it was the age {of wisdom,} it was the age {of foolishness,}

it was the epoch {of belief,} it was the epoch {of incredulity,} 

it was the season {of Light,} it was the season {of Darkness,} 

it was the spring {of hope,} it was the winter {of despair,} 

we had everything {before us,} we had nothing {before us,} 

we were all going direct {to Heaven,} we were all going direct

the other way-- the period was so far {like the present period,}

that some {of its noisiest authorities} insisted {on its being 

received,} {for good} or{for evil,} {in the superlative degree}

{of comparison} only.

      There were a king {with a large jaw} and a queen {with

a plain face,} {on the throne} {of England;} there were a 

king {with a large jaw} and a queen {with a fair face,} {on the

throne} {of France.} {In both countries} it was clearer {than 

crystal} {to the lords} {of the State preserves}  {of loaves 

and fishes,} that things {in general} were settled {for ever.}

     It was the year {of Our Lord} one thousand seven hundred

and seventy-five.  Spiritual revelations were conceded {to 

England} {at that favoured period,} as {at this.} Mrs.

Southcott had recently attained her five-and-twentieth blessed

birthday, {of whom} a prophetic private {in the Life Guards}

had heralded the sublime appearance {by announcing} that 

arrangements were made {for the swallowing up} {of London

and Westminster.} Even the Cock-lane ghost had been laid 

only a round dozen {of years,} {after rapping outits messages,}

as the spirits {of this very year} last past (supernaturally

deficient {in originality}) rapped out theirs. Mere messages 

{in the earthly order} {of events} had lately come {to the

English Crown and People,} {from a congress} {of British

subjects} {in America:} which, strange to relate, have proved 

more important {to the human race}  {than any

communications} yet received {through any} {of the

chickens} {of the Cock-lane brood.}