Soullessness

Eighth times have I despised my soul:
The first time when I saw him being meek that he might attain height.
The second time when I saw him limping before the crippled.
The third time when he was given to choose between the hard and the easy, and he chose the easy.
The fourth time when he committed a wrong, and comforted himself that others also commit wrong.
The fifth time when he forbore for weakness, and attributed his patience to strength.
The sixth time when he despised the ugliness of a face, and knew not that it was one of his own masks.
The seventh time when he sang a song of praise, and deemed it a virtue.
And the eighth time when he has been made mute, when a man asked me, "Who are you?"