Page:Leaves of Grass (1860).djvu/342

334 No one can acquire for another—not one! Not one can grow for another—not one!

The song is to the singer, and comes back most to
 * him,

The teaching is to the teacher, and comes back most
 * to him,

The murder is to the murderer, and comes back most
 * to him,

The theft is to the thief, and comes back most to him, The love is to the lover, and comes back most to him, The gift is to the giver, and comes back most to him
 * —it cannot fail,

The oration is to the orator, and the acting is to the
 * actor and actress, not to the audience,

And no man understands any greatness or goodness
 * but his own, or the indication of his own.

I swear the earth shall surely be complete to him or
 * her who shall be complete!

I swear the earth remains broken and jagged only to
 * him or her who remains broken and jagged!

I swear there is no greatness or power that does not
 * emulate those of the earth!

I swear there can be no theory of any account, unless
 * it corroborate the theory of the earth!

No politics, art, religion, behavior, or what not, is of
 * account, unless it compare with the amplitude of
 * the earth,

Unless it face the exactness, vitality, impartiality,
 * rectitude of the earth.

I swear I begin to see love with sweeter spasms than
 * that which responds love!