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CHARACTER WRITING BEFORE THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

THEOPHRASTUS. Stupidity

THOMAS HARMAN'S "Caveat for Cursitors" A Ruffler

BEN JONSON'S "Every Man out of his Humour" and "Cynthia's Revels" A Traveller The True Critic. The Character of the Persons in "Every Man out of his Humour"

CHARACTER WRITINGS OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

Sir THOMAS OVERBURY A Good Woman A Very Woman Her Next Part A Dissembler A Courtier A Golden Ass A Flatterer An Ignorant Glory-Hunter A Timist An Amorist An Affected Traveller A Wise Man A Noble Spirit An Old Man A Country Gentleman A Fine Gentleman An Elder Brother A Braggadocio Welshman A Pedant A Serving-Man An Host An Ostler The True Character of a Dunce A Good Wife A Melancholy Man A Sailor A Soldier A Tailor A Puritan A Mere Common Lawyer A Mere Scholar A Tinker An Apparitor An Almanac-Maker A Hypocrite A Chambermaid A Precisian An Inns of Court Man A Mere Fellow of a House A Worthy Commander in the Wars A Vainglorious Coward in Command A Pirate An Ordinary Fence A Puny Clerk A Footman A Noble and Retired Housekeeper An Intruder into Favour A Fair and Happy Milkmaid An Arrant Horse-Courser A Roaring Boy A Drunken Dutchman resident in England A Phantastique: An Improvident Young Gallant A Button-Maker of Amsterdam A Distaster of the Time A Mere Fellow of a House A Mere Pettifogger An Ingrosser of Corn A Devilish Usurer A Waterman A Reverend Judge A Virtuous Widow An Ordinary Widow A Quack-Salver A Canting Rogue A French Cook A Sexton A Jesuit An Excellent Actor A Franklin A Rhymer A Covetous Man The Proud Man A Prison A Prisoner A Creditor A Sergeant His Yeoman A Common Cruel Jailer What a Character is The Character of a Happy Life An Essay on Valour

JOSEPH HALL

HIS SATIRES-- A Domestic Chaplain The Witless Gallant

HIS CHARACTERS OF VIRTUES AND VICES

JOHN STEPHENS

JOHN EARLE

A Child A Young Raw Preacher A Grave Divine A Mere Dull Physician An Alderman A Discontented Man An Antiquary A Younger Brother A Mere Formal Man A Church-Papist A Self-Conceited Man A Too Idly Reserved Man A Tavern A Shark A Carrier A Young Man An Old College Butler An Upstart Country Knight An Idle Gallant A Constable A Downright Scholar A Plain Country Fellow A Player A Detractor A Young Gentleman of the University A Weak Man A Tobacco-Seller A Pot Poet A Plausible Man A Bowl-Alley The World's Wise Man A Surgeon A Contemplative Man A She Precise Hypocrite A Sceptic in Religion An Attorney A Partial Man A Trumpeter A Vulgar-Spirited Man A Plodding Student Paul's Walk A Cook A Bold Forward Man A Baker A Pretender to Learning A Herald The Common Singing-Men in Cathedral Churches A Shopkeeper A Blunt Man A Handsome Hostess A Critic A Sergeant or Catchpole A University Dun A Staid Man A Modest Man A Mere Empty Wit A Drunkard A Prison A Serving-Man An Insolent Man Acquaintance A Mere Complimental Man A Poor Fiddler A Meddling Man A Good Old Man A Flatterer A High-Spirited Man A Mere Gull Citizen A Lascivious Man A Rash Man An Affected Man A Profane Man A Coward A Sordid Rich Man A Mere Great Man A Poor Man An Ordinary Honest Man A Suspicious or Jealous Man

NICHOLAS BRETON

CHARACTERS UPON ESSAYS, MORAL AND DIVINE Wisdom Learning Knowledge Practice Patience Love Peace War Valour Resolution Honour Truth Time Death Faith Fear

