Mystical bedlam, or the world of mad-men. By ThoMystical bedlam, or the vvorld of mad-men. By Tho

17 The contentious man

Is as frantic as any. Hear him speak, his words are incendiary: observe his feet, they run nimbly to broils, not knowing the way of peace. Look upon his eyes, they sparkle fire: mark his hands, they are ever sowing debate: he will strike a neighbour in the ⟨p. 68⟩dark, and lay it on his enemy: all to make work. Search his pockets, and they are stuffed with libels, invectives, detractions. He hates all men, and the Lord him;¹ being that seventh abomination, that his soul abhorreth, one that soweth discord among brethren. ²There is a witness against him beyond exception. The debateful man is madder, &c. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly, ³&c. When he speaks fair, ⁴believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. He comes to a Mart or Market, to breed quarrels; as if he were hired by some Surgeon. He neither sees, nor hears of a discord, but he must make one; but ever covertly, cowardly, out of the reach of weapons.⁵ He that passeth by and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears: he will be soon weary of holding him; and if he let him go, he is sure to be bitten. He is utterly mad: for having incensed, encouraged party against party, as one claps on unwilling Mastiffs; when perceiving his villainy, they become friends, both shall fall upon him. So he makes work for Lawyers, work for Cutlers, work for Surgeons, work for the Devil, work for his own destruction. To Bedlam with him.