f Solomon for ever! To drink good wines, to
cram one's self with dainty dishes, to rest in beds of down: except
that, all, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

_I._--What, to defend one's native land?

_He._--Vanity; there is native land no more; I see nought from pole
to pole but tyrants and slaves.

_I._--To help one's friends?

_He._--Vanity; has one any friends? If one had, ought we to turn
them into ingrates? Look well, and you will see that this is all
you get by doing services. Gratitude is a burden, and every burden
is made to be shaken off.

_I._--To have a position in society and fulfil its duties?

_He._--Vanity; what matters it whether you have a position or not,
provided you are rich, since you only seek a position to become
rich? To fulfil one's duties, what does that lead to? To jealousy,
trouble, persecution. Is that the way to get on? Nay, indeed: to
see the great, to court them, study their taste, bow to their
fancies, serve their vices, praise their injustice--there is the
secret.

_I._--To watch the education of one's children?

_He._--Vanity; that is a tutor's business.

_I._--But if this tutor, having picked up his principles from you,
happens to neglect his duties, who will pay the penalty?

_He._--Not I, at any rate, but most likely the husband of my
daughter, or the wife of my son.

_I._--But suppose that they both plunge into vice and debauchery?

_He._--That belongs to their position.

_I._--Suppose they bring themselves into dishonour?

_He._--You never come into dishonour, if you are rich, whatever you
do.

_I._--Suppose they ruin themselves?

_He._--So much the worse for them.

_I._--You will not pay much heed to your wife?

_He._--None whatever, if you please. The best compliment, I think,
that a man can pay his dearer half, is to do what pleases himself.
In your opinion, would not society be mightily amusing if everybody
in it was always attending to his duties?

_I._--Why not? The evening is never so fair to me as when I am
satisfied with my morning.

_He._--And to me also.

_I._--What makes the men of the world so dainty in their
amusements, is their profound idleness.

_He._--Pray do not think that; they are full of trouble.

_I._--As they neve