CUP. His name, Hermes?
MER. Crites. A creature of a most perfect and divine temper: one,
in whom the humours and elements are peaceably met, without
emulation of precedency; he is neither too fantastically
melancholy, too slowly phlegmatic, too lightly sanguine, or too
rashly choleric; but in all so composed and ordered; as it is clear
Nature went about some full work, she did more than make a man when
she made him. His discourse is like his behaviour, uncommon, but
not unpleasing; he is prodigal of neither. He strives rather to be
that which men call judicious, than to be thought so; and is so
truly learned, that he affects not to shew it. He will think and
speak his thought both freely; but as distant from depraving
another man's merit, as proclaiming his own. For his valour, 'tis
such, that he dares as little to offer any injury, as receive one.
In sum, he hath a most ingenuous and sweet spirit, a sharp and
season'd wit, a straight judgment and a strong mind. Fortune
could never break him, nor make him less. He counts it his
pleasure to despise pleasures, and is more delighted with good
deeds than goods. It is a competency to him that he can be
virtuous. He doth neither covet nor fear; he hath too much reason
to do either; and that commends all things to him.
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