Thou shalt understand how some may praise, and some be found to love them.
Nevertheless for these, my counsel is, Avoid them if thou canst;
For the finer edges of thy virtues will be dulled by attrition with their vice.
And there is an enemy within thee; either to palliate their sin,
Until, for surface-sweetness, thou too art drawn adown the vortex;
Or, even unto fatal pride, to glorify thy purity by contrast,
Until the publican and harlot stand nearer heaven than the Pharisee:
Or daily strife against their ill, in subtleness may irritate thy soul,
And in that struggle thou shall fail, even through infirmity of goodness;
Or, callous by continuance of injuries, thou wilt cease to pardon,