That thou art blamed shall not be thy defect,
For slander's mark was ever yet the fair;
The ornament of beauty is suspect,
A crow that flies in heaven's sweetest air.
So thou be good, slander doth but approve
Thy worth the greater, being wooed of time;
For canker vice the sweetest buds doth love,
And thou present'st a pure unstained prime.
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To murder character is as truly a crime as to murder the body: the tongue of the slanderer is brother read more
To murder character is as truly a crime as to murder the body: the tongue of the slanderer is brother to the dagger of the assassin.
. . . For slander lives upon succession,
For ever housed where it gets possession.
. . . For slander lives upon succession,
For ever housed where it gets possession.
Slander is the revenge of a coward, and dissimulation his defense
Slander is the revenge of a coward, and dissimulation his defense
Cut
Men's throats with whisperings.
Cut
Men's throats with whisperings.
Never throw mud. You may miss your mark, but you will have dirty hands.
Never throw mud. You may miss your mark, but you will have dirty hands.
Done to death by slanderous tongues
Was the Hero that here lies.
Done to death by slanderous tongues
Was the Hero that here lies.
Soft-buzzing Slander; silly moths that eat
An honest name.
Soft-buzzing Slander; silly moths that eat
An honest name.
A generous heart repairs a slanderous tongue.
A generous heart repairs a slanderous tongue.
And truly, I'll devise some honest slanders
To stain my cousin with. One doth not know
How read more
And truly, I'll devise some honest slanders
To stain my cousin with. One doth not know
How much an ill word may empoison liking.
