A man is not born a knave; there must be time to make him so, nor is he presently discovered after he becomes one. Holt.Chief Justice, Rex v. Swendsen, 14 Howells State Trials 596. (On Character Evid.)
1. Theres neer a villain, dwelling in all Denmark, But hes an arrant knave. 2. There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave, To tell us that. Shakespeare.Hamlet, Act I. Scene 5. (Hamlet and Horatio.)
Thy beard and head are of a diffrent dye; Short of one foot, distorted in an eye; With all those tokens of a knave complete, Shouldst thou be honest, thourt a devlish cheat. Martial.Epig. LIV. Line 12.