Mysteries (48 page)
Authors: Knut Hamsun
6
266/257. From here on to the end of the paragraph, P reads: “But one doesn’t dare, alas, no, one doesn’t have the courage; one wastes one opportunity after another without daring to, until the day comes when one can’t resist any longer.... Forgive me, Miss Kielland, I’ve been talking so much, I beg you to forgive me! Shall we go? Oh, Dagny, I love you so very dearly; I’m grateful just because I’ve been permitted to tell you so!”
266/257. From here on to the end of the paragraph, P reads: “But one doesn’t dare, alas, no, one doesn’t have the courage; one wastes one opportunity after another without daring to, until the day comes when one can’t resist any longer.... Forgive me, Miss Kielland, I’ve been talking so much, I beg you to forgive me! Shall we go? Oh, Dagny, I love you so very dearly; I’m grateful just because I’ve been permitted to tell you so!”
7
266-67/257. From here to the end of the paragraph, P reads: “He is handsome, he is an officer, whereas you yourself are an agronomist, nobody; besides, he is already her fiance, and that’s the end of it. The heart doesn’t yield to anything, not even to the utmost impossibility. Miss Kielland, for my love’s sake put some kindness into your answer! I do not want to love you, but I can’t help myself. So, is there no hope? Are you completely lost to me forever? Oh, not yet, to be sure? Please, please, not yet!”
266-67/257. From here to the end of the paragraph, P reads: “He is handsome, he is an officer, whereas you yourself are an agronomist, nobody; besides, he is already her fiance, and that’s the end of it. The heart doesn’t yield to anything, not even to the utmost impossibility. Miss Kielland, for my love’s sake put some kindness into your answer! I do not want to love you, but I can’t help myself. So, is there no hope? Are you completely lost to me forever? Oh, not yet, to be sure? Please, please, not yet!”
8
267/257. From here to the beginning of the next sentence, P reads: “If you knew how anxious I am! You will do me a great favor if you go back to your room and try to resign yourself. You won’t make me unhappy, will you?”
267/257. From here to the beginning of the next sentence, P reads: “If you knew how anxious I am! You will do me a great favor if you go back to your room and try to resign yourself. You won’t make me unhappy, will you?”
9
268/258. Deleted in CW: “Soon someone might come....”
268/258. Deleted in CW: “Soon someone might come....”
10
269/258. Deleted in CW: He wouldn’t see her anymore; in fact, she hadn’t even wanted to make the promise as a joke, though he begged her to do so as a favor.
269/258. Deleted in CW: He wouldn’t see her anymore; in fact, she hadn’t even wanted to make the promise as a joke, though he begged her to do so as a favor.
11
In P, the paragraph reads up to this point:
In P, the paragraph reads up to this point:
“Forgive me! It was mean of me to forget that. You mustn’t feel sad on account of me, I cannot be anything for you in any case.”
CHAPTER XII (pp. 143-51)
1
276/261. Deleted in CW: “You’re nodding, so you remember, don’t you? Well, there you see, I was right, wasn’t I?”
276/261. Deleted in CW: “You’re nodding, so you remember, don’t you? Well, there you see, I was right, wasn’t I?”
2
279/263. Deleted in CW: “So forgive me! I shouldn’t have hurt you; but sitting here I feel all the time”
279/263. Deleted in CW: “So forgive me! I shouldn’t have hurt you; but sitting here I feel all the time”
3
285/266. The word “shamming” was added in CW.
285/266. The word “shamming” was added in CW.
CHAPTER XIII (pp. 152-68)
1
287/267. This sentence replaced the following in P: Miniman pulled Nagel aside and whispered a thank-you for the new trousers, which he had on already; they went so perfectly with the coat, his new coat, and they were likely to last for as long as he lived, his entire life, oh sure, his entire life.
287/267. This sentence replaced the following in P: Miniman pulled Nagel aside and whispered a thank-you for the new trousers, which he had on already; they went so perfectly with the coat, his new coat, and they were likely to last for as long as he lived, his entire life, oh sure, his entire life.
2
289/268. The counterpart to this sentence in P reads: “Anyway, I willingly recognize Tolstoy as one of the most active fools of our age. And so I say the hell with it all! ...”
