GR translation: This smile asks from him more grace than...

[David Payne]

Note that "grace" seems to used in opposition to "languid" here -- but that it also came as a surprise to Slothrop (if I've got my "him"s straight).

Also, I should have said that I'm agreeing with Jochen (i.e., "Gracefullness, I think") -- but just trying to note that, to me, it seems like the term implies some kind of internal, fundamental characteristic of a person (an angelic quality) -- but it seems like it often refers to more superficial, surface manners.

Someone please pipe up if this sounds shaky to you because I'm not at all confident on these points and fear I sound more sure of myself than I am and don't want to lead anyone in the wrong direction.

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> From: dpayne1912 at hotmail.com
> To: pynchon-l at waste.org
> Subject: RE: GR translation: This smile asks from him more grace than...
> Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 04:29:54 +0000
>
>
> That's from the same page as the "Proverbs for Paranoids, 3" -- and this seems like a key passage.
>
> It's a confusing sentence with all the "his/him"s.
>
> I take grace to mean faked/forced politeness here, which would be a bit ironic because "grace" is supposed to be a natural characteristic. I could be totally wrong about that because, as I said, I find the sentence confusing.
>
> Anyhow, I'm looking at the OED online definition for:
>
> grace, n., I. Pleasing quality, gracefulness ... 2.c. A procedure, attitude, etc. adopted with a view to grace. Obs. exc. in airs and graces, affectations of elegance of manners.
>
> Although this would seem to fit just as well:
>
> grace, n., I. Pleasing quality, gracefulness ... 1.b. In a weaker sense: Seemliness, becomingness, favourable or creditable aspect. Chiefly in a good grace ; hence a bad grace , an ill grace , an unbecoming appearance. Now somewhat rare (cf. cc).
>
> Don't take it from me, though! I'm just hoping to throw something out that someone with better understanding can react to.
>
> Thanks for posing these questions, Mike. I enjoy this close reading.
>
> ----------------------------------------
> > Date: Mon, Mar 013 1::2::8 +100<
> > Subject: Re: GR translation: This smile asks from him more grace than...
> > From: jstremmel at gmail.com
> > To: gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com
> > CC: pynchon-l at waste.org
> >
> > Gracefulness, I think.
> >
> > 013//// Mike Jing <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>:
> > > P56..1--7 “Glad to hear it.” Slothrop is smiling. You’re on my list too,
> > > pal. This smile asks from him more grace than anything in his languid
> > > American life ever has, up till now. Grace he always imagined himself short
> > > on. But it’s working. He’s surprised, and so grateful that he almost starts
> > > crying then. The best part of all is not that Bounce appears fooled by the
> > > smile, but that Slothrop knows now that it will work for him again. . . .
> > >
> > > I find the word "grace" a little difficult to translate. what is the
> > > primary meaning here?
> > >
>