would only change his underclothing in the dark! But even if we're
corrupted by the crudities of life, we're still bound to find
something beautiful in it; and if we're older something touching!
And so we can afford to-day to laugh at his childish innocence.
Scornful laughter, listeners, please.

MAGISTRATE (seriously). He mistakes his listeners.

TEMPTER. Then I ought to be ashamed of myself! (Pause.) He became a
youth--your humble servant--and fell into a series of traps that
were laid for his innocence. I'm an old sinner, but I blush at this
moment. ... (He takes of his hat.) Yes, look at me now--when I
think of the insight this young man got into the world of Potiphar's
wives that surrounded him! There wasn't a single woman. ... Really,
I'm ashamed in the name of mankind and the female sex--excuse me,
please. ... There were moments when I didn't believe my eyes, but
thought a devil had blinded my sight. The holiest bands. ... (He
pinches his tongue.) No, quiet! Mankind will feel itself
calumniated! Enough, until my twenty-fifth year I fought the good
fight; and I fell because. ... Well, I was called Joseph, and I
_was_ Joseph! I grew jealous of my virtue, and felt injured by the
glances of a lewd woman. ... And at last, cunningly seduced, I
fell. Then I became a slave of my passions; often and often I sat
by Omphalos and span, until I sank into the deepest degradation and
suffered, suffered, suffered! But in reality it was only my body
that was degraded; my soul lived her own life--her own pure life, I
can say--on her own account. And I raved innocently for pure young
virgins who, it seems, felt the bond that drew us together.
Because, without boasting, I can say they were attracted to me. I
didn't want to overstep the mark, but they did! And when I fled the