Assail'd by scandal and the tongue of strife,
His only answer was a blameless life;
And he read more

Assail'd by scandal and the tongue of strife,
His only answer was a blameless life;
And he that forged, and he that threw the dart,
Had each a brother's interest in his heart.

And there's a lust in man no charm can tame
Of loudly publishing our neighbour's shame;
On read more

And there's a lust in man no charm can tame
Of loudly publishing our neighbour's shame;
On eagles' wings immortal scandals fly,
While virtuous actions are but borne to die.

How awful to reflect that what people say of us is true.

How awful to reflect that what people say of us is true.

Scandal dies sooner of itself, than we could kill it.

Scandal dies sooner of itself, than we could kill it.

The objection of the scandalmonger is not that she tells of racy doings, but that she pretends to be indignant read more

The objection of the scandalmonger is not that she tells of racy doings, but that she pretends to be indignant about them.

Scandal: gossip made tedious by morality.

Scandal: gossip made tedious by morality.

He rams his quill with scandal and with scoff,
But 'tis so very foul, it won't go off.

He rams his quill with scandal and with scoff,
But 'tis so very foul, it won't go off.

Everybody says it, and what everybody says must be true.

Everybody says it, and what everybody says must be true.

And though you duck them ne'er so long,
Not one salt drop e'er wets their tongue;
On read more

And though you duck them ne'er so long,
Not one salt drop e'er wets their tongue;
On eagles' wings immortal scandals fly,
While virtuous actions are but borne to die.