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It was reprinted in Good-Bye My Fancy (1891) and in Leaves of Grass (1891–1892).

It was reprinted in Good-Bye My Fancy (1891) under the title Shakspere-Bacon's Cipher.

It was reprinted in Good-Bye My Fancy (1891) under the title Shakspere-Bacon's Cipher.

the case, I examined the accounts given on this subject, by the four Evangelists, and according to my

scripture evidence for his being the son of Joseph than otherwise ; although it has not yet changed my

mighty bulwark, not easily removed, yet it has had this salutary effect, to deliver me from judging my

they were in the same belief with myself; neither would I dare to say, positively, that it would be my

how often has my poor soul been brought to this point, when temptations have arisen, 'Get thee behind

My Departure

Grier notes that a portion of this notebook (beginning "How spied the captain and sailors") describes

—A dusky mist spread itself before my eyes.

I wandered far, far away from my then and there existence.

scenes long since past, and faces that may never more greet my view.

—I saw every particular tree, and hill, and field, my old haunts.

—This is what I dread: for I have not enjoyed my young time.

My two acquaintances were both born and bred in the city; they both were sent to good schools; both had

And yet no man can differ more from my friend H OM than does my friend T OM .

My friend H OM is, at the same time, very much of a gentleman in his manners.

Now all that my friend H OM is not , my friend Tom B EPRIM is .

When I meet H OM in the street, he always grasps my hand, and salutes me by my first name.

Venice : "SHYLOCK: 'Signior Antonio, many a time and oft / In the Rialto you have rated me / About my

moneys and my usances: / Still have I borne it with a patient shrug, / For sufferance is the badge of

of Venice: "SHYLOCK: 'Signior Antonio, many a time and oft / In the Rialto you have rated me / About my

moneys and my usances: / Still have I borne it with a patient shrug, / For sufferance is the badge of

These are exceptions to the correctness of my assertions with regard to the evil effects of tobacco;

Woodbury Thursday July 30 My friend I feel but little in the humour for writing any thing that will have

live here ten hours he would fret himself to death: I have heard the words "thank you," but once since my

—It was fun no doubt, but it cost me two mortal pounds of flesh, besides numerous remnants of my apparrel

a miserable kind of a dog: I am sick of wearing away by inches, and spending the fairest portion of my

—I pray the fates he may rid me of my spleen ere long W. W. Abrahan P. Leech | Jamaica L.I.

My friend, Why the dickins didn't you come out to the whig meeting at the court house, last Saturday

—The awful occasion impressed indeliby upon my memory every agonising moment of that infernal excursion

skin is even now peeling, and four mortal pounds of flesh which ran off in a state of dilution from my

lumps of red hot fire—not a tree not a shed to shelter us from the intolerable glare.— I gave you in my

last some account of my first "huckleberry frolick," but this beats it all hollow.

—That this earthly habitation, is a place of torment to my miserable self, is made painfully evident

—you do not know, my friend, nor can you conceive, the horrid dulness of this place.

—And as avocations of this nature never met my fancy in any great degree, you may easily imagine what

O, ye gods, press me not too far—pour not my cup too full—or I know what I shall do.

—Dire and dreadful thoughts have lately been floating through my brain.

—Excuse the naturality of my metaphor.— Speaking of "naturality" reminds me of the peculiarities that

—My period of purgation is almost up in these diggins.—Thank the pitying fates!

in two weeks more I shall wind up my affairs, and with tears in my eyes bid a sorrowful adieu to these

—My heart swells, and my melting soul almost expires with the agonising idea.

—Luckily for my self-complacency they are mostly whigs.

My dear L— I perform the thrice-agreeable office of informing you that my purgatory here is just finishing

At present I think it improbable that I shall pay any visit to Jamaica, though I should like to see my

"— —"O. how my spirit springs and grows elastick at the idea of leaving this diabolical, and most p articularly

account of a wondrous and important discovery, a treatise upon which would fill up the principal part of my

Some years ago, when my judgement was in the bud, I thought riches were very desirable things.

But I have altered my mind. Light has flowed in upon me. I am not quite so green as I was.

From my very soul, I look with sorrow on the pitiable and black souled malice which actuates such men

Compare to, "I loafe and invite my soul,/ I lean and loafe at my ease . . . . observing a spear of summer

eagerly scanned to discover the object of my labours.

