It
was
the
best
{of times}, /
it
was
the
worst
(of
times}, /
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 (Subject of "being received") being
received (Gerund
- Object of "on")},
{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 favouredNote
PPG 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
(Gerund - Object of "by")}
[that arrangements
were
made {for the swallowingNote
#1 up} {of
London and Westminster}.]]
/ Even the Cock-lane
ghost
had
been laid only
a round dozen {of years},
{after
rapping
(Gerund
- Object of "after")
out its messages
(DO of "rapping")}, [as
the
spirits {of
this very year} last past
(Gerundive to "year")
(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
(Inf - for this level,
Adverbial to "strange") , have
proved more important
{to the human
race} {than any communications} yet received
(Gerundive to
"communications")
{through any} {of the chickens} {of the Cock-lane
brood}. /
|