< Page:Leaves of Grass (1860).djvu
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Leaves of Grass.
:It is inevitably in the man—lie and it are in love, and never leave each other.

14. The truth in man is no dictum, it is vital as eyesight,

If there be any Soul, there is truth—if there be man or woman, there is truth—if there be physical or moral, there is truth,
If there be equilibrium or volition, there is truth—if there be things at all upon the earth, there is truth.

15. O truth of the earth! O truth of things! I am determined to press my way toward you,

Sound your voice! I scale mountains, or dive in the sea after you.

16. Great is Language—it is the mightiest of the sciences,

It is the fulness, color, form, diversity of the earth, and of men and women, and of all qualities and processes,
It is greater than wealth—it is greater than buildings, ships, religions, paintings, music.

17. Great is the English speech—what speech is so great as the English?

Great is the English brood—what brood has so vast a destiny as the English?
It is the mother of the brood that must rule the earth with the new rule,
The new rule shall rule as the Soul rules, and as the love, justice, equality in the Soul, rule.
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