Apologies. I was simply pondering the section Charles Moyer mentioned in a recent note. Mr. Moyer said the passage was from the middle of Canto 33. Peace, Brennen >Brennen > >How about page and line or even just Canto #. > >Rick Seddon > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Brennen Lukas" <[log in to unmask]> >To: <[log in to unmask]> >Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2003 10:22 AM >Subject: Re: Rom. Pound > > > > "...Is that despotism > > or absolute power...unlimited sovereignty, > > is the same in a majority of a popular assembly, > > an aristocratical council, an oligarchical junto, > > and a single emperor, equally arbitrary, bloody, > > and in every respect diabolical. Wherever it has resided > > has never failed to destroy all records, memorials, > > all histories which it did not like, and to corrupt > > those it was cunning enough to preserve....." > > > > I really like how the sound of the words sneaks up on me in this >passage. >On > > the first quick read, the first five lines seem like a boring list of > > socio-political jargon. But as I stare harder, I see the complex >rhyming: > > soverignty/assembly/arbitrary; aristocratical/oligarchical/diabolical. >The > > oddly positioned ellipse adds the interesting complication of at least >one > > unfinished thought. > > > > Furthermore, I think the passsage is a thought-provoking statement in >purely > > philosophical terms, although the phrasing makes it very, very difficult >to > > unravel the "message." My interpretation is that that "unlimited > > sovereignty," or total power, is a terrible thing in all of the many >forms > > in which it is manifested. Maybe that isn't very original idea, but >it's > > certainly presented in a unique way. > > > > Just my two (or three) cents, > > Brennen Lukas > > > > http://members.cox.net/blukas/frames_index.html > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE* > > http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus > > _________________________________________________________________ Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail