ccording to
just estimation, guilty of all kinds whatever of injury, breaking
all the second Table of Commands respecting our neighbour. Most
formally and directly he "beareth false witness against his
neighbour:" he doth "covet his neighbour's goods;" for 'tis
constantly out of such an irregular desire, for his own presumed
advantage, to dispossess his neighbour of some good, and transfer it
on himself, that the slanderer uttereth his tale: he is ever a
thief and robber of his good name, a deflowerer and defiler of his
reputation, an assassin and murderer of his honour. So doth he
violate all the rules of justice, and perpetrateth all sorts of
wrong against his neighbour.

He may, indeed, perhaps conceive it no great matter that he
committeth; because he doth not act in so boisterous and bloody a
way, but only by words, which are subtle, slim, and transient
things: upon his neighbour's credit only, which is no substantial
or visible matter. He draweth (thinks he), no blood, nor breaketh
any bones, nor impresseth any remarkable scar; 'tis only the soft
air he breaketh with his tongue, 'tis only a slight character that
he stampeth on the fancy, 'tis only an imaginary stain that he
daubeth his neighbour with; therefore he supposeth no great wrong
done, and seemeth to himself innocent, or very excusable. But these
conceits arise from great inconsiderateness, or mistake: nor can
they excuse the slanderer from grievous injustice. For in dealing
with our neighbour, and meddling with his property, we are not to
value things according to our fancy, but according to the price set
on them by the owner; we must not reckon that a trifle, which he
prizeth as a jewel. Since, then, all men (especially men of honour
and honesty) do, from a necessary instinct of nature, estimate their
good name beyond any of their goods--yea, do commonly hold it more
dear and precious than their very lives--we, by violently or
fraudulently bereaving them of it, do them no less wrong than if we
should rob or cozen them of their substance; yea, than if we should
maim their body, or spill their blood, or even stop their breath.
If they as grievously feel it, and resent it as deeply, as they do
any other outrage, the injury is really as great, to them. Even the
slanderer's own judgment and conscience might tell him so much; for
they who most slight another's fame, are usually very tender of
their own, and ca