wholegrain  +  548353 Tue, 29 Jul 08 11:31 PM http://www.online-literature.com/melville/confidence-man/13 The Confidence Man The above anecdote is given just here by way of an anticipative reminder to such readers as, from the kind of jaunty levity, or what may have passed for such, hitherto for the most part appearing in the man with the traveling-cap, may have been tempted into a more or less hasty estimate of him; that such readers, when they find the same person, as they presently will, capable of philosophic and humanitarian discourse--no mere casual sentence or two as heretofore at times, but solidly sustained throughout an almost entire sitting; that they may not, like the American savan, be thereupon betrayed into any surprise incompatible with their own good opinion of their previous penetration. Did he mean: ...to such readers as those who may have been tempted...from...; in order that they won't be surprised like the American savan...? wholegrain Joined on Thu, Jun 19 2008 Regular Member 534 Literature

	Feebs11  +  548362 Wed, 30 Jul 08 12:06 AM  Oof, Herman! A reminder to those readers who may be tempted into a hasty judgement of the man with the travelling cap, who then may find that he is capable of philosophic or humanitarian discourse,  that they may be surprised by what they find. Feebs11 Joined on Thu, Nov 23 2006 UK Veteran Member 5,015

	yizhivika  +  548394 Wed, 30 Jul 08 01:17 AM I've never read any of Herman Melville's literary works, and if the above quote is in any way typical of his literary style, then I am sure I never want to. Believe me, most native English-speakers (and I am one) would struggle with the turgidity of such prose.   I would advise any learners of English not to waste too much time attempting to decipher such language (unless, of course, they are obliged to study Melville as part of an English Literature course, or they enjoy doing cryptic crosswords!) It seems to me as though Melville swallowed a dictionary for breakfast that morning, and was having some trouble regurgitating it. Sorry! ;-) yizhivika Joined on Fri, Jul 25 2008 Full Member 216 Literature

	wholegrain  +  548407 Wed, 30 Jul 08 01:55 AM The two "that" and the "such readers as may have been..." sound really awkward to me: of course, I am not a native English so I thought it was more advisable to ask. But seriously I like cryptic crosswords, at least better than reading novels for the fun of reading about something. wholegrain

	Mr Wordy  +  548411 Wed, 30 Jul 08 02:29 AM wholegrain “I don't understand the two "that": what signification they are supposed to convey.” "Oof, Herman!" is about right.  I think it could be written as: The above anecdote is  ... [given here as a reminder ] ... to such readers as ... may have been tempted into a more or less hasty estimate of him; [in order]that such readers, when they find the same person ... capable of philosophic and humanitarian discourse ... sustained throughout an almost entire sitting, may not ...  be thereupon betrayed into any surprise ... But there's such a distance between "such readers" and "may not" that there's a danger of the reader losing his way at this point. The second "; that" allows the word "they" to be inserted (conecting back to "such readers") and gives the reader an opportunity to pause and prepare himself for where the sentence is next heading. Mr Wordy Joined on Tue, May 27 2008 Senior Member 2,359 Native British English speaker