If we cannot at once rise to the sanctities of obedienceand faith, let us at least resist our temptations, let us enterinto the state of war, and wake Thor and Woden, courageand constancy in our Saxon breasts. This is to be done in oursmooth times by speaking the truth. Check this lying hospi-tality and lying affection. Live no longer to the expectation ofthese deceived and deceiving people with whom we converse.Say to them, O father, O mother, O wife, O brother, O friend,I have lived withyouafterappearanceshitherto.Hence-forward 1 am the truths. Be it known unto you that hence-forward I obey no law less than the eternal law.I will haveno covenants but proximities. I shall endeavor to nourish myparents, to support my family, to be the chaste husband ofone wife, —— but these relations I must fill after a new andunprecedented way. I appeal from your customs. 1 must bemyself. I cannot break myself any longer for you, or you. Ifyou can love me for what I am, we shall b~ the happier. Ifyou cannot, I will still seek to deserve that you should. I mustbe myself. 1 will not hide my tastesor aversions. I will sotrust that what is dep is holy, that I will do strongly beforethe sun and moon whatever inly rejoices me, and the heartappoints. If you are noble, 1 will love you; if you are not, Iwill not hurt you and myself by hypocritical attentions. If youare true, but not in the same truth with me, cleave to yourcompanions; I will seek my own. I do this not selfishly, buthumbly and truly. It is alike your interest and mine and allmens, however long we have dwelt in lies,to live in truth.
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