(c) To reprehend my own faults in another seems to me no more intolerant[1] than to reprehend, as I often do, those of another in myself. We must impeach them everywhere, and deprive them of every place of sanctuary. I know well how audaciously I myself often attempt to make myself equal to my purloinings, to march cheek by jowl with them, not without a rash hope that I can delude the eyes of the judges from distinguishing them; but as much by favour of my use of them, as by favour of my original ideas and my vigour. And again, I do not contend with those ancient champions all at once, hand to hand, but by repeated hits, trivial and slight touches. I do not persist, I simply examine them, and I do not go so far as I think of going. If I could keep even with them, I should do well, for I take them on only at their ablest.[2] To do what I have detected some in doing; to protect oneself with another’s armour so completely as not to show even the ends of one’s fingers; to clothe one’s idea with old-time conceptions patched up here and there[3] (which is easy for men of learning on a subject common to all) — this, in those who seek to conceal them, and to make them seem their own, is, in the first place, wrongdoing and cowardice, because, having nothing in their own resources by which to bring themselves forward, they aim to present themselves by a purely alien value; and besides, it is great folly to be content with obtaining by fraud the ignorant approbation of the vulgar, while discrediting themselves in the eyes of intelligent persons whose praise alone has weight, and who turn up their noses at this borrowed veneer. For my part, there is nothing which I less desire to do. I do not quote others, save the more fully to express myself.[4] This does not concern the “centos”’ which are published as such; and I have seen some very ingenious ones, among others one under the name of Capilupus,[5] be-
- ↑ Incompatible.
- ↑ Si je leur pouvoy tenir palot, je serois honneste homme, car je ne les entreprens que par où ils sont les plus roides.
- ↑ Conduire son dessein sous les inventions anciennes rappiecées par cy par la.
- ↑ Je ne dis les autres, sinon pour d’autant plus me dire.
- ↑ The reference is to Lelii Capilupi cento ex Virgilio de vita monacorum (Venice, 1543).
