Scandal is gossip made tedious by morality

Scandal is gossip made tedious by morality

Her mouth is a honey-blossom, No doubt, as the poet sings; But within her lips, the petals, Lurks read more

Her mouth is a honey-blossom, No doubt, as the poet sings; But within her lips, the petals, Lurks a cruel bee that stings.

And though you duck them ne'er so long,
Not one salt drop e'er wets their tongue;
On read more

And though you duck them ne'er so long,
Not one salt drop e'er wets their tongue;
On eagles' wings immortal scandals fly,
While virtuous actions are but borne to die.

Assail'd by scandal and the tongue of strife,
His only answer was a blameless life;
And he read more

Assail'd by scandal and the tongue of strife,
His only answer was a blameless life;
And he that forged, and he that threw the dart,
Had each a brother's interest in his heart.

Scandal dies sooner of itself, than we could kill it.

Scandal dies sooner of itself, than we could kill it.

Everybody says it, and what everybody says must be true.

Everybody says it, and what everybody says must be true.

The mind conscious of innocence despises false reports: but we
are a set always ready to believe a scandal.
read more

The mind conscious of innocence despises false reports: but we
are a set always ready to believe a scandal.
[Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit:
Sed nos in vitium credula turba sumus.]

He rams his quill with scandal and with scoff,
But 'tis so very foul, it won't go off.

He rams his quill with scandal and with scoff,
But 'tis so very foul, it won't go off.

The mightier man, the mightier is the thing
That makes him honored or begets him hate;
For read more

The mightier man, the mightier is the thing
That makes him honored or begets him hate;
For greatest scandal waits on greatest state.