Orakel Classics
Middlemarch
Middlemarch by George Eliot, prepared as a public-domain Orakel edition with 96 chapter-aware companion links.
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PRELUDE.
PRELUDE. from Middlemarch. Who that cares much to know the history of man, and how the mysterious mixture behaves under the varying experiments of Time, has not dwelt, at least briefly, on the life of Saint Theresa, has not smiled with some gentleness at the thought of the little girl walking forth one morning hand-in-hand with her still smaller brother, to go and seek martyrdom in the country of the Moors? Out they toddled from rugged Avila,
Open2BOOK I.
BOOK I. from Middlemarch. This section is available as a chapter-aware Orakel companion.
Open3CHAPTER I.: Since I can do no good because a woman,
CHAPTER I.: Since I can do no good because a woman, from Middlemarch. Reach constantly at something that is near it. —The Maid’s Tragedy: BEAUMONT AND
Open4CHAPTER II.: “‘Dime; no ves aquel caballero que hacia nosotros viene sobre un
CHAPTER II.: “‘Dime; no ves aquel caballero que hacia nosotros viene sobre un from Middlemarch. caballo rucio rodado que trae puesto en la cabeza un yelmo de oro?’ ‘Lo que veo y columbro,’ respondio Sancho, ‘no es sino un hombre sobre un as no pardo como el mio, que trae sobre la cabeza una cosa que relumbra.’ ‘Pues ese es el yelmo de Mambrino,’ dijo Don
Open5CHAPTER III.: “Say, goddess, what ensued, when Raphael,
CHAPTER III.: “Say, goddess, what ensued, when Raphael, from Middlemarch. The affable archangel . . . Eve The story heard attentive, and was filled With admiration, and deep muse, to hear Of things so high and strange.” —Paradise Lost, B.
Open6CHAPTER IV.: 1_st Gent_. Our deeds are fetters that we forge ourselves.
CHAPTER IV.: 1_st Gent_. Our deeds are fetters that we forge ourselves. from Middlemarch. “Sir James seems determined to do everything you wish,” said Celia, as they were driving home from an inspection of the new
Open7CHAPTER V.: “Hard students are commonly troubled with gowts, catarrhs, rheums,
CHAPTER V.: “Hard students are commonly troubled with gowts, catarrhs, rheums, from Middlemarch. cachexia, bradypepsia, bad eyes, stone, and collick, crudities, oppilations, vertigo, winds, consumptions, and all such diseases as come by over-much sitting: they are most part lean, dry, ill-colored … and all through immoderate pains and extraordinary studies. If you will not believe the truth of this, look upon great Tostatus and Thomas Aquinas’ works; and tell me whether those men took pains.”—BURTON’S Anatomy
Open8CHAPTER VI.: My lady’s tongue is like the meadow blades,
CHAPTER VI.: My lady’s tongue is like the meadow blades, from Middlemarch. That cut you stroking them with idle hand. Nice cutting is her function: she divides With spiritual edge the millet-seed, And makes intangible
Open9CHAPTER VII.: “Piacer e popone
CHAPTER VII.: “Piacer e popone from Middlemarch. Mr. Casaubon, as might be expected, spent a great deal of his time at the Grange in these weeks, and the hindrance which courtship occasioned to the progress of his great work—the Key to all Mythologies—naturally made him look forward the more eagerly to the happy termination of courtship. But he had deliberately incurred the hindrance, having made up his mind that it was now time for him to adorn his life with the
Open10CHAPTER VIII.: “Oh, rescue her! I am her brother now,
CHAPTER VIII.: “Oh, rescue her! I am her brother now, from Middlemarch. It was wonderful to Sir James Chettam how well he continued to like going to the Grange after he had once encountered the difficulty of seeing Dorothea for the first time in the light of a woman who was engaged to another man. Of course the forked lightning seemed to pass through him when he first approached her, and he remained conscious throughout the interview of hiding uneasiness; but, good as he was, it must be
Open11CHAPTER IX.: 1_st Gent_. An ancient land in ancient oracles
CHAPTER IX.: 1_st Gent_. An ancient land in ancient oracles from Middlemarch. Is called “law-thirsty”: all the struggle there Was after order and a perfect rule. Pray, where lie such lands now? . .
