anthem(圣歌)-第14节
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What brought it to pass？ What disaster took their reason away from
men？ What whip lashed them to their knees in shame and submission？
The worship of the word 〃We。〃
When men accepted that worship； the structure of centuries collaped
about them； the structure whose every beam had come from the thought of
some one man； each in his day down the ages； from the depth of some one
spirit； such spirit as existed but for its own sake。 Those men who
survived those eager to obey； eager to live for one another； since they had
nothing else to vindicate themthose men could neither carry on； nor
preserve what they had received。 Thus did all thought； all science； all
wisdom perish on earth。 Thus did men men with nothing to offer save
their great number lost the steel towers； the flying ships； the power wires；
all the things they had not created and could never keep。 Perhaps； later；
some men had been born with the mind and the courage to recover these
things which were lost； perhaps these men came before the Councils of
Scholars。 They were answered as I have been answered and for the same
reasons。
But I still wonder how it was possible； in those graceless years of
transition； long ago； that men did not see whither they were going； and
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went on； in blindness and cowardice； to their fate。 I wonder； for it is hard
for me to conceive how men who knew the word 〃I〃 could give it up and
not know what they lost。 But such has been the story； for I have lived in
the City of the damned； and I know what horror men permitted to be
brought upon them。
Perhaps； in those days； there were a few among men； a few of clear
sight and clean soul； who refused to surrender that word。 What agony must
have been theirs before that which they saw coming and could not stop！
Perhaps they cried out in protest and in warning。 But men paid no heed
to their warning。 And they； these few； fought a hopeless battle； and they
perished with their banners smeared by their own blood。 And they chose to
perish； for they knew。 To them； I send my salute across the centuries； and
my pity。
Theirs is the banner in my hand。 And I wish I had the power to tell
them that the despair of their hearts was not to be final； and their night was
not without hope。 For the battle they lost can never be lost。 For that which
they died to save can never perish。 Through all the darkness； through all
the shame of which men are capable； the spirit of man will remain alive on
this earth。 It may sleep； but it will awaken。 It may wear chains； but it will
break through。 And man will go on。 Man； not men。
Here on this mountain； I and my sons and my chosen friends shall
build our new land and our fort。 And it will become as the heart of the
earth； lost and hidden at first； but beating； beating louder each day。 And
word of it will reach every corner of the earth。 And the roads of the
world will become as veins which will carry the best of the world's blood
to my threshold。 And all my brothers； and the Councils of my brothers；
will hear of it； but they will be impotent against me。 And the day will
come when I shall break all the chains of the earth； and raze the cities of
the enslaved； and my home will become the capital of a world where each
man will be free to exist for his own sake。
For the coming of that day shall I fight； I and my sons and my chosen
friends。 For the freedom of Man。 For his rights。 For his life。 For his
honor。
And here； over the portals of my fort； I shall cut in the stone the word
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which is to be my beacon and my banner。 The word which will not die；
should we all perish in battle。 The word which can never die on this
earth； for it is the heart of it and the meaning and the glory。
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