Samuel Beckett
Digital Manuscript Project
L'Innommable / The Unnamable

MS-HRC-SB-5-10

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Segment 1

[2153] believe I've piped up before they've done with me.[2154] The master
in any case, we don't intend, listen to them hedging
, we don't intend, unless absolutely driven to it,
to make the mistake of inquiring into him, he'd turn out to
be a mere high official, we'd end up by needing God,
[] and though admittedly we have lost all sense of decency there still are certain depths we prefer not to sink to.

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Segment 2

[2155] Let us keep to the family circle,
it's more intimate, we know one another by now, no surprises
to be feared, the will has been opened, nothing for anybody.
[2156] This eye, curious how this eye invites inspection, demands
sympathy, solicits attention, implores assistance, to do what,
it's not clear, to stop weeping, have a quick look round, goggle
an instant and close forever.

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Segment 3

[2157] It's it you see and it alone,
in this face, it's from it you set out to look for a face, to
it you return having found nothing, nothing worth while, nothing
but a kind of ashen smear, perhaps it's long grey hair, hanging
in a tangle round the mouth, greasy with ancient tears, or the
fringe of a mantle spread like a veil,
or fingers opening and closing to try and shut out the world,
or all together, fingers, hair and rags, mingled inextricably.

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Segment 4

[2158] Suppositions all equally inane, it's enough to enounce them to
regret having spoken, familiar torment, a different past, it's
often to be wished, different from yours,
when you find out what it was.
[2159] He is hairless and naked and his hands, laid flat on his knees once
and for all, are in no danger of getting into mischief.
[2160] And the face?

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Segment 5

[2161] Balls, all balls, I don't believe in the
eye either, , there's nothing here, nothing to see, nothing to see with
blessed coincidence, when you think what it would
be, a world without [] spectator, and vice versa, brrr!
[2162] No spectator
then, and better still no spectacle, good riddance.

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Segment 6

[2163] If this noise
could stop there'd be nothing more to say.
[2164] I wonder what the all the chat
is about at the moment.
[2165] Worm presumably.[2166] Mahood being abandoned.
[2167] And I await my turn.[2168] Yes, I do not despair, all things considered,
of drawing their attention to my case, some fine day.
Not that it

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Segment 7

[2169] Not that it

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Addition 1
[] and though admittedly we have lost all sense of decency there still are certain depths we prefer not to sink to.
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Addition 2
when you find out what it was.
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Addition 3
spectator
Transcription
  • Segments
  • Marginal Additions