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Yes, I replied; and the charming thing is that they deem him

their worst enemy who tells them the truth, which is simply that,

unless they give up eating and drinking and wenching and idling,

neither drug nor cautery nor spell nor amulet nor any other

remedy will avail.

Charming! he replied. I see nothing charming in going into a

passion with a man who tells you what is right.

These gentlemen, I said, do not seem to be in your good graces.

Assuredly not.

Nor would you praise the behaviour of States which act like the

men whom I was just now describing. For are there not ill-ordered

States in which the citizens are forbidden under pain of death to

alter the constitution; and yet he who most sweetly courts those

who live under this regime and indulges them and fawns upon them

and is skilful in anticipating and gratifying their humours is

held to be a great and good statesman-do not these States

resemble the persons whom I was describing?