Open12CHAPTER X.: “He had catched a great cold, had he had no other clothes to wear than
CHAPTER X.: “He had catched a great cold, had he had no other clothes to wear than from Middlemarch. CHAPTER X.: “He had catched a great cold, had he had no other clothes to wear
Open13CHAPTER XI.: But deeds and language such as men do use,
CHAPTER XI.: But deeds and language such as men do use, from Middlemarch. And persons such as comedy would choose, When she would show an image of the times, And sport with human follies, not with crimes. —BEN
Open14CHAPTER XII.: He had more tow on his distaffe
CHAPTER XII.: He had more tow on his distaffe from Middlemarch. The ride to Stone Court, which Fred and Rosamond took the next morning, lay through a pretty bit of midland landscape, almost all meadows and pastures, with hedgerows still allowed to grow in bushy beauty and to spread out coral fruit for the birds. Little details gave each field a particular physiognomy, dear to the eyes that have looked on them from childhood: the pool in the corner where the grasses were dank and
Open15BOOK II.
BOOK II. from Middlemarch. This section is available as a chapter-aware Orakel companion.
Open16CHAPTER XIII.: 1_st Gent_. How class your man?—as better than the most,
CHAPTER XIII.: 1_st Gent_. How class your man?—as better than the most, from Middlemarch. Or, seeming better, worse beneath that cloak? As saint or knave, pilgrim or
Open17CHAPTER XIV.: “Follows here the strict receipt
CHAPTER XIV.: “Follows here the strict receipt from Middlemarch. For that sauce to dainty meat, Named Idleness, which many eat By preference, and call it sweet: First watch for morsels, like a hound Mix well with buffets, stir them round With good thick oil of flatteries, And froth with mean self-lauding lies. Serve warm: the vessels you must choose To keep it in are dead men’s
Open18CHAPTER XV.: “Black eyes you have left, you say,
CHAPTER XV.: “Black eyes you have left, you say, from Middlemarch. Blue eyes fail to draw you; Yet you seem more rapt to-day, Than of old we saw
Open19CHAPTER XVI.: “All that in woman is adored
CHAPTER XVI.: “All that in woman is adored from Middlemarch. In thy fair self I find— For the whole sex can but afford The handsome and the kind.” —SIR CHARLES
Open20CHAPTER XVII.: “The clerkly person smiled and said
CHAPTER XVII.: “The clerkly person smiled and said from Middlemarch. The Rev. Camden Farebrother, whom Lydgate went to see the next evening, lived in an old parsonage, built of stone, venerable enough to match the church which it looked out upon. All the furniture too in the house was old, but with another grade of age—that of Mr. Farebrother’s father and grandfather. There were painted white chairs, with gilding and wreaths on them, and some lingering red silk damask with slits in
Open21CHAPTER XVIII.: “Oh, sir, the loftiest hopes on earth
CHAPTER XVIII.: “Oh, sir, the loftiest hopes on earth from Middlemarch. Draw lots with meaner hopes: heroic breasts, Breathing bad air, run risk of pestilence; Or, lacking lime-juice when they cross the Line, May languish with the
Open22CHAPTER XIX.: “L’ altra vedete ch’ha fatto alla guancia
CHAPTER XIX.: “L’ altra vedete ch’ha fatto alla guancia from Middlemarch. When George the Fourth was still reigning over the privacies of Windsor, when the Duke of Wellington was Prime Minister, and Mr. Vincy was mayor of the old corporation in Middlemarch, Mrs. Casaubon, born Dorothea Brooke, had taken her wedding journey to Rome. In those days the world in general was more ignorant of good and evil by forty years than it is at present. Travellers did not often carry full information on
Open23CHAPTER XX.: “A child forsaken, waking suddenly,
CHAPTER XX.: “A child forsaken, waking suddenly, from Middlemarch. Whose gaze afeard on all things round doth rove, And seeth only that it cannot see The meeting eyes of
Open24CHAPTER XXI.: “Hire facounde eke full womanly and plain,
CHAPTER XXI.: “Hire facounde eke full womanly and plain, from Middlemarch. It was in that way Dorothea came to be sobbing as soon as she was securely alone. But she was presently roused by a knock at the door, which made her hastily dry her eyes before saying, “Come in.” Tantripp had brought a card, and said that there was a gentleman waiting in the lobby. The courier had told him that only Mrs. Casaubon was at home, but he said he was a relation of Mr. Casaubon’s: would she see
Open25CHAPTER XXII.: “Nous câusames longtemps; elle était simple et bonne.
CHAPTER XXII.: “Nous câusames longtemps; elle était simple et bonne. from Middlemarch. Ne sachant pas le mal, elle faisait le bien; Des richesses du coeur elle me fit l’aumône, Et tout en écoutant comme le coeur se donne, Sans oser y penser je lui donnai le mien; Elle emporta ma vie, et n’en sut jamais rien.” —ALFRED DE
Open26BOOK III.
