...half-pay officers as the priests of Mars...

[anteros_lmc]

Pause for thought from Melville:

"Standing navies, as well as standing armies, serve to keep alive the spirit of war even in the meek heart of peace. In its very ember and smolderings they nourish that fatal fire, and half-pay officers as the priests of Mars, yet guard the temple, though no god be there."

Melville, H., (2000), White-Jacket or the World in a Man-of-War, Northwestern University Press.

Comments

[black-hound.livejournal.com]

and half-pay officers as the priests of Mars, yet guard the temple, though no god be there.

All I can say about that is .... BUSH!BUSH!BUSH!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Calm yourself my dear! Good intit though? :)