The Dynasts

Thomas Hardy

138 chapters · about 10 h

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The opening

FORE SCENE

THE OVERWORLD

[Enter the Ancient Spirit and Chorus of the Years, the Spirit and Chorus of the Pities, the Shade of the Earth, the Spirits Sinister and Ironic with their Choruses, Rumours, Spirit- Messengers, and Recording Angels.]

SHADE OF THE EARTH What of the Immanent Will and Its designs?

SPIRIT OF THE YEARS It works unconsciously, as heretofore, Eternal artistries in Circumstance, Whose patterns, wrought by rapt aesthetic rote, Seem in themselves Its single listless aim, And not their consequence.

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About this edition

The words
The author's text, copied word for word.
Left out
  • The source library's header, footer and license
  • The title page and opening pages before chapter 1, in 4 places
  • The source website's menus, layout and notices
  • The printed table of contents (the app makes its own)
  • Notes about a stage production
  • The printed closing line "END OF THE FORE SCENE" (left out and listed)
  • The printed act heading (the act is carried in the chapter's part field) (19 blocks)
  • The printed closing line "THE END OF “THE DYNASTS”" and its date (left out and listed)
  • The printed heading of the footnotes (they are placed at their markers)
  • Notes and pages added by translators, editors or publishers, in 3 places