Chapter 4

Synopsis of chapter 4

The chapter falls into two distinct halves. The first half portrays another interior, that of Rolliver's Inn. Here, Mr. and Mrs. Durbeyfield sit drinking whilst discussing further plans. Joan has heard of other D'Urbervilles who live at Trantridge. She reasons they must be kin and might be prepared to help them if they met Tess, the most presentable member of the family. Finally, Tess arrives to bring her parents home. They try to keep some dignity as they stagger home through the village.

The second half deals with the journey Tess has to undertake with her younger brother, Abraham. Her father's drunken sleep and poor health means he is unable to take the horse and cart to Casterbridge market with its load of bee-hives. Tess volunteers, hitches Prince, the horse, to the cart and the two set off southwards, through the night. Abraham tells Tess of their parents' plan, which disturbs her. They also discuss philosophic issues about the state of the planet they live on.

They fall asleep and the light on the cart goes out. The mail cart crashes into them, killing Prince as its shaft goes through the animal's chest. The postman sends another carter to take the load to market, who then returns to bring the dead horse back. Tess reproaches herself bitterly. Mr. Durbeyfield buries the horse rather than suffer the indignity of selling it for pet food. The chapter closes with Prince's funeral.

Commentary on chapter 4

the pattern of Polynesia: Polynesia is the largest grouping of the South Sea Islands. The dregs on the dust of the roadway look like a pattern of islands.

‘it was better to drink with Rolliver....': the pattern of the words here is parallel to Proverbs 21:9 and Proverbs 25:24. It amused Hardy to compare trivial things with great.

‘the magnificent pillars of Solomon's Temple': reference to 1 Kings 7:2, which describes the first temple built in Jerusalem. Again, small things are being compared to great.

‘'tis well to be kin to a coach': i.e. related to the aristocracy, who would keep a coach, probably bearing their coat of arms.

King Norman's day: Hardy is again laughing at the peasants' historical confusion. William the Conqueror was a Norman, i.e. from Normandy in northern France.

gaffer sent by Gover'ment: customs and excise officer, probably looking for smuggled drink as much as for illegal consumption on the premises

get green malt in floor: referring to the danger of Tess getting pregnant before any marriage has been arranged. Preparing malt for making beer was a complicated business and could easily be spoiled if the malt was ‘green' or unready. The remark suggests what could easily happen.

his eastings or genuflections: as part of the Anglican ritual, the congregation would turn east at certain moments in the service, or bend the knee. However drunk or hung-over Durbeyfield was, he could do it automatically.

Swarming will soon be over for the year: Bees annually start a new colony by ‘swarming'. This is the moment to buy new hives. After that, it would be too late, hence the urgency to get the hives to market in time.

Places

Rolliver's Inn: Although pubs are still a central feature of British social life, the licensing laws have changed a little and need understanding:

Rolliver's is described as being an inn, an ale-house, and an off-licence. In fact, legally it is an off-licence. Mrs. Rolliver is well aware she could lose her licence if anyone is discovered drinking on the premises. If locals her clients drank upstairs; if strangers, outside in the roadway on a makeshift counter.
- What excuse does she have ready if she were to be discovered?
The other pub, mentioned in Ch 1, is the Pure Drop Inn. This is licensed and altogether a much grander affair, having its own carriage for hire, and situated at the other end of the long straggly village. It would be better described as a tavern, as opposed to an ale-house.

Tess's first journey

It is important to keep track of all of Tess's journeys, as they usually have symbolic value. Here the journey lies southwards towards Casterbridge, although by themselves they only make twelve miles of the total twenty. They go through Stourcastle, over the hills near Bulbarrow and Nettlecombe Tout, two of the hills mentioned already in Ch 2 and mentioned again in Ch 42. Both have archaeological interest, representing an archaeological period long before the historical time in which the Durbeyfields are caught up.

Trantridge, The Chase: see Ch 5.

