Walt Whitman — When I Peruse the Conquerd Fame

When I peruse the conquer'd fame of heroes and the victories of         mighty generals, I do not envy the generals, Nor the President in his Presidency, nor the rich in his great house, But when I hear of the brotherhood of lovers, how it was with them, How together through life, through dangers, odium, unchanging, long         and long, Through youth and through middle and old age, how unfaltering, how         affectionate and faithful they were, Then I am pensive—I hastily walk away fill'd with the bitterest envy.