Their own defect was hidden from their sight, heaven-born.
An ugly man once saw his face in looking-glass.
He turned away enraged with that reflecting mass.120
So, when one self-conceited sees another’s fault,
A flame from hell is lighted in his bad heart’s vault.
’Tis pride inflames him;—holy zeal he dubs it straight;
Not conscious of the vanity that makes his freight.
A zeal for holiness by other tokens shines;
And lights a fire by which to ashes earth declines.
God said to them: “If you both shine with virtue’s ray,