Auden: between adventure

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Marius Hancu - 23 Jul 2009 12:52 GMT

Helllo:

Is this a rare usage for "between"
with only one term around it?

I mean, "between adventure and what?"

It's even in the title, thus clearly intended.

----
Upon this line between adventure
Prolong the meeting out of good nature
Obvious in each agreable future.

Calling each other by name,
Smiling, taking a willing arm,
Has the companionship of a game.

[...]

Between adventure
by W. H. Auden
p. 47
------

--
Thanks.
Marius Hancu

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Peter Duncanson (BrE) - 23 Jul 2009 14:10 GMT

>Helllo:
>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>p. 47
>------

I Googled for help and found "W. H. Auden's poetry By Rakesh Desai" at:
http://tinyurl.com/l9xvzm

Scrolling to the next page of the book I saw the names of both Sigmund
Freud and Herbert Marcuse. I have recoiled to protect my sanity!

Signature

Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)

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CDB - 23 Jul 2009 14:28 GMT

> Is this a rare usage for "between"
> with only one term around it?

> I mean, "between adventure and what?"

> It's even in the title, thus clearly intended.

I was trying to work up some enthusiasm for "line-between" -- upon
this adventure between lines -- but it's no go. Either Auden is using
"adventure" as some sort of collective plural, or he has his own usage
for "between", meaning something like "in the midst of". I think more
likely the latter. He uses it the same way at the end of "Under
Sirius": "these dull dog-days/ Between event".

> ----
> Upon this line between adventure
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> p. 47
> ------

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Marius Hancu - 24 Jul 2009 01:33 GMT

> > Is this a rare usage for "between"
> > with only one term around it?
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> "adventure" as some sort of collective plural, or he has his own usage
> for "between", meaning something like "in the midst of".

That's what I thought too, and I wonder if it isn't some dialect
somewhere.

Thank you both.
Marius Hancu

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / July 2009

Auden: between adventure