Our author here complains of the personal reflections which Stillingfleet had cast upon him, particularly in the passage already quoted in Note VII., where he is expressly charged with disbelieving the existence of "such a thing as true religion." The second and third lines of the triplet are somewhat obscure. The meaning seems to be, that Dryden, conscious of having given the first offence, which we shall presently see was the case, justifies his having done so, from personal abuse being the never-failing resort of the liberal clergy. The application of the neuter pronoun _it_ to the liberal clergy, is probably in imitation of Virgil's satirical construction: _Varium et mutabile semper fæmina._ It happened in this controversy, as in most others, that both parties, laying out of consideration the provocation which they themselves had given, complained bitterly of the illiberality of their antagonists. Stillingfleet expatiates on the unhandsome language contained in Dryden's Defence, and the passages which he quotes are those which contain the exposure of the liberal clergy mentioned in the text: "Yet as if I had been the sole contriver or inventor of all, he bestows those civil and obliging epithets upon me, of _disingenuous_, _foul-mouthed_, and _shuffling_; one of a _virulent genius_, of _spiteful diligence_, and _irreverence to the royal family_; of _subtle calumny_, and _sly aspersion_; and he adds to these ornaments of speech, that I have a _cloven-foot_, and my name is _Legion_; and that my Answer is an _infamous libel_, a _scurrilous saucy pamphlet_. Is this indeed the spirit of a new convert? Is this the meekness and temper you intend to gain proselytes by, and to convert the nation? He tells us in the beginning, that truth has a language peculiar to itself: I desire to be informed, whether these be any of the characters of it? And how the language of reproach and evil-speaking may be distinguished from it? But zeal in a new convert is a terrible thing; for it not only burns, but rages, like the eruptions of Mount Ætna; it fills the air with noise and smoke, and throws out such a torrent of liquid fire, that there is no standing before it. The Answer alone was too mean a sacrifice for such a Hector in controversy. All that standeth in his way must fall at his feet. He calls me Legion, that he may be sure to have number enough to overcome. But he is a great proficient indeed, if he be such an exorcist, to cast out a whole legion already. But he hopes it may be done without fasting and prayer."--_Vindication of the Answer_, p. 1. Note XI. _It now remains for you to school your child, And ask why God's anointed he reviled; A king and princess dead! Did Shimei worse?_ P. 207.