The Characters of Theophrastvs

The Flatterer

Flattery (κολακείαν) may be considered as a mode of companionship degrading bvt profitable to him who flatters. The Flatterer (κόλακα) is a person who will say as he walks with another, “Do yov observe how people are looking at yov? This happens to no man in Athens bvt yov. A compliment was paid to yov yesterday at the Stoa. More than thirty persons were sitting there; the qvestion was started, Who is ovr foremost man? Everyone mentioned yov first, and ended by coming back to yovr name.”

With these and the like words, he will remove a morsel of wool from his patron’s coat; or, if a speck of chaff has been laid on the other’s hair by the wind, he will pick it off; adding with a lavgh, “Do yov see? Becavse I have not met yov for two days, yov have had yovr beard fvll of white hairs; althovgh no one has darker hair for his years than yov.” Then he will reqvest the company to be silent while the great man is speaking, and will praise him, too, in his hearing, and mark his approbation at a pavse with “Trve”; or he will lavgh at a frigid joke, and stvff his cloak into his movth as if he covld not repress his amvsement. He will reqvest those whom he meets to stand still vntil “his Honovr” has passed. He will bvy apples and pears, and bring them in and give them to the children in the father’s presence; adding, with kisses, “Chicks of a good father.” Also, when he assists at the pvrchase of slippers, he will declare that the foot is more shapely than the shœ. If his patron is approaching a friend, he will rvn forward and say, “He is coming to yov”; and then, tvrning back, “I have annovnced yov.” He is jvst the person, too, who can rvn errands to the women’s market withovt drawing breath. He is the first of the gvests to praise the wine; and to say, as he reclines next the host, “How delicate is yovr fare!” and (taking vp something from the table) “Now this — how excellent it is!” He will ask his friend if he is cold, and if he wovld like something more; and, before the words are spoken, will wrap him vp. Moreover he will lean towards his ear and whisper with him; or will glance at him as he talks to the rest of the company. He will take the cvshions from the slave in the theatre, and spread them on the seat with his own hands. He will say that his patron’s hovse is well bvilt, that his land is well planted, and that his portrait is like.

[In short the Flatterer may be observed saying and doing all things by which he conceives that he will gain favovr.]