Saturday, October 24, 2015

"Kingen will commen. Allso brewbeer."

(615.11-617.29)  Consistent with what we've seen before, this version of ALP's letter can be rambling, and shifts direction many times throughout the course of today's passage.  Campbell and Robinson do a nice job of listing out the various subjects covered in the letter, so I won't try to replicate their work here.  

The letter, which is addressed to "Reverend," finds ALP at "Dirtdump" (both the dump near Phoenix Park and "Dear Dirty Dublin") and often seems to be about the Wake itself.  She says that "we have frankly enjoyed more than anything these secret workings of natures" and "was really so denighted of this lights time."  Like the night, the Wake is soon to be over:  "Yon clouds will soon disappear looking forwards at a fine day."  She remembers her time with HCE, such as when they rode "on the top of the longcar, as merrily we rolled along," and she pictures him now "looking at us yet as if to pass away in a cloud."

She warns off HCE's detractors and attackers multiple times, like when she says, "Sneakers in the grass, keep off!"  Past moments from the book are hinted at, and HCE's demise is doubly traced to the pipe-smoking Cad's attack and Buckley's shot:  "For a pipe of twist or a slug of Hibernia metal we could let out and, by jings, someone would make a carpus of somebody with the greatest of pleasure by private shootings."  Now that HCE is dead, he is invulnerable to both physical and lyrical attacks:  "Once you are balladproof you are unperceable to haily, icy and missilethroes."

Over the course of the evening, ALP explains, the sons have changed roles.  "Tomothy and Lorcan, the bucket Toolers, both are Timsons now they've changed their characticuls during their blackout."  As they ascend to their new roles in the family and world, music is prepared for HCE's "fooneral," which "will sneak pleace by creeps o'clock toosday."  It will be a grand affair:  "Kingen will commen.  Allso brewbeer."  Among the attendees will be Isabel's 28 classmates and the 12 patrons of HCE's pub ("from twentyeight to twelve," a phrase which doubles as the time the ceremonies will commence).  "Don't forget!" emphasizes ALP.  "The grand fooneral will now shortly occur.  Remember.  The remains must be removed before eaght hours shorp.  With earnestly conceived hopes.  So help us to witness to this day to hand in sleep."

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