The sense of grand poetry, read by the light of this event, is brought out
distinctly, like an invisible writing held to the fire
(The glories of our blood and state
Are shadows, not substantial things;
There is no armour against Fate;
Death lays his icy hand on kings:
Sceptre and Crown
Must tumble down,
And in the dust be equal made
With the poor crookèd scythe and spade.
Some men with swords may reap the field,
And plant fresh laurels where they kill:
But their strong nerves at last must yield;
They tame but one another still:
Early or late
They stoop to fate,
And must give up their murmuring breath
When they, pale captives, creep to death.
The garlands wither on your brow,
Then boast no more your mighty deeds!
Upon Death's purple altar now
See where the victor-victim bleeds.)
Your heads must come
To the cold tomb:
Only the actions of the just
Smell sweet and blossom in their dust.
Are shadows, not substantial things;
There is no armour against Fate;
Death lays his icy hand on kings:
Sceptre and Crown
Must tumble down,
And in the dust be equal made
With the poor crookèd scythe and spade.
Some men with swords may reap the field,
And plant fresh laurels where they kill:
But their strong nerves at last must yield;
They tame but one another still:
Early or late
They stoop to fate,
And must give up their murmuring breath
When they, pale captives, creep to death.
The garlands wither on your brow,
Then boast no more your mighty deeds!
Upon Death's purple altar now
See where the victor-victim bleeds.)
Your heads must come
To the cold tomb:
Only the actions of the just
Smell sweet and blossom in their dust.
(Martyrdom of John Brown, HDT)
The only government that I recognize,—and
it matters not how few are at the head of it, or how small its army,—is that
power that establishes justice in the land, never that which establishes
injustice. What shall we think of a government to which all the truly brave and
just men in the land are enemies, standing between it and those whom it
oppresses? A government that pretends to be Christian and crucifies a million
Christs every day!
(A
plea for captain John Brown, HDT)
It is not every man who can be a Christian, even in a
very moderate sense, whatever education you give him. It is a matter of
constitution and temperament, after all. He may have to be born again many
times. I have known many a man who pretended to be a Christian, in whom it was
ridiculous, for he had no genius for it. It is not every man who can be a free
man, even.
(…)
Look not to legislatures and churches for your
guidance, nor to any soulless incorporated bodies, but to inspirited or
inspired ones.
(The last days of John Brown?, HDT))
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