MS-OSU-RARE-115

[1606] I ^{was not} yet reconciled. So that
it may be said, in a sense, that I had still one
bad leg and ^one good, or rather
less bad, with this difference, that now the
less bad was no longer the same as hitherto.

[1607] It was therefore ^upon the onetime bad leg that
I was now often
inclined to come down, between my crutch-
strokes.

[1608] For while ^remaining extremely tender,
it was nevertheless less so than the other, or it
was equally so, if you prefer, but did not give
that impression, because of its seniority. [1609] But I
could not! [1610] What? [1611] Come down upon it.

[1612] For
it was shortening, if I remember rightly,
whereas the other, while stiffening to be sure,
was not yet shortening, or was already shortening
if you like, but so far behind its fellow
that to all intents and purposes, to all
intents & purposes, I am lost, no matter.

[1613] If only I could have bent it, at the knee,
or even at the hip, I could have made it,
artificially, as short as the other, long enough
to land upon it, before sweeping on. [1614] ^But
I could not! [1615] What? [1616] Bend it.

[1617] For how could
I bend it, since it was stiff? [1618] I was thus
obliged to work the same leg as hitherto,
in spite of its having become, at least from the
point of view of sensation, the worse of the two
and the ^{more in} need of rest.

[1619] Sometimes to be sure, when I was fortunate
enough to chance on a road with befitting camber,
or by taking advantage of a not too deep
ditch, or a not too high bank^, I
contrived, or any other ^suitable depression
or elevation, I contrived to give a tem-
porary extension to my ^short leg, and to
make use of it, in place of the other.

[1620] But
it had not been made use of
for so long that it ^{behaved almost
most} as though it never had. [1621] And I think
a pile of plates would have better supported
me than it, ^which had so well supported me,
when I had been a tiny tot. [1621|001] But this