University of Virginia Library

23   I am the credulous man of qualities, ages, races;
I advance from the people en-masse in their own      spirit;
Here is what sings unrestricted faith.
24  Omnes! Omnes! let others ignore what they may;
I make the poem of evil also — I commemorate that      part also;
I am myself just as much evil as good, and my nation      is — And I say there is in fact no evil,
(Or if there is, I say it is just as important to you, to      the land, or to me, as anything else.)
25  I too, following many, and follow'd by many, inau-     gurate a Religion — I too go to the wars;
(It may be I am destin'd to utter the loudest cries      thereof, the winner's pealing shouts;
Who knows? they may rise from me yet, and soar      above every thing.)
26  Each is not for its own sake;
I say the whole earth, and all the stars in the sky, are      for Religion's sake.
27  I say no man has ever yet been half devout enough
None has ever yet adored or worship'd half enough;
None has begun to think how divine he himself is, and      how certain the future is.
28  I say that the real and permanent grandeur of      These States must be their religion;
Otherwise there is no real and permanent grandeur;
(Nor character, nor life worthy the name, without Re-     ligion;
Nor land, nor man or woman, without Religion.)