Severus
02-23-2014, 08:36 PM
Hi everyone,
I am new to the forum and I would like firstly to say a few words about myself and then go on to my question. My name is Lazaros, I am twenty years old, I come from Greece and at the moment I am studying in Germany. I am majoring in translation and interpreting at the University of Mainz in Germersheim.
I am reading The Clockmaker; The Sayings and Doing of Sam Slick of Slickville because I have chosen to write on a relevent topic in my term paper. As the language of the text is not contemporary, I have some difficulties in understanding some vague points throughout the text which I cite and highlight in bold type below,together with the context in which they appear:
"That is a superior animal you are mounted on," said I; "I seldom meet one that can travel with mine.""Yes," said he coolly, "a considerable fair traveller, and most particular good bottom." I hesitated; this man who talks with such unblushing effrontery of getting up cases, and making profit out of them, cannot be offended at the question--yes, I will put it to him. "Do you feel an inclination to part with him?" "I never part with a horse sir, that suits me," said he. "I am fond of a horse: I don't like to ride in the dust after every one I meet, and I allow no man to pass me but when I choose." Is it possible, I thought, that he can know me--that he has heard of my foible, and is quizzing me, or have I this feeling in common with him? "But," continued I, "you might supply yourself again.""Not on this circuit, I guess," said he, "nor yet in Campbell's circuit.""Campbell's circuit--pray, sir, what is that?""That," said he, "is the western--and Lampton rides the shore circuit; and as for the people on the shore, they
know so little of horses that, Lampton tells me, a man from Aylesford once sold a hornless ox there, whose
tail he had cut and nicked for a horse of the goliah breed." "I should think," said I, "that Mr. Lampton must have no lack of cases among such enlightened clients." "Clients, sir!" said my friend, "Mr. Lampton is not a lawyer."I beg pardon, I thought you said he rode the circuit."
"We call it a circuit," said the stranger, who seemed by no means flattered by the mistake; "we divide the Province, as in the Almanac, into circuits, in each of which we separately carry on our business of manufacturing and selling clocks. There are few, I guess," said the Clockmaker, "who go upon TICK as much as we do, who have so little use for lawyers; if attornies could wind a man up again, after he has been fairly
run down, I guess they'd be a pretty harmless sort of folks."
Could you just give me any explanation of the possible meanings the phrases I have highlighted may carry?I hope you can help me out. Any feedback is welcome.
I am new to the forum and I would like firstly to say a few words about myself and then go on to my question. My name is Lazaros, I am twenty years old, I come from Greece and at the moment I am studying in Germany. I am majoring in translation and interpreting at the University of Mainz in Germersheim.
I am reading The Clockmaker; The Sayings and Doing of Sam Slick of Slickville because I have chosen to write on a relevent topic in my term paper. As the language of the text is not contemporary, I have some difficulties in understanding some vague points throughout the text which I cite and highlight in bold type below,together with the context in which they appear:
"That is a superior animal you are mounted on," said I; "I seldom meet one that can travel with mine.""Yes," said he coolly, "a considerable fair traveller, and most particular good bottom." I hesitated; this man who talks with such unblushing effrontery of getting up cases, and making profit out of them, cannot be offended at the question--yes, I will put it to him. "Do you feel an inclination to part with him?" "I never part with a horse sir, that suits me," said he. "I am fond of a horse: I don't like to ride in the dust after every one I meet, and I allow no man to pass me but when I choose." Is it possible, I thought, that he can know me--that he has heard of my foible, and is quizzing me, or have I this feeling in common with him? "But," continued I, "you might supply yourself again.""Not on this circuit, I guess," said he, "nor yet in Campbell's circuit.""Campbell's circuit--pray, sir, what is that?""That," said he, "is the western--and Lampton rides the shore circuit; and as for the people on the shore, they
know so little of horses that, Lampton tells me, a man from Aylesford once sold a hornless ox there, whose
tail he had cut and nicked for a horse of the goliah breed." "I should think," said I, "that Mr. Lampton must have no lack of cases among such enlightened clients." "Clients, sir!" said my friend, "Mr. Lampton is not a lawyer."I beg pardon, I thought you said he rode the circuit."
"We call it a circuit," said the stranger, who seemed by no means flattered by the mistake; "we divide the Province, as in the Almanac, into circuits, in each of which we separately carry on our business of manufacturing and selling clocks. There are few, I guess," said the Clockmaker, "who go upon TICK as much as we do, who have so little use for lawyers; if attornies could wind a man up again, after he has been fairly
run down, I guess they'd be a pretty harmless sort of folks."
Could you just give me any explanation of the possible meanings the phrases I have highlighted may carry?I hope you can help me out. Any feedback is welcome.