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The Magna Carta
Contents
The Text of Magna Carta
Magna Carta 1215
The text of THE MAGNA CARTA
A note from Michael Hart, preparer of the 0.1 version.
This file contains a number of versions of the Magna Carta, some of
which were a little mangled in transit. I am sure our volunteers will
find and correct errors I ... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
TO ALL FREE MEN OF OUR KINGDOM we have also granted, for us and our
heirs for ever, all the liberties written out below, to have and to
keep for them and their heirs, of us and our heirs:
(2) If any earl, baron, or other person that holds lands directly of
the Crown, for military service, shall die, and at his death h... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
(6) Heirs may be given in marriage, but not to someone of lower social
standing. Before a marriage takes place, it shall be’ made known to the
heir’s next-of-kin.
(7) At her husband’s death, a widow may have her marriage portion and
inheritance at once and without trouble. She shall pay nothing for her
dower, marriage... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
(12) No ‘scutage’ or ‘aid’ may be levied in our kingdom without its
general consent, unless it is for the ransom of our person, to make our
eldest son a knight, and (once) to marry our eldest daughter. For these
purposes only a reasonable ‘aid’ may be levied. ‘Aids’ from the city of
London are to be treated similarly.... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
(19) If any assizes cannot be taken on the day of the county court, as
many knights and freeholders shall afterwards remain behind, of those
who have attended the court, as will suffice for the administration of
justice, having regard to the volume of business to be done.
(20) For a trivial offence, a free man shall b... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
(28) No constable or other royal official shall take corn or other
movable goods from any man without immediate payment, unless the seller
voluntarily offers postponement of this.
(29) No constable may compel a knight to pay money for castle-guard if
the knight is willing to undertake the guard in person, or with
reas... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
(38) In future no official shall place a man on trial upon his own
unsupported statement, without producing credible witnesses to the
truth of it.
(39) No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his
rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled, or deprived of his
standing in any other way, nor will we p... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
(45) We will appoint as justices, constables, sheriffs, or other
officials, only men that know the law of the realm and are minded to
keep it well.
(46) All barons who have founded abbeys, and have charters of English
kings or ancient tenure as evidence of this, may have guardianship of
them when there is no abbot, as... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
* We shall have similar respite in rendering justice in connexion with
forests that are to be disafforested, or to remain forests, when these
were first aforested by our father Henry or our brother Richard; with
the guardianship of lands in another persons fee, when we have hitherto
had this by virtue of a fee held of... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
* We will at once return the son of Llywelyn, all Welsh hostages, and
the charters delivered to us as security for the peace.
* With regard to the return of the sisters and hostages of Alexander,
king of Scotland, his liberties and his rights, we will treat him in
the same way as our other barons of England, unless it... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
* Any man who so desires may take an oath to obey the commands of the
twenty-five barons for the achievement of these ends, and to join with
them in assailing us to the utmost of his power. We give public and
free permission to take this oath to any man who so desires, and at no
time will we prohibit any man from taki... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
IT IS ACCORDINGLY OUR WISH AND COMMAND that the English Church shall be
free, and that men in our kingdom shall have and keep all these
liberties, rights, and concessions, well and peaceably in their fulness
and entirety for them and their heirs, of us and our heirs, in all
things and all places for ever.
Both we and ... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
1. In the first place we have granted to God, and by this our present
charter confirmed for us and our heirs for ever that the English church
shall be free, and shall have her rights entire, and her liberties
inviolate; and we will that it be thus observed; which is apparent from
this that the freedom of elections, wh... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
5. The guardian, moreover, so long as he has the wardship of the land,
shall keep up the houses, parks, fishponds, stanks, mills, and other
things pertaining to the land, out of the issues of the same land; and
he shall restore to the heir, when he has come to full age, all his
land, stocked with ploughs and “waynage,... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
11. And if any one die indebted to the Jews, his wife shall have her
dower and pay nothing of that debt; and if any children of the deceased
are left underage, necessaries shall be provided for them in keeping
with the holding of the deceased; and out of the residue the debt shall
be paid, reserving, however, service ... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
17. Common pleas shall not follow our court, but shall be held in some
fixed place.
