Louis Couperus

Name: Old People and the Things that Pass — Chapter XV
Author: Louis Couperus

Old People and the Things that Pass… (1919)

Summary

“Old People and the Things that Pass — Chapter XV”, published in 1919, is a work by Louis Couperus. It explores elements such as Mamma, Elly and Ottilie.

Quotes from Old People and the Things that Pass… (Louis Couperus)

Louis Couperus, Old People and the Things that Pass… (1919)

“ This is the land of life and love. We are too early for the season; but what do we care for smart people? ... This is gorgeous, Elly, this wealth of life, of love, of living colour, fading away so purple in the darkness of the night. The cool breath of that mighty wind, which is now asleep: how very different from the howling wind of our north, which whistles so dismally! This mad merry wind here, now sleeping, like a giant, in the blue lap of that giantess, the sea! That's freedom, life, love and glory and pomp and gaiety. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Louis Couperus, Old People and the Things that Pass… (1919)

“ I shall be satisfied and I shall grow old, quietly, quietly old...."
"Oh, Ottilie, and I ... I suffer from growing old, from growing older."
"Lot, that's a disease. You're happy now, you have Elly, life is beautiful, there is sunshine, there is happiness. Take all that, enjoy it and be happy and don't think of what is to come."
"Don't you then ever think of growing old and of the horror of it?"
"I do think of growing old, but I don't see anything horrible in it."
"If Aldo were to leave you to-morrow, you would be alone ... and you would grow old." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Louis Couperus, Old People and the Things that Pass… (1919)

“ She kissed them both and went away.
"Heavens, what a beautiful woman!" said Lot. "She is anything but young, but years don't count with a woman accustomed to appear in public and as handsome as she is...."
Elly had gone out on the balcony:
"Oh, Lot, what a glorious sunset! ... It's like a fairy-picture in the sky. That's how I imagine the atmosphere of the Arabian Nights. Look, it's just like the tail of a gigantic phoenix vanishing behind the mountains in flames.... There's Ottilie, on the promenade; she's waving her handkerchief."
"And there's Aldo, with her, bowing.... ”

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Source: Wikisource

Louis Couperus, Old People and the Things that Pass… (1919)

“ I pity Steyn, but I sometimes feel for Mamma. It's a dreadful thing to grow old, especially for the sort of woman that she was, a woman—one may as well speak plainly—who lived for her passions. Mamma has never had anything in her but love. She is an elementary woman; she needs love and caresses, so much so that she has not been able to observe the conventions. She respected them only to a certain point. When she fell in love, everything else went by the board."
"But why did she marry? I didn't marry! And I am in love too."
"Ottilie, Mamma lived in a different social period. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Louis Couperus, Old People and the Things that Pass… (1919)

“ The wind rose in mighty gusts and with its arrogant, brutal, male caresses swept away any haze that still hung around. The glowing sun poured forth its flood as from a golden spout in the turquoise sky. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Louis Couperus, Old People and the Things that Pass… (1919)

“ Ottilie reflected, with a smile: the Gioconda smile, Elly thought.
"That may be true," said Ottilie. "It was a shrewd observation of your little Elly's."
"Yes," said Lot, proudly. "She's very observant. Not one of our three natures is what you would call commonplace."
"Ah," murmured Ottilie, "Holland ... those houses ... those people! ... Mamma and 'Mr.' Trevelley at home: it was terrible. One scene after the other. Trevelley reproaching Mamma with Papa, Mamma reproaching Trevelley with a hundred infidelities! Mamma was jealousy incarnate. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Louis Couperus, Old People and the Things that Pass… (1919)

“ Then he can find another happiness, perhaps the lasting one. ... What do we poor creatures know? ... We seek and seek until suddenly we find certainty. / have found it. But he has not.... No, Lot, we shall not get married. I want Aldo to be free and to do as he pleases. I am no longer young and I want to leave him free. Our love, our bodies, our souls are free, absolutely free, in our happiness. And, if I am old to-morrow, an old woman, with no voice left ..."
"Then you will pay the penalty, Ottilie," said Lot. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Louis Couperus, Old People and the Things that Pass… (1919)

“ When Mamma and Trevelley had had enough of each other and Mamma fell in love with Steyn, I cleared out. I went first to Papa and then to the Conservatoire. And I haven't been back in Holland since.... Oh, those houses! ... Your house, Elly—Grandpapa Takma's house—everything very neatly kept by Aunt Adèle, but it seemed to me as if something stood waiting behind every door.... Grandmamma's house and Grandmamma's figure, as she sat at the window there staring ... and waiting, she too. Waiting what for? ”

Louis Couperus

Summary

Quotes from Old People and the Things that Pass… (Louis Couperus)

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