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SAYS.
1.
I SAY whatever tastes sweet to
the most perfect person
—
That is finally right.
2.
I SAY the human shape or face is so great,
it must never
be made ridiculous;
I say for ornaments nothing outré can be allowed,
And that anything is most beautiful without orna- ment,
And that exaggerations will be sternly revenged in your own physiology; and in other persons' phys- iology also;
And I say that clean-shaped children can be jetted and conceiv'd only where natural forms prevail in public, and the human face and form are never caricatured;
And I say that genius need never more be turn'd to romances,
(For facts properly told, how mean appear all ro- mances.)
I say for ornaments nothing outré can be allowed,
And that anything is most beautiful without orna- ment,
And that exaggerations will be sternly revenged in your own physiology; and in other persons' phys- iology also;
And I say that clean-shaped children can be jetted and conceiv'd only where natural forms prevail in public, and the human face and form are never caricatured;
And I say that genius need never more be turn'd to romances,
(For facts properly told, how mean appear all ro- mances.)
3.
I HAVE said many times that materials and
the Soul are
great, and that all depends on physique;
Now I reverse what I said, and affirm that all depends on the æsthetic, or intellectual,
And that criticism is great — and that refinement is greatest of all;
And I affirm now that the mind governs — and that all depends on the mind.
Now I reverse what I said, and affirm that all depends on the æsthetic, or intellectual,
And that criticism is great — and that refinement is greatest of all;
And I affirm now that the mind governs — and that all depends on the mind.
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4.
WITH one man or woman — (no
matter which one — I
even pick out
the lowest,)
With him or her I now illustrate the whole law;
I say that every right, in politics or what-not, shall be eligible to that one man or woman, on the same terms as any.
With him or her I now illustrate the whole law;
I say that every right, in politics or what-not, shall be eligible to that one man or woman, on the same terms as any.
| Leaves of grass. | |