Межзвёздный скиталец

           Iseemyself,throughthepainfulgenerations,snaringandkillingthegameandthefish,clearingthefirstfieldsfromtheforest,makingrudetoolsofstoneandbone,buildinghousesofwood,thatchingtheroofswithleavesandstraw,domesticatingthewildgrassesandmeadow-roots,fatheringthemtobecometheprogenitorsofriceandmilletandwheatandbarleyandallmannerofsucculentedibles,learningtoscratchthesoil,tosow,toreap,tostore,beatingoutthefibresofplantstospinintothreadandtoweaveintocloth,devisingsystemsofirrigation,workinginmetals,makingmarketsandtrade-routes,buildingboats,andfoundingnavigation—ay,andorganizingvillagelife,weldingvillagestovillagestilltheybecametribes,weldingtribestogethertilltheybecamenations,everseekingthelawsofthings,evermakingthelawsofhumanssothathumansmightlivetogetherinamityandbyunitedeffortbeatdownanddestroyallmannerofcreeping,crawling,squallingthingsthatmightelsedestroythem.

           Iwasthatmaninallhisbirthsandendeavours.Iamthatmanto-day,waitingmyduedeathbythelawthatIhelpedtodevisemanyathousandyearsago,andbywhichIhavediedmanytimesbeforethis,manytimes.AndasIcontemplatethisvastpasthistoryofme,Ifindseveralgreatandsplendidinfluences,and,chiefestofthese,theloveofwoman,man’sloveforthewomanofhiskind.Iseemyself,theoneman,thelover,alwaysthelover.