289/268. The counterpart to this sentence in P reads: “Anyway, I willingly recognize Tolstoy as one of the most active fools of our age. And so I say the hell with it all! ...”
3
290/268. In P, the rest of this paragraph reads: “But if Tolstoy is a fool, where will we all end up?”
290/268. In P, the rest of this paragraph reads: “But if Tolstoy is a fool, where will we all end up?”
4
290—91/268. Deleted in CW: “one only has to except his inestimable qualities as a plowman, his torn tunic, the leather belt girding his loins, that is, the man’s clumsy affectation-this one has to except. What one is left with is a gifted man, simply a highly gifted man, who writes books and missionizes. His books are both good and long, but most of them could have been both longer and better; his mission abounds in personal sacrifice and in puffery, but”
290—91/268. Deleted in CW: “one only has to except his inestimable qualities as a plowman, his torn tunic, the leather belt girding his loins, that is, the man’s clumsy affectation-this one has to except. What one is left with is a gifted man, simply a highly gifted man, who writes books and missionizes. His books are both good and long, but most of them could have been both longer and better; his mission abounds in personal sacrifice and in puffery, but”
5
291/268. Deleted in CW: “I see you’re becoming speechless with fright, and that wasn’t the idea.”
291/268. Deleted in CW: “I see you’re becoming speechless with fright, and that wasn’t the idea.”
6
291/268. Deleted in CW: “and that’s good, for otherwise you might find me rather quarrelsome for a host”
291/268. Deleted in CW: “and that’s good, for otherwise you might find me rather quarrelsome for a host”
7
292-93/269. The last two sentences replaced the following passage in P: “And he got it.... Upon my word, when I review Tolstoy’s thoughts, hear his well-meant moral boasting, and familiarize myself with the reflections of this ideal count, I have the feeling I’m eating green paint. That vociferous virtue which is never silent, the drudgery of drying up people’s sources of life, of wild and joyful life, drying them up and making the world flat like a griddle, that dirty drivel about chastity from a soul that in the olden days was so merry, that blustering morality which puffs itself up and appears at every opportunity-I assure you he fills my heart with shame.”
292-93/269. The last two sentences replaced the following passage in P: “And he got it.... Upon my word, when I review Tolstoy’s thoughts, hear his well-meant moral boasting, and familiarize myself with the reflections of this ideal count, I have the feeling I’m eating green paint. That vociferous virtue which is never silent, the drudgery of drying up people’s sources of life, of wild and joyful life, drying them up and making the world flat like a griddle, that dirty drivel about chastity from a soul that in the olden days was so merry, that blustering morality which puffs itself up and appears at every opportunity-I assure you he fills my heart with shame.”
8
294/269. Deleted in CW: “he gets to be so common. But by becoming common he becomes classical, turning into the well-known classic type of a common imitator, and since anything classical—absolutely everything—is so damned boring, common classic virtue also becomes boring, ergo, Tolstoy becomes boring. Well, that’s quite another matter. So, he remains important—that is, important as a boring, common old man.” The phrase “Yes, that’s the trouble” was added in CW.
294/269. Deleted in CW: “he gets to be so common. But by becoming common he becomes classical, turning into the well-known classic type of a common imitator, and since anything classical—absolutely everything—is so damned boring, common classic virtue also becomes boring, ergo, Tolstoy becomes boring. Well, that’s quite another matter. So, he remains important—that is, important as a boring, common old man.” The phrase “Yes, that’s the trouble” was added in CW.
9
294/269. Deleted in CW: “and lunatics. I’ll just say, if only we had many such common, boring benefactors in the world. People with hearts like Tolstoy aren’t usually accused of being dried up, that I’ve never heard before. As far as I can see, it is precisely because their hearts are warm and young that they can make such personal sacrifices, as you yourself mentioned.”
294/269. Deleted in CW: “and lunatics. I’ll just say, if only we had many such common, boring benefactors in the world. People with hearts like Tolstoy aren’t usually accused of being dried up, that I’ve never heard before. As far as I can see, it is precisely because their hearts are warm and young that they can make such personal sacrifices, as you yourself mentioned.”