18. Inquests of novel disseisin, of mort d’ancester, and of darrein
presentment, shall not be held elsewhere than in their own county
courts and that in manner following,—We, or, if we should be out of the
realm, our chief justiciar, w... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
26. If any one holding of us a lay fief shall die, and our sheriff or
bailiff shall exhibit our letters patent of summons for a debt which
the deceased owed to us, it shall be lawful for our sheriff or bailiff
to attach and catalogue chattels of the deceased, found upon the lay
fief, to the value of that debt, at the ... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
34. The writ which is called praecipe shall not for the future be
issued to any one, regarding any tenement whereby a freeman may lose
his court.
35. Let there be one measure of wine throughout our whole realm; and
one measure of ale; and one measure of corn, to wit, “the London
quarter;” and one width of cloth (wheth... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
42. It shall be lawful in future for any one (excepting always those
imprisoned or outlawed in accordance with the law of the kingdom, and
natives of any country at war with us, and merchants, who shall be
treated as is above provided) to leave our kingdom and to return, safe
and secure by land and water, except for a... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
49. We will immediately restore all hostages and charters delivered to
us by Englishmen, as sureties of the peace or of faithful service.
50. We will entirely remove from their bailiwicks, the relations of
Gerard Athee (so that in future they shall have no bailiwick in
England); namely, Engelard of Cigogne, Peter, Guy... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
54. No one shall be arrested or imprisoned upon the appeal of a woman,
for the death of any other than her husband.
55. All fines made with us unjustly and against the law of the land,
and all amercements imposed unjustly and against the law of the land,
shall be entirely remitted, or else it shall be done concerning ... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
58. We will immediately give up the son of Llywelyn and all the
hostages of Wales, and the charters delivered to us as security for the
peace.
59. We will do toward Alexander, King of Scots, concerning the return
of his sisters and his hostages, and concerning his franchises, and his
right, in the same manner as we sh... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
62. And all the ill-will, hatreds, and bitterness that have arisen
between us and our men, clergy and lay, from the date of the quarrel,
we have completely remitted and pardoned every one. Moreover, all
trespasses occasioned by the said quarrel, from Easter in the sixteenth
year of our reign till the restoration of pe... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
1. In the first place we have granted to God, and by this our present
charter confirmed for us and our heirs forever that the English Church
shall be free, and shall have her rights entire, and her liberties
inviolate; and we will that it be thus observed; which is apparent from
this that the freedom of elections, whi... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
5. The guardian, moreover, so long as he has the wardship of the land,
shall keep up the houses, parks, fishponds, stanks, mills, and other
things pertaining to the land, out of the issues of the same land; and
he shall restore to the heir, when he has come to full age, all his
land, stocked with ploughs and wainage, ... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
11. And if anyone die indebted to the Jews, his wife shall have her
dower and pay nothing of that debt; and if any children of the deceased
are left under age, necessaries shall be provided for them in keeping
with the holding of the deceased; and out of the residue the debt shall
be paid, reserving, however, service ... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
17. Common pleas shall not follow our court, but shall be held in some
fixed place.
18. Inquests of novel disseisin, of mort d’ancestor, and of darrein
presentment shall not be held elsewhere than in their own county
courts, and that in manner following; We, or, if we should be out of
the realm, our chief justiciar, w... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
26. If anyone holding of us a lay fief shall die, and our sheriff or
bailiff shall exhibit our letters patent of summons for a debt which
the deceased owed us, it shall be lawful for our sheriff or bailiff to
attach and enroll the chattels of the deceased, found upon the lay
fief, to the value of that debt, at the sig... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
34. The writ which is called praecipe shall not for the future be
issued to anyone, regarding any tenement whereby a freeman may lose his
court.
35. Let there be one measure of wine throughout our whole realm; and
one measure of ale; and one measure of corn, to wit, “the London
quarter”; and one width of cloth (whethe... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
42. It shall be lawful in future for anyone (excepting always those
imprisoned or outlawed in accordance with the law of the kingdom, and
natives of any country at war with us, and merchants, who shall be
treated as if above provided) to leave our kingdom and to return, safe
and secure by land and water, except for a ... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
49. We will immediately restore all hostages and charters delivered to
us by Englishmen, as sureties of the peace of faithful service.
50. We will entirely remove from their bailiwicks, the relations of
Gerard of Athee (so that in future they shall have no bailiwick in
England); namely, Engelard of Cigogne, Peter, Guy... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
54. No one shall be arrested or imprisoned upon the appeal of a woman,
for the death of any other than her husband.
