And break away the gauds and armlets worn

By weaker women in eaptivity 7
Ah, vain denial ! that reyolted cry

Is sobbed in by a woman's vcice forlorn : —
Thy woman's hair, my sister, all unshorn.
Floats back dishevelled strength in agony,
Disproving thy man's name, and while before

The world thou bumcst in a poet-fire.
We see thy woman-heartbeat evermore

Tlirough the large flame. Beat porer, heart, and higher,
Till God ensex thee on the spirit-shore ;

To which alone onsexing, pareiy aspire.
This last sonnet seems to have been written after seeing the pictiue of
Sand, which represents her in a man's dress, but with long loose hair, and
an eye whose moumfal fire is impressive even in the caricatares.
,y Google



65

last, that the only eiScient remedy must come from
indmdual character. These bad institutions, indeed,
it may always be replied, prevent individuals from
forming good character, therefore we must remove
them. Agreed, yet keep steadily the higher aim in
view. Could you clear away all the bad forms of
society, it is vain, unless the individual begin to be
ready for better. There must be a parallel move-
ment in these two branches of life. And all the rules
left by Moses availed less to further the best life than
the living example of one Messiah.