BOOK III. from Middlemarch. This section is available as a chapter-aware Orakel companion.
Open27CHAPTER XXIII.: “Your horses of the Sun,” he said,
CHAPTER XXIII.: “Your horses of the Sun,” he said, from Middlemarch. “And first-rate whip Apollo! Whate’er they be, I’ll eat my head, But I will beat them
Open28CHAPTER XXIV.: “The offender’s sorrow brings but small relief
CHAPTER XXIV.: “The offender’s sorrow brings but small relief from Middlemarch. I am sorry to say that only the third day after the propitious events at Houndsley Fred Vincy had fallen into worse spirits than he had known in his life before. Not that he had been disappointed as to the possible market for his horse, but that before the bargain could be concluded with Lord Medlicote’s man, this Diamond, in which hope to the amount of eighty pounds had been invested, had without the slightest
Open29CHAPTER XXV.: “Love seeketh not itself to please,
CHAPTER XXV.: “Love seeketh not itself to please, from Middlemarch. Nor for itself hath any care But for another gives its ease And builds a heaven in hell’s despair. . . . . . . . Love seeketh only self to please, To bind another to its delight, Joys in another’s loss of ease, And builds a hell in heaven’s despite.” —W. BLAKE: Songs of
Open30CHAPTER XXVI.: He beats me and I rail at him: O worthy satisfaction! would it were
CHAPTER XXVI.: He beats me and I rail at him: O worthy satisfaction! would it were from Middlemarch. CHAPTER XXVI.: He beats me and I rail at him: O worthy satisfaction! would it
Open31CHAPTER XXVII.: Let the high Muse chant loves Olympian:
CHAPTER XXVII.: Let the high Muse chant loves Olympian: from Middlemarch. An eminent philosopher among my friends, who can dignify even your ugly furniture by lifting it into the serene light of science, has shown me this pregnant little fact. Your pier-glass or extensive surface of polished steel made to be rubbed by a housemaid, will be minutely and multitudinously scratched in all directions; but place now against it a lighted candle as a centre of illumination, and lo! the scratches
Open32CHAPTER XXVIII.: 1_st Gent_. All times are good to seek your wedded home
CHAPTER XXVIII.: 1_st Gent_. All times are good to seek your wedded home from Middlemarch. 2d Gent. Why, true. The calendar hath not an evil day For souls made one by love, and even death Were sweetness, if it came like rolling waves While they two clasped each other, and foresaw No life
Open33CHAPTER XXIX.: I found that no genius in another could please me. My unfortunate
CHAPTER XXIX.: I found that no genius in another could please me. My unfortunate from Middlemarch. One morning, some weeks after her arrival at Lowick, Dorothea—but why always Dorothea? Was her point of view the only possible one with regard to this marriage? I protest against all our interest, all our effort at understanding being given to the young skins that look blooming in spite of trouble; for these too will get faded, and will know the older and more eating griefs which we are helping to neglect. In spite
Open34CHAPTER XXX.: Qui veut délasser hors de propos, lasse.—PASCAL.
CHAPTER XXX.: Qui veut délasser hors de propos, lasse.—PASCAL. from Middlemarch. Mr. Casaubon had no second attack of equal severity with the first, and in a few days began to recover his usual condition. But Lydgate seemed to think the case worth a great deal of attention. He not only used his stethoscope (which had not become a matter of course in practice at that time), but sat quietly by his patient and watched him. To Mr. Casaubon’s questions about himself, he replied that the source of the
Open35CHAPTER XXXI.: How will you know the pitch of that great bell
CHAPTER XXXI.: How will you know the pitch of that great bell from Middlemarch. Too large for you to stir? Let but a flute Play ’neath the fine-mixed metal: listen close Till the right note flows forth, a silvery rill: Then shall the huge bell tremble—then the mass With myriad waves concurrent shall respond In low soft
Open36CHAPTER XXXII.: They’ll take suggestion as a cat laps milk.
