Mr Trump was seriously thinking of a 'Superman' stunt as he left Bethesda the other day. It made me turn to Ovid - not Covid! - and one of his tales: 

'The death of Narcissus - In his grief, he ripped the upper border of his clothing and beat his naked chest with hands as white as marble. As he struck, his chest turned rosy red, just like apples, in which some parts are usually red and some are white, or just as unripe grapes in various bunches commonly possess a purple colour. Once he saw his form in the water, he could not endure it a moment longer, but, as yellow wax drips in a tiny flame, as morning frost dissolves in the warm sun, so Narcissus melts away—gradually consumed by hidden fire. And now his face has no more colour … he lacks vitality and strength, those things which, only recently, gave such delight — He cried: “Farewell.” And Echo called: “Farewell!” 

 “He’s so classic that I’m archiving video clips of him to use in workshops because there’s no better example of his characteristics,” said clinical psychologist George Simon, who conducts lectures and seminars on manipulative behavior. “Otherwise, I would have had to hire actors and write vignettes. He’s like a dream come true.”

The urgent compelling question is the psychological state of Mr T's  supporters. They are unable or unwilling to make a connection between the challenges faced by any president and the knowledge and behavior of Donald Trump. In a democracy, that is disastrous.”