CHAPTER VI The judgment of the unskilful multitude is not to be wholly despised, nor altogether regarded
CHAPTER VI
The judgment of the unskilful multitude is not to be wholly despised, nor altogether regarded
474. You see then, my excellent friend, that he especially who has ability to speak requires the greater care, and in addition to care, a measure of forbearance, which is not needed by all whom I have enumerated.
475. For many are perpetually rising up against him idly and without cause, and who have nothing to charge him with, except that they are annoyed that he is universally liked, and he is bound to bear their bitter calumny nobly.
476. For this accursed odium which they accumulate without cause, they cannot bear to conceal, and they reproach, and blame, and slander secretly, and are malicious openly: and the mind which began to be vexed and provoked by each of these, would not fail to be consumed by grief.
477. For they do not assail him themselves only, but they endeavour to do it by means of others; and oftentimes selecting some one of those who can say nothing, they exalt him with their praises, and admire him beyond his merit. Some do this through ignorance, and others through both ignorance and envy, that they may take away the good name of the one, and not in order to exhibit as a wonderful person the other who is not such.
478. The noble-minded man will not have to contend with these alone, but oftentimes with the ignorance of an entire community. For it is impossible that a whole congregation should be made up of men of high attainments, but the larger portion of the Church usually consists of ordinary persons; the remainder are indeed wiser than these, but they have among them a far less proportion of such as can appreciate a discourse, than the general body have of wise men; and since there may exist but one or two who possess this ability, it necessarily comes to pass that he who speaks best carries away fewest acclamations; and there are times when he leaves with no applause whatever.
479. He must generously prepare himself for these inconsistencies, and forgive those who act thus from ignorance, and weep over those who permit this through envy, as wretched and pitiable; and not think that through either of them his ability has become smaller.
480. For if a most excellent painter, who surpassed all men in his art, should see a picture which had been painted with great accuracy laughed at by such as did not understand his art, he ought not to be dejected, and reckon his picture naught, through the judgment of those who did not appreciate it; just as he should not think a really worthless one to be something admirable and lovely because of the astonishment of the ignorant.
481. Let the best workman be himself the judge of his own works, and so reckon them good or bad as it may be; for the mind which contrived them pronounces the decision; and let him not suffer to enter his thoughts the opinion of strangers, when it is erroneous and unscientific.