THE GOOD AND THE BAD. A Worthy King An Unworthy King A Worthy Queen A Worthy Prince An Unworthy Prince A Worthy Privy Councillor An Unworthy Councillor A Nobleman An Unnoble Man A Worthy Bishop An Unworthy Bishop A Worthy Judge An Unworthy Judge A Worthy Knight An Unworthy Knight A Worthy Gentleman An Unworthy Gentleman A Worthy Lawyer An Unworthy Lawyer A Worthy Soldier An Untrained Soldier A Worthy Physician An Unworthy Physician A Worthy Merchant An Unworthy Merchant A Good Man An Atheist or Most Bad Man A Wise Man A Fool An Honest Man. A Knave An Usurer A Beggar A Virgin A Wanton Woman A Quiet Woman An Unquiet Woman A Good Wife An Effeminate Fool A Parasite A Drunkard A Coward An Honest Poor Man A Just Man A Repentant Sinner A Reprobate An Old Man A Young Man A Holy Man

GEOFFREY MINSHULL

ESSAYS AND CHARACTERS OF A PRISON AND PRISONERS A Character of a Prisoner

HENRY PARROTT A Scold A Good Wife

MICROLOGIA, by R. M. A Player

WHIMZIES, OR A NEW CAST OF CHARACTERS A Corranto-Coiner

JOHN MILTON On the University Carrier

WYE SALTONSTALL

PICTURAE LOQUENTES, OR PICTURES DRAWN FORTH IN CHARACTERS The Term

DONALD LUPTON

LONDON AND COUNTRY CARBONADOED AND QUARTERED INTO SEVERAL CHARACTERS The Horse

CHARACTERS PUBLISHED BETWEEN 1642 AND 1646, BY SIR FRANCIS WORTLEY, T. FORD, AND OTHERS T. Ford's Character of Pamphlets

JOHN CLEVELAND The Character of a Country Committee-Man, with the Earmark of a Sequestrator The Character of a Diurnal-Maker The Character of a London Diurnal

CHARACTERS PUBLISHED BETWEEN 1647 AND 1665

RICHARD FLECKNOE

FIFTY-FIVE ENIGMATICAL CHARACTERS The Valiant Man

CHARACTERS PUBLISHED BETWEEN 1673 AND 1689

SAMUEL BUTLER

CHARACTERS-- Degenerate Noble, or One that is Proud of his Birth A Huffing Courtier A Court Beggar A Bumpkin or Country Squire An Antiquary A Proud Man A Small Poet A Philosopher A Melancholy Man A Curious Man A Herald A Virtuoso An Intelligencer A Quibbler A Time-Server A Prater A Disputant A Projector A Complimenter A Cheat A Tedious Man A Pretender A Newsmonger A Modern Critic A Busy Man A Pedant A Hunter An Affected Man A Medicine-Taker The Miser A Swearer The Luxurious An Ungrateful Man A Squire of Dames An Hypocrite An Opinionater A Choleric Man A Superstitious Man A Droll The Obstinate Man A Zealot The Overdoer The Rash Man The Affected or Formal A Flatterer A Prodigal The Inconstant A Glutton A Ribald A Modern Politician A Modern Statesman A Duke of Bucks A Fantastic An Haranguer A Ranter An Amorist An Astrologer A Lawyer An Epigrammatist A Fanatic A Proselyte A Clown A Wooer An Impudent Man An Imitator A Sot A Juggler A Romance-Writer A Libeller A Factious Member A Play-Writer A Mountebank A Wittol A Litigious Man A Humourist A Leader of a Faction A Debauched Man The Seditious Man The Rude Man A Rabble A Knight of the Post An Undeserving Favourite A Malicious Man A Knave

CHARACTER WRITING AFTER THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH Character of the Happy Warrior

CHARACTER WRITINGS

OF THE

SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

STUPIDITY.

You may define Stupidity as a slowness of mind in word or deed. But the Stupid Man is one who, sitting at his counters, and having made all his calculations and worked out his sum, asks one who sits by him how much it comes to. When any one has a suit against him, and he has come to the day when the cause must be decided, he forgets it and walks out into his field. Often also when he sits to see a play, the rest go out and he is left, fallen asleep in the theatre. The same man, having eaten too much, will go out in the night to relieve himself, and fall over the neighbour's dog, who bites him. The same man, having hidden away what he has received, is always searching for it, and never finds it. And when it is announced to him that one of his intimate friends is dead, and he is asked to the funeral, then, with a face set to sadness and tears, he says, "Good luck to it!" When he receives money owing to him he calls in witnesses, and in midwinter he scolds his man for not having gathered cucumbers. To train his boys for wrestling he makes them race till they are tired. Cooking his own lentils in the field, he throws salt twice into the pot and makes them uneatable. When it rains he says, "How sweet I find this water of the stars." And when some one asks, "How many have passed the gates of death?" answers, "As many, I hope, as will be enough for you and me."

