Sir Walter Scott's WoodstockWoodstock opens in farce, yet it is one of Scott's darkest novels. It deals with revolution, to Scott the most disturbing of all subjects: 'it appears that every step we made towards liberty, has but brought us in view of more terrific perils'. Written during the financial crisis which culminated in his insolvency, the novel, Scott feared, 'would not stand the test'. Yet it is a major source of interest for, in the superb portrait of Cromwell, it is tempting to see Scott's own self-torturing as he contemplated his ruin. |
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Common terms and phrases
Albert Lee Alice Lee answered apartment arms better betwixt Bevis Bletson called Captain cavalier CHAPTER character Charles Church cloak Colonel Everard command Commissioners Cromwell Cromwell's danger daughter Desborough devil divine Doctor Rochecliffe door Edited England English escape Excellency exclaimed eyes father fear feelings followed gentleman Gilbert Pearson give hand Harrison hath head hear heard heart Heaven honour Joceline Joliffe King King's King's Oak Lodge Long Parliament look Lord Louis Kerneguy Majesty Markham Everard Master Holdenough mind Mistress Alice never old knight Old Mortality Parliament party person Phoebe poor Presbyterian Prince quarterstaff rapier replied roundhead royal Royalist Scott seemed shew Sir Henry Lee soldier speak sword tell thee things thou art thou hast thought tion Tomkins tone trust turn voice Wildrake Woodstock Woodstock town words worthy yonder young Zerubbabel وو
Popular passages
Page 389 - Through skies, where I could count each little star. The fanning west wind scarcely stirs the leaves ; The river, rushing o'er its pebbled bed, Imposes silence, with a stilly sound. In such a place as this, at such...
Page 351 - And turn his weapon from him. Himself he on an earwig set, Yet scarce he on his back could get, So oft and high he did curvet, Ere he himself could settle : He made him turn, and stop, and bound, To gallop and to trot the round, He scarce could stand on any ground, He was so full of mettle.
Page 358 - Good, to whom all things ill Are but as slavish officers of vengeance, Would send a glistering guardian, if need were, To keep my life and honour unassail'd. Was I deceived, or did a sable cloud Turn forth her silver lining on the night ? I did not err, there does a sable cloud •Turn forth her silver lining on the night, And casts a gleam over this tufted grove...
Page 150 - I went out to Charing Cross to see Major-general Harrison hanged, drawn, and quartered ; which was done there, he looking as cheerful as any man could do in that condition.
Page 542 - During these noises, which were heard in both rooms together, both the Commissioners and their servants gave one another over for lost, and cried out for help; and Giles Sharp, snatching up a sword, had well nigh killed one of their honours, taking him for the spirit as he came in his shirt into the room.
Page 12 - Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most Mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness ; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
Page 536 - ... together with her Well, being paved with square stones in the bottom, and also her Tower, from which the Labyrinth did run, are yet remaining, being vaults arched and walled with stone and brick, almost inextricably wound within one another, by which, if at any time her lodging were laid about by 'the Queen, she might easily avoid peril imminent, and, if need be, by Secret issues take the air abroad, many furlongs about Woodstock, in Oxfordshire...
Page 358 - And airy tongues that syllable men's names On sands and shores and desert wildernesses. These thoughts may startle well, but not astound The virtuous mind, that ever walks attended By a strong siding champion, Conscience. 0 welcome, pure-eyed Faith, white-handed Hope, Thou hovering angel girt with golden wings, And thou unblemished form of Chastity!