Note 165:A — Chapter VI
Reading edition
"Give a dog an ill name and hang him, and it may be added, if you give a man, or race of men, an ill name, they are very likely to do something that deserves hanging."—Walter Scott, Guy Mannering. The French say, "Le bruit pend l'homme."
"Clown. Oh, Maister, you are half-hanged!
"Nobody. Hanged. Why, man?
"Clown. Because you have an ill name: a man had almost as good serve no master as serve you."—"Nobody and Somebody," 1606.