Мхи старої садиби
The Procession of Life
Lethimkeephisstate,andhavehisestablishedordersofrank,andwearhisroyalmantleofthecolorofafeverflushandletthenobleandwealthyboasttheirownphysicalinfirmities,anddisplaytheirsymptomsasthebadgesofhighstation.Allthingsconsidered,theseareaspropersubjectsofhumanprideasanyrelationsofhumanrankthatmencanfixupon.
Soundagain,thoudeep-breathedtrumpeter!andherald,withthyvoiceofmight,shoutforthanothersummonsthatshallreachtheoldbaronialcastlesofEurope,andtherudestcabinofourwesternwilderness!Whatclassisnexttotakeitsplaceintheprocessionofmortallife?Letitbethosewhomthegiftsofintellecthaveunitedinanoblebrotherhood.
Ay,thisisareality,beforewhichtheconventionaldistinctionsofsocietymeltawaylikeavaporwhenwewouldgraspitwiththehand.WereByronnowalive,andBurns,thefirstwouldcomefromhisancestralabbey,flingingaside,althoughunwillingly,theinheritedhonorsofathousandyears,totakethearmofthemightypeasantwhogrewimmortalwhilehestoopedbehindhisplough.Thesearegone;butthehall,thefarmer’sfireside,thehut,perhapsthepalace,thecounting-room,theworkshop,thevillage,thecity,life’shighplacesandlowones,mayallproducetheirpoets,whomacommontemperamentpervadeslikeanelectricsympathy.Peerorploughman,wewillmusterthempairbypairandshouldertoshoulder.Evensociety,initsmostartificialstate,consentstothisarrangement.
