“Taint of vice, whose strong corruption
Inhabits our frail blood.”
In Henry VIII. (act v. sc. 3, l. 10, vol. vi. p. 103), the Lord Chancellor says to Cranmer,—
“But we all are men,
In our own nature frail and capable
Of our flesh; few are angels.”
Even Banquo (Macbeth, act ii. sc. 1, l. 7, vol. vii. P. 444) can utter the prayer,—
“Merciful powers,
Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature
Gives way to in repose!”