self-blasting

Inasmuch as the demonstration contained in this volume has laboured throughout under this disadvantage, that however welcome that new view of the character and aims of the great English philosopher, which is involved in it, as welcome it must be to all true lovers of learning, it presents itself to the mind of the reader as a view directly opposed, not merely to what may possibly be his own erroneous preconceptions of the case; but to facts which are among the most notable in the history of this country; and not only to facts sustained by unquestionable contemporary authority, and attested by public documents, facts which history has graven with her pen of iron in the rock for ever, but with other exhibitions of this man's character, not less, but more painful, for which he is himself singly responsible; not the forced exhibition of a confession wrung from him by authority, not the craven self-blasting defamation of a glorious name that was not his to blast, that was the property of men of learning in all coming ages, precious and venerable in their eyes for ever, at the bidding of power, not that only, but the voluntary exhibition of those qualities with which he stands charged, which he has gone out of his way to leave to us, memorials of them which he has collected with his own hands, and sealed up, and sent down to posterity 'this side up, with the most urgent directions to have them read, and examined, and considered deeply, that posterity, too, to which he commends, with so much assurance, the care of his honor, the cure of his fame.

Delia Bacon - The Philosophy of the Plays of Shakspere Unfolded