| \-\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--#NuA03
\C\{in short,}
the period was so far {like the present period,}
[RAVFthat some {of its
noisiest authorities} insisted {on its being*GerOP03
received,} {for good} or {for evil,} {in the
superlative degree} {of comparison} only.]
\-\There
were a king {with a large jaw} and a queen=CC
{with a plain face,} {on the throne} {of England;}
\C\there were a king {with
a large jaw} and a queen=CC {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,}
[RNDSthat things {in
general} were settled=PV {for
ever.}]
\-\It
was the year {of Our Lord} one
thousand seven hundred and seventy-five.#App06 \-\Spiritual
revelations were conceded=PV {to
England} {at that favoured period,} [RAVRas
{at this.}]
\-\Mrs. Southcott had recently attained her
five-and-twentieth blessed birthday, [RAJF{of
whom} a prophetic private {in the Life Guards}
had heralded the sublime appearance {by announcing*GerOP13}
[RNDOthat arrangements were made=PV
{for the swallowing up*GerOP07}
{of London and Westminster.}]]
\-\Even the Cock-lane ghost had been laid=PV
only a round dozen#NuA06 {of
years,} {after rapping*GerOP20 out
its messages,} [RAVFas the spirits
{of this very year} last#PPA02
past (supernaturally deficient#Inj04 {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:} \C\which,
strange to relate,*INFIJ03 have proved=PV
more important {to the human race} {than any communications}
yet received*GiveR11 {through
any} {of the chickens} {of the Cock-lane brood.}
|