55. All fines made with us unjustly and against the law of the land,
and all amercements, imposed unjustly and against the law of the land,
shall be entirely remitted, or else it shall be done concerning... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
58. We will immediately give up the son of Llywelyn and all the
hostages of Wales, and the charters delivered to us as security for the
peace.
59. We will do towards Alexander, king of Scots, concerning the return
of his sisters and his hostages, and concerning his franchises, and his
right, in the same manner as we s... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
All those, moveover, in the land who of themselves and of their own
accord are unwilling to swear to the twenty five to help them in
constraining and molesting us, we shall by our command compel the same
to swear to the effect foresaid. And if any one of the five and twenty
barons shall have died or departed from the ... | The Magna Carta | Anonymous | ['en'] | 202 | {'Constitutional history -- England -- Sources', 'Magna Carta'} | PG10000 | |||
SENECA
APOCOLOCYNTOSIS
WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY
W.H.D. ROUSE, M.A. LITT. D.
MCMXX
INTRODUCTION
This piece is ascribed to Seneca by ancient tradition; it is impossible
to prove that it is his, and impossible to prove that it is ... | Apocolocyntosis | Seneca, Lucius Annaeus | 65 | ['en'] | 455 | {'Claudius, Emperor of Rome, 10 B.C.-54 A.D. -- Humor'} | PG10001 | ||
Now had the sun with shorter course drawn in his risen light, 2
And by equivalent degrees grew the dark hours of night:
Victorious Cynthia now held sway over a wider space,
Grim winter drove rich autumn out, and now usurped his place;
And now the fiat had gone forth that Bacchus must grow old,
Th... | Apocolocyntosis | Seneca, Lucius Annaeus | 65 | ['en'] | 455 | {'Claudius, Emperor of Rome, 10 B.C.-54 A.D. -- Humor'} | PG10001 | ||
This said, she twists the thread around his ugly spindle once, 4
Snaps off the last bit of the life of that Imperial dunce.
But Lachesis, her hair adorned, her tresses neatly bound,
Pierian laurel on her locks, her brows with garlands crowned,
Plucks me from out the snowy wool new threads as white a... | Apocolocyntosis | Seneca, Lucius Annaeus | 65 | ['en'] | 455 | {'Claudius, Emperor of Rome, 10 B.C.-54 A.D. -- Humor'} | PG10001 | ||
At once he bubbled up the ghost, and there was an end to that shadow of a
life. He was listening to a troupe of comedians when he died, so you see I
have reason to fear those gentry. The last words he was heard to speak in
this world were these. When he had made a great noise with that end of him
which talked easiest,... | Apocolocyntosis | Seneca, Lucius Annaeus | 65 | ['en'] | 455 | {'Claudius, Emperor of Rome, 10 B.C.-54 A.D. -- Humor'} | PG10001 | ||
"Breezes wafted me from Ilion unto the Ciconian land."
[Sidenote: Od. ix, 39]
But the next verse was more true, and no less Homeric:
"Thither come, I sacked a city, slew the people every one."
He would have taken in poor simple Hercules, but 6
that Our Lady of Malaria was there, who left... | Apocolocyntosis | Seneca, Lucius Annaeus | 65 | ['en'] | 455 | {'Claudius, Emperor of Rome, 10 B.C.-54 A.D. -- Humor'} | PG10001 | ||
"Declare with speed what spot you claim by birth.
Or with this club fall stricken to the earth!
This club hath ofttimes slaughtered haughty kings!
Why mumble unintelligible things?
What land, what tribe produced that shaking head?
Declare it! On my journey when I sped
Far to the Kingdom of the triple Kin... | Apocolocyntosis | Seneca, Lucius Annaeus | 65 | ['en'] | 455 | {'Claudius, Emperor of Rome, 10 B.C.-54 A.D. -- Humor'} | PG10001 | ||
At last it came into Jove's head, that while strangers 9
were in the House it was not lawful to speak or debate. "My lords and
gentlemen," said he, "I gave you leave to ask questions, and you have made
a regular farmyard [Footnote: Proverb: meaning unknown.] of the place. Be
so good as to keep the r... | Apocolocyntosis | Seneca, Lucius Annaeus | 65 | ['en'] | 455 | {'Claudius, Emperor of Rome, 10 B.C.-54 A.D. -- Humor'} | PG10001 | ||
Then arose the blessed Augustus, when his turn 10
came, and spoke with much eloquence. [Footnote: The speech seems to contain
a parody of Augustus's style and sayings.] "I call you to witness, my lords
and gentlemen," said he, "that since the day I was made a god I have never
uttered one word... | Apocolocyntosis | Seneca, Lucius Annaeus | 65 | ['en'] | 455 | {'Claudius, Emperor of Rome, 10 B.C.-54 A.D. -- Humor'} | PG10001 | ||
'Whom seizing by the foot he cast from the threshold of the sky,'
[Sidenote: Illiad i, 591]
and once he fell in a rage with his wife and strung her up: did he do any
killing? You killed Messalina, whose great-uncle I was no less than yours.
