He turned therefore to an occupation that fell into neither category and, it having been turning in his mind for some time, particularly at night, he quickly finished the second part of his suite, a forlan, copied it fair that afternoon and showed it to Jack in the evening. Sitting there with the score tilted towards the lamp and what little light there was, with the small rain sweeping in swathes across the sea, his mouth now formed for whistling (but silent), now for a very deep humming where the 'cello came in, Jack came to the end of the saraband, with its curiously reiterated melody. He gathered the sheets and reached for the forlan: 'It is terribly sad,' he observed, almost to himself - words he wished unsaid with all his heart. 'Do you know any happy music?' asked Stephen. 'I do not.' Embarrassment hung there in the great cabin
The terrible handestevenJanuary 13 2012, 16:06:55 UTC
The cabin had not yet been fully cleared for action and Stephen was sitting there with the light of an Argand lamp focused by a concave mirror on to the dark purple of that terrible hand, now stretched out by clamps on a board; and he was making an extraordinarily exact drawing of a particular tendon, in spite of the frigate's motion. 'What a sea-dog you are become,' said Jack. 'I flatter myself that a whole pack of sea-dogs could not have improved upon the forward starboard aspect of this aponeurosis,' said Stephen. 'I do it by pressing the underneath of the table with my knees and the top of it with my elbows so that we all, paper, object, table and draughtsman, move together with very little discontinuity - one substance, as it were. To be sure, a fairly regular motion of the vessel is required; and for regularity this slow, even swing could hardly be bettered; though the amplitude calls for such tension that I believe I shall now take a spell.'Yes, I am pleased that Stephen has become such a forward starboard sea-dog, but I feel
( ... )
'And Brigid sends you hers, together with a long passage from Padeen that I cannot make out entirely. He told it her in Irish, do you see - they generally speak Irish together - but although she is perfectly fluent in the language she has no notion at all of its orthography, so she writes as it might sound, spoken by an English person. In time I shall find out the meaning, I am sure, by murmuring it aloud.' He fell to his murmuring,
I am certain this is a most charming letter. How very sweet of her to be writing to her Dad. I know the feeling well of trying to read the spoken word written.
But at least there is this consolation: we shall have an uncovenanted pot of coffee. It is always far better for the people to have something in their belly before a fight, even if it is only hot burgoo; and since the fires are lit, we may as well profit by the situation.' 'It is our obvious duty,' said Stephen, with a pale smile. In the earlier crises of his life he had often, indeed generally, taken refuge in laudanum, or more recently in coca leaves: on this occasion he had entirely forsworn them, together with tobacco and anything but the merest token of wine to avoid singularity; yet he had always despised the stylite or even hair-shirt kind of asceticism and he was still drinking the last of the pot with something not far from relish - Jack had left him ten minutes earlier - when the thundering drum beat to quarters.
If it is not music, it is coffee that they are enjoying. *slurps a nice large mug*
Whatever is cheaper, though the omnibus books are heavy and unwieldy to hold. Still, why not look into used book shops etc and use the remainder as part for a new hard drive or a used laptop? :D
Comments 18
Sitting there with the score tilted towards the lamp and what little light there was, with the small rain sweeping in swathes across the sea, his mouth now formed for whistling (but silent), now for a very deep humming where the 'cello came in, Jack came to the end of the saraband, with its curiously reiterated melody. He gathered the sheets and reached for the forlan: 'It is terribly sad,' he observed, almost to himself - words he wished unsaid with all his heart.
'Do you know any happy music?' asked Stephen. 'I do not.'
Embarrassment hung there in the great cabin
So not even music will answer. *sighs*
Reply
'What a sea-dog you are become,' said Jack.
'I flatter myself that a whole pack of sea-dogs could not have improved upon the forward starboard aspect of this aponeurosis,' said Stephen. 'I do it by pressing the underneath of the table with my knees and the top of it with my elbows so that we all, paper, object, table and draughtsman, move together with very little discontinuity - one substance, as it were. To be sure, a fairly regular motion of the vessel is required; and for regularity this slow, even swing could hardly be bettered; though the amplitude calls for such tension that I believe I shall now take a spell.'Yes, I am pleased that Stephen has become such a forward starboard sea-dog, but I feel ( ... )
Reply
He fell to his murmuring,
I am certain this is a most charming letter. How very sweet of her to be writing to her Dad. I know the feeling well of trying to read the spoken word written.
Reply
'It is our obvious duty,' said Stephen, with a pale smile. In the earlier crises of his life he had often, indeed generally, taken refuge in laudanum, or more recently in coca leaves: on this occasion he had entirely forsworn them, together with tobacco and anything but the merest token of wine to avoid singularity; yet he had always despised the stylite or even hair-shirt kind of asceticism and he was still drinking the last of the pot with something not far from relish - Jack had left him ten minutes earlier - when the thundering drum beat to quarters.
If it is not music, it is coffee that they are enjoying.
*slurps a nice large mug*
Reply
Reply
So you are set on buying the books? Maybe ebay or a used book shop?
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment