here supposed and referred to, is talkativeness: a disposition to
be talking, abstracted from the consideration of what is to be said;
with very little or no regard to, or thought of doing, either good
or harm. And let not any imagine this to be a slight matter, and
that it deserves not to have so great weight laid upon it, till he
has considered what evil is implied in it, and the bad effects which
follow from it. It is perhaps true, that they who are addicted to
this folly would choose to confine themselves to trifles and
indifferent subjects, and so intend only to be guilty of being
impertinent: but as they cannot go on for ever talking of nothing,
as common matters will not afford a sufficient fund for perpetual
continued discourse, where subjects of this kind are exhausted they
will go on to defamation, scandal, divulging of secrets, their own
secrets as well as those of others--anything rather than be silent.
They are plainly hurried on in the heat of their talk to say quite
different things from what they first intended, and which they
afterwards wish unsaid: or improper things, which they had no other
end in saying, but only to afford employment to their tongue. And
if these people expect to be heard and regarded--for there are some
content merely with talking--they will invent to engage your
attention: and, when they have heard the least imperfect hint of an
affair, they will out of their own head add the circumstances of
time and place and other matters to make out their story and give
the appearance of probability to it: not that they have any concern
about being believed, otherwise than as a means of being heard. The
thing is, to engage your attention; to take you up wholly for the
present time: what reflections will be made afterwards, is in truth
the least of their thoughts. And further, when persons who indulge
themselves in these liberties of the tongue are in any degree
offended with another--as little disgusts and misunderstandings will