'I don't know,' did you say? Curse you! that is just it: not to know was
w... | Apocolocyntosis | Seneca, Lucius Annaeus | 65 | ['en'] | 455 | {'Claudius, Emperor of Rome, 10 B.C.-54 A.D. -- Humor'} | PG10001 | ||
When Claudius saw his own funeral train, he understood that he was dead.
For they were chanting his dirge in anapaests, with much mopping and
mouthing:
"Pour forth your laments, your sorrow declare,
Let the sounds of grief rise high in the air:
For he that is dead had a wit most keen,
Was bravest of all that o... | Apocolocyntosis | Seneca, Lucius Annaeus | 65 | ['en'] | 455 | {'Claudius, Emperor of Rome, 10 B.C.-54 A.D. -- Humor'} | PG10001 | ||
Pedo brings him before the judgement seat of 14
Aeacus, who was holding court under the Lex Cornelia to try cases of murder
and assassination. Pedo requests the judge to take the prisoner's name, and
produces a summons with this charge: Senators killed, 35; Roman Knights,
221; others as the... | Apocolocyntosis | Seneca, Lucius Annaeus | 65 | ['en'] | 455 | {'Claudius, Emperor of Rome, 10 B.C.-54 A.D. -- Humor'} | PG10001 | ||
THE HOUSE ON THE BORDERLAND
William Hope Hodgson
_From the Manuscript discovered in 1877 by Messrs. Tonnison and
Berreggnog in the Ruins that lie to the South of the Village of
Kraighten, in the West of Ireland. Set out here, with Notes_.
TO MY FATHER
_(Whose feet tread the lost aeons)_
Open the door,
And listen!
... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
WILLIAM HOPE HODGSON December 17, 1907
_I_
THE FINDING OF THE MANUSCRIPT
Right away in the west of Ireland lies a tiny hamlet called Kraighten.
It is situated, alone, at the base of a low hill. Far around there
spreads a waste of bleak and totally inhospitable country; where, here
and there at great intervals, one may... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
It was Tonnison's idea to camp out instead of getting lodgings in one of
the cottages. As he put it, there was no joke in sleeping in a room with
a numerous family of healthy Irish in one corner and the pigsty in the
other, while overhead a ragged colony of roosting fowls distributed
their blessings impartially, and t... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
"I wish we had got the driver to interpret for us before he left," I
remarked, as we sat down to our meal. "It seems so strange for the
people of this place not even to know what we've come for."
Tonnison grunted an assent, and thereafter was silent for a while.
Later, having satisfied our appetites somewhat, we began... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
For perhaps another hour we wandered onward, chatting quietly and
comfortably on this and that matter, and on several occasions stopping
while my companion--who is something of an artist--made rough sketches
of striking bits of the wild scenery.
And then, without any warning whatsoever, the river we had followed so
co... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
Down the sloping bank we made our way, and entered among the trees and
shrubberies. The bushes were matted, and the trees overhung us, so that
the place was disagreeably gloomy; though not dark enough to hide from
me the fact that many of the trees were fruit trees, and that, here and
there, one could trace indistinct... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
For quite a minute we stood in silence, staring in bewilderment at the
sight; then my friend went forward cautiously to the edge of the abyss.
I followed, and, together, we looked down through a boil of spray at a
monster cataract of frothing water that burst, spouting, from the side
of the chasm, nearly a hundred fee... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
I went back to the outer side of the wall, and thence to the edge of the
chasm, leaving Tonnison rooting systematically among the heap of stones
and rubbish on the outer side. Then I commenced to examine the surface
of the ground, near the edge of the abyss, to see whether there were not
left other remnants of the bui... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
The next thing we did was to make a complete tour of the tremendous
chasm, which we were able to observe was in the form of an almost
perfect circle, save for where the ruin-crowned spur of rock jutted out,
spoiling its symmetry.
