Of Garrulity, or Talkativeness (15)

Now then if the question should be asked, Which are the worst and most pernicious sort of people? I do not believe there is any man that would omit to name a traitor. By treason it was that Euthycrates covered the uppermost story of his house with Macedonian timber, according to the report of Demosthenes; that Philocrates, having received a good sum of money, spent it upon whores and fish; and that Euphorbus and Philagrus, who betrayed Eretria, were so well rewarded by the king with ample Possessions. But a prattler is a sort of traitor that no man needs to hire, for that he offers himself officiously and of his own accord. Nor does he betray to the enemy either horse or walls; but whatever he knows of public or private concerns requiring the greatest secrecy, that he discloses, whether it be in courts of judicature, in conspiracies, or management of state affairs, ’tis all one; he expects not so much as the reward of being thanked for

his pains; nay, rather he will return thanks to them that give him audience. And therefore what was said upon a certain spendthrift that rashly and without any discretion wasted his own estate by his lavish prodigality to others,

Thou art not liberal; ’tis a disease

Of vainly giving, which does thee possess;

’Tis all to please thyself, what thou dost give,

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may well be retorted upon a common prattler:

Thou art no friend, nor dost to me impart,

For friendship’s sake, the secrets of thy heart;

But as thy tongue has neither bolt nor lock,

’Tis thy disease, that thou delight’st to talk.