All, I am certainly surprised that the lines I mused about were written by John Adams. Even with that altered context, however, my analysis changes very little. It's a perfect example of how the simple technique of enjambment, expertly applied, can transform prose (even weighty political prose) to poetry. It's not just prose with line breaks; Pound has transformed the text into something new. Apologies to John Adams, obviously a fine writer all by himself. Down to one cent, Brennen Lukas > >blukas, > For that two cents you'll get no change. But I must be surprised as >any >to hear what a fine poetic ear John Adams had since the lines quoted here >are from him and not Pound. > Now ain't you just a little embarrased to have said that one of our >founding fathers wrote in "boring socio-political jargon"? > > "presented in an unique way" - I like that. Maybe that is the reason >no >one will ever write anything quite like the Cantos. > At least you answered. What happened to the other "Hotmail" persona >wha >would all eager be ta discuss Pahund, an activity largely foreign to this >list? > >Charles > >---------- > >From: Brennen Lukas <[log in to unmask]> > >To: [log in to unmask] > >Subject: Re: Rom. Pound > >Date: Thu, Jul 31, 2003, 12:22 PM > > > > > "...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 _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus