- description
- # Israel reflects on his misfortunes on the shore.
## Overview
This is a subsection from the novel *Israel Potter* by Herman Melville. It is extracted from the file [israel_potter.txt](arke:01KG89J1DKC9HHJRKY25JZBEXW) and is part of the [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. The subsection appears in Chapter XIII, titled [CHAPTER XIII. HIS ESCAPE FROM THE HOUSE, WITH VARIOUS ADVENTURES FOLLOWING.](arke:01KG8AJJ261FWJ1RK528BTY9AX)
## Context
This subsection follows [Israel travels to London and then Dover, only to find intercourse suspended.](arke:01KG8AK67NJK9ZBCF5QGEZCQKW) and precedes [A stranger accosts Israel and invites him to a house of entertainment.](arke:01KG8AK67VXMFYD7W0JZ8W2Y89) in the narrative. It describes Israel Potter's reflections on his misfortunes after discovering that travel between England and France is suspended.
## Contents
The subsection details Israel Potter's contemplation of his misfortunes while on the shore. He reflects on lost hopes, including the expectation of payment for his courier services, Doctor Franklin's promise of assistance in returning to America, and the possibility of remuneration for his sufferings in his country's cause. Israel recalls the words of a wise man, advising against elation in pleasure and to respect omens of ill, but finds it difficult to comply with this advice.
- description_generated_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:46.369Z
- description_model
- gemini-2.5-flash-lite
- description_title
- Israel reflects on his misfortunes on the shore.
- end_line
- 3645
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:47:55.385Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 3632
- text
- Here was another accumulation of misfortunes. All visions but those of
eventual imprisonment or starvation vanished from before the present
realities of poor Israel Potter. The Brentford gentleman had flattered
him with the prospect of receiving something very handsome for his
services as courier. That hope was no more. Doctor Franklin had
promised him his good offices in procuring him a passage home to
America. Quite out of the question now. The sage had likewise intimated
that he might possibly see him some way remunerated for his sufferings
in his country’s cause. An idea no longer to be harbored. Then Israel
recalled the mild man of wisdom’s words—“At the prospect of pleasure
never be elated; but without depression respect the omens of ill.” But
he found it as difficult now to comply, in all respects, with the last
section of the maxim, as before he had with the first.
- title
- Israel reflects on his misfortunes on the shore.