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
(NuA) /
--
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
Note #1 things{in
general} were settled
{for ever}.] /
It was
the
year
{of
Our Lord} one thousand seven
hundred and seventy-five
(Appositive to "year"). /
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 (NuA)
{of years}, {after
rapping
out its messages},
[as
the
spirits
{of this very year} last past
(supernaturally deficient
(Post-positioned adjective to
"spirits") {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 relateNote
#2, have proved more
important
{to
the human race} {than any communications} yet
received
{through any}
{of the chickens} {of the Cock-lane brood}./
|