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Defoimity. 
“Deformity is daring; 
It is its essence to overtake mankind 
By heart and soul, and make itself the equal— 
Aye, the superior of the rest.” 
— Byron. 
M E here leave an old English writer quaintly discourse: 
“Whosoever has anything fixed in his person, that does in¬ 
duce contempt, has generally also a spur in himself to rescue and deliver 
himself from scorn; therefore, all deformed persons are as a rule extreme 
bold; first as in their own defense, as being exposed to scorn, but in process 
of time by a general habit. Also, it stirreth in them industry, and espe¬ 
cially of this kind, to watch and observe the ivealmess of others , that they 
may have somewhat to repay.” 
“Again, in their superiors, it quenches jealousy towards them, as 
persons that they think they may at pleasure despise: and it lays their 
competitors and emulators asleep, as never believing they should be in 
possibility of advancement till they see them in possession, so that upon 
the matter, in a great wit, deformity is an advantage to rising ’’ 
“And, in fact, deformed persons sometimes prove excellent persons; 
as were Agesilaus, Aesop, Socrates , and many others.” 
But oh! it bespeaks both great ill-breeding and a sad lack of char¬ 
ity, to make sport of the deformed,- or even allow them to perceive that 
we have noticed their bodily deformity. Good sense, as well as kindli¬ 
ness of disposition and common politeness, should lead us rather to be in¬ 
observant of their physical defects, and observant only of their wishes and 
interests, by the manifestation of the utmost urbane respect. 
“In nature there’s no blemish but the mind; 
None can be called deformed but the unkind.” 
— Shakespeare. 
