12. In the end, I took notice _Triplett_ recorded all this malice in his
heart; and saw in his countenance, and a certain waggish shrug, that he
designed to repeat the conversation: I therefore let the discourse die,
and soon after took an occasion to commend a certain gentleman of my
acquaintance for a person of singular modesty, courage, integrity, and
withal, as a man of an entertaining conversation, to which advantages he
had a shape and manner peculiarly graceful.

13. Mr. _Triplett_, who is a woman's man, seemed to hear me, with
patience enough, commend the qualities of his mind; he never heard,
indeed, but that he was a very honest man, and no fool; but for a fine
gentleman, he must ask pardon. Upon no other foundation than this, Mr.
_Triplett_ took occasion to give the gentleman's pedigree, by what
methods some part of the estate was acquired, how much it was beholden
to a marriage for the present circumstances of it: after all, he could
see nothing but a common man in his person, his breeding or
under-Standing.

14. Thus, Mr. _Spectator_, this impertinent humour of diminishing every
one who is produced in conversation to their advantage, runs through the
world; and I am, I confess, so fearful of the force of ill tongues, that
I have begged of all those who are my well-wishers, never to commend me,
for it will but bring my frailties into examination, and I had rather be
unobserved, than conspicuous for disputed perfections.

15. I am confident a thousand young people, who would have been
ornaments to society, have, from fear of scandal, never dared to exert
themselves in the polite arts of life.--Their lives have passed away in
an odious rusticity, in spite of great advantages of person, genius and
fortune.