That immaculate manliness we feel within ourselves, so far within us,
that it remains intact though all the outer character seem gone;
bleeds with keenest anguish at the undraped spectacle of a
valor-ruined man. Nor can piety itself, at such a shameful sight,
completely stifle her upbraidings against the permitting stars.
But this august dignity I treat of, is not the dignity of kings
and robes, but that abounding dignity which has no robed investiture.
Thou shalt see it shining in the arm that wields a pick or
drives a spike; that democratic dignity which, on all hands,
radiates without end from God; Himself! The great God absolute!
The centre and circumference of all democracy! His omnipresence,
our divine equality!
If, then, to meanest mariners, and renegades and castaways,
I shall hereafter ascribe high qualities, though dark;
weave round them tragic graces; if even the most mournful,
perchance the most abased, among them all, shall at times lift
himself to the exalted mounts; if I shall touch that workman's
arm with some ethereal light; if I shall spread a rainbow
over his disastrous set of sun; then against all mortal
critics bear me out in it, thou just Spirit of Equality,
which hast spread one royal mantle of humanity over all my kind!
Bear me out in it, thou great democratic God! who didst not
refuse to the swart convict, Bunyan, the pale, poetic pearl;
Thou who didst clothe with doubly hammered leaves of finest gold,
the stumped and paupered arm of old Cervantes; Thou who didst
pick up Andrew Jackson from the pebbles; who didst hurl him
upon a war-horse; who didst thunder him higher than a throne!
Thou who, in all Thy mighty, earthly marchings, ever cullest
Thy selectest champions from the kingly commoners; bear me
out in it, O God!
CHAPTER 27
Knights and Squires
Stubb was the second mate.
Pages:
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202