The abyss was, as Tonnison put it, like nothing so much as a gigantic
well or pit going s... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
Once, as we moved away, there seemed to come again a distant sound of
wailing, and I said to myself that it was the wind--yet the evening was
breathless.
Presently, Tonnison began to talk.
"Look you," he said with decision, "I would not spend the night in
_that_ place for all the wealth that the world holds. There is ... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
I have decided to start a kind of diary; it may enable me to record
some of the thoughts and feelings that I cannot express to anyone; but,
beyond this, I am anxious to make some record of the strange things that
I have heard and seen, during many years of loneliness, in this weird
old building.
For a couple of centur... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
Without warning, the flames of the two candles went low, and then
shone with a ghastly green effulgence. I looked up, quickly, and as I
did so I saw the lights sink into a dull, ruddy tint; so that the room
glowed with a strange, heavy, crimson twilight that gave the shadows
behind the chairs and tables a double depth... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
Gradually, as I became more accustomed to the idea, I realized that I
was looking out on to a vast plain, lit with the same gloomy twilight
that pervaded the room. The immensity of this plain scarcely can be
conceived. In no part could I perceive its confines. It seemed to
broaden and spread out, so that the eye faile... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
Slowly, the distant redness became plainer and larger; until, as I drew
nearer, it spread out into a great, somber glare--dull and tremendous.
Still, I fled onward, and, presently, I had come so close, that it
seemed to stretch beneath me, like a great ocean of somber red. I could
see little, save that it appeared to ... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
Gradually, I began to weary with the sameness of the thing. Yet, it was
a great time before I perceived any signs of the place, toward which I
was being conveyed.
"At first, I saw it, far ahead, like a long hillock on the surface of
the Plain. Then, as I drew nearer, I perceived that I had been mistaken;
for, instead ... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
Hitherto, I had been so engrossed in my scrutiny of the House, that I
had given only a cursory glance 'round. Now, as I looked, I began to
realize upon what sort of a place I had come. The arena, for so I have
termed it, appeared a perfect circle of about ten to twelve miles in
diameter, the House, as I have mentioned... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
Other remembrances of my old student days drifted into my thoughts. My
glance fell back upon the huge beast-headed Thing. Simultaneously, I
recognized it for the ancient Egyptian god Set, or Seth, the Destroyer
of Souls. With the knowledge, there came a great sweep of
questioning--'Two of the--!' I stopped, and endeav... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
And then, in the midst of my wondering and musing, something happened.
Until then, I had been staying just within the shadow of the exit of the
great rift. Now, without volition on my part, I drifted out of the
semi-darkness and began to move slowly across the arena--toward the
House. At this, I gave up all thoughts o... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
Continually, I mounted higher. A few minutes, it seemed, and I had
risen above the great mountains--floating, alone, afar in the redness.
At a tremendous distance below, the arena showed, dimly; with the mighty
House looking no larger than a tiny spot of green. The Swine-thing was
no longer visible.
Presently, I passe... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
A long space of time came and went, and then at last I entered into the
shadow of the world--plunging headlong into the dim and holy earth
night. Overhead were the old constellations, and there was a crescent
moon. Then, as I neared the earth's surface, a dimness swept over me,
and I appeared to sink into a black mist... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
I have a remembrance of cursing, peevishly, in my bewilderment.
Suddenly, I turned faint and giddy, and had to grasp at the table for
support. During a few moments, I held on, weakly; and then managed to
totter sideways into a chair. After a little time, I felt somewhat
better, and succeeded in reaching the cupboard w... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
My sister asked me no questions; for it is not by any means the first
time that I have kept to my study for a whole day, and sometimes a
couple of days at a time, when I have been particularly engrossed in my
books or work.
And so the days pass on, and I am still filled with a wonder to know
the meaning of all that I ... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
Pepper was quiet now and kept close to me all the time. Thus, we
searched right up one side of the river, without hearing or seeing
anything. Then, we crossed over--by the simple method of jumping--and
commenced to beat our way back through the underbrush.
We had accomplished perhaps half the distance, when I heard ag... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
On reaching the house, my sister inquired what had happened to Pepper,
and I told her he had been fighting with a wildcat, of which I had heard
there were several about.
