The Village

therpurposes.But,whereveramangoes,menwillpursueandpawhimwiththeirdirtyinstitutions,and,iftheycan,constrainhimtobelongtotheirdesperateodd-fellowsociety.Itistrue,Imighthaveresistedforciblywithmoreorlesseffect,mighthaverun“amok”againstsocietybutIpreferredthatsocietyshouldrun“amok”againstme,itbeingthedesperateparty.However,Iwasreleasedthenextday,obtainedmymendedshoe,andreturnedtothewoodsinseasontogetmydinnerofhuckleberriesonFair-HavenHill.Iwasnevermolestedbyanypersonbutthosewhorepresentedthestate.Ihadnolocknorboltbutforthedeskwhichheldmypapers,notevenanailtoputovermylatchorwindows.Ineverfastenedmydoornightorday,thoughIwastobeabsentseveraldaysnotevenwhenthenextfallIspentafortnightinthewoodsofMaine.Andyetmyhousewasmorerespectedthanifithadbeensurroundedbyafileofsoldiers.Thetiredramblercouldrestandwarmhimselfbymyfire,theliteraryamusehimselfwiththefewbooksonmytable,orthecurious,byopeningmyclosetdoor,seewhatwasleftofmydinner,andwhatprospectIhadofasupper.Yet,thoughmanypeopleofeveryclasscamethiswaytothepond,Isufferednoseriousinconveniencefromthesesources,andInevermissedanythingbutonesmallbook,avolumeofHomer,whichperhapswasimproperlygilded,andthisItrustasoldierofourcamphasfoundbythistime.Iamconvinced,thatifallmenweretoliveassimplyasIthendid,thievingandrobberywouldbeunknown.Thesetakeplaceonlyincommunitieswheresomehavegotmorethanissufficientwhileothershavenotenough.ThePope’sHomerswouldsoongetproperlydistributed.— “Necbellafuerunt, Faginusastabatdumscyphusantedapes.” “Norwarsdidmenmolest, Whenonlybeechenbowlswereinrequest.” “Youwhogovernpublicaffairs,whatneedhaveyoutoemploypunishments?Lovevirtue,andthepeoplewillbevirtuous.Thevirtuesofasuperiormanarelikethewindthevirtuesofacommonmanarelikethegrassthegrass,whenthewindpassesoverit,bends.”