OF PRAISE.                              2,75
 

LIII.
 

OF PRAISE.
 

Praise is the reflection of virtue, but it is as the
glass or body whicli giveth the reflection. If it be
from the common people, it is commonly false and
naught, and rather followeth vain persons than
virtuous. For the common people understand not
many excellent virtues ; the lowest virtues draw
praise from them, the middle virtues work in them
astonishment or admiration ; but of the highest
virtues they have  no  sense or perceiving at all, but

shows and species virtutibus similes serve  best with

«

them. Certainly, fame is like a river that beareth
up things light and swollen, and drowns things
weighty and solid ; but if persons of quality
and judgment concur, then it is (as the Scripture
saith) Nomen bonum instar tmguenti fragrant is. It
filleth all round about, and will not easily away ; for
the odours of ointments are more durable than those
of  flowers.     There   be   so  many   false   points   of