question ere it be half propounded. Alcibiades 2having purchased a dog at an unreasonable price, cut off his tail, and let him run about Athens; whiles every man wondered at his intent, he answered, that his intent was their wonder, for he did it only to be talked of. The same Author reports the like of a gawish Traveller that came to Sparta, who standing in the presence of Lacon a long time upon one leg, that he might be observed & admired, cried at the last: Oh Lacon, thou canst not stand so long upon one leg. True, said Lacon, but every Goose can.
His actions are polypragmaticall, his feete peripateticall. Erasmus pictures him to the life. He knowes what euery Marchant got in his voyage, what plots are at Rome, what stratagems 1with the Turke &c. Hee knowes strangers troubles, not the tumultuous fightings in his owne bosome, &c. His neighbours estate he knowes to a penny; and wherein he failes, ⟨p. 65⟩he supplyes by intelligence from their flattered seruants: he would serue well for an Informer to the Subsidie-book. He delayes euery passenger with inquiry of newes; and because the countrey cannot satiate him, hee trauels euery terme to London for it: whence returning without his full lode, himself makes it vp by the way. He buyes letters from the great citie with Capons; which he weares out in three dayes, with perpetuall opening them to his companions. If he heares but a word of some State-act, he professeth to know it, & the intention, as if he had bene of the Counsell. He heares a lie in priuate, and hastes to publish it; so one knaue guls him, hee innumerable fooles, with the strange Fish at Yarmouth, or the Serpent in Sussex. Hee can keepe no secret in, without the hazzard of his button. He loues no man a moment longer, then either he will tell him, or hears of him newes. If the spirit of his tong be once raised, all the company cannot coniure it downe. He teaches his neighbor to work vnsent for, and tels him of some dangers without thankes. He comments vpon euery action, and answers a question ere it be halfe propounded. Alcibiades 2hauing purchasd a dog at an vnreasonable price, cut off his tayle, and let him run about Athens; whiles euery man wondred at his intent, hee answered, that his intent was their wonder, for he did it onely to be talk'd of. The same Authour reports the like of a gawish Traueller that came to Sparta, who standing in the presence of Lacon a long time vpon one leg, that he might be obserued & admired, cryed at the last: Oh Lacon, thou canst not stand so long vpon one legge. True, said Lacon, but euerie Goose can.
- 1Enchirid. mil. Chan.
- 2Laert. mille drachm.
