brothers in arms earned in blood horrible aim

We bent to raise the Golden One to their feet, but when we touched them, it was as if madness had stricken us. We had never thought of that which we did. Do as you please with us, but do not send us away from you.'Then they knelt, and bowed their golden head before us. We wish to be damned with you, rather than blessed with all our brothers. Your head is high, but our brothers cringe. Your mouth is cut of granite, but our brothers are soft and humble. You are damned, and we wish to share your damnation.'They looked upon us, and their voice was low, but there was bitterness and triumph in their voice: 'Your eyes are as a flame, but our brothers have neither hope nor fire. If danger threatens you, we shall face it also. We have followed you,' they said, 'and we shall follow you wherever you go. Then let him join hands with others if he wishes, but only beyond his holy threshold. Let each man keep his temple untouched and undefiled. For in the temple of his spirit, each man is alone. And we shall join our hands when we wish, or walk alone when we so desire. And I shall choose only such as please me, and them I shall love and respect, but neither command nor obey.

But honor is a thing to be earned.I shall choose my friends among men, but neither slaves nor masters. I do not grand my love without reason, nor to any chance passer-by who may wish to claim it. And to earn my love, my brothers must do more than to have been born. I covet no man's soul, nor is my soul theirs to covet.I am neither foe nor friend to my brothers, but such as each of them shall deserve of me. I ask none to live for me, nor do I live for any others. And the greatest of these is freedom.I owe nothing to my brothers, nor do I gather debts from them. I guard my treasures: my thought, my will, my freedom. The fortune of my spirit is not to be blown into coins of brass and flung to the winds as alms for the poor of the spirit. this miracle of me is mine to own and keep, and mine to guard, and mine to use, and mine to kneel before!I do not surrender my treasures, nor do I share them. My happiness is not the means to any end. And my happiness needs no higher aim to vindicate it.

Brothers in arms earned in blood horrible aim