Orts #722
all, from Romola (1862/63) by George Eliot (1819-1880)
A girl of eighteen imagines the feelings behind the face that has moved her with its sympathetic youth, as easily as primitive people imagined the humours of the gods in fair weather.
Hard speech between those who have loved is hideous in the memory, like the sight of greatness and beauty sunk into vice and rags.
But our deeds are like children that are born to us; they live and act apart from our own will. Nay, children may be strangled, but deeds never: they have an indestructible life both in and out of our consciousness . . .
. . . sin that’s hidden’s half forgiven. (‘Peccato celato e mezzo perdonato.’)
— quoted by Monna Lisa in Romola
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an amazing resource: