Thomas Hardy (2 June 1840 – 11 January 1928 / Dorchester / England)
Quotations
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''Twilight combined with the scenery of Egdon Heath to evolve a thing majestic without severity, impressive without showiness, emphatic in its admonitions, grand in its simplicity. The qualifications which frequently invest the facade of a prison with far more dignity than is found in the facade of a palace double its size lent to this health a sublimity in which spots renowned for beauty of the accepted kind are utterly wanting. Fair prospects wed happily with fair times; but alas, if times be not fair!''
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), British novelist, poet. The Return of the Native, book first, ch. I (1878). -
''He had been a lad of whom something was expected. Beyond this all had been chaos. That he would be successful in an original way, or that he would go to the dogs in an original way, seemed equally probable. The only absolute certainty about him was that he would not stand still in the circumstances amid which he was born.''
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), British novelist, poet. The Return of the Native, book third, ch. I (1878). -
''The place became full of a watchful intentness now; for when other things sank brooding to sleep the heath appeared slowly to awake and listen. Every night its Titanic form seemed to await something; but it had waited thus, unmoved, during so many centuries, through the crises of so many things, that it could only be imagined to await one last crisisthe final overthrow.''
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), British novelist, poet. The Return of the Native, book first, ch. 34 (1878). -
''The Roman Road runs straight and bare
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), British novelist, poet. The Roman Road (l. 1-3). . . The Complete Poems of Thomas Hardy. James Gibson, ed. (1978) Macmillan.
As the pale parting-line in hair
Across the heath.'' -
''Uprises there
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), British novelist, poet. The Roman Road (l. 11-15). . . The Complete Poems of Thomas Hardy. James Gibson, ed. (1978) Macmillan.
A mother's form upon my ken,
Guiding my infant steps, as when
We walked that ancient, thoroughfare,
The Roman Road.'' -
'''I wish I had feathers, a fine sweeping gown,
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), British novelist, poet. The Ruined Maid (l. 21-24). . . The Complete Poems of Thomas Hardy. James Gibson, ed. (1978) Macmillan.
And a delicate face, and could strut about Town!'
'My deara raw country girl, such as you be,
Cannot quite expect that. You ain't ruined,' said she.'' -
''whence such fair garments, such prosperi-ty?'
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), British novelist, poet. The Ruined Maid (l. 3-4). . . The Complete Poems of Thomas Hardy. James Gibson, ed. (1978) Macmillan.
'O didn't you know I'd been ruined?' said she.'' -
''Here is the ancient floor,
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), British novelist, poet. The Self-Unseeing (l. 1-4). . . The Complete Poems of Thomas Hardy. James Gibson, ed. (1978) Macmillan.
Footworn and hollowed and thin
Here was the former door
Where the dead feet walked in.'' -
''"Come hither, Son," I heard Death say;
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), British novelist, poet. The Subalterns (l. 13-16). . . The Complete Poems of Thomas Hardy. James Gibson, ed. (1978) Macmillan.
"I did not will a grave
Should end thy pilgrimage today,
But I, too, am a slave!"'' -
''bring me here again!
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), British novelist, poet. After a Journey (l. 30-32). . . The Complete Poems of Thomas Hardy. James Gibson, ed. (1978) Macmillan.
I am just the same as when
Our days were a joy, and our paths through flowers.''
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She, to Him, IV
This love puts all humanity from me;
I can but maledict her, pray her dead,
For giving love and getting love of thee—
Feeding a heart that else mine own had fed!
How much I love I know not, life not known,
Save as some unit I would add love by;
But this I know, my being is but thine own—
Fused from its separateness by ecstasy.
