"Dear Sir,
You think that by calling me an 'ultra-liberal' you're insulting me. My only reply should be to thank you. But let's have a closer look at this shaming adjective. I open the dictionary and find that the primary meaning of the word is 'one who loves giving.' In that sense I'd wager that you'd call yourself as well as me 'ultra-liberal.' Or perhaps you'd not give me that title anymore. But I'm sure you yourself would accept it and would consider yourself more liberal than I. Now, as I can't believe you sought to insult yourself I can take as flattering the major part of the word's meaning...
Perhaps by ultra-liberal you were thinking of those who live only in unrest and subversion. Let them step forward and I'll be the first to heap curses on their heads. But I find such men all about me. I see them near you, today, reddening in blood the color they describe as spotless, and which they have assumed only in order to use it as a barrier between themselves and their accusers.
So, upon close examination, I cannot believe that you would have wanted so to disfigure merely in my favor a word that is terrible only to fools of the upper classes and - generally speaking - to the enemies of governments based on virtue and justice because they guarantee freedom and equality. Now, as I do not consider you to be either stupid or the enemy of civilized freedom and equality, I thank you in all sincerity for the kindness you've shown in giving me the noblest title a citizen can bear.
My gaze will not be fascinated by the baleful results of evil passions! I feel it in the depths of my heart: there are truly liberal men, because there are men who still love true glory and virtue.
Sir, I salute you."
All along I've assumed the poetry is to be found only in the poetry, safe, secure, inviolate. Man, have I got a lot of work to do.
