Letter 120 — More About Virtue (§20)

“The greatest proof of an evil mind is unsteadiness, and continued wavering between pretence of virtue and love of vice. He’d have sometimes two hundred slaves at hand And sometimes ten. He’d speak of kings and grand Moguls and naught but greatness. Then he’d say: “Give me a three-legged table and a tray Of good clean salt, and just a coarse-wove gown To keep the cold out.” If you paid him down (So sparing and content!) a million cool, In five short days he’d be a penceless fool.”