Vocabulary

b'aint: dialect form of ‘be not'. ‘Be' is the subjunctive or hypothetical form of the verb, still actively used in the dialect

Catechism: In the Book of Common Prayer, the section on questions and answers about the Christian faith

cob: a type of horse with short legs

conclave: a gathering or meeting

of 'count in wold days: of account in old days

cwoffer: dialect form for coffer or chest

fine figure o' fun: attractive, gives pleasure or fun. In this context, it is another warning about pregnancy

furrows of fifty years extemporised: his face appeared as if lined and fifty years old

licends: licence

spy-glass: telescope

stair-door: many old cottages had doors at the foot of the stairs

stubbard-tree: a type of apple tree.

sumple: supple, pliable

vinous bliss: happiness created by alcohol

zeed: dialect form of ‘saw'. Initial s's become z's in West Country dialects

Investigating chapter 4

Colour symbolism plays an important part in the novel
- Begin to construct notes on the colours Hardy uses in his descriptions of people and episodes.
Look at the description of Marlott.
- What does its layout suggest about the sort of place it is?
In what ways is the thinking behind Joan's ‘project' naive?
Examine the conversation Abraham and Tess have together.
- What does it show of Tess's philosophy of life?
- What perspective does it introduce?
  - Do you think Hardy putting his own views into Tess's mouth?
- How else does Hardy show Tess' spiritual side?
In many novels, certain episodes are used to prefigure significant happenings later on.
- What does Prince's death prefigure?
Mark the phrases that show Tess' sense of responsibility.
- How might this sense of responsibility influence her decisions?

English Standard Version
King James Version

¹The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will. ²Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. ³To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. ⁴Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin. ⁵The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. ⁶The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death. ⁷The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, because they refuse to do what is just. ⁸The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is upright. ⁹It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. ¹⁰The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes. ¹¹When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge. ¹²The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked; he throws the wicked down to ruin. ¹³Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered. ¹⁴A gift in secret averts anger, and a concealed bribe, strong wrath. ¹⁵When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. ¹⁶One who wanders from the way of good sense will rest in the assembly of the dead. ¹⁷Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich. ¹⁸The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and the traitor for the upright. ¹⁹It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman. ²⁰Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it. ²¹Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. ²²A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust. ²³Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. ²⁴Scoffer is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride. ²⁵The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. ²⁶All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back. ²⁷The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent. ²⁸A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears will endure. ²⁹A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright gives thought to his ways. ³⁰No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord. ³¹The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.

¹The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. ²Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. ³To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. ⁴An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. ⁵The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want. ⁶The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. ⁷The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment. ⁸The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right. ⁹It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. ¹⁰The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes. ¹¹When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. ¹²The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness. ¹³Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. ¹⁴A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath. ¹⁵It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. ¹⁶The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. ¹⁷He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. ¹⁸The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright. ¹⁹It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. ²⁰There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. ²¹He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour. ²²A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof. ²³Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. ²⁴Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath. ²⁵The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. ²⁶He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not. ²⁷The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? ²⁸A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly. ²⁹A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way. ³⁰There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. ³¹The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

English Standard Version
King James Version

¹These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied. ²It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. ³As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. ⁴Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; ⁵take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. ⁶Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great, ⁷for it is better to be told, Come up here, than to be put lower in the presence of a noble. What your eyes have seen ⁸do not hastily bring into court, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame? ⁹Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another's secret, ¹⁰lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end. ¹¹A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. ¹²Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear. ¹³Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters. ¹⁴Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. ¹⁵With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone. ¹⁶If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it. ¹⁷Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you. ¹⁸A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow. ¹⁹Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips. ²⁰Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda. ²¹If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, ²²for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. ²³The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. ²⁴It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. ²⁵Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. ²⁶Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked. ²⁷It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory. ²⁸A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

¹These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. ²It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. ³The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable. ⁴Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. ⁵Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. ⁶Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: ⁷For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen. ⁸Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. ⁹Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: ¹⁰Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away. ¹¹A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. ¹²As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. ¹³As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters. ¹⁴Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. ¹⁵By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. ¹⁶Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. ¹⁷Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. ¹⁸A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. ¹⁹Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. ²⁰As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart. ²¹If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: ²²For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. ²³The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. ²⁴It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. ²⁵As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. ²⁶A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring. ²⁷It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. ²⁸He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

