Neighborly Politeness
SIR GODFREY KNELLER and Dr. Ratcliffe lived next door to each other, and
were extremely intimate. Kneller had a very fine garden, and as the
doctor was fond of flowers, he permitted him to have a door into it.
Ratcliffe's servants gathering and destroying the flowers, Kneller sent
to inform him that he would nail up the door; to which Ratcliffe, in his
rough manner, replied, Tell him, he may do anything but paint
it.--Well, replied Kneller, he may say what he will, for tell him, I
will take anything from him, except physic.