Contending with, or reproaching the dead, which was held to be a great opprobrium, or scandal among the ancients. It was «vellere barbam leoni mortuo», taking a dead lion by the beard. «De mortuis nil nisi bonum», that is, of the dead, record only what will tend to their honour, has therefore passed into a proverb, agreeably to which is the Italian adage, Non dir che il vero de vivi, è non parlar che bene de morti, speak only what is true of the living, and what is honourable of the dead. But the dead can receive no harm, and the world may be benefited by publishing their errors. In Egypt persons were appointed, we are told, whose office it was, to examine into the conduct of their deceased sovereigns; if it had been such as had been beneficial to the kingdom, the warmest tribute of praise was paid to their memories; if bad, their conduct was censured and their memory reprobated, to serve as a warning to their successors.

Endeavour to be what you are reputed to be, or what you are solicitous to be esteemed. We are all of us desirous that the world should think well of us, let us labour then to deserve their good opinion. Sycophants and flatterers might be of use to us, if, when we hear ourselves commended by them for qualities which we are conscious we do not possess, we should forthwith set about to acquire them.