English Standard Version
King James Version

¹Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished his entire house. ²He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was a hundred cubits and its breadth fifty cubits and its height thirty cubits, and it was built on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars. ³And it was covered with cedar above the chambers that were on the forty-five pillars, fifteen in each row. ⁴There were window frames in three rows, and window opposite window in three tiers. ⁵All the doorways and windows had square frames, and window was opposite window in three tiers. ⁶And he made the Hall of Pillars; its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth thirty cubits. There was a porch in front with pillars, and a canopy in front of them. ⁷And he made the Hall of the Throne where he was to pronounce judgment, even the Hall of Judgment. It was finished with cedar from floor to rafters. ⁸His own house where he was to dwell, in the other court back of the hall, was of like workmanship. Solomon also made a house like this hall for Pharaoh's daughter whom he had taken in marriage. ⁹All these were made of costly stones, cut according to measure, sawed with saws, back and front, even from the foundation to the coping, and from the outside to the great court. ¹⁰The foundation was of costly stones, huge stones, stones of eight and ten cubits. ¹¹And above were costly stones, cut according to measurement, and cedar. ¹²The great court had three courses of cut stone all around, and a course of cedar beams; so had the inner court of the house of the Lord and the vestibule of the house. ¹³And King Solomon sent and brought Hiram from Tyre. ¹⁴He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze. And he was full of wisdom, understanding, and skill for making any work in bronze. He came to King Solomon and did all his work. ¹⁵He cast two pillars of bronze. Eighteen cubits was the height of one pillar, and a line of twelve cubits measured its circumference. It was hollow, and its thickness was four fingers. The second pillar was the same. ¹⁶He also made two capitals of cast bronze to set on the tops of the pillars. The height of the one capital was five cubits, and the height of the other capital was five cubits. ¹⁷There were lattices of checker work with wreaths of chain work for the capitals on the tops of the pillars, a lattice for the one capital and a lattice for the other capital. ¹⁸Likewise he made pomegranates in two rows around the one latticework to cover the capital that was on the top of the pillar, and he did the same with the other capital. ¹⁹Now the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars in the vestibule were of lily-work, four cubits. ²⁰The capitals were on the two pillars and also above the rounded projection which was beside the latticework. There were two hundred pomegranates in two rows all around, and so with the other capital. ²¹He set up the pillars at the vestibule of the temple. He set up the pillar on the south and called its name Jachin, and he set up the pillar on the north and called its name Boaz. ²²And on the tops of the pillars was lily-work. Thus the work of the pillars was finished. ²³Then he made the sea of cast metal. It was round, ten cubits from brim to brim, and five cubits high, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference. ²⁴Under its brim were gourds, for ten cubits, compassing the sea all around. The gourds were in two rows, cast with it when it was cast. ²⁵It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The sea was set on them, and all their rear parts were inward. ²⁶Its thickness was a handbreadth, and its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily. It held two thousand baths. ²⁷He also made the ten stands of bronze. Each stand was four cubits long, four cubits wide, and three cubits high. ²⁸This was the construction of the stands: they had panels, and the panels were set in the frames, ²⁹and on the panels that were set in the frames were lions, oxen, and cherubim. On the frames, both above and below the lions and oxen, there were wreaths of beveled work. ³⁰Moreover, each stand had four bronze wheels and axles of bronze, and at the four corners were supports for a basin. The supports were cast with wreaths at the side of each. ³¹Its opening was within a crown that projected upward one cubit. Its opening was round, as a pedestal is made, a cubit and a half deep. At its opening there were carvings, and its panels were square, not round. ³²And the four wheels were underneath the panels. The axles of the wheels were of one piece with the stands, and the height of a wheel was a cubit and a half. ³³The wheels were made like a chariot wheel; their axles, their rims, their spokes, and their hubs were all cast. ³⁴There were four supports at the four corners of each stand. The supports were of one piece with the stands. ³⁵And on the top of the stand there was a round band half a cubit high; and on the top of the stand its stays and its panels were of one piece with it. ³⁶And on the surfaces of its stays and on its panels, he carved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, according to the space of each, with wreaths all around. ³⁷After this manner he made the ten stands. All of them were cast alike, of the same measure and the same form. ³⁸And he made ten basins of bronze. Each basin held forty baths, each basin measured four cubits, and there was a basin for each of the ten stands. ³⁹And he set the stands, five on the south side of the house, and five on the north side of the house. And he set the sea at the southeast corner of the house. ⁴⁰Hiram also made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram finished all the work that he did for King Solomon on the house of the Lord: ⁴¹the two pillars, the two bowls of the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars, and the two latticeworks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars; ⁴²and the four hundred pomegranates for the two latticeworks, two rows of pomegranates for each latticework, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars; ⁴³the ten stands, and the ten basins on the stands; ⁴⁴and the one sea, and the twelve oxen underneath the sea. ⁴⁵Now the pots, the shovels, and the basins, all these vessels in the house of the Lord, which Hiram made for King Solomon, were of burnished bronze. ⁴⁶In the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarethan. ⁴⁷And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because there were so many of them; the weight of the bronze was not ascertained. ⁴⁸So Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of the Lord: the golden altar, the golden table for the bread of the Presence, ⁴⁹the lampstands of pure gold, five on the south side and five on the north, before the inner sanctuary; the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, of gold; ⁵⁰the cups, snuffers, basins, dishes for incense, and fire pans, of pure gold; and the sockets of gold, for the doors of the innermost part of the house, the Most Holy Place, and for the doors of the nave of the temple. ⁵¹Thus all the work that King Solomon did on the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, the silver, the gold, and the vessels, and stored them in the treasuries of the house of the Lord.

