Howbeit, surely, somewhat less praise might have
served it--less by a great deal more than half. But this I am sure:
had it been the worst that ever was made, the praise would not have
been the less by one hair. For those who used to praise him to his
face never considered how much the thing deserved, but how great a
laud and praise they themselves could give his good Grace.
ANTHONY: Surely, cousin, as Terence saith, such folk make men of
fools even stark mad. And much cause have their lords to be right
angry with them.
VINCENT: God hath indeed, and is, I daresay. But as for their
lords, uncle, if they would afterward wax angry with them for it,
they would, to my mind, do them very great wrong. For it is one of
the things that they specially keep them for. For those who are of
such vainglorious mind, be they lords or be they meaner men, can be
much better contented to have their devices commended than amended.
And though they require their servant and their friend never so
specially to tell them the very truth, yet shall he better please
them if he speak them fair than if he telleth them the truth.
For they be in the condition that Marciall speaketh of in an
epigram, unto a friend of his who required his judgment how he
liked his verses, but prayed him in any wise to tell him even the
very truth.
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