CHAPTER XXXII.: They’ll take suggestion as a cat laps milk. from Middlemarch. The triumphant confidence of the Mayor founded on Mr. Featherstone’s insistent demand that Fred and his mother should not leave him, was a feeble emotion compared with all that was agitating the breasts of the old man’s blood-relations, who naturally manifested more their sense of the family tie and were more visibly numerous now that he had become bedridden. Naturally: for when “poor Peter” had occupied his
Open37CHAPTER XXXIII.: “Close up his eyes and draw the curtain close;
CHAPTER XXXIII.: “Close up his eyes and draw the curtain close; from Middlemarch. That night after twelve o’clock Mary Garth relieved the watch in Mr. Featherstone’s room, and sat there alone through the small hours. She often chose this task, in which she found some pleasure, notwithstanding the old man’s testiness whenever he demanded her attentions. There were intervals in which she could sit perfectly still, enjoying the outer stillness and the subdued light. The red fire with its gently
Open38BOOK IV.
BOOK IV. from Middlemarch. This section is available as a chapter-aware Orakel companion.
Open39CHAPTER XXXIV.: “1_st Gent_. Such men as this are feathers, chips, and straws,
CHAPTER XXXIV.: “1_st Gent_. Such men as this are feathers, chips, and straws, from Middlemarch. 2d Gent. But levity Is causal too, and makes the sum of weight. For power finds its place in lack of power; Advance is cession, and the driven ship May run aground because the helmsman’s thought Lacked force to balance
Open40CHAPTER XXXV.: “Non, je ne comprends pas de plus charmant plaisir
CHAPTER XXXV.: “Non, je ne comprends pas de plus charmant plaisir from Middlemarch. Que de voir d’héritiers une troupe affligée Le maintien interdit, et la mine allongée, Lire un long testament où pales, étonnés On leur laisse un bonsoir avec un pied de nez. Pour voir au naturel leur tristesse profonde Je reviendrais, je crois, exprès de l’autre monde.” —REGNARD: Le Légataire
Open41CHAPTER XXXVI.: ’T is strange to see the humors of these men,
CHAPTER XXXVI.: ’T is strange to see the humors of these men, from Middlemarch. These great aspiring spirits, that should be wise: . . . . . . . . For being the nature of great spirits to love To be where they may be most eminent; They, rating of themselves so farre above Us in conceit, with whom they do frequent, Imagine how we wonder and esteeme All that they do or say; which makes them strive To make our admiration more extreme, Which they suppose they cannot, ’less they give Notice of their
Open42CHAPTER XXXVII.: Thrice happy she that is so well assured
CHAPTER XXXVII.: Thrice happy she that is so well assured from Middlemarch. Unto herself and settled so in heart That neither will for better be allured Ne fears to worse with any chance to start, But like a steddy ship doth strongly part The raging waves and keeps her course aright; Ne aught for tempest doth from it depart, Ne aught for fairer weather’s false delight. Such self-assurance need not fear the spight Of grudging foes; ne favour seek of friends; But in the stay of her own
Open43CHAPTER XXXVIII.: “C’est beaucoup que le jugement des hommes sur les actions humaines;
CHAPTER XXXVIII.: “C’est beaucoup que le jugement des hommes sur les actions humaines; from Middlemarch. CHAPTER XXXVIII.: “C’est beaucoup que le jugement des hommes sur les actions
Open44CHAPTER XXXIX.: “If, as I have, you also doe,
CHAPTER XXXIX.: “If, as I have, you also doe, from Middlemarch. Vertue attired in woman see, And dare love that, and say so too, And forget the He and
Open45CHAPTER XL.: Wise in his daily work was he:
CHAPTER XL.: Wise in his daily work was he: from Middlemarch. To fruits of diligence, And not to faiths or polity, He plied his utmost sense. These perfect in their little parts, Whose work is all their prize— Without them how could laws, or arts, Or towered cities
Open46CHAPTER XLI.: By swaggering could I never thrive,
CHAPTER XLI.: By swaggering could I never thrive, from Middlemarch. The transactions referred to by Caleb Garth as having gone forward between Mr. Bulstrode and Mr. Joshua Rigg Featherstone concerning the land attached to Stone Court, had occasioned the interchange of a letter or two between these
Open47CHAPTER XLII.: How much, methinks, I could despise this man
CHAPTER XLII.: How much, methinks, I could despise this man from Middlemarch. One of the professional calls made by Lydgate soon after his return from his wedding-journey was to Lowick Manor, in consequence of a letter which had requested him to fix a time for his
Open48BOOK V.
BOOK V. from Middlemarch. This section is available as a chapter-aware Orakel companion.
