If, harmless in himself, he make a weapon

In hands of foeman malleable, a weapon

Whose bite must bring sure death unless its mark

Shatter it well before it can be hurled

(We speak here of the possible), and last

If this same weapon threatened no sole head,

Nay, but a whole Folk’s grand collective head

And one for such a Folk imperative

As is for any other trunk its head

(We speak here of the possible), and yet