A PLEA FOR AUTHORS, MAY 1838 Failing impartial measure to dispense To every suitor, Equity is lame; And social Justice, stript of reverence For natural rights, a mockery and a shame; Law but a servile dupe of false pretence, 5 If, guarding grossest things from common claim Now and for ever, She, to works that came[189] From mind and spirit, grudge a short-lived fence. “What! lengthened privilege, a lineal tie, For _Books_!” Yes, heartless Ones, or be it proved 10 That ’tis a fault in Us to have lived and loved Like others, with like temporal hopes to die; No public harm that Genius from her course Be turned; and streams of truth dried up, even at their source![190] [189] 1838. {If} failing one strict measure to dispense {When} To all her suitors Equity is lame, And social justice by fit reverence Of natural right unswayed is but a name, MS. {Law but} the servile dupe of false pretence, {And Law} MS. {When} guarding grossest things from common claim {If} Now, and for ever, She for work that came MS. … lame, Justice unswayed, unmoved by reverence For natural right {what is she but a name?} {is but an empty name, } MS. [190] 1838. … from its course Be turned, and streams of truth dried at their source. MS. From mind and spirit grudge a short-lived fence. But no--{our} sages join in banded force {the} {That} books by right or wrong {may} glad the isle {With} {to} Say, {would} this serve the {future should our} course {can } {people if the } {Of pure domestic hopes be checked the while} {Of prejudice be less opposed the while } {Should} toil-worn Genius want a cheering smile {If } And streams of truth be dried up at their source? MS. Out of the mind grudges a short-lived fence. {But no--the Sages join in banded force } {And how preposterous Sages is your course} Who cry give books free passage thro’ the isle. {Say can this serve the people of our isle, } {By right or wrong, for better or for worse,} Friends to the people, what care ye the while Tho’ toil-worn genius want a cheering smile And far-fetched truth be dried up at her source? MS. “BLEST STATESMAN HE, WHOSE MIND’S UNSELFISH WILL” Composed 1838.--Published 1838 One of the “Sonnets dedicated to Liberty and Order.”--ED.