A bitter tongue

DETRACTION is a proneness or swarving of the mind into the worst part in our speech and discourse. A Detractor is thus conditioned: If hee be questioned what such an one is, as if he should play the Herald, and set down his pedigree, he begins with the first of his Family. This mans father, saith hee, was first called Socias. After he followed the wars, they called him Sosistratus: then from one of the meany he was made an Officer (forsooth). His Mother was noble of Tressa: the which sort of women, say they, are noble when they are at home. And this fellow, for all his pretended gentry, is a very lewd knave. He a proceedeth and telleth you, That these are the women which entice men out of their way: He joineth with others which traduce the absent, and sayth, I hate the man you blame exceedingly. If you note his face, it discovereth a lewd fellow very worthy of hatred. If you look to his villanies, nothing more flagitious. Hee gives his wife three farthing tokens to go to market with. In the moneth of January when the colds are greatest, he compelleth her to wash. His manner is, sitting amongst much company, to rise up and snarl at any; not to spare those that are at rest, and cannot reply.

Speaks ill of the absent