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

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

22.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.

23.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!

24.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.

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