High on a throne of royal state, which far Outshone the wealth of Ormus and of Ind, Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold, Satan exalted sat, by merit raisd To that bad eminence.
But all was false and hollow; though his tongue Droppd manna, and could make the worse appear The better reason,1 to perplex and dash Maturest counsels.
Th ethereal mould Incapable of stain would soon expel Her mischief, and purge off the baser fire, Victorious. Thus repulsd, our final hope Is flat despair.2
Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 139.
Note 1. Aristophanes turns Socrates into ridicule as making the worse appear the better reason.Diogenes Laertius: Socrates, v. [back]