Our statesmen shall find their exemplars and their inspiration in Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln, as all good Americans devoutly desire. But even these cannot ripen the land without the work of men as versatile as William Morris or Leonardo. Our artists shall fuse the work of these other workers, and give expression to the whole cry and the whole weeping and rejoicing of the land. We shall have Shelleys with a heart for religion, Ruskins with a comprehension of equality. _Religion_, _equality_ and _beauty_! By these America shall come into a glory that shall justify the yearning of the sages for her perfection, and the prophecies of the poets, when she was born in the throes of Valley Forge. _This, by faith, and a study of the signs, we proclaim!_ * * * * * _EPILOGUE_ [_Written to all young lovers about to set up homes of their own--but especially to those of some far-distant day, and those of my home-village_] _Lovers, O lovers, listen to my call. Give me kind thoughts. I woo you on my knees. Lovers, pale lovers, when the wheat grows tall, When willow trees are Eden's incense trees:--_ _I would be welcome as the rose in flower Or busy bird in your most secret fane. I would be read in your transcendent hour When book and rhyme seem for the most part vain._ _I would be read, the while you kiss and pray. I would be read, ere the betrothal ring Circles the slender finger and you say Words out of Heaven, while your pulses sing._ _O lovers, be my partisans and build Each home with a great fire-place as is meet. When there you stand, with royal wonder filled, In bridal peace, and comradeship complete,_ _While each dear heart beats like a fairy drum-- Then burn a new-ripe wheat-sheaf in my name. Out of the fire my spirit-bread shall come And my soul's gospel swirl from that red flame._ * * * * * Transcriber's Notes: Obvious typographical errors were repaired. Hyphenation variants were changed to most frequently used. Where equal, variants were retained. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Adventures While Preaching the Gospel of Beauty, by Nicholas Vachel Lindsay