His conscientiousness gave him the right to be merciless, and to do no good deeds beyond what it dictated to him; and he was merciless, and did no good ... for good that is dictated is no good at all. He took no interest in any one except his own exemplary self, and was genuinely indignant if others did not take as studious an interest in it! At the same time he did not consider himself an egoist, and was particularly severe in censuring, and keen in detecting egoists and egoism. To be sure he was. The egoism of another was a check on his own. Not recognising the smallest weakness in himself he did not understand, did not tolerate any weakness in any one. He did not, in fact, understand any one or any thing, since he was all, on all sides, above and below, before and behind, encircled by himself. He did not even understand the meaning of forgiveness. He had never had to forgive himself.... What inducement could he have to forgive others? Before the tribunal of his own conscience, before the face of his own God, he, this marvel, this monster of virtue, raised his eyes heavenwards, and with clear unfaltering voice declared, ‘Yes, I am an exemplary, a truly moral man!’ He will repeat these words on his deathbed, and there will be no throb even then in his heart of stone--in that heart without stain or blemish! Oh, hideousness of self-complacent, unbending, cheaply bought virtue; thou art almost more revolting than the frank hideousness of vice! _Dec. 1876._ THE BANQUET OF THE SUPREME BEING One day the Supreme Being took it into his head to give a great banquet in his palace of azure. All the virtues were invited. Only the virtues ... men he did not ask ... only ladies. There were a great many of them, great and small. The lesser virtues were more agreeable and genial than the great ones; but they all appeared in good humour, and chatted amiably together, as was only becoming for near relations and friends. But the Supreme Being noticed two charming ladies who seemed to be totally unacquainted. The Host gave one of the ladies his arm and led her up to the other. ‘Beneficence!’ he said, indicating the first. ‘Gratitude!’ he added, indicating the second. Both the virtues were amazed beyond expression; ever since the world had stood, and it had been standing a long time, this was the first time they had met. _Dec. 1878._ THE SPHINX Yellowish-grey sand, soft at the top, hard, grating below ... sand without end, where-ever one looks. And above this sandy desert, above this sea of dead dust, rises the immense head of the Egyptian sphinx. What would they say, those thick, projecting lips, those immutable, distended, upturned nostrils, and those eyes, those long, half-drowsy, half-watchful eyes under the double arch of the high brows? Something they would say. They are speaking, truly, but only Oedipus can solve the riddle and comprehend their mute speech.