Samuel Beckett
Digital Manuscript Project
Molloy

MS-BRML-NWWR-2-38

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Segment 1

[0555] riding, for me. [0556] When I try and think riding I lose my balance
and fall.
[0557] I speak in the present tense, it is so easy to speak
in the present tense, when speaking of the past.
[0558] It is the
mythological present, don't pay any heed to it.
[0559] I was already
settling in my rag[|=|]limp stasis when I remembered that it wasn't
done.

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Segment 2

[0560] I went on my way, that way of which I knew nothing, qua []
way, which was nothing more than a surface, bright or dark, smooth
or rough, and always dear to me, in spite of all, and the dear sound
of that which goes and is gone, with a brief dust, when the weather
is dry.
[0561] There I am then, before I knew I had left the town,
on the canal[#]bank.

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Segment 3

[0562] The canal goes through the town, I know I know,
there are even two.
[0563] But then these hedges, these fields? [0564] Don't
torment yourself Molloy.
[0565] Suddenly I see, it was my right leg,
the stiff one, then.
[0566] Toiling toward me along the twopath
I saw a team of little gray donkeys, on the other bank, and I
heard angry cries and dull blows.

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Segment 4

[0566|001] I got down. [0567] I put my foot
to the ground the better to see the approaching barge, so
gently approaching that the water was unruffled.
[0568] It was a
cargo of nails and timber, on its way to some carpenter I
suppose.
[0569] My eyes caught a donkey's eyes, they fell to his
little feet, their brave, fastidious tread.

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Segment 5

[0570] The boatman rested
his elbow on his knee, his head on his hand.
[0571] Every three or
four puffs, without taking his pipe from his mouth, he spat
into the water.
[0572] The horizon was burning with sulphur and
phosphorous, it was there I was bound.
[0573] At last I got down,
hobbled down to the ditch and lay down, beside my bicycle.

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Segment 6

[0574] I lay at full stretch, with outspread arms. [0575] The white hawthorn
stooped toward[] me, unfortunately I don't like the smell of
hawthorn.
[0576] In the ditch the grass was thick and high, I took

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Addition 1
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Addition 2
29
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Addition 3
15
Transcription
  • Segments
  • Marginal Additions