¹But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house. ²He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars. ³And it was covered with cedar above upon the beams, that lay on forty five pillars, fifteen in a row. ⁴And there were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks. ⁵And all the doors and posts were square, with the windows: and light was against light in three ranks. ⁶And he made a porch of pillars; the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth thereof thirty cubits: and the porch was before them: and the other pillars and the thick beam were before them. ⁷Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other. ⁸And his house where he dwelt had another court within the porch, which was of the like work. Solomon made also an house for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken to wife, like unto this porch. ⁹All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and so on the outside toward the great court. ¹⁰And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits. ¹¹And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars. ¹²And the great court round about was with three rows of hewed stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the LORD, and for the porch of the house. ¹³And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. ¹⁴He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work. ¹⁵For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about. ¹⁶And he made two chapiters of molten brass, to set upon the tops of the pillars: the height of the one chapiter was five cubits, and the height of the other chapiter was five cubits: ¹⁷And nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one chapiter, and seven for the other chapiter. ¹⁸And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter. ¹⁹And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits. ²⁰And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates also above, over against the belly which was by the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the other chapiter. ²¹And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz. ²²And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished. ²³And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about. ²⁴And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast. ²⁵It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward. ²⁶And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths. ²⁷And he made ten bases of brass; four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth thereof, and three cubits the height of it. ²⁸And the work of the bases was on this manner: they had borders, and the borders were between the ledges: ²⁹And on the borders that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubim: and upon the ledges there was a base above: and beneath the lions and oxen were certain additions made of thin work. ³⁰And every base had four brazen wheels, and plates of brass: and the four corners thereof had undersetters: under the laver were undersetters molten, at the side of every addition. ³¹And the mouth of it within the chapiter and above was a cubit: but the mouth thereof was round after the work of the base, a cubit and an half: and also upon the mouth of it were gravings with their borders, foursquare, not round. ³²And under the borders were four wheels; and the axletrees of the wheels were joined to the base: and the height of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit. ³³And the work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel: their axletrees, and their naves, and their felloes, and their spokes, were all molten. ³⁴And there were four undersetters to the four corners of one base: and the undersetters were of the very base itself. ³⁵And in the top of the base was there a round compass of half a cubit high: and on the top of the base the ledges thereof and the borders thereof were of the same. ³⁶For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders thereof, he graved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of every one, and additions round about. ³⁷After this manner he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, and one size. ³⁸Then made he ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty baths: and every laver was four cubits: and upon every one of the ten bases one laver. ³⁹And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south. ⁴⁰And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the LORD: ⁴¹The two pillars, and the two bowls of the chapiters that were on the top of the two pillars; and the two networks, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars; ⁴²And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, even two rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were upon the pillars; ⁴³And the ten bases, and ten lavers on the bases; ⁴⁴And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea; ⁴⁵And the pots, and the shovels, and the basins: and all these vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the LORD, were of bright brass. ⁴⁶In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan. ⁴⁷And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because they were exceeding many: neither was the weight of the brass found out. ⁴⁸And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the shewbread was, ⁴⁹And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold, ⁵⁰And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple. ⁵¹So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the LORD. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; even the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the LORD.

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Tess of the d'Urbervilles Contents