I’ve just noticed after years of not noticing that “golden load” must be an allusion to Blake’s “To Autumn” - thanks to Didier Machu for putting Humbert’s
line in his email and stopping me in my tracks.
Barrie Akin
From: Vladimir Nabokov Forum [mailto:NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU]
On Behalf Of NABOKV-L, English
Sent: 16 October 2012 17:08
To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
Subject: [NABOKV-L] THOUGHT: "Ever and ever sight" in LOLITA
Didier Machu writes:
Dear List,
In connection with "love at ever and ever sight" I just wish to add that Charlotte, falling on her knees, acknowledges Humbert as “her ruler
and her god” (Vintage 91 / Penguin 102): “forever and ever” (68 / 75), says the letter she writes after praying the Lord and asking Him for advice re Humbert--while the latter availed himself of her being at church to say his own mute prayer ("Let her stay,
let her stay . . .") and prevent "any act of God" (59 / 65) that would remove the golden load from his lap (a nice example of Nabokov's art of the counterpoint).
[EDNOTE. I also thought that "ever and ever" might echo the end of the Lord's Prayer, as recited in various Christian denominations: "forever and ever." -- SES]
All private editorial communications are read by both co-editors.