errant, but long-forgotten

[imchongjun]

Hello, teachers.
I do not understand the usage of the second "but" in the following passage.

The Prayer-Book, it was true, had appointed a portion of the Book of Wisdom for the afternoon lesson, but Mr Noot made light of authorities, and read instead a chapter from Isaiah.... He thundered forth judgments in a manner which combined, he believed, the terrors of supreme justice with an infinite commiseration for the blindness of errant, but long-forgotten peoples. (The Nebuly Coat")

Why didn't the author simply say "errant, long-forgotten peoples"? Both "errant" and "long-forgotten" are negative adjectives and I don't see why they are used as if they were antithetic. I appreciate your suggestions very much!!

[Marius Hancu]

Errant is not necessarily negative. See meaning 1 here:


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Errant

1 a : traveling or given to traveling (as on a mission of chivalry) <an errant knight> <errant those exiles ... who with their burden traverse hill and dale -- William Wordsworth>; specifically : itinerant in an official capacity <errant officials who traveled a quarterly circuit> b : quixotically adventurous <her temerity in such an errant undertaking -- Thomas Hardy>

2 obsolete : ARRANT (http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/unabridged?book=Third&va=arrant+)2a <he is so errant a whig that he strains even beyond his author in his passion for liberty -- Henry Cromwell>

3 a : straying outside the proper path or bounds <in this labyrinth of tunnels the farmer found his errant pigs -- American Guide Series: Minnesota> b : moving about aimlessly or irregularly : WANDERING (http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/unabridged?book=Third&va=wandering) <an errant breeze>; specifically : having an irregular course -- used formerly in astronomy to distinguish a planet from a star <seven ... errant stars in the lower orbs of heaven -- Sir Thomas Browne> c : deviating from a standard (as of behavior) : ERRING (http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/unabridged?book=Third&va=erring) <a parent scolding an errant child> d : liable or inclined to error : FALLIBLE (http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/unabridged?book=Third&va=fallible) <his instincts being basically sound but like those of all natural men somewhat errant -- Gilbert Millstein>

http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com
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thus but could be used for contrast.

Even if you take meaning 3, but could be used as an intensifier.

[Bridget]

The peoples of Judah were long-forgotten by Noot's congregation, IMO. He was trying to bring those peoples and their errant ways to life again in order to, in his own reading of the account of Isaiah, compare them with the ways of his congregation. The congregation were not moved by his attempts at comparison.

"Mr Noot, being short-sighted, did not see how lightly the punishments of these ancient races passed over the heads of his dozing audience, and was bringing the long lesson to a properly dramatic close when the unexpected happened: the screen-door opened and a stranger entered."

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Nebuly_Coat/Chapter_Six

[Bridget]

Errant is not necessarily negative. See meaning 1 here:


But in the above context, the meaning is negative.

[imchongjun]

Thank you, Marius and Bridget, for your comments.
>>He was trying to bring those peoples and their errant ways to life again in order to, in his own reading of the account of Isaiah, compare them with the ways of his congregation.
Yes, your interpretation makes sense!! Thank you again.

[OddThomas]

I hope all this is to bring out the association of errant with error. The point here is that the people in Isaiah (1) erred in their ways and (2) are now long-forgotten. Errantry so dramatic should be long remembered, but not so. Now the congregation has forgotten the errors with the people, and Mr. Noot wants to awaken them to both.

[Bridget]

Now the congregation has forgotten the errors with the people, and Mr. Noot wants to awaken them to both.

As I said.