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Rh Why, what have you thought of yourself? Is it you then that thought yourself less? Is it you that thought the President greater than
 * you?

Or the rich better off than you? or the educated
 * wiser than you?

Because you are greasy or pimpled, or that you was
 * once drunk, or a thief, or diseased, or rheumatic,
 * or a prostitute, or are so now, or from frivolity or
 * impotence, or that you are no scholar, and never
 * saw your name in print, do you give in that you
 * are any less immortal?

Souls of men and women! it is not you I call unseen,
 * unheard, untouchable and untouching,

It is not you I go argue pro and con about, and to
 * settle whether you are alive or no,

I own publicly who you are, if nobody else owns—
 * I see and hear you, and what you give and take,

What is there you cannot give and take?

I see not merely that you are polite or white-faced,
 * married, single, citizens of old States, citizens of
 * new States,

Eminent in some profession, a lady or gentleman in a
 * parlor, or dressed in the jail uniform, or pulpit
 * uniform;

Grown, half-grown, and babe, of this country and
 * every country, indoors and outdoors, one just as
 * much as the other, I see,

And all else is behind or through them. Rh