Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

God grant that some, less noble and less loyal,

Nearer in bloody thoughts, but not in blood,

Deserve not worse than wretched Clarence did,

And yet go current from suspicion!

Duke of Gloster 

King Richard the Third     Act II, Scene i, Line 94

For starters, Duke of Gloster is Richard III; he just hasn’t become king yet. And we all know that, in this play, Richard is the bad guy.

So, what the heck is he saying? Well, there are no difficult or outdated words in the four lines. Perhaps a bit of context will help.

Richard is the brother of King Edward. Clarence, another brother, has been arrested under suspicion of treason and sent to the Tower of London to await execution. Edward reconsidered and reversed the order, but before Clarence could be released, Richard saw to it that he was murdered in the tower. Now everyone is just finding out that Clarence is dead, and they are sort of looking at Richard.

King

Is Clarence dead? The order was reversed.

Richard/Duke of Gloster

But he, poor soul, by your order first died,

And that a winged Mercury did bear;

Some tardy cripple bore the countermand,

That came too lag to see him buried.

God grant that some, less noble and less loyal,

Nearer in bloody thoughts, but not in blood,

Deserve not worse than wretched Clarence did,

And yet go current from suspicion!

If I’m not mistaken, in the first four lines Richard is saying that he, a tardy cripple, was too late bearing the countermand and that Clarence was already dead when he got there (not true). So then, what is he saying in the next four lines.

Okay, I think I got it. Try this:

God knows that there are some who are not as good a man as Clarence, and who deserve death, and yet we don’t even realize who these baddies are.

Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s it, though I’m not sure who Richard is referring to. Maybe he’s just floating this idea out there to make it easier to throw suspicion on the next guy that he wants to get killed.

Okay, Shakespeare understood for today. Go in peace.

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Nor more willingly leaves winter; such summer-birds are men.

Timon 

