Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Very easily possible: he wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat; it ever changes with the next block.

 

Beatrice

 

Much Ado About Nothing     Act I, Scene i, Line 68

 

Well if it’s Beatrice talking smack about someone, we have to assume she’s talking about Benedick. Yup, just listened to the first part of this act, and it is indeed Benedick. By the way, what she’s saying above about the next block is the next change in fashion, in case you were wondering. And yes (spoiler alert!), if you didn’t already know it, Beatrice and Benedick end up together by the end of the play.

Speaking of hats, I found this beauty when I was shopping a few years ago, but I passed on it and have regretted it ever since.

What do you think Mojo? Big mistake on my part not getting that hat, eh?

I've finally left Mojo speechless.

He's flabbergasted on how great I look in that hat!

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Her beauty hangs upon the cheek of night

Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear;

Romeo

Romeo and Juliet   Act I, Scene v, Line 47

 

We’re breaking with tradition today as this is not a random line. It’s one that I picked, so just go with it.

These are some of the first words that Romeo uses to describe Juliet upon first seeing her. Why did I pick them? Well, I came across them, and the fact that they resemble some words from a modern song, and I just felt like writing about it.

I met you on a midway at a fair last year

And you stood out like a ruby in a black man’s ear

That’s the beginning of That Song About The Midway by Joni Mitchell.

So, is it the same image? Is like a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear the same simile as like a ruby in a black man’s ear? I dunno, but it just seemed too close to be a coincidence. And like I said yesterday, I don’t believe in coincidences. It's my belief that Joni Mitchell knows her Romeo and Juliet. I guess I’ll probably never have a chance to talk to Ms. Mitchell about this, but if any of you do, please ask her for me.

Thanks.

 

Well, Mojo, I'm pretty sure your ear doesn't need a rich jewel or a ruby; you've got some sound-sifters there that could make an elephant envious.

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Tell him, in hope he’ll prove a widower shortly,

I’ll wear the widow-garland for his sake.

 

Bona

King Henry the Sixth Part III       Act III, Scene iii, Line 227

 

Okay, I’ve got this one. I was a little confused at first because I didn’t realize who Bona was, and I didn’t realize she was a she.

But first off, before I get into the line, I have to tell you that the first thing I thought of when I read it after seeing the speaker was Bona, was St. Bonaventure University where I did one year of studies in 1976. And then when I saw what line I had landed on, 227, well that was my room number: 227 West Deveraux. That’s pretty amazing, isn’t it? I mean, I was in a different room for the second semester, but I started in 227. I think that's a pretty interesting coincidence, and I don't really believe in coincidences. There must be something here. I gotta go back and look at this more closely.

Sooo... that's it? Nothing more about Today's Line? 

We don't get to find out who Bona is?

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Proceed, Solinus, to procure my fall,

And by the doom of death end woes and all.

Aegeon

The Comedy of Errors   Act I, Scene i, Line 1

 

Yup, that’s right, we’re first-lining again today. Though, it doesn’t sound much like a comedy, starting with those two lines, does it?

Aegeon’s been sentenced to death, so that’s what he’s talking about here. He’s just telling Solinus, the guy in charge, to go and finish it, and by doing so end Aegeon’s woes and all.

Well this is a pretty dreary couple of lines, isn’t it?

No woes for this guy. 

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

O, courage, courage, princes! Great Achilles

Is arming, weeping, cursing, vowing vengeance:

Ulysses

Troilus And Cressida          Act V, Scene vi, Line 30

 

One of the many subplots in this play is about Achilles, the best fighter that the Greeks have, not wanting to fight anymore. Also, he’s got a group of soldiers called the myrmidons who only fight when he fights, so this has been a problem for the Greek leaders. Well now Patroclus has been killed and hacked up by the Trojans. Patroclus was the very good friend (most would say more than just friend) of Achilles, so now Achilles is on the warpath. That is the news that Ulysses is giving to the Greek leaders. It’s great news to them. Finally, their best fighter is arming, weeping, cursing, vowing vengeance. What could be better?

Arming, weeping, cursing, vowing vengeance: sounds like you when you get too hungry.

Yes Mojo, just like me.

 Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

A charge too heavy for my strength; but yet

We’ll strive to bear it, for your worthy sake,

To th’extreme edge of hazard.

Bertram

All’s Well That Ends Well     Act III, Scene iii, Line 5

 

That’s right, this is the beginning of the scene. The Duke just told Bertram that the latter is in command of the cavalry and they’re putting all their hopes on him. I’m not sure what exactly they’re hoping for, I guess it’s just that he’ll be a good leader, but it appears that Bertram is going to give it his best shot. So you’ve got to admire that. It’s pretty much all you can ask of anyone. He’s going to strive to bear the charge they’ve given him To th’extreme edge of hazard.

But wait a minute, To the edge of hazard? Then what? Not into the hazard itself? When he gets really close to the hazard he’s going to turn and run? He’s willing, though, to go to the extreme edge, not just any old edge. This just gets more interesting the more I look at it.

 

Listen, I’m stuck here, but there’s still time for you to leave. Believe me, he’s going to be beating this thing to death for a while; with my luck, all day.

 Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Sir, my name is Lucio; well known to the duke.

Lucio

Measure For Measure   Act III, Scene ii, Line 162

Okay, here’s what we’ve got today. Lucio and the Duke are in this scene, but the Duke is disguised as a Friar. Lucio has no idea that this Friar that he's talking to is the Duke. Meantime he is bad mouthing the Duke, and he’s claiming be a personal friend of the Duke. The Duke/Friar has never met Lucio before, which is why he had to ask him what his name was.

So this is a setup that’s been used a million times, on stage, in movies, and in television. I doubt that Will invented it, but who knows. Yes, some of the humor in Will’s Comedies is pure Laugh-In stuff.

Now, do you know what I’m talking about when I say Laugh-In?  You do? Man, you’re old! 

 

Did you know that I’m a personal friend of the guy who makes the rules about whether or not people like me should be allowed to root around in the kitchen garbage, and he said it would be okay.

 

First off Mojo, you’re not a people, second, I’m the guy who says you can’t root around in this garbage, and third, this is neither Measure For Measure nor Laugh-In. Now, get your nose out of the garbage!