“A swift carriage, of a dark night, rattling with four horses over roads that one can’t see--that’s my idea of happiness.”

Source: The Portrait of a Lady

Last update June 3, 2021. History

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Henry James 154
American novelist, short story author, and literary critic 1843–1916

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“On a dark night, Kindled in love with yearnings — oh, happy chance! —
I went forth without being observed, My house being now at rest.
In darkness and secure, By the secret ladder, disguised — oh, happy chance! —
In darkness and in concealment, My house being now at rest.”

John of the Cross (1542–1591) Spanish mystic and Roman Catholic saint

En una noche oscura,
con ansias, en amores inflamada,
¡oh dichosa ventura!,
salí sin ser notada,
estando ya mi casa sosegada;
One dark night, fired with love's urgent longings — ah, the sheer grace! —
I went out unseen, my house being now all stilled.
In darkness, and secure, by the secret ladder, disguised, — ah, the sheer grace! — in darkness and concealment, my house being now all stilled.
Variant translation by Kieran Kavanaugh and Otilio Rodriguez (1991)
Upon a darkened night the flame of love was burning in my breast
And by a lantern bright I fled my house while all in quiet rest.
Shrouded by the night and by the secret stair I quickly fled.
The veil concealed my eyes while all within lay quiet as the dead
Variant adapted for music by Loreena McKennitt (1994)
Dark Night of the Soul

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“When a road is very dark it is hard to see the milestones on it.”

Source: Volkhavaar (1977), Chapter 9 (p. 78)

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“The night was long and dark and just
Another dagger to my trust.
I thrust it in until I bleed
I wiped my point for you to see. And anyway,
It's over now.
Nothing left to say.”

Alicia Witt (1975) American actress

"Anyway" Official Video http://vimeo.com/12147261 - Performance on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (1 July 2010) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TduFqUob4o
Lyrics, Alicia Witt (2009)
Context: I'm bruised again,
I wear it well,
The self-inflicted tale they tell.
I singed my hair,
I broke my nails.
You'd love me then,
If all else failed.
The night was long and dark and just
Another dagger to my trust.
I thrust it in until I bleed
I wiped my point for you to see. And anyway,
It's over now.
Nothing left to say.
I don't know why,
I don't care how,
It's over anyway.
It's broken in pieces.
You've got the space you needed.
Too late to try,
Just say good-bye
It's over anyway.

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“A nation that neglects either of these forces perishes. They must be steered together, like a pair of carriage horses.”

José Martí (1853–1895) Poet, writer, Cuban nationalist leader

Martí : Thoughts/Pensamientos (1994)
Context: Fortunately, there is a sane equilibrium in the character of nations, as there is in that of men. The force of passion is balanced by the force of interest. An insatiable appetite for glory leads to sacrifice and death, but innate instinct leads to self-preservation and life. A nation that neglects either of these forces perishes. They must be steered together, like a pair of carriage horses.

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“Although I come to you constantly
over the roads of dreams,
those nights of love
are not worth one waking touch of you.”

Ono no Komachi (825–900) Japanese poet

Source: Kenneth Rexroth's translations, Women Poets of Japan (1982), p. 15

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