glorious
26 Sep 07
Peake, Mervyn. Titus Groan. New York: Ballantine, 1968.
“Glorious,” said Steerpike, “is a dictionary word. We are all imprisoned by the dictionary. We choose out of that vast, paper-walled prison our convicts, the little black printed words, when in truth we need fresh sounds to utter, new enfranchised noises which would produce a new effect. In dead and shackled language, my dears, you are glorious, but oh, to give vent to a brand new sound that might convince you of what I really think of you, as you sit there in your purple splendor, side by side! But no, it is impossible. Life is too fleet for onomatopoeia. Dead words defy me. I can make no sound, dear ladies, that is apt.”
“You could try,” said Clarice, “we aren’t busy.” (305)
Yes, I have read past page 300. “Life is too fleet for onomatopoeia” is the highpoint of the novel so far.
Posted by pzed on September 26, 2007 at 8.33pm
Of a Shoemaker’s Apprentice Who Preferred His Master’s House to the Workshop
21 Sep 07
A shoemaker in Arezzo had an apprentice who often left the workshop and retired into the house of his master, on the ground that he could work better and more comfortably in the quiet of the house.
This aroused the suspicions of the shoemaker, so that he came to the house one day unexpectedly and found the lad in bed with his wife.
Whereupon he said sternly to his apprentice: “You are wasting your time; for this type of work I shall certainly not pay you.” (25)
Fiorentino, Poggio. Facetia Erotica. New York: [privately printed], 1930.
Posted by pzed on September 21, 2007 at 8.09pm
