This Road On Sufferance

[poliphilo]

On a very steep, rough road beside a church I came accross a sign- very finely carved in stone- that read THIS ROAD ON SUFFERANCE

I guess this means, "We can't stop you using this road but if you break your axle don't expect us to do anything other than laugh and point."

Comments

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

There's probably also some profound point about God suffering us to make our pitiful little journeys through life in there, too - but I like the idea of laughing, pointing clergy better!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It raises so many questions.

Why did they chose to have it carved so handsomely?

Why is it just lying on the grass like this?

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Yes indeed - I'd love to know what its original context was. I wonder if anyone connected with the church knows?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think it's probably in more or less the right place- at the bottom of the road in question- but it must originally have been mounted on something.

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Presumably, yes. Are there any graves nearby at all? That kind of context could argue for a more metaphorical reading - "[God let me walk] this road [through life] in sufferance[, but now my time is up]", sort of thing.

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Oops - 'on sufferance', of course.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I don't think there are any graves. There are no gravestones and the hillside is just too steep.

I've just Googled the phrase to see if it occurs in any well-known context; it doesn't.

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Aye, I did that earlier! Sounds like it really is literally about the road, then.

[idahoswede.livejournal.com]

I love signs like that, they're so ambiguous (and so very British somehow).

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've never seem anything quite like it before.

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

Does it not strike you as British, though? It does me, too, and I think it's because Americans are less likely to know what "sufferance" is all about.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I suppose so.

But I bet there are lots of Brits who don't know what it means either.

[happydog.livejournal.com]

"We're letting you be. For now. Road. But if you give us any trouble..."

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Why didn't I think of that?:)

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

It's SOOOO "Pilgrim's Progress"!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It is so.

I love the Pilgrim's Progress.

Or rather I love my memories of it, because I haven't actually looked at it since I was a child.

[paroxysma.livejournal.com]

To what do I owe this honor of being added by you, kind sir?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I hadn't added anyone in ages and I thought it was time I did.

I saw we had a shared interest in Durer.

And I like your artwork and attitude.

[paroxysma.livejournal.com]

Well thankyou! I'm very critical of my artwork, so I don't think it's too great. I am glad, however, that someone likes my attitutde. Ha!

[kaysho.livejournal.com]

I love the finality of it. Most of the time, if a road is in poor condition, they put up a temporary sign. This one says clearly that there are no plans to do anything but let this road keep getting worse ... forever. :)