Mason & Dixon

by Thomas Pynchon

Metempsychosis

“Suture

Fops,

Macaronis,

Lunar...

Hostlers

Koan,

“Viz.

Scheherazades,

Hanger.

Sumatra!”

ariettas

Crone,

reprovingly.

Ort.

Decrepitude

Geordie.

Quiberon

Brest

E...

Es...

Toulon?

Sibylline

Ramillies

Corsica-bound

Mauve,

H.M.S.

Waif,

Portsea,

Phiz,

pollicates

Arrears.

smoak

Madeira,

Rutabageous Anemia

corposantly

Ides of March

contrivance

obstinacy

Eques Sit Æquus.

holystoning

scuppers!”

One reason Humans remain young so long, compar’d to other Creatures, is that the young are useful in many ways, among them in providing daily, by way of the evil Creatures and Slaughter they love, a Denial of Mortality clamorous enough to allow their Elders release, if only for moments at a time, from Its Claims upon the Attention.

breeches

carousing

loblolly

Lazarette

Order of the Holy Ghost, the white Dove plainly visible thro’ the Glass,—

magnanimous,

Poohpooh! Adieu!’