The Broken Swords

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, New Age, History, Fiction & Literature
Cover of the book The Broken Swords by George MacDonald, Library of Alexandria
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: George MacDonald ISBN: 9781465550620
Publisher: Library of Alexandria Publication: March 8, 2015
Imprint: Language: English
Author: George MacDonald
ISBN: 9781465550620
Publisher: Library of Alexandria
Publication: March 8, 2015
Imprint:
Language: English
The eyes of three, two sisters and a brother, gazed for the last time on a great pale-golden star, that followed the sun down the steep west. It went down to arise again; and the brother about to depart might return, but more than the usual doubt hung upon his future. For between the white dresses of the sisters, shone his scarlet coat and golden sword-knot, which he had put on for the first time, more to gratify their pride than his own vanity. The brightening moon, as if prophetic of a future memory, had already begun to dim the scarlet and the gold, and to give them a pale, ghostly hue. In her thoughtful light the whole group seemed more like a meeting in the land of shadows, than a parting in the substantial earth.-But which should be called the land of realities?-the region where appearance, and space, and time drive between, and stop the flowing currents of the soul’s speech? or that region where heart meets heart, and appearance has become the slave to utterance, and space and time are forgotten? Through the quiet air came the far-off rush of water, and the near cry of the land-rail. Now and then a chilly wind blew unheeded through the startled and jostling leaves that shaded the ivy-seat. Else, there was calm everywhere, rendered yet deeper and more intense by the dusky sorrow that filled their hearts. For, far away, hundreds of miles beyond the hearing of their ears, roared the great war-guns; next week their brother must sail with his regiment to join the army; and to-morrow he must leave his home. The sisters looked on him tenderly, with vague fears about his fate. Yet little they divined it. That the face they loved might lie pale and bloody, in a heap of slain, was the worst image of it that arose before them; but this, had they seen the future, they would, in ignorance of the further future, have infinitely preferred to that which awaited him. And even while they looked on him, a dim feeling of the unsuitableness of his lot filled their minds.
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
The eyes of three, two sisters and a brother, gazed for the last time on a great pale-golden star, that followed the sun down the steep west. It went down to arise again; and the brother about to depart might return, but more than the usual doubt hung upon his future. For between the white dresses of the sisters, shone his scarlet coat and golden sword-knot, which he had put on for the first time, more to gratify their pride than his own vanity. The brightening moon, as if prophetic of a future memory, had already begun to dim the scarlet and the gold, and to give them a pale, ghostly hue. In her thoughtful light the whole group seemed more like a meeting in the land of shadows, than a parting in the substantial earth.-But which should be called the land of realities?-the region where appearance, and space, and time drive between, and stop the flowing currents of the soul’s speech? or that region where heart meets heart, and appearance has become the slave to utterance, and space and time are forgotten? Through the quiet air came the far-off rush of water, and the near cry of the land-rail. Now and then a chilly wind blew unheeded through the startled and jostling leaves that shaded the ivy-seat. Else, there was calm everywhere, rendered yet deeper and more intense by the dusky sorrow that filled their hearts. For, far away, hundreds of miles beyond the hearing of their ears, roared the great war-guns; next week their brother must sail with his regiment to join the army; and to-morrow he must leave his home. The sisters looked on him tenderly, with vague fears about his fate. Yet little they divined it. That the face they loved might lie pale and bloody, in a heap of slain, was the worst image of it that arose before them; but this, had they seen the future, they would, in ignorance of the further future, have infinitely preferred to that which awaited him. And even while they looked on him, a dim feeling of the unsuitableness of his lot filled their minds.

More books from Library of Alexandria

Cover of the book Book-Plates by George MacDonald
Cover of the book Back to God's Country and Other Stories by George MacDonald
Cover of the book Narrative and Critical History of America: The English and French in North America 1689-1763 by George MacDonald
Cover of the book Behind The Veil in Persia and Turkish Arabia: an Account of an Englishwoman's Eight Years' Residence Amongst The Women of The East by George MacDonald
Cover of the book A Narrative of Service With the Third Wisconsin Infantry by George MacDonald
Cover of the book Elements of Surgery by George MacDonald
Cover of the book The Portsmouth Road and Its Tributaries To-Day and in Days of Old by George MacDonald
Cover of the book The Golden Calf, Which the World Adores and Desires by George MacDonald
Cover of the book Charley de Milo by George MacDonald
Cover of the book A Republic Without a President and Other Stories by George MacDonald
Cover of the book South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. V From the Disaster at Koorn Spruit to Lord Roberts's entry into Pretoria by George MacDonald
Cover of the book Caleb Wright: A Story of the West by George MacDonald
Cover of the book Castles and Chateaux of Old Navarre and the Basque Provinces by George MacDonald
Cover of the book Last Judgment Continued by George MacDonald
Cover of the book The Church Index: A Book of Metropolitan Churches and Church Enterprise, Kensington by George MacDonald
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy