You first took
me to the haunts of your own accursed and hell-educated crew. You taught
me all their arts, their contrivances, their lawlessness, and crime. You
encouraged my own deformities of soul till they became monsters, and my
own spirit such a monster that I no longer knew myself. You thrust the
weapon into my hand, and taught me its use. You put me on the scent of
blood, and bade me lap it. I will not pretend that I was not ready and
pliable enough to your hands. There was, I feel, little difficulty in
moulding me to your own measure. I was an apt scholar, and soon ceased
to be the subordinate villain. I was your companion, and too valuable to
you to be lost or left. When I acquired new views of man, and began, in
another sphere, that new life to which you would now turn your own
eyes--when I grew strong among men, and famous, and public opinion grow
enamored with the name, which your destiny compelled me to exchange for
another, you sought me out--you thrust your enticements upon me; and, in
an hour of gloom, and defeat, and despondency, you seized upon me with
those claws of temptation which are even now upon my shoulders, and I
gave up all! I made the sacrifice--name, fame, honor, troops of
friends--for what? Answer _you_! You are rich--you own slaves in
abundance--secure from your own fortunes, you have wealth hourly
increasing.
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