On the Wicked
EVIL NATURE
A heart unpitying, brawling vain and rude, An eye to others” wives and wealth inclined, Impatience of true friends and of the good,— These things are self-born in the evil mind.
THE HUMAN COBRA
Avoid the evil man with learning crowned. Lo, the dread cobra, all his hood a gem Of glory, yet he crawls upon the ground. Fear’st thou him less for that bright diadem?
VIRTUE AND SLANDER
A spiritless dull block call modesty; Love of long fasts and holy vows must be Mere shows, yon pure heart but a Pharisee, The world-renouncing sage a fool; the high World-conquering hero ’s taxed with cruelty. This sweet word’s baseness, that great orator A windbag, and the great spirit furious pride, And calm patience an impotent weakness poor. Thus the base-natured all high things deride. Judged by the slanderous tongue, the uncandid eyes,
What brightest virtue turns not blackest vice?
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