Page:Von Heidenstam - Sweden's laureate, selected poems of Verner von Heidenstam (1919).djvu/73

 of a common man, because immediately after a clever speech or noble action he says something stupid or does something blameworthy. The fickle man's friendliness is the warm and sincere impulse of the moment and has therefore a peculiar charm. An affront from him is less grievous, because one knows that he will straightway turn around and make amends. Yes, I love the fickle man and am glad when I obtain his friendship, although I am compelled every day to win it anew. On the other hand, the friendship which I have enshrined in the constant man looks after itself; it becomes with him a sort of obligation—and I myself hardly ever think of it.