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HE that talks big and arrogantly of himself, Herculanus, is universally condemned as a troublesome and ill-bred companion. But the most, even of those who in words mightily declaim against him, seem to applaud him in their actions. Euripides could say, If speech grew scarce, and at great rates were sold, Commend himself what lavish fellow would? But since the infinite treasure of the air Praise gratis yields, none truth or falsehood spare; Suffering no damage, though they give their ware. Yet he often brings in his heroes intolerably boasting, and stuffs their most tragical adventures and passions with improper discourses of themselves. So Pindar declares, Unseasonably to glory Makes harmony with fury;Pindar, Olymp. IX. 58. but he forbears not to extol his own raptures, which indeed, by the confession of all men, are worthy of the noblest praise.
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But those who are crowned for mastery in the games or in the learned combats have others to celebrate their victories, that the people’s ears be not grated with the harsh noises of self-applause. And Timotheus is justly censured as unskilfully and irregularly setting forth his conquest of Phrynis, when he thus proudly boasted it in writing: Happy man wast thou, Timotheus, when the crier proclaimed, The Milesian Timotheus hath vanquished the son of Carbo, the soft Ionian poet.