10
295/270. Up to this point of the paragraph, the P text reads:
295/270. Up to this point of the paragraph, the P text reads:
“Come, come!” Nagel said, laughing. “But let’s drink first, skoal! ... You should be able to produce better objections, come up with a stronger defense. I’m not very polite, am I? No, you’re quite right, I’m not. Well, you are free to reciprocate, of course.”
11
300-01/272. The teacher’s interruption was added in CW. The P text reads from “Bravo” to this point: “Well, we agreed, didn’t we, that we could express our opinions rather drastically—the more so as you yourself have set the tone?”
300-01/272. The teacher’s interruption was added in CW. The P text reads from “Bravo” to this point: “Well, we agreed, didn’t we, that we could express our opinions rather drastically—the more so as you yourself have set the tone?”
“Certainly we did! And you’re right in saying I’ve jabbered too much. But what was it I wanted to say? So, Tolstoy’s worldwide fame is supposed to be proof of his great mind! Why? Tolstoy’s fame is nothing but popularity, and to win popularity requires some measure of stupidity, moral and spiritual stupidity; one simply has to ... I see you’re getting impatient, Doctor, as you have every right to bell”;
12
304/274. In P, the rest of the paragraph reads: “If I understand you correctly, you’re not altogether contemptuous of the Salvation Army? It’s not just nonsense, is it?”
304/274. In P, the rest of the paragraph reads: “If I understand you correctly, you’re not altogether contemptuous of the Salvation Army? It’s not just nonsense, is it?”
13
304/274. In P, the rest of the paragraph reads: really meant to defend that nonsense.
304/274. In P, the rest of the paragraph reads: really meant to defend that nonsense.
14
305/274. Instead of the rest of this sentence, P contains the following passage: “from you. I don’t know you, of course, but as far as I can tell, in several respects you are a more extreme radical than any of us, whereas here you’re completely off.”
305/274. Instead of the rest of this sentence, P contains the following passage: “from you. I don’t know you, of course, but as far as I can tell, in several respects you are a more extreme radical than any of us, whereas here you’re completely off.”
15
305-06/274. So far this paragraph is new; the following long passage from P was deleted in CW:
305-06/274. So far this paragraph is new; the following long passage from P was deleted in CW:
“What if we suppose, Doctor, that to hold an opinion directly contrary to our loudmouthed liberalism is also radical, when all is said and done? Well, we’ll skip that! But I don’t agree with what you said about the criticism either. A critic takes a metaphysical problem on his fork and ‘cuts it up.’ By the way, have you ever visited a horse fair, witnessed a horse swap? No? Well, anyway, we were supposed to talk about criticism, those sharp, pointed, extremely talented stabs by the fork at the metaphysical realm. What do you think? I find it rather cheap, it’s vulgar hair-splitting, peasant logic. On page 34 Pastor Hjelm says such and such, but, on the other hand, on page 108 Pastor Hjelm says so and so; this shows Pastor Hjelm’s way with logic! It seems to me this is exceedingly short on tolerance, anything but highbrow. For we understood what the man meant in both instances, but we have to catch him in a formal contradiction, to entrap him with his own words. But despite this Chinese nitpicking, people still are attending that farce of Christ’s blood....”
“Which is all right?”
“Which is a fact! And”
16
307/274. Deleted in CW: “... Obviously this is not radical enough for you-unless it should happen to be all too radical. Well, as you like! ... Am I boring you, Doctor?”
307/274. Deleted in CW: “... Obviously this is not radical enough for you-unless it should happen to be all too radical. Well, as you like! ... Am I boring you, Doctor?”
17
311-12/276. The following two words (“like Maupassant”) were added in CW; the P text goes on: “who served bitter drinks. Oh sure, it was the amount—the quantity-and the pungent taste that determined the value of the brew.... Well, he-Nagel-was no connoisseur, he was only a simple agronomist with ordinary horse sense, and consequently he didn’t lay claim to having fifty people on his side. He had at one time happened to make the mistake of expressing his view on the topic of Shakespeare. It was at an evening party. Yes, indeed, he had read Shakespeare; he had decided to ascend to the pinnacle of culture, that was his ambition, and so he read Shakespeare. But he had found Shakespeare to be deplorably dull and his devotees very, very easily satisfied. Then an expert got up from his chair, a connoisseur, an aesthete, who told him indignantly: “Well,” he said, ”this is your little opinion, but that doesn’t mean it is the opinion of people the world over!” Heh-heh, it was not the opinion of people the world over, he said! Good grief, what a funny man! No, indeed, it was not all the world’s opinion, but so what? What concern was it of his-Nagel’s-whether the fifty thousand who had received the seal were of another opinion? What was it to him that humankind bet on red, while he bet on black? ... And now they even came rushing along with Maupassant. Oh, dear!
