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life in snarling and finding fault, entirely from a spirit of contradiction: besides, I have made it a law with myself never openly to praise or flatter, but indirectly, and only on great occasions.

Ha! I understand you; pray tell me, have you never flattered me?

You esteem me, because you believe I have not; yet love me, because I really have: you believe, simply enough, that a man with a gruff voice and blunt manners cannot flatter; you are suspicious of other courtiers, but in full security with me: hut flattery can take various forms; nor is there more than one way to escape its seductions, and that is to be insensible to them. You love flattery, and I give it you I naturally hate it, and, had you despised it, should never have had this mean-ness to reproach myself with but thus only could I obtain your confidence: if I deceive sometimes, you force me to it; and, had not you corrupted me, I never should have used artifice: I feel how much I am debased, groan to remember it, am irritated against you, and serve without loving you.