A RUFFLER.

I had of late years an old man to my tenant who customably a great time went twice in the week to London, either with fruit or with peascods, when time served therefor. And as he was coming homeward, on Blackheath, at the end thereof next to Shooter's Hill, he overtook two Rufflers, the one mannerly waiting on the other, as one had been the master and the other his man or servant, carrying his master's cloak. This old man was very glad that he might have their company over the hill, because that day he had made a good market. For he had seven shillings in his purse and an old angel, which this poor man had thought had not been in his purse; for he willed his wife overnight to take out the same angel and lay it up until his coming home again, and he verily thought his wife had so done, which indeed forgot to do it. Thus, after salutations had, this Master Ruffler entered into communication with this simple old man, who, riding softly beside them, communed of many matters. Thus feeding this old man with pleasant talk until they were on the top of the hill, where these Rufflers might well behold the coast about them clear, quickly steps unto this poor man and taketh hold of his horse bridle and leadeth him into the wood, and demandeth of him what and how much money he had in his purse. "Now, by my troth," quoth this old man, "you are a merry gentleman! I know you mean not to take anything from me, but rather to give me some, if I should ask it of you."

"Good Lord, what a world is this! How may," quoth he, "a man believe or trust in the same? See you not," quoth he, "this old knave told me that he had but seven shillings, and here is more by an angel! What an old knave and a false knave have we here!" quoth this Ruffler. "Our Lord have mercy on us, will this world never be better?" and therewith went their way and left the old man in the wood, doing him no more harm.

But sorrowfully sighing this old man, returning home, declared his misadventure with all the words and circumstances above showed. Whereat for the time was great laughing, and this poor man, for his losses, among his loving neighbours well considered in the end.

A TRAVELLER.

One so made out of the mixture of shreds and forms that himself is truly deformed. He walks most commonly with a clove or pick-tooth in his mouth, he is the very mint of compliment, all his behaviours are printed, his face is another volume of essays, and his beard is an Aristarchus. He speaks all cream skimmed, and more affected than a dozen waiting-women. He is his own promoter in every place. The wife of the ordinary gives him his diet to maintain her table in discourse; which, indeed, is a mere tyranny over her other guests, for he will usurp all the talk; ten constables are not so tedious. He is no great shifter; once a year his apparel is ready to revolt. He doth use much to arbitrate quarrels, and fights himself, exceeding well, out at a window. He will lie cheaper than any beggar, and louder than most clocks; for which he is right properly accommodated to the whetstone, his page. The other gallant is his zany, and doth most of these tricks after him; sweats to imitate him in everything to a hair, except a beard, which is not yet extant. He doth learn to make strange sauces, to eat anchovies, maccaroni, bovoli, fagioli, and caviare, because he loves them; speaks as he speaks, looks, walks, goes so in clothes and fashion: is in all as if he were moulded of him. Marry, before they met, he had other very pretty sufficiencies, which yet he retains some light impression of; as frequenting a dancing-school, and grievously torturing strangers with inquisition after his grace in his galliard. He buys a fresh acquaintance at any rate. His eyes and his raiment confer much together as he goes in the street. He treads nicely, like the fellow that walks upon ropes, especially the first Sunday of his silk stockings; and when he is most neat and new, you shall strip him with commendations.

THE TRUE CRITIC.

A creature of a most perfect and divine temper: one in whom the humours and elements are peaceably met, without emulation of precedency. He is neither too fantastically melancholy, too slowly phlegmatic, too lightly sanguine, nor too rashly choleric; but in all so composed and ordered, as it is clear Nature went about some full work, she did more than make a man when she made him. His discourse is like his behaviour, uncommon, but not unpleasing; he is prodigal of neither. He strives rather to be that which men call judicious, than to be thought so; and is so truly learned, that he affects not to show it. He will think and speak his thought both freely; but as distant from depraving another man's merit, as proclaiming his own. For his valour, 'tis such that he dares as little to offer any injury as receive one. In sum, he hath a most ingenuous and sweet spirit, a sharp and seasoned wit, a straight judgment and a strong mind. Fortune could never break him, nor make him less. He counts it his pleasure to despise pleasures, and is more delighted with good deeds than goods. It is a competency to him that he can be virtuous. He doth neither covet nor fear; he hath too much reason to do either; and that commends all things to him.

THE CHARACTER OF THE PERSONS.

CHARACTERS

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