Whence but from...

Hi there,

" I looked on these; I turned my gaze to my own mean dress.--Whence sprung this difference? but from ingratitude, from falsehood, from a dereliction on the part of the prince's father, of all noble sympathy and generous feeling."

Volume I, Chapter 2 | Romantic Circles

I find the use of "whence" unnecessary. Can we just omit it? I interpret it as "the difference sprang from ingratitude of all noble sympathy and general feeling, from falsehood of all noble sympathy and general feeling,..."

Thanks

Gil

Hello,

No, we can't omit it. If the sentence were to begin with "But", it would not make sense. "Whence, but from ingratitude..." means "Whence (Where from), other than from ingratitude, falsehood or dereliction". In other words, the reason for 'this difference' can only be ingratitude, falsehood or a dereliction.

"Whence but from ingratitude..." is equivalent to "Where else could it have sprung from, if not from ingratitude..."

velisarius said:

"Whence but from ingratitude..." is equivalent to "Where else could it have sprung from, if not from ingratitude..."

If so, should we use a question mark at the end of the sentence?

It could take a question mark. I would use one.
However, it's a rhetorical question; it is making a point rather than expecting an answer. Many people don't use question marks with rhetorical questions.