The gentle maid, whose hapless tale,these melancholy pages

The gentle maid, whose hapless tale,these melancholy pages speak;say, gracious lady, shall she failTo draw the tear a down from thy cheek?

(0 Reviews)

Facebook

Twitter

E-mail

Favorites

The passage reflects on the sorrowful story of a young woman, whose unfortunate experiences are recounted in the melancholy pages of a book. The author, Horace Walpole, addresses a lady, imploring her to shed a tear for the maid’s plight. It highlights the emotional connection the reader is expected to forge with the character’s suffering.

This excerpt emphasizes the theme of empathy and the power of storytelling to evoke feelings. The maid’s struggle serves as a poignant reminder of human vulnerability, inviting readers to reflect on their emotions and compassion towards others in distress.

Categories

book quote

Book

The Castle of Otranto

Author

Horace Walpole

Votes
0

Page views
43

Update
April 12, 2025

Report
Report a Problem

Rate the Quote

Add Comment & Review

User Reviews

Based on 0 reviews

5 Star

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

No reviews added yet.

Add Comment & Review

Your Name: *

Comment Title: *

Your E-mail: * We'll never share your email with anyone else.

Your Comment: *

Your Rating: *

Comments will not be approved to be posted if they are SPAM, abusive, off-topic, use profanity, contain a personal attack, or promote hate of any kind.

My soul abhors a falsehood

My veracity is dearer to me than my life," said the peasant; "nor would I purchase the one by forfeiting the other.

This is a bad world; nor have I had cause to leave it with regret.

This life is but a pilgrimage.

Manfred, Prince of Otranto, had one son and one daughter: the latter, a most beautiful virgin, aged eighteen, was called Matilda. Conrad, the son, was three years younger, a homely youth, sickly, and of no promising disposition; yet he was the darling of his father, who never showed any symptoms of affection to Matilda. Manfred had contracted a marriage for his son with the Marquis of Vicenza's daughter, Isabella; and she had already been delivered by her guardians into the hands of Manfred, that he might celebrate the wedding as soon as Conrad's infirm state of health would permit.

It is natural for a translator to be prejudiced in favour of his adopted work. More impartial readers may not be so much struck with the beauties of this piece as I was. Yet I am not blind to my author's defects.

All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.

All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.

Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!

Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!

"Philip Sharpe was a soldier in God's army," says the minister. "Now he marches with the angels."

"Philip Sharpe was a soldier in God's army," says the minister. "Now he marches with the angels."

For me the curse is a crutch, but the con is everything.

For me the curse is a crutch, but the con is everything.

On the way out to the car, Philip turns to me. "How could you be so stupid?" I shrug, stung in spite of myself. "I thought I grew out of it." Philip pulls out his key fob and presses the remote to unlock his Mercedes. I slide into the passenger side, brushing coffee cups off the seat and onto the floor mat, where crumpled printouts from MapQuest soak up any spilled liquid. "I hope you mean sleepwalking," Philip says, "since you obviously didn't grow out of stupid."

On the way out to the car, Philip turns to me. "How could you be so stupid?" I shrug, stung in spite of myself. "I thought I grew out of it." Philip pulls out his key fob and presses the remote to unlock his Mercedes. I slide into the passenger side, brushing coffee cups off the seat and onto the floor mat, where crumpled printouts from MapQuest soak up any spilled liquid. "I hope you mean sleepwalking," Philip says, "since you obviously didn't grow out of stupid."

I don't have anything against God. Far from it. But I don't understand Him. And I don't trust a lot of the people that go around claiming that they're working in His best interests.