386
The pathetic and the noïve.—It may be an ignoble habit to neglect no opportunity for assuming a pathetic air, for the sake of the enjoyment of fancying the spectator striking his breast and feeling miserable and small. Consequently it may also be a characteristic of a noble mind to make fun of pathetic conditions and to behave in an undignified manner in them. The old warlike nobility of France possessed that kind of stateliness and refinement.
387
Instance of a deliberation before marriage.—Supposing she loved me, what a nuisance she would become to me in the long run! And supposing she did not love me, how much more of a nuisance she would be to me in the long run! It is a matter of two different sorts of nuisances; therefore let us marry.
388
Villainy committed with a good conscience.—In many countries—in the Tyrol, for instance—it is annoying to be cheated, for we have to accept into the bad bargain the fraudulent vendor's mean face and coarse greediness along with his bad conscience and hostile feeling against At Venice, ou the other hand, the cheater is genuinely delighted with his successful fraud and not in the least angry with his dupe, nay, even inclined to show him some kindness and to have a hearty laugh with him in
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