And not only do you destroy the value of the book by printing such poems as these, you render it actually dangerous. Personally you and I are agreed--he would say--with Boehme where he writes that "the new spirit cometh to Divine vision in himself, and heareth God's word, and hath Divine understanding and inclination ... and ... _the earthly flesh_ ... _hurteth him not at all_".[263] We know the flesh to be beautiful and sacred; we turn with loathing from the blasphemies of Saint Bernard and of Luther, who saw in it nothing but a maggot-sack, a sack of dung. On these things we are at one; but how are we most wisely and surely to direct others on the road to self-realisation? To feed the monster of a crude passion is surely not the way to bring the individual toward the Divine vision. To be frank about these matters is necessary; but in order to be honest is it necessary to fling abroad this wildfire, against which we are all contending, lest it destroy the labours of ages? Must we nourish this giant, whose unruly strength is for ever threatening to tear in pieces the unity of the self? By these poems you are deliberately consigning your book to the class which every wise parent must label "dangerous to young people," and which the very spirits you most desire to kindle for America will be compelled, by the law of their being, to handle at their peril, and to turn from with distress. * * * * * Arguments not unlike these were doubtless used by Emerson, for we know that he discussed this problem; and Whitman listened attentively to them, explaining himself at times, but generally weighing them in silence. Perhaps they were not new to him, but they were rendered the more powerful and well-nigh irresistible by the persuasive and beautiful spirit, the whole magnetic personality of his friend. Walt was deeply moved, and when, after a couple of hours, Emerson concluded the statement of his case with the challenge, "What have you to say to such things?" could but reply, "Only that while I can't answer them at all, I feel more settled than ever to adhere to my own theory and exemplify it". "Very well," responded Emerson cheerfully, "then let us go to dinner."[264]