Walt Whitman

Leaves of Grass. 5. Calamus. 22. When I Peruse the Conquer'd Fame

When I peruse the conquer'd fame of heroes and the victories of
      mighty generals, I do not envy the generals,
Nor the President in his Presidency, nor the rich in his great house,
But when I hear of the brotherhood of lovers, how it was with them,
How together through life, through dangers, odium, unchanging, long
      and long,
Through youth and through middle and old age, how unfaltering, how
      affectionate and faithful they were,
Then I am pensive—I hastily walk away fill'd with the bitterest envy.