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great choruses from the Home of the Actors； which speak and answer all
together； in two great voices。 The plays are about toil and how good it is。
Then we walk back to the Home in a straight column。 The sky is like a
black sieve pierced by silver drops that tremble； ready to burst through。
The moths beat against the street lanterns。 We go to our beds and we
sleep； till the bell rings again。 The sleeping halls are white and clean and
bare of all things save one hundred beds。
Thus have we lived each day of four years； until two springs ago when
our crime happened。 Thus must all men live until they are forty。 At
forty； they are worn out。 At forty； they are sent to the Home of the
Useless； where the Old Ones live。 The Old Ones do not work； for the
State takes care of them。 They sit in the sun in summer and they sit by
the fire in winter。 They do not speak often； for they are weary。 The Old
Ones know that they are soon to die。 When a miracle happens and some
live to be forty…five； they are the Ancient Ones； and the children stare at
them when passing by the Home of the Useless。 Such is to be our life； as
that of all our brothers and of the brothers who came before us。
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ANTHEM
Such would have been our life； had we not committed our crime which
changed all things for us。 And it was our curse which drove us to our
crime。 We had been a good Street Sweeper and like all our brother Street
Sweepers； save for our cursed wish to know。 We looked too long at the
stars at night； and at the trees and the earth。 And when we cleaned the
yard of the Home of the Scholars； we gathered the glass vials； the pieces
of metal； the dried bones which they had discarded。 We wished to keep
these things and to study them； but we had no place to hide them。 So we
carried them to the City Cesspool。 And then we made the discovery。
It was on a day of the spring before last。 We Street Sweepers work in
brigades of three； and we were with Union 5…3992； they of the half…brain；
and with International 4…8818。 Now Union 5…3992 are a sickly lad and
sometimes they are stricken with convulsions； when their mouth froths
and their eyes turn white。 But International 4…8818 are different。 They
are a tall； strong youth and their eyes are like fireflies； for there is laughter
in their eyes。 We cannot look upon International 4…8818 and not smile in
answer。 For this they were not liked in the Home of the Students； as it is
not proper to smile without reason。 And also they were not liked because
they took pieces of coal and they drew pictures upon the walls； and they
were pictures which made men laugh。 But it is only our brothers in the
Home of the Artists who are permitted to draw pictures； so International 4…
8818 were sent to the Home of the Street Sweepers； like ourselves。
International 4…8818 and we are friends。 This is an evil thing to say； for
it is a transgression； the great Transgression of Preference； to love any
among men better than the others； since we must love all men and all men
are our friends。 So International 4…8818 and we have never spoken of it。
But we know。 We know； when we look into each other's eyes。 And
when we look thus without words； we both know other things also； strange
things for which there are no words； and these things frighten us。
So on that day of the spring before last； Union 5…3992 were stricken
with convulsions on the edge of the City； near the City Theatre。 We left
them to lie in the shade of the Theatre tent and we went with International
4…8818 to finish our work。 We came together to the great ravine behind the
Theatre。 It is empty save for trees and weeds。 Beyond the ravine there is
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ANTHEM
a plain； and beyond the plain there lies the Uncharted Forest； about which
men must not think。
We were gathering the papers and the rags which the wind had blown
from the Theatre； when we saw an iron bar among the weeds。 It was old
and rusted by many rains。 We pulled with all our strength； but we could
not move it。 So we called International 4…8818； and together we scraped
the earth around the bar。 Of a sudden the earth fell in before us； and we
saw an old iron grill over a black hole。
International 4…8818 stepped back。 But we pulled at the grill and it
gave way。 And then we saw iron rings as steps leading down a shaft into a
darkness without bottom。
〃We shall go down；〃 we said to International 4…8818。
〃It is forbidden；〃 they answered。
We said： 〃The Council does not know of this hole； so it cannot be
forbidden。〃
And they answered： 〃Since the Council does not know of this hole；
there can be no law permitting to enter it。 And everything which is not
permitted by law is forbidden。〃
But we said： 〃We shall go； none the less。〃
They were frightened； but they stood by and watched us go。
We hung on the iron rings with our hands and our feet。 We could see
nothing below us。 And above us the hole open upon the sky grew
smaller and smaller； till it came to be the size of a button。 But still we
went down。 Then our foot touched the ground。 We rubbed our eyes； for
we could not see。 Then our eyes became used to the darkness； but we
could not believe what we saw。
No men known to us could have built this place； nor the men known to
our brothers who lived before us； and yet it was built by men。 It was a
great tunnel。 Its walls were hard and smooth to the touch； it felt like stone；
but it was not stone。 On the ground there were long thin tracks of iron； but
it was not iron； it felt smooth and cold as glass。 We knelt； and we
crawled forward； our hand groping along the iron line to see where it
would lead。 But there was an unbroken night ahead。 Only the iron
tracks glowed through it； straight and white； calling us to follow。 But we
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ANTHEM
could not follow； for we were losing the puddle of light behind us。 So we
turned and we crawled back； our hand on the iron line。 And our heart beat
in our fingertips； without reason。 And then we knew。
We knew suddenly that this place was left from the Unmentionable
Times。 So it was true； and those Times had been； and all the wonders of
those Times。 Hundreds upon hundreds of years ago men knew secrets
which we have lost。 And we thought： 〃This is a foul place。 They are
damned who touch the things of the Unmentionable Times。〃 But our
hand which followed the track； as we crawled； clung to the iron as if it
would not leave it； as if the skin of our hand were thirsty and begging of
the metal some secret fluid beating in its coldness。
We returned to the earth。 International 4…8818 looked upon us and
stepped back。
〃Equality 7…2521；〃 they said； 〃your face is white。〃
But we could not speak and we stood looking upon them。
They backed away； as if they dared not touch us。 Then they smiled； but
it was not a gay smile； it was lost and pleading。 But still we could not
speak。 Then they said：
〃We shall report our find to the City Council and both of us will be
rewarded。〃
And then we spoke。 Our voice was hard and there was no mercy in
our voice。 We said：
〃We shall not report our find to the City Council。 We shall not report it
to any men。〃
They raised their hands to their ears； for never had they heard such
words as these。
〃International 4…8818；〃 we asked； 〃will you report us to the Council
and see us lashed to death before your eyes？〃
They stood straight all of a sudden and they answered： 〃Rather would
we die。〃
〃Then；〃 we said； 〃keep silent。 This place is ours。 This place belongs
to us； Equality 7…2521； and to no other men on ea