H05073 "THE INTERLOPER" QUESTION 9/11/05 - HARDY FORUM ARCHIVES ____________________________________________________________________________

From: Rosemarie.morgan@yale.edu

Subject: Question on Interloper

Date: September 11, 2005 7:19:03 AM PDT

I am posting this for Tony Fincham--

____________

From: "Dr Anthony Fincham" <wessex.heights@virgin.net>

Subject: The Interloper

Date: Sun, 11 Sep 2005 08:35:35 +0100

Dear Rosemarie,

I am trying to track the source of the quotation

'And I saw the figure and visage of Madness seeking for a home'

which Hardy added to 'The Interloper' on his final revision?

No luck so far - this side of the Atlantic - I wonder if you or any of

members have an answer? Did Hardy make it up himself - or is it

a translation - from Italy / Ancient Greece?

Any suggestions gratefully received ...

With best wishes,

Tony Fincham.

==========

From: hardycor@owl.csusm.edu

Subject: Re: Question on Interloper

Date: September 11, 2005 10:58:44 AM PDT

I'm afraid I don't know the source of this quotation either, but it does

not appear to be biblical. A discussion of the poem in Vere H. Collins's

*Talks with Thomas Hardy at Max Gate* (Doubleday, 1928) suggest that a

classical Greek or Latin source might be more likely. Collins, who found

"The Interloper" obscure asked Hardy "What is 'that under which best

lives corrode'"? To which Hardy replied "madness." Collins suggested that

adding a motto might make that clearer. Hardy thought that a good idea,

but rejected the idea of a biblical quotation, saying "They did not

believe in madness as we understand it." Collins then suggested the Latin

phrase "Quem deus vult perdere prius dementat" (25,6). My Latin is far

too rusty to attempt a translation, but this is clearly not the motto Hardy

actually chose. This isn't much help I fear.

Betty Cortus

hardycor@owl.csusm.edu

==========

From: schweikr@localnet.com

Subject: Re: Question on Interloper

Date: September 11, 2005 12:29:18 PM PDT

The Latin in translation reads, "Whom the gods would destroy, they

first make mad."

Bob

==========

From: tomlessup@hotmail.com

Subject: Re: Question on Interloper

Date: September 11, 2005 2:17:38 PM PDT

Quem deus vult perdere prius dementat

Actually meant (at

Least if you want to be pedantic)

Whom *god* wishes to destroy, he first sends frantic.

Thos Lessup

==========