I felt it would be better not to tell her how it had really happened;
though, to be sure, I scarcely knew myself; but this I did know, that
the thing... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
As I have said, before, I felt some fear; though almost of an
impersonal kind. I may explain my feeling better by saying that it was
more a sensation of abhorrence; such as one might expect to feel, if
brought in contact with something superhumanly foul; something
unholy--belonging to some hitherto undreamt of state o... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
At times, I shouted; but only the echoes answered back. I thought thus
perhaps to frighten or stir the creature to showing itself; but only
succeeded in bringing my sister Mary out, to know what was the matter. I
told her, that I had seen the wildcat that had wounded Pepper, and that
I was trying to hunt it out of the... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
Gradually, I calmed. The stealthy movements outside had ceased.
Then for an hour I sat silent and watchful. All at once the feeling of
fear took me again. I felt as I imagine an animal must, under the eye of
a snake. Yet now I could hear nothing. Still, there was no doubting that
some unexplained influence was at work... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
My sister had risen to her feet, with a sharp exclamation of surprise
and fright.
Telling her to stay where she was, I snatched up my gun, and ran toward
the Pit. As I neared it, I heard a dull, rumbling sound, that grew
quickly into a roar, split with deeper crashes, and up from the Pit
drove a fresh volume of dust.
... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
There was a momentary silence, to which, probably, I owe my life; for,
during it, I heard a quick patter of many feet, and, turning sharply,
saw a troop of the creatures coming toward me, at a run. Instantly, I
raised my gun and fired at the foremost, who plunged head-long, with a
hideous howling. Then, I turned to ru... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
My sister sat, gasping, in a chair. She seemed in a fainting condition;
but I had no time then to spend on her. I had to make sure that all the
doors were fastened. Fortunately, they were. The one leading from my
study into the gardens, was the last to which I went. I had just had
time to note that it was secured, whe... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
For a moment, I stayed there--kneeling and holding the brandy flask. I
was utterly puzzled and astonished.
Could she be afraid of me? But no! Why should she? I could only
conclude that her nerves were badly shaken, and that she was temporarily
unhinged. Upstairs, I heard a door bang, loudly, and I knew that she had
ta... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
Taking the kitchen lamp down from its hook, I made my way from cellar
to cellar, and room to room; through pantry and coal-hole--along
passages, and into the hundred-and-one little blind alleys and hidden
nooks that form the basement of the old house. Then, when I knew I had
been in every corner and cranny large enoug... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
My head began to swim, and throb violently. Then, I was aware of a
feeling of acute physical pain in my left hand. It grew more severe, and
forced, literally forced, my attention. With a tremendous effort, I
glanced down; and, with that, the spell that had held me was broken. I
realized, then, that I had, in my agitat... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
In the meantime, I sat still, and kept my ears open. The gardens were
comparatively quiet now, and only an occasional grunt or squeal came up
to me. I did not like this silence; it made me wonder on what devilry
the creatures were bent. Twice, I left the tower, and took a walk
through the house; but everything was sil... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
At this moment, there came another long squeal, from the Pit, followed,
a second later, by a couple of shorter ones. At once, the garden was
filled with answering cries. I stood up, quickly, and looked over the
parapet. In the moonlight, it seemed as though the shrubberies were
alive. They tossed hither and thither, a... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
Then, feeling easier, I resumed my coat, which I had laid aside, and
proceeded to attend to one or two matters before returning to the tower.
It was whilst thus employed, that I heard a fumbling at the door, and
the latch was tried. Keeping silence, I waited. Soon, I heard several of
the creatures outside. They were g... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
There was not a moment to lose, and, leaning over, I aimed, quickly,
and fired. The report rang sharply, and, almost blending with it, came
the loud splud of the bullet striking its mark. From below, rose a
shrill wail; and the door ceased its groaning. Then, as I took my weight
from off the parapet, a huge piece of t... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
Stepping to one side of the window, I reloaded, and then stood there,
waiting. Presently, I heard a scuffling noise. From where I stood in the
shadow, I could see, without being seen.
Nearer came the sounds, and then I saw something come up above the
sill, and clutch at the broken window-frame. It caught a piece of th... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
For a few minutes longer, I waited there, listening; but, after the
first general outcry, I heard nothing. I knew, now, that there was no
more reason to fear an attack from this quarter. I had removed the only
means of reaching the window, and, as none of the other windows had any
adjacent water pipes, to tempt the cl... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
I went first to the buttery, having a vivid remembrance of my late
adventure there. The place was chilly, and the wind, soughing in through
the broken glass, produced an eerie note. Apart from the general air of
dismalness, the place was as I had left it the night before. Going up to
the window, I examined the bars, c... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
I awoke, with a start, and looked 'round, hurriedly. The clock in the
corner, indicated that it was three o'clock. It was already afternoon. I
must have slept for nearly eleven hours.