, and brighter, and more precious than earthly jewels; but in vain, for it eluded my sight.

which had been showered upon my mind. * * * * * * * The agitation of my thoughts, however, broke my slumbers

I slowly wended my way homeward, my soul improved in knowledge, and determined to treasure during life

.; Compare to, "I loafe and invite my soul,/ I lean and loafe at my ease . . . . observing a spear of

To such an one will I doff my beaver. Whitman here means to tip his hat.

For my part, I have had serious thoughts of getting up a regular ticket for President and Congress and

It is my impression, too, that we should poll a pretty strong vote. We number largely in the land.

O, it makes my nerves quiver as I think of it.—Yes, anathema!

—Of course, I build now and then my castles in the air.

like wreaths of smoke, and about as substantial, my day dreams.

—It is my sanctum sanctorum, which profane foot invadeth not.

—My best wishes I waft to you, wrapped up and sealed with a wafer.

the balmy coolness and the voluptuousness of the scene had led me into, being thus broken in upon, my

—This individual, my enemy, and I, had differed upon a matter of opinion; a sharp word had passed, and

an enormous basket, containing a towel, fishing tackle, and incalculable quantities of provisions; Captain

But my limits will not allow me to expatiate upon the events of this interesting voyage.

"I went that way because it is on my road home.

Please to let me go to my seat—I a'n't well." "Oh yes; that's very likely;" and Mr.

are you, my young gentleman!"

I returned from near Ithaca, whither I went after leaving Jamaica, I was completely disappointed in my

trifling suffusion spread over his face; "if you like, I'll put the saddle on Black Nell—she's here at my

"You have worked hard to-day, my son." "I've been mowing."

Feel of my hands." There were blisters on them like great lumps. Tears started in the widow's eyes.

I'd as leive lieve be in my grave as there." And the child burst into a passionate fit of weeping.

"There, my lads," he said to his companions, "there's a new recruit for you.

"I've no occasion; beside, it makes my head ache, and I have promised my mother not to drink any," was

The circumstances of my family were easy; I received a good education, was intended by my father for

The eldest was my favorite.

I kept a box of my own, and frequently attended, often giving my family permission also to be present

My blood curdled as I saw there an image of the form of my son—my cruelly treated Luke—but oh, how ghastly

I clapped my hands to my ears, to keep out the appalling sounds that seemed to freeze my very blood.

I took my lamp, and went my way to my room.

I stopped and leaned my back against the fence, with my face turned toward the white marble stones a

; and answered, "My husband's."

She looked at me for a minute, as if in wonder at my perverseness; and then answered as before, "My husband's

my open hands and thought.

have of late frequently come to me times when I do not dread the grave—when I could lie down, and pass my

I was alone, the family of my host having gone on some visit to a neighbor.

Insensibly, my consciousness became less and less distinct; my head leaned back; my eyes closed; and

my senses relaxed from their waking vigilance.

The person to whom I spoke stared in my face surprisedly.

"Himself hung it around my neck," said the veteran.

Wisdom mentioned by Whitman is Captain William A.

Wisdom mentioned by Whitman is Captain William A.

In the 1855 edition of Leaves of Grass, Whitman famously wrote, "I loafe and invite my soul, I lean and

loafe at my ease . . . . observing a spear of summer grass" ( Leaves of Grass [Brooklyn: n.p., 1855]

In the 1855 edition of Leaves of Grass, Whitman famously wrote, "I loafe and invite my soul, I lean and

loafe at my ease . . . . observing a spear of summer grass" (Leaves of Grass [Brooklyn: n.p., 1855],

expression changed, and his face greeted ours with an arch confiding smile, as much as to say "I know, my

first edition of Leaves of Grass thirteen years later, where he famously writes, "I loaf and invite my

soul, / I lean and loafe at my ease . . . . observing a spear of summer grass," and later asking his

first edition of Leaves of Grass thirteen years later, where he famously writes, "I loaf and invite my

soul, / I lean and loafe at my ease . . . . observing a spear of summer grass," and later asking his

I cannot, of course, convey to others that particular kind of influence, which is derived from my being

I must hardly expect, therefore, that to those who hear it through the medium of my pen, the narration

times which marked our American Revolution that the incidents occurred which are the foundation of my

Again I ask pardon for my rudeness. Let me now be shown to this chamber—this haunted chamber.