Open49CHAPTER XLIII.: “This figure hath high price: ’t was wrought with love
CHAPTER XLIII.: “This figure hath high price: ’t was wrought with love from Middlemarch. Ages ago in finest ivory; Nought modish in it, pure and noble lines Of generous womanhood that fits all time That too is costly ware; majolica Of deft design, to please a lordly eye: The smile, you see, is perfect—wonderful As mere Faience! a table ornament To suit the richest
Open50CHAPTER XLIV.: I would not creep along the coast but steer
CHAPTER XLIV.: I would not creep along the coast but steer from Middlemarch. When Dorothea, walking round the laurel-planted plots of the New Hospital with Lydgate, had learned from him that there were no signs of change in Mr. Casaubon’s bodily condition beyond the mental sign of anxiety to know the truth about his illness, she was silent for a few moments, wondering whether she had said or done anything to rouse this new anxiety. Lydgate, not willing to let slip an opportunity of
Open51CHAPTER XLV.: It is the humor of many heads to extol the days of their forefathers,
CHAPTER XLV.: It is the humor of many heads to extol the days of their forefathers, from Middlemarch. CHAPTER XLV.: It is the humor of many heads to extol the days of their
Open52CHAPTER XLVI.: Pues no podemos haber aquello que queremos, queramos aquello que
CHAPTER XLVI.: Pues no podemos haber aquello que queremos, queramos aquello que from Middlemarch. While Lydgate, safely married and with the Hospital under his command, felt himself struggling for Medical Reform against Middlemarch, Middlemarch was becoming more and more conscious of the national struggle for another kind of
Open53CHAPTER XLVII.: Was never true love loved in vain,
CHAPTER XLVII.: Was never true love loved in vain, from Middlemarch. For truest love is highest gain. No art can make it: it must spring Where elements are fostering. So in heaven’s spot and hour Springs the little native flower, Downward root and upward eye, Shapen by the earth and
Open54CHAPTER XLVIII.: Surely the golden hours are turning gray
CHAPTER XLVIII.: Surely the golden hours are turning gray from Middlemarch. And dance no more, and vainly strive to run: I see their white locks streaming in the wind— Each face is haggard as it looks at me, Slow turning in the constant clasping round
Open55CHAPTER XLIX.: “A task too strong for wizard spells
CHAPTER XLIX.: “A task too strong for wizard spells from Middlemarch. This squire had brought about; ’T is easy dropping stones in wells, But who shall get them
Open56CHAPTER L.: “This Loller here wol precilen us somewhat.”
CHAPTER L.: “This Loller here wol precilen us somewhat.” from Middlemarch. “Nay by my father’s soule! that schal he nat,” Sayde the Schipman, ‘here schal he not preche, We schal no gospel glosen here ne teche. We leven all in the gret God,’ quod he. He wolden sowen some diffcultee.”—Canterbury
Open57CHAPTER LI.: Party is Nature too, and you shall see
CHAPTER LI.: Party is Nature too, and you shall see from Middlemarch. By force of Logic how they both agree: The Many in the One, the One in Many; All is not Some, nor Some the same as Any: Genus holds species, both are great or small; One genus highest, one not high at all; Each species has its differentia too, This is not That, and He was never You, Though this and that are AYES, and you and he Are like as one to one, or three to
Open58CHAPTER LII.: “His heart
CHAPTER LII.: “His heart from Middlemarch. On that June evening when Mr. Farebrother knew that he was to have the Lowick living, there was joy in the old fashioned parlor, and even the portraits of the great lawyers seemed to look on with satisfaction. His mother left her tea and toast untouched, but sat with her usual pretty primness, only showing her emotion by that flush in the cheeks and brightness in the eyes which give an old woman a touching momentary
Open59CHAPTER LIII.: It is but a shallow haste which concludeth insincerity from what
CHAPTER LIII.: It is but a shallow haste which concludeth insincerity from what from Middlemarch. outsiders call inconsistency—putting a dead mechanism of “ifs” and “therefores” for the living myriad of hidden suckers whereby the belief and the conduct are wrought into mutual
Open60BOOK VI.
BOOK VI. from Middlemarch. This section is available as a chapter-aware Orakel companion.
Open61CHAPTER LIV.: “Negli occhi porta la mia donna Amore;
CHAPTER LIV.: “Negli occhi porta la mia donna Amore; from Middlemarch. Per che si fa gentil ciò ch’ella mira: Ov’ella passa, ogni uom ver lei si gira, E cui saluta fa tremar lo
Open62CHAPTER LV.: Hath she her faults? I would you had them too.
