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But to some sort of men their own life and actions
would appear the most unpleasant spectacle in the world,
and therefore they fly from the light of their conscience,
and cannot bear the torture of one reflecting thought upon
themselves; for when the soul, being once defiled with all
manner of wickedness, is scared at its own hideous deformity, it endeavors to run from itself, and ranging here and
there, it pampers its own malignity with malicious speculations on the ills of others.
It is observed of the lien that, loathing the plenty of
meat that is cast before her on a clean floor, she will be
scratching in a hole or spurning the dunghill, in search
of one single musty grain. So these over-busy people,
neglecting such obvious and common things into which
any man may enquire and talk of without offence, cannot
be satisfied unless they rake into the private and concealed evils of every family in the neighborhood. It was
smartly said by the Egyptian, who, being asked what it
was he carried so closely, replied, it was therefore covered that it might be secret. Which answer will serve to
check the curiosity of those impertinent men who will be
always peeping into the privacies of others; for assuredly
there is nothing usually more concealed than what is too
foul to be seen; nor would it be kept so close, were it
either fit or safe it should be known. Without knocking
at the door, it is great rudeness to enter another's house,
and therefore in former times were rappers fitted to the
[p. 429]
gates, that by the noise thereof notice might be given to
the family; for the same purpose are porters appointed
now, lest, a stranger coming in unawares, the mistress or
daughter of the family might be surprised busy or undressed, or a servant be seen under correction, or the
maids be overheard in the heat of their scolding. But a
person of this prying busy temper, who would disdain the
being invited to a sober and well-governed house, will yet
even forcibly intrude himself as a spy into the indecencies
of private families; and he pries into those very things
which locks, bolts, and doors were intended to secure from
common view, for no other end but to discover them to all
the world. Aristo said that those winds were the most
troublesome which blew up one's garments and exposed
one's nakedness; but these inquisitive people deprive us
of all the shelter or security of walls and doors, and like
the wanton air, which pervades the veil and steals through
the closest guards of virgin modesty, they insinuate into
those divertisements which are hidden in the retirements
of the night, and strip men even to their very skin.
Plutarch. Plutarch's Morals. Translated from the Greek by several hands. Corrected and revised by. William W. Goodwin, PH. D. Boston. Little, Brown, and Company. Cambridge. Press Of John Wilson and son. 1874. 2.
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