With a jerky movement, I sat forward in the chair, and listened. The
house was perfectly silent. Slowly, I stood up, and yawned. I felt... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
Just as her hand was on the last bolt, I reached her. She had not seen
me, and, the first thing she knew, I had hold of her arm. She glanced up
quickly, like a frightened animal, and screamed aloud.
'Come, Mary!' I said, sternly, 'what's the meaning of this nonsense? Do
you mean to tell me you don't understand the dan... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
The rest of the day, I spent between the tower and my study. For food,
I brought up a loaf from the pantry, and on this, and some claret, I
lived for that day.
What a long, weary day it was. If only I could have gone out into the
gardens, as is my wont, I should have been content enough; but to be
cooped in this silen... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
Reaching the tower, I made myself as comfortable as circumstances would
permit, and settled down to watch through the night. Gradually, darkness
fell, and soon the details of the gardens were merged into shadows.
During the first few hours, I sat, alert, listening for any sound that
might help to tell me if anything w... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
For, perhaps, the half of a minute, I hesitated. I would have been very
willing to forego the task--as, indeed, I am inclined to think any man
well might--for of all the great, awe-inspiring rooms in this house, the
cellars are the hugest and weirdest. Great, gloomy caverns of places,
unlit by any ray of daylight. Yet... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
Thus, I came, at last, to the great cellar that I remembered. It is
reached, through a huge, arched entrance, on which I observed strange,
fantastic carvings, which threw queer shadows under the light of my
candle. As I stood, and examined these, thoughtfully, it occurred to me
how strange it was, that I should be so ... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
For a full minute, I stood there, quivering--glancing, nervously,
behind and before; but the great cellar was silent as a grave, and,
gradually, I shook off the frightened sensation. With a calmer mind, I
became again curious to know into what that trap opened; but could not,
then, summon sufficient courage to make a ... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
I spoke to him, and bade him lie still. I was greatly delighted with
his improvement, and also with the natural kindness of my sister's
heart, in taking such good care of him, in spite of her condition of
mind. After a while, I left him, and went downstairs, to my study.
In a little time, Mary appeared, carrying a tra... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
At breakfast, when I met Mary, I was greatly pleased to see that she
had sufficiently regained command over herself, to be able to greet me
in a perfectly natural manner. She talked sensibly and quietly; only
keeping carefully from any mention of the past couple of days. In this,
I humored her, to the extent of not at... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
How slowly the time went; and never a thing to indicate that any of the
brutes still infested the gardens.
It was on the ninth day that, finally, I decided to run the risk, if
any there were, and sally out. With this purpose in view, I loaded one
of the shotguns, carefully--choosing it, as being more deadly than a
rif... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
Reaching the place where I had shot that first creature, I stopped, and
made a careful scrutiny; but could see nothing. From there, I went on to
where the great copingstone had fallen. It lay on its side, apparently
just as it had been left when I shot the brute that was moving it. A
couple of feet to the right of the... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
Leaving, I continued my tour 'round the house, finding little else of
interest; save at the back, where I came across the piece of piping I
had torn from the wall, lying among the long grass underneath the
broken window.
Then, I returned to the house, and, having re-bolted the back door,
went up to the tower. Here, I ... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
The opposite side of the Pit, still retained its verdure; but so torn
in places, and everywhere covered with dust and rubbish, that it was
hardly distinguishable as such.
My first impression, that there had been a land slip, was, I began to
see, not sufficient, of itself, to account for all the changes I
witnessed. An... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
Slowly, and keeping a careful watch in all directions, I made the
circuit of the Pit; but found little else, that I had not already seen.
From the West end, I could see the four waterfalls, uninterruptedly.
They were some considerable distance up from the surface of the
lake--about fifty feet, I calculated.
For a litt... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 | |
Next day, I resumed my search through the gardens; but without result.
By evening, I had been right through them, and now, I knew, beyond the
possibility of doubt, that there were no longer any of the Things
concealed about the place. Indeed, I have often thought since, that I
was correct in my earlier surmise, that t... | The House on the Borderland | Hodgson, William Hope | 1877 | 1918 | ['en'] | 824 | {'Science fiction'} | PG10002 |
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