I have a good
pride of my own.'
'Why, I perceive I must explain to you what love is,' said Otto.
'Its measure is kindness. It is very possible that you are proud;
but she, too, may have some self-esteem; I do not speak for myself.
And perhaps, if your own doings were so curiously examined, you
might find it inconvenient to reply.'
'These are all set-offs,' said the young man. 'You know very well
that a man is a man, and a woman only a woman. That holds good all
over, up and down. I ask you a question, I ask it again, and here I
stand.' He drew a mark and toed it.
'When you have studied liberal doctrines somewhat deeper,' said the
Prince, 'you will perhaps change your note. You are a man of false
weights and measures, my young friend. You have one scale for
women, another for men; one for princes, and one for farmer-folk.
On the prince who neglects his wife you can be most severe. But
what of the lover who insults his mistress? You use the name of
love. I should think this lady might very fairly ask to be
delivered from love of such a nature. For if I, a stranger, had
been one-tenth part so gross and so discourteous, you would most
righteously have broke my head. It would have been in your part, as
lover, to protect her from such insolence. Protect her first, then,
from yourself.'
'Ay,' quoth Mr. Gottesheim, who had been looking on with his hands
behind his tall old back, 'ay, that's Scripture truth.
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