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Digital Paxton: Digital Collection, Critical Edition, and Teaching Platform

A Humble Attempt at Scurrility - 35

succeed in a Point of so little Difficulty: But then you should likewise consider, that in attempting to deserve the other Parts of the Character, you will then have Nature to combat with; and, consequently, should Success attend your Endeavours, you will merit and obtain the Reward of a good Conscience! —and the sincere Applause of your Fellow-Citizens! Rewards (however light they may appear in your present Estimation) that would afford you more true heart-feeling Satisfaction, could you but once acquire them, than any you ever yet experienced! — or ever had any Idea of!

IT is, however, but equitable I should mention, that Sancho has grossly misrepresented his Master with regard to his Understanding; and indeed Squires are very apt to talk disrespectfully of their Knights behind their Backs, as is well known to be the Practice of the One you at present employ. The Don was really a Man of fine Sense and strict Honour, and, could you but imitate him in these Respects, you would find that whatever Follies and Extravagancies you might at Times commit, would only excite Laughter, or Pity, instead of that Ridicule and Contempt you now suffer.

BUT, to be “serious,” for the “Subject will admit” of it. —Experience has, I hope, by this Time, taught you the Truth of Plautus’s Observation,
Est miserorum, ut malevolentes sint atque invideant bonis;
It is a miserable State to be malevolent and to envy good Men;
Therefore endeavour for the future to expel from your Heart the Seeds of Envy and Malice, which produce you such frequent Crops of Bitterness: —Learn, if you can, that Golden Rule, Do unto others as you would they should do unto you: —Delight not in vilifying the good Name of your Neighbour:— Consider that no Enemy is so despicable but he may if provoked do you an Injury:— Compel your calumniating Scriblers to desist from further Attempts to blast the Reputation of worthy Men merely because they oppose your Measures, or [because they] show they have Spirit enough to stand up in Behalf of their own Characters,

Contents of this annotation:

In reply to an attack on Benjamin Franklin by John Hughes. Attributed to Isaac Hunt in the Dictionary of American biography. Ascribed to the press of Anthony Armbruster by Evans. "Prologue to the coffee-house politician, or The justice caught in his own trap."--p. vii-viii. "Thirteen descriptions of the great A. drawn from the life by that celebrated master D---d J--s D-ve, poet laureat to the Pr---ry Party."--p. 38-42. Signatures: [A]? B-E? F_ (F2 verso blank). "Errata."--p. [43].