He came to my very bed-side; his small hand was raised, and almost touched my face.

greatest and profoundest truths are often most plain to the senses of men—in the same resemblance, my

The scene of the meeting was the school house; and having no other means of employing my time, I determined

"You are whimsical, my dear," said the matron, as she took the paper; "why do you desire so needless

"My son," she cried, in uncontrollable agony; "my son! you die!"

Whitman reused this sentence and the preceding one, beginning "My son," with minor revisions, in " The

.; Whitman reused this sentence and the preceding one, beginning "My son," with minor revisions, in "

.— My stories, I believe, have been pretty popular, and extracted liberally.

And the gentle creature blushes at my protestations of love, and leans her cheek upon my neck.

"My brother, thus have I lived my life. Your look asks me if I have been happy.

"My brother, a maiden's tears washed my stern resolves away.

Various fortune followed my path.

But I can lay my hand upon my heart, and thank the Great Master, that the sunshine has been far oftener

What is yours, my brother?" "Behold!" answered the Spirit.

I expressed my desire at the suggestion, and he commenced his narrative: Both this original printing

"My child!" she cried, in uncontrollable agony, "my child! you die!"

This sentence and the preceding one, beginning "My child," also first appeared, with minor differences

He acknowledged in answer to my questioning, that he had indeed been relating a story, the hero of which

.; This sentence and the preceding one, beginning "My child," also first appeared, with minor differences

I felt of my hatchet's edge—it was keen as my hate.

my sorrowful cousins, and went my way.

Wife of my youth! of my early youth!

All my cruelty—all my former love—all my guilt—all my disregard of the sacred ties—seemed concentrated

My deeds were as good as my word.

Among temperance novels then quite popular were Lucius Manley Sargent's My Mother's Gold Ring (1833),

equipages roll by—I see the respectful bow at the presence of pride—and I curse the contrast between my

The lofty air—the show of dress—the aristocratic demeanor—the glitter of jewels—dazzle my eyes; and sharp-toothed

Why: should my path be so much rougher than theirs? Pitiable, unfortunate man that I am!

to be placed beneath those whom in my heart I despise—and to be constantly tantalized with the presence

Barcoure was a young man—like my hero.

Indeed it may be found, before the end of my story, that the right of main personage may lie between

advance any farther, it were well for me to remind the reader that I seek to paint life and men, in my

.; An earlier version of this poem entitled "My Departure" appeared in the Long Island Democrat, 23 October

New-York is my birth-place.

Of my brothers and sisters I shall introduce only one, my brother Matthew, not quite two years younger

I was intended for the profession of the law; though, being lazy in my studies, it was not until my twenty-first

The very first day of my appearance there, about the middle of the morning, there came to see my master

My eyesight seemed to waver, my head felt dizzy, and a feeling of deadly nausea came over me.

fiercely, and rack my soul with great pain.

These elements are the influences of my nature on the one side, and those of my habits on the other.

My eyes answered, yes. So I learned language.

Only one of them came near to me, in my progress.

about my own age.

though shining out very brightly by fits and starts, seemed incapable of conveying any warmth, I took my

hat, which I was able to keep on my head not without considerable effort.

My flesh quivered with the bitter coldness of the air. My breath appeared steam. Qu-foo-o!

I gave an extra pull of my hat over my brows—a closer adjustment of my collar around my shoulders, and

way homeward, imbue my fancy with a kindred glee and joyousness!

"You have worked hard to-day, my son." "I've been mowing."

So, curse me if you sha'n't have a suck at my expense."

"There, my lads," said he, turning to his companions, "There's a new recruit for you.

Besides, my mother has often prayed me not to drink , and I promised to obey her."

" My mother has often prayed me not to drink!

has been attached by a collector or archivist to a backing sheet, together with And there, Drops of my

My people knew not of my coming—none but my brother's wife, to whom I confided my purpose, lest they

My sister fell!

"One day my sister was missing.

He accepted my challenge.

I was blinded by my hate for my sister's betrayer.

of the stranger was not deficient in dignity, but it seemed far unlike the dignity of princes and captains