which he is able at last to take the very print and mark, and fashion his own by it, like a false key to open all your secrets.  All his affections jump[84] even with yours; he is before-hand with your thoughts, and able to suggest them unto you.  He will commend to you first what he knows you like, and has always some absurd story or other of your enemy, and then wonders how your two opinions should jump in that man.  He will ask your counsel sometimes as a man of deep judgment, and has a secret of purpose to disclose to you, and, whatsoever you say, is persuaded.  He listens to your words with great attention, and sometimes will object that you may confute him, and then protests he never heard so much before.  A piece of wit bursts him with an overflowing laughter, and he remembers it for you to all companies, and laughs again in the telling.  He is one never chides you but for your virtues, as, you are too good, too honest, too religious, when his chiding may seem but the earnester commendation, and yet would fain chide you out of them too; for your vice is the thing he has use of, and wherein you may best use him; and he is never more active than in the worst diligences.  Thus, at last, he possesses you from yourself, and then expects but his hire to betray you:  and it is a happiness not to discover him; for as long as you are happy, you shall not.

A HIGH-SPIRITED MAN

Is one that looks like a proud man, but is not:  you may forgive him his looks for his worth’s sake, for they are only too proud to be base.  One whom no rate can buy off from the least piece of his freedom, and make him digest an unworthy thought an hour.  He cannot crouch to a great man to possess him, nor fall low to the earth to rebound never so high again.  He stands taller on his own bottom, than others on the advantage ground of fortune, as having solidly that honour of which title is but the pomp.  He does homage to no man for his great style’s sake, but is strictly just in the exaction of respect again, and will not bate you a compliment.  He is more sensible of a neglect than an undoing, and scorns no man so much as his surly threatener.  A man quickly fired, and quickly laid down with satisfaction, but remits any injury sooner than words:  only to himself he is irreconcileable, whom he never forgives a disgrace, but is still stabbing himself with the thought of it, and no disease that he dies of sooner.  He is one had rather perish than be beholden for his life, and strives more to quit with his friend than his enemy.  Fortune may kill him but not deject him, nor make him fall into an humbler key than before, but he is now loftier than ever in his own defence; you shall hear him talk still after thousands, and he becomes it better than those that have it.  One that is above the world and its drudgery, and cannot pull down his thoughts to the pelting businesses of life.  He would sooner accept the gallows than