311-12/276. The following two words (“like Maupassant”) were added in CW; the P text goes on: “who served bitter drinks. Oh sure, it was the amount—the quantity-and the pungent taste that determined the value of the brew.... Well, he-Nagel-was no connoisseur, he was only a simple agronomist with ordinary horse sense, and consequently he didn’t lay claim to having fifty people on his side. He had at one time happened to make the mistake of expressing his view on the topic of Shakespeare. It was at an evening party. Yes, indeed, he had read Shakespeare; he had decided to ascend to the pinnacle of culture, that was his ambition, and so he read Shakespeare. But he had found Shakespeare to be deplorably dull and his devotees very, very easily satisfied. Then an expert got up from his chair, a connoisseur, an aesthete, who told him indignantly: “Well,” he said, ”this is your little opinion, but that doesn’t mean it is the opinion of people the world over!” Heh-heh, it was not the opinion of people the world over, he said! Good grief, what a funny man! No, indeed, it was not all the world’s opinion, but so what? What concern was it of his-Nagel’s-whether the fifty thousand who had received the seal were of another opinion? What was it to him that humankind bet on red, while he bet on black? ... And now they even came rushing along with Maupassant. Oh, dear!
18
313/277. In P, “this silly line” is “this single line by Victor Hugo.”
313/277. In P, “this silly line” is “this single line by Victor Hugo.”
19
313-14/277. Long passage deleted in CW:
313-14/277. Long passage deleted in CW:
“But that verse isn’t all that impossible, is it?” the student objected.
Nagel let himself go once more: So, it wasn’t that impossible, eh? However poorly it had been recited, it had produced the desired effect ? Well, there you see. No, then it would have to be read differently ! He really ought to have gotten up, positioned himself by the door, and from there spewed this wonderful line of poetry on the gentlemen’s heads. Oh yes; for if Victor Hugo were to show to advantage, he had to be recited with wet, slavering chops, or his spirit abandoned the poem, so to speak.... Well, they had better not talk about Victor Hugo anymore. Blessed be his memory! Skoal.
They drank.
20
315/277. Deleted in CW: must first of all be able to grip a penholder without kid gloves; he
315/277. Deleted in CW: must first of all be able to grip a penholder without kid gloves; he
21
315/277-78. Up to this point of the sentence, P reads: Had the gentlemen ever heard canvas being rent? Heh-heh-heh, a quite impressive sound! ... Oh well, come to that, perhaps one sound was no worse than another,
315/277-78. Up to this point of the sentence, P reads: Had the gentlemen ever heard canvas being rent? Heh-heh-heh, a quite impressive sound! ... Oh well, come to that, perhaps one sound was no worse than another,
22
315/278. In P, the rest of the sentence reads: reeking virtue, and his propaganda for his slobbering god.
315/278. In P, the rest of the sentence reads: reeking virtue, and his propaganda for his slobbering god.
23
316/278. In P, the sentence continues as follows: which Tolstoy had never been in his earthly life.
316/278. In P, the sentence continues as follows: which Tolstoy had never been in his earthly life.
24
316/278. In P, the rest of the sentence reads: but Tolstoy hadn’t risen even to their level.
316/278. In P, the rest of the sentence reads: but Tolstoy hadn’t risen even to their level.
25
316/278. The rest of this sentence was added in CW.
316/278. The rest of this sentence was added in CW.
CHAPTER XIV (pp. 169-81)
1
328/284. The three preceding sentences were added in CW. Instead, P reads: “I’m really so poor at it, even if I try. And some excuse can be made for me too, if you consider everything. What shall I do?”
328/284. The three preceding sentences were added in CW. Instead, P reads: “I’m really so poor at it, even if I try. And some excuse can be made for me too, if you consider everything. What shall I do?”
2
328/284. Deleted in CW: “It has always worked before, when I really willed something, but now I find it very difficult.”
