But I, the mildest, meekest of mankind,
Like Moses, or Melancthon, who have ne’er
Done anything exceedingly unkind—
And (though I could not now and then forbear
Following the bent of body or of mind)
Have always had a tendency to spare—
Why do they call me Misanthrope? Because
They hate me, not I them:—and here we’ll pause.