And very graphically does Richard III. (act iv. sc. 2, l. 65, vol. v. p. 583) describe our sinfulness as prompting sin,—
“But I am in
So far in blood that sin will pluck on sin.”
Or as Romeo puts the case (Romeo and Juliet, act v. sc. 3, l. 61, vol. vii. p. 124),—
“I beseech thee, youth,
Put not another sin upon my head,
By urging me to fury.”
Coriolanus thus speaks of man’s “unstable lightness” (Coriolanus, act iii. sc. 1, l. 160, vol. vi. p. 344),—
“Not having the power to do the good it would,
For the ill which doth control ’t.”