328/284. Deleted in CW: “It has always worked before, when I really willed something, but now I find it very difficult.”
3
331/285. The “windbag” comparison was added in CW.
331/285. The “windbag” comparison was added in CW.
4
331/285. Dagny’s answer is deleted in CW: “I’m not at all angry with you, but you sadden me again and again. You don’t do it on purpose, but ...”
331/285. Dagny’s answer is deleted in CW: “I’m not at all angry with you, but you sadden me again and again. You don’t do it on purpose, but ...”
CHAPTER XVI (pp. 194-217)
1
375/306. P uses the word “delusion,” not “cotton wool.”
375/306. P uses the word “delusion,” not “cotton wool.”
2
392/314. The last clause was added in CW.
392/314. The last clause was added in CW.
3
393/314. P reads: His face was exceptionally pale. -In starting a new section at this point, I am following the P text.
393/314. P reads: His face was exceptionally pale. -In starting a new section at this point, I am following the P text.
4
396/316. In P, the last clause reads: “and that makes me go too far.” Different reflexive verbs are used in the two texts:
forivre
and
forvirre;
the discrepancy could be due to a composition error.
396/316. In P, the last clause reads: “and that makes me go too far.” Different reflexive verbs are used in the two texts:
forivre
and
forvirre;
the discrepancy could be due to a composition error.
5
399/317. In P, the last two sentences read: He speaks very softly: Oh, they would surely make a go of it.
399/317. In P, the last two sentences read: He speaks very softly: Oh, they would surely make a go of it.
CHAPTER XVII (pp. 218-24)
1
408/322. Deleted in CW: He would be good to her in every way he knew; indeed, she only had to tell him how, and he would gladly do her bidding. He had been so hopeful he would succeed in this.
408/322. Deleted in CW: He would be good to her in every way he knew; indeed, she only had to tell him how, and he would gladly do her bidding. He had been so hopeful he would succeed in this.
2
410—11/323. Deleted in CW: “I’m a stranger to you, no doubt about it, that’s the way it is; but I’m not lying to you. For that, too much is at stake for me. And when I explain it all to you sometime, perhaps already tomorrow, if I may come then—”
410—11/323. Deleted in CW: “I’m a stranger to you, no doubt about it, that’s the way it is; but I’m not lying to you. For that, too much is at stake for me. And when I explain it all to you sometime, perhaps already tomorrow, if I may come then—”
3
413/324. Deleted in CW:
413/324. Deleted in CW:
Yes, he was going to overcome her scruples, he would put his heart into it. He would explain himself better to her tomorrow, be completely open with her, not hiding anything; she was going to believe him, all right. Who knows, perhaps she might even get to love him a little sometime, love him very much, perhaps! You could never tell.—At this point P begins a new section.
CHAPTER XVIII (pp. 225-42)
1
425/330. The rest of this sentence was added in CW.
425/330. The rest of this sentence was added in CW.
2
428/331. The rest of this sentence was added in CW.
428/331. The rest of this sentence was added in CW.
3
441/337. Here a new section starts in P.
441/337. Here a new section starts in P.
4
443/338. Deleted in CW: flee the countries, so that the Atlantic itself can simply become a Norwegian lake.... Flimflam, call it flimflam!
443/338. Deleted in CW: flee the countries, so that the Atlantic itself can simply become a Norwegian lake.... Flimflam, call it flimflam!
5
444/339. P reads “restless” instead of “calm.”
444/339. P reads “restless” instead of “calm.”
CHAPTER XX (pp. 253-62)
1
479/356. P reads “Jesuit” instead of “counterfeiter.”
479/356. P reads “Jesuit” instead of “counterfeiter.”
2
481/356. P uses the phrase “cunning Jesuitry” instead of “sanctimonious depravity.”
481/356. P uses the phrase “cunning Jesuitry” instead of “sanctimonious depravity.”
CHAPTER XXI (pp.
263—72)
263—72)
1
499/365. The beginning of the next paragraph was deleted in CW: Just like before, almost just like once before: you seemed to sigh, don’t sigh!
499/365. The beginning of the next paragraph was deleted in CW: Just like before, almost just like once before: you seemed to sigh, don’t sigh!
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