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friends； Or enemies。 I should be something somewhere I say not what
but I should not be here If he had not been there。 Possibly； too； You might
not or that Quaker with his cane。
BURR
Possibly； too； I should。 When the Almighty Rides a white horse； I
fancy we shall know it。
HAMILTON
It was a man； Burr； that was in my mind； No god； or ghost； or demon …
… only a man： A man whose occupation is the need Of those who would
not feel it if it bit them； And one who shapes an age while he endures The
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pin pricks of inferiorities； A cautious man； because he is but one； A lonely
man； because he is a thousand。 No marvel you are slow to find in him The
genius that is one spark or is nothing： His genius is a flame that he must
hold So far above the common heads of men That they may view him only
through the mist Of their defect； and wonder what he is。 It seems to me the
mystery that is in him That makes him only more to me a man Than any
other I have ever known。
BURR
I grant you that his worship is a man。 I'm not so much at home with
mysteries； May be； as you so leave him with his fire： God knows that I
shall never put it out。 He has not made a cripple of himself In his pursuit
of me； though I have heard His condescension honors me with parts。 Parts
make a whole； if we've enough of them； And once I figured a sufficiency
To be at least an atom in the annals Of your republic。 But I must have
erred。
HAMILTON
You smile as if your spirit lived at ease With error。 I should not have
named it so； Failing assent from you； nor； if I did； Should I be so
complacent in my skill To comb the tangled language of the people As to
be sure of anything in these days。 Put that much in account with modesty。
BURR
What in the name of Ahab； Hamilton； Have you； in the last region of
your dreaming； To do with 〃people〃？ You may be the devil In your dead…
reckoning of what reefs and shoals Are waiting on the progress of our ship
Unless you steer it； but you'll find it irksome Alone there in the stern； and
some warm day There'll be an inland music in the rigging； And afterwards
on deck。 I'm not affined Or favored overmuch at Monticello； But there's a
mighty swarming of new bees About the premises； and all have wings。 If
you hear something buzzing before long； Be thoughtful how you strike；
remembering also There was a fellow Naboth had a vineyard； And Ahab
cut his hair off and went softly。
HAMILTON
I don't remember that he cut his hair off。
BURR
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The Three Taverns A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
Somehow I rather fancy that he did。 If so； it's in the Book； and if not so；
He did the rest； and did it handsomely。
HAMILTON
Commend yourself to Ahab and his ways If they inveigle you to
emulation； But where； if I may ask it； are you tending With your invidious
wielding of the Scriptures？ You call to mind an eminent archangel Who
fell to make him famous。 Would you fall So far as he； to be so far
remembered？
BURR
Before I fall or rise； or am an angel； I shall acquaint myself a little
further With our new land's new language； which is not Peace to your
dreams an idiom to your liking。 I'm wondering if a man may always
know How old a man may be at thirty…seven； I wonder likewise if a
prettier time Could be decreed for a good man to vanish Than about now
for you； before you fade； And even your friends are seeing that you have
had Your cup too full for longer mortal triumph。 Well； you have had
enough； and had it young； And the old wine is nearer to the lees Than you
are to the work that you are doing。
HAMILTON
When does this philological excursion Into new lands and languages
begin？
BURR
Anon that is； already。 Only Fortune Gave me this afternoon the
benefaction Of your blue back； which I for love pursued； And in pursuing
may have saved your life Also the world a pounding piece of news：
Hamilton bites the dust of Washington； Or rather of his horse。 For you
alone； Or for your fame； I'd wish it might have been so。
HAMILTON
Not every man among us has a friend So jealous for the other's fame。
How long Are you to diagnose the doubtful case Of Demos and what for？
Have you a sword For some new Damocles？ If it's for me； I have lost all
official appetite； And shall have faded； after January； Into the law。 I'm
going to New York。
BURR
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No matter where you are； one of these days I shall come back to you
and tell you something。 This Demos； I have heard； has in his wrist A pulse
that no two doctors have as yet Counted and found the same； and in his
mouth A tongue that has the like alacrity For saying or not for saying what
most it is That pullulates in his ignoble mind。 One of these days I shall
appear again； To tell you more of him and his opinions； I shall not be so
long out of your sight； Or take myself so far； that I may not； Like
Alcibiades； come back again。 He went away to Phrygia； and fared ill。
HAMILTON
There's an example in Themistocles： He went away to Persia； and
fared well。
BURR
So？ Must I go so far？ And if so； why so？ I had not planned it so。 Is this
the road I take？ If so； farewell。
HAMILTON
Quite so。 Farewell。
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John Brown
Though for your sake I would not have you now So near to me tonight
as now you are； God knows how much a stranger to my heart Was any
cold word that I may have written； And you； poor woman that I made my
wife； You have had more of loneliness； I fear； Than I though I have been
the most alone； Even when the most attended。 So it was God set the mark
of his inscrutable Necessity on one that was to grope； And serve； and
suffer； and withal be glad For what was his； and is； and is to be； When his
old bones； that are a burden now； Are saying what the man who