But, spurred by lust of pride, we stop at naught to gain our ends!

(Our philosopher began to moralize, when he had gorged himself, leveling
many critical shafts at those who hold every-day things in contempt,
esteeming nothing except what is rare.)




CHAPTER THE NINETY-THIRD.

("To their perverted taste," he went on,) everything one may have
lawfully is held cheap and the appetite, tickled only by forbidden
indulgences, delights in what is most difficult to obtain.

The pheasant from Colchis, the wild-fowl from African shores,

Because they are dainties, the parvenu's palate adores

The white-feathered goose, and the duck in his bright-colored plumes

Must nourish the rabble; they're common, so them Fashion dooms!

The wrasse brought from dangerous Syrtis is much more esteemed

When fishing-boats founder! And even the mullet is deemed,

No matter how heavy, a weight on the market! The whore

Displaces the wife; and in perfumes, the cinnamon more