CHAPTER LV.: Hath she her faults? I would you had them too. from Middlemarch. They are the fruity must of soundest wine; Or say, they are regenerating fire Such as hath turned the dense black element Into a crystal pathway for the
Open63CHAPTER LVI.: “How happy is he born and taught
CHAPTER LVI.: “How happy is he born and taught from Middlemarch. That serveth not another’s will; Whose armor is his honest thought, And simple truth his only skill! . . . . . . . This man is freed from servile bands Of hope to rise or fear to fall; Lord of himself though not of lands; And having nothing yet hath all.” —SIR HENRY
Open64CHAPTER LVII.: They numbered scarce eight summers when a name
CHAPTER LVII.: They numbered scarce eight summers when a name from Middlemarch. Rose on their souls and stirred such motions there As thrill the buds and shape their hidden frame At penetration of the quickening air: His name who told of loyal Evan Dhu, Of quaint Bradwardine, and Vich Ian Vor, Making the little world their childhood knew Large with a land of mountain lake and scaur, And larger yet with wonder, love, belief Toward Walter Scott who living far away Sent them this wealth of joy and
Open65CHAPTER LVIII.: “For there can live no hatred in thine eye,
CHAPTER LVIII.: “For there can live no hatred in thine eye, from Middlemarch. Therefore in that I cannot know thy change: In many’s looks the false heart’s history Is writ in moods and frowns and wrinkles strange: But Heaven in thy creation did decree That in thy face sweet love should ever dwell: Whate’er thy thoughts or thy heart’s workings be Thy looks should nothing thence but sweetness tell.” —SHAKESPEARE:
Open66CHAPTER LIX.: “They said of old the Soul had human shape,
CHAPTER LIX.: “They said of old the Soul had human shape, from Middlemarch. But smaller, subtler than the fleshly self, So wandered forth for airing when it pleased. And see! beside her cherub-face there floats A pale-lipped form aerial whispering Its promptings in that little shell her
Open67CHAPTER LX.: Good phrases are surely, and ever were, very commendable.
CHAPTER LX.: Good phrases are surely, and ever were, very commendable. from Middlemarch. A few days afterwards—it was already the end of August—there was an occasion which caused some excitement in Middlemarch: the public, if it chose, was to have the advantage of buying, under the distinguished auspices of Mr. Borthrop Trumbull, the furniture, books, and pictures which anybody might see by the handbills to be the best in every kind, belonging to Edwin Larcher, Esq. This was not one of the sales
Open68CHAPTER LXI.: “Inconsistencies,” answered Imlac, “cannot both be right, but imputed
CHAPTER LXI.: “Inconsistencies,” answered Imlac, “cannot both be right, but imputed from Middlemarch. CHAPTER LXI.: “Inconsistencies,” answered Imlac, “cannot both be right, but
Open69CHAPTER LXII.: He was a squyer of lowe degre,
CHAPTER LXII.: He was a squyer of lowe degre, from Middlemarch. Will Ladislaw’s mind was now wholly bent on seeing Dorothea again, and forthwith quitting Middlemarch. The morning after his agitating scene with Bulstrode he wrote a brief letter to her, saying that various causes had detained him in the neighborhood longer than he had expected, and asking her permission to call again at Lowick at some hour which she would mention on the earliest possible day, he being anxious to
Open70BOOK VII.
BOOK VII. from Middlemarch. This section is available as a chapter-aware Orakel companion.
Open71CHAPTER LXIII.: These little things are great to little man.—GOLDSMITH.
CHAPTER LXIII.: These little things are great to little man.—GOLDSMITH. from Middlemarch. “Have you seen much of your scientific phoenix, Lydgate, lately?” said Mr. Toller at one of his Christmas dinner-parties, speaking to Mr. Farebrother on his right
Open72CHAPTER LXIV.: 1_st Gent_. Where lies the power, there let the blame lie too.
