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Yes, he said; the States are as bad as the men; and I am very far

from praising them.

But do you not admire, I said, the coolness and dexterity of

these ready ministers of political corruption?

Yes, he said, I do; but not of all of them, for there are some

whom the applause of the multitude has deluded into the belief

that they are really statesmen, and these are not much to be

admired.

What do you mean? I said; you should have more feeling for them.

When a man cannot measure, and a great many others who cannot

measure declare that he is four cubits high, can he help

believing what they say?

Nay, he said, certainly not in that case.

Well, then, do not be angry with them; for are they not as good

as a play, trying their hand at paltry reforms such as I was

describing; they are always fancying that by legislation they

will make an end of frauds in contracts, and the other

rascalities which I was mentioning, not knowing that they are in

reality cutting off the heads of a hydra?