Beware of. Take care thou be not made a fool by flatterers, for even the wisest men are abused by these. Know, therefore, that flatterers are the worst kind of traitors; for they will strengthen thy imperfections, encourage thee in all evils, correct thee in nothing, but so shadow and paint all thy vices and follies, as thou shalt never, by their will, discern evil from good, or vice from virtue: and because all men are apt to flatter themselves, to entertain the addition of other men’s praises is most perilous.

Do not, therefore, praise thyself, except thou wilt be counted a vainglorious fool: neither take delight in the praise of other men,except thou deserve it, and receive it from such as are worthy and honest, and will withal warn thee of thy faults; for flatterers have never any virtue; they are ever base, creeping, cowardly persons. A flatterer is said to be a beast that biteth smiling. But it is hard to know them from friends, they are so obsequious and full of protestation; for as a wolf resembles a dog, so doth a flatterer, a friend.

A flatterer is compared to an ape, who, because she cannot defend the house like a dog, labor as an ox, or bear burdens as a horse, doth therefore yet play tricks and provoke laughter.