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Ralph Waldo Emerson - Ode:Inscribed to W.H. Channing
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Though loath to grieve 
The evil time`s sole patriot, 
I cannot leave 
My honeyed thought 
For the priest`s cant, 
Or statesman`s rant. 

If I refuse 
My study for their politic, 
Which at the best is trick, 
The angry Muse 
Puts confusion in my brain. 

But who is he that prates 
Of the culture of mankind, 
Of better arts and life? 
Go, blindworm, go, 
Behold the famous States 
Harrying Mexico 
With rifle and with knife! 

Or who, with accent bolder 
Dare praise the freedom-loving mountaineer? 
I found by thee, O rushing Contoocook! 
And in thy valleys, Agiochook! 
The jackals of the Negro-holder. 

The God who made New Hampshire 
Taunted the lofty land 
With little men;— 
Small bat and wren 
House in the oak:— 
If earth-fire cleave 
The upheaved land, and bury the folk, 
The southern crocodile would grieve. 
Virtue palters; Right is hence; 
Freedom praised, but hid; 
Funeral eloquence 
Rattles the coffin lid. 

What boots thy zeal, 
O glowing friend, 
That would indignant rend 
The northland from the south? 
Wherefore? to what good end? 
Boston Bay and Bunker Hill 
Would serve things still;— 
Things are of the snake. 

The horseman serves the horse 
The neatherd serves the neat, 
The merchant serves the purse, 
The eater serves his meat; 
`Tis the day of the chattel, 
Web to weave, and corn to grind; 
Things are in the saddle, 
And ride mankind. 

There are two laws discrete, 
Not reconciled,— 
Law for man, and law for thing; 
The last builds town and fleet, 
But it runs wild, 
And doth the man unking. 

`Tis fit the forest fall, 
The steep be graded, 
The mountain tunneled, 
The sand shaded, 
The orchard planted, 
The glebe tilled, 
The prairie granted 
The steamer built. 

Let man serve law for man; 
Live for friendship, live for love, 
For truth`s and harmony`s behoof; 
The state may follow how it can, 
As Olympus follows Jove. 

Yet do not I implore 
The wrinkled shopman to my sounding woods, 
Nor did the unwilling senator 
Ask votes of thrushes in the solitudes. 
Everyone to his chosen work— 
Foolish hands may mix and mar; 
Wise and sure the issues are. 
Round they roll till dark is light, 
Sex to sex, and even to odd;— 
The overgod 
Who marries Right to Might, 
Who peoples, unpeoples,— 
He who exterminates 
Races by stronger races, 
Black by white faces,— 
Knows to bring honey 
Out of the lion; 
Grafts gentlest scion 
On pirate and Turk. 

The Cossack eats Poland, 
Like stolen fruit; 
Her last noble is ruined, 
Her last poet mute; 
Straight, into double band 
The victors divide; 
Half for freedom strike and stand;— 
The astonished Muse finds thousands at her side.
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