First Part · XIX. The Bite of the Adder

Justice as love with seeing eyes

I do not like your cold justice; out of the eye of your judges there always glanceth the executioner and his cold steel.

Tell me: where find we justice, which is love with seeing eyes?

Devise me, then, the love which not only beareth all punishment, but also all guilt!

Devise me, then, the justice which acquitteth every one except the judge!

And would ye hear this likewise? To him who seeketh to be just from the heart, even the lie becometh philanthropy.

But how could I be just from the heart! How can I give every one his own! Let this be enough for me: I give unto every one mine own.

He dislikes the cold justice of judges with the executioner in their eyes. He asks for a love that bears all guilt and a justice that acquits all but the judge. He says he cannot be just from the heart and gives each one his own.

Revaluation of values (old and new tables)He rejects punitive, cold justice and asks for a justice that is love and acquits everyone except the judge.
The bestowing virtueSince no one can give everyone his due, he settles for giving each what is his own.