Quid, quod materiam praebet causasque jocorum Omnibus hic idem? si foeda et scissa lacerna, Si toga sordidula est, et rupta calceus alter Pelle patet, vel si consuto vulnere crassum Atque recens linam ostendit non una Cicatrix.

  (Juv.  Sat. 3.)

Add, that the Rich have still a Gibe in Store, And will be monstrous witty on the Poor; For the torn Surtout and the tatter’d Vest, The Wretch and all his Wardrobe are a Jest:  The greasie Gown sully’d with often turning, Gives a good Hint to say the Man’s in Mourning; Or if the Shoe be ript, or Patch is put, He’s wounded I see the Plaister on his Foot.

  (Dryd.)

’Tis on this Occasion that he afterwards adds the Reflection which I have chosen for my Motto.

  Want is the Scorn of every wealthy Fool,
  And Wit in Rags is turn’d to Ridicule.

  (Dryd.)

It must be confess’d that few things make a Man appear more despicable or more prejudice his Hearers against what he is going to offer, than an awkward or pitiful Dress; insomuch that I fancy, had Tully himself pronounced one of his Orations with a Blanket about his Shoulders, more People would have laughed at his Dress than have admired his Eloquence.  This last Reflection made me wonder at a Set of Men, who, without being subjected to it by the Unkindness of their Fortunes, are contented to draw upon themselves the Ridicule of the World in this Particular; I mean such as take it into their Heads, that the first regular Step to be a Wit is to commence a Sloven.  It is certain nothing has so much debased that, which must have been otherwise so great a Character; and I know not how to account for it, unless it may possibly be in Complaisance to those narrow Minds who can have no Notion of the same Person’s possessing different Accomplishments; or that it is a sort of Sacrifice which some Men are contented to make to Calumny, by allowing it to fasten on one Part of their Character, while they are endeavouring to establish another.  Yet however unaccountable this foolish Custom is, I am afraid it could plead a long Prescription; and probably gave too much Occasion for the Vulgar Definition still remaining among us of an Heathen Philosopher.

I have seen the Speech of a Terrae-filius, spoken in King Charles II’s Reign; in which he describes two very eminent Men, who were perhaps the greatest Scholars of their Age; and after having mentioned the entire Friendship between them, concludes, That they had but one Mind, one Purse, one Chamber, and one Hat.  The Men of Business were also infected with a Sort of Singularity little better than this.  I have heard my Father say, that a broad-brimm’d Hat, short Hair, and unfolded Hankerchief, were in his time absolutely necessary to denote a notable Man; and that he had known two or three, who aspired to the Character of very notable, wear Shoestrings with great Success.