CHAPTER LXIV.: 1_st Gent_. Where lies the power, there let the blame lie too. from Middlemarch. 2d Gent. Nay, power is relative; you cannot fright The coming pest with border fortresses, Or catch your carp with subtle argument. All force is twain in one: cause is not cause Unless effect be there; and action’s self Must needs contain a passive. So command Exists but with
Open73CHAPTER LXV.: One of us two must bowen douteless,
CHAPTER LXV.: One of us two must bowen douteless, from Middlemarch. And, sith a man is more reasonable Than woman is, ye [men] moste be suffrable. —CHAUCER: Canterbury
Open74CHAPTER LXVI.: ’Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus,
CHAPTER LXVI.: ’Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, from Middlemarch. Lydgate certainly had good reason to reflect on the service his practice did him in counteracting his personal cares. He had no longer free energy enough for spontaneous research and speculative thinking, but by the bedside of patients, the direct external calls on his judgment and sympathies brought the added impulse needed to draw him out of himself. It was not simply that beneficent harness of routine which
Open75CHAPTER LXVII.: Now is there civil war within the soul:
CHAPTER LXVII.: Now is there civil war within the soul: from Middlemarch. Resolve is thrust from off the sacred throne By clamorous Needs, and Pride the grand-vizier Makes humble compact, plays the supple part Of envoy and deft-tongued apologist For hungry
Open76CHAPTER LXVIII.: What suit of grace hath Virtue to put on
CHAPTER LXVIII.: What suit of grace hath Virtue to put on from Middlemarch. If Vice shall wear as good, and do as well? If Wrong, if Craft, if Indiscretion Act as fair parts with ends as laudable? Which all this mighty volume of events The world, the universal map of deeds, Strongly controls, and proves from all descents, That the directest course still best succeeds. For should not grave and learn’d Experience That looks with the eyes of all the world beside, And with all ages holds
Open77CHAPTER LXIX.: “If thou hast heard a word, let it die with thee.”
CHAPTER LXIX.: “If thou hast heard a word, let it die with thee.” from Middlemarch. Mr. Bulstrode was still seated in his manager’s room at the Bank, about three o’clock of the same day on which he had received Lydgate there, when the clerk entered to say that his horse was waiting, and also that Mr. Garth was outside and begged to speak with
Open78CHAPTER LXX.: “Our deeds still travel with us from afar,
CHAPTER LXX.: “Our deeds still travel with us from afar, from Middlemarch. Bulstrode’s first object after Lydgate had left Stone Court was to examine Raffles’s pockets, which he imagined were sure to carry signs in the shape of hotel-bills of the places he had stopped in, if he had not told the truth in saying that he had come straight from Liverpool because he was ill and had no money. There were various bills crammed into his pocketbook, but none of a later date than Christmas at any
Open79CHAPTER LXXI.: _Clown_. . . . ’Twas in the Bunch of Grapes, where, indeed,
CHAPTER LXXI.: _Clown_. . . . ’Twas in the Bunch of Grapes, where, indeed, from Middlemarch. you have a delight to sit, have you not? Froth. I have so: because it is an open room, and good for winter. Clo. Why, very well then: I hope here be truths. —Measure for
Open80BOOK VIII.
BOOK VIII. from Middlemarch. This section is available as a chapter-aware Orakel companion.
Open81CHAPTER LXXII.: Full souls are double mirrors, making still
CHAPTER LXXII.: Full souls are double mirrors, making still from Middlemarch. Dorothea’s impetuous generosity, which would have leaped at once to the vindication of Lydgate from the suspicion of having accepted money as a bribe, underwent a melancholy check when she came to consider all the circumstances of the case by the light of Mr. Farebrother’s
Open82CHAPTER LXXIII.: Pity the laden one; this wandering woe
CHAPTER LXXIII.: Pity the laden one; this wandering woe from Middlemarch. When Lydgate had allayed Mrs. Bulstrode’s anxiety by telling her that her husband had been seized with faintness at the meeting, but that he trusted soon to see him better and would call again the next day, unless she sent for him earlier, he went directly home, got on his horse, and rode three miles out of the town for the sake of being out of
Open83CHAPTER LXXIV.: “Mercifully grant that we may grow aged together.”
