A Pox take him that first set up, Th’ Excise of Flesh and Skin: And since it will no better be, Let’s both to kiss begin; _To kiss freely: if not, you may go spin._ MISCELLANY, 1685. To SIR WILLIAM CLIFTON. Sir, I am very sensible how the ill-natur’d World has been pleased to Judge of almost all Dedications, and when not addrest to themselves will not let ‘em pass without the imputation of Flattery; for there is scarce any Man so just to allow those Praises to another in which he does not immediately share in some degree himself, nor can the Fantastic Humors of the Age agree in point of Merit, but every Mans Vertue is measured according to the sence another has of it, and not by its own intrinsic value, so that if another does not see with my Eyes and judge with my Sence, I must be Branded with the Crime of Fools and Cowards; nor will they be undeceived in an Error that so agreeably flatters them, either by a better knowledge of the Person commended, or by a right understanding from any other Judgment; they hate to be convinced of what will make no part of their satisfaction when they are so, for as ’.is natural to despise all those that have no vertue at all, so ‘tis as natural to Envy those we find have more than our selves instead of imitating ‘em: and I have heard a Man rail at a Dedication for being all over Flattery, and Damn it in gross, who when it has been laid before him, and he has been asked to answer according to his Conscience, and upon Honour to every particular, could not contradict one single Vertue that has been justly given there, yet angry at being convinced has cry’d, with a peevish, uneasie tone.--YET I DON’T KNOW HOW, NOR I DON’T KNOW WHAT-BUT ‘TIS ALL TOGETHER METHINKS A PIECE OF FLATTERY--When indeed the business was, _he did not know how_ to afford him so good a Character, nor _he did not know what_ other reason he had to find fault with it, and was only now afflicted to find ‘twas all true; whereas before he charged it all on the effects of some little sinister end or advantage of the Author.