No need to taint thine honor with a lie.
Why, Ethais, the truth is black enough;
I know thee as a brawling tavern bully,
A hollow friend—a cruel unsparing foe—
A reckless perjurer—a reprobate—
The curse of woman and the scourge of man! (Shaking him off.)
Is not the truth enough, that I should grudge
The one brute-virtue of thy satyr-soul—
The instinct courage of a hungry dog!
Eth. (with suppressed fury).