CHAPTER LXXIV.: “Mercifully grant that we may grow aged together.” from Middlemarch. In Middlemarch a wife could not long remain ignorant that the town held a bad opinion of her husband. No feminine intimate might carry her friendship so far as to make a plain statement to the wife of the unpleasant fact known or believed about her husband; but when a woman with her thoughts much at leisure got them suddenly employed on something grievously disadvantageous to her neighbors, various moral impulses
Open84CHAPTER LXXV.: “Le sentiment de la fausseté des plaisirs présents, et l’ignorance de
CHAPTER LXXV.: “Le sentiment de la fausseté des plaisirs présents, et l’ignorance de from Middlemarch. CHAPTER LXXV.: “Le sentiment de la fausseté des plaisirs présents, et l’ignorance
Open85CHAPTER LXXVI.: To mercy, pity, peace, and love
CHAPTER LXXVI.: To mercy, pity, peace, and love from Middlemarch. All pray in their distress, And to these virtues of delight, Return their thankfulness. . . . . . . For Mercy has a human heart, Pity a human face; And Love, the human form divine; And Peace, the human dress. —WILLIAM BLAKE: Songs of
Open86CHAPTER LXXVII.: “And thus thy fall hath left a kind of blot,
CHAPTER LXXVII.: “And thus thy fall hath left a kind of blot, from Middlemarch. The next day Lydgate had to go to Brassing, and told Rosamond that he should be away until the evening. Of late she had never gone beyond her own house and garden, except to church, and once to see her papa, to whom she said, “If Tertius goes away, you will help us to move, will you not, papa? I suppose we shall have very little money. I am sure I hope some one will help us.” And Mr. Vincy had said, “Yes, child, I
Open87CHAPTER LXXVIII.: “Would it were yesterday and I i’ the grave,
CHAPTER LXXVIII.: “Would it were yesterday and I i’ the grave, from Middlemarch. Rosamond and Will stood motionless—they did not know how long—he looking towards the spot where Dorothea had stood, and she looking towards him with doubt. It seemed an endless time to Rosamond, in whose inmost soul there was hardly so much annoyance as gratification from what had just happened. Shallow natures dream of an easy sway over the emotions of others, trusting implicitly in their own petty magic to turn
Open88CHAPTER LXXIX.: “Now, I saw in my dream, that just as they had ended their talk, they
CHAPTER LXXIX.: “Now, I saw in my dream, that just as they had ended their talk, they from Middlemarch. CHAPTER LXXIX.: “Now, I saw in my dream, that just as they had ended their talk,
Open89CHAPTER LXXX.: Stern lawgiver! yet thou dost wear
CHAPTER LXXX.: Stern lawgiver! yet thou dost wear from Middlemarch. The Godhead’s most benignant grace; Nor know we anything so fair As is the smile upon thy face; Flowers laugh before thee on their beds, And fragrance in thy footing treads; Thou dost preserve the Stars from wrong; And the most ancient Heavens, through thee, are fresh and strong. —WORDSWORTH: Ode to
Open90CHAPTER LXXXI.: Du Erde warst auch diese Nacht beständig,
CHAPTER LXXXI.: Du Erde warst auch diese Nacht beständig, from Middlemarch. Und athmest neu erquickt zu meinen Füssen, Beginnest schon mit Lust mich zu umgeben, Du regst und rührst ein kräftiges Beschliessen Zum höchsten Dasein immerfort zu streben. —Faust: 2r
Open91CHAPTER LXXXII.: “My grief lies onward and my joy behind.”
CHAPTER LXXXII.: “My grief lies onward and my joy behind.” from Middlemarch. Exiles notoriously feed much on hopes, and are unlikely to stay in banishment unless they are obliged. When Will Ladislaw exiled himself from Middlemarch he had placed no stronger obstacle to his return than his own resolve, which was by no means an iron barrier, but simply a state of mind liable to melt into a minuet with other states of mind, and to find itself bowing, smiling, and giving place with polite
Open92CHAPTER LXXXIII.: “And now good-morrow to our waking souls
CHAPTER LXXXIII.: “And now good-morrow to our waking souls from Middlemarch. Which watch not one another out of fear; For love all love of other sights controls, And makes one little room, an everywhere.” —DR.
Open93CHAPTER LXXXIV.: “Though it be songe of old and yonge,
CHAPTER LXXXIV.: “Though it be songe of old and yonge, from Middlemarch. That I sholde be to blame, Theyrs be the charge, that spoke so large In hurtynge of my name.” —The Not-Browne
Open94CHAPTER LXXXV.: “Then went the jury out whose names were Mr. Blindman, Mr. No-good, Mr.
CHAPTER LXXXV.: “Then went the jury out whose names were Mr. Blindman, Mr. No-good, Mr. from Middlemarch. CHAPTER LXXXV.: “Then went the jury out whose names were Mr. Blindman, Mr. No-good,
Open95CHAPTER LXXXVI.: “Le cœur se sature d’amour comme d’un sel divin qui le conserve; de là
CHAPTER LXXXVI.: “Le cœur se sature d’amour comme d’un sel divin qui le conserve; de là from Middlemarch. CHAPTER LXXXVI.: “Le cœur se sature d’amour comme d’un sel divin qui le conserve; de
Open96FINALE.
FINALE. from Middlemarch. Every limit is a beginning as well as an ending. Who can quit young lives after being long in company with them, and not desire to know what befell them in their after-years? For the fragment of a life, however typical, is not the sample of an even web: promises may not be kept, and an ardent outset may be followed by declension; latent powers may find their long-waited opportunity; a past error may urge a grand
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