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Madmoments: or First Verseattempts

By a Bornnatural. Addressed to the Lightheaded of Society at Large, by Henry Ellison

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FAINTHEARTEDNESS.

The Coward and the Slave alone despair,
The Patriot hopes: for come what may, still he
Is what he will within himself, still free,
In the best Sense of Freedom— Sun and Air
Ripen the backward Fruit: the Tree must bear
If the Soil whence it springs be good and strong:
A generous Cause the Heavens will not wrong,
All natural Influences are with the fair

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And holy Efforts of the good and wise!
The universal heart beats with them still!
Be man but true unto himself, the prize
Is his already— but Mistrust doth kill.
For where there is no Faith, high Heaven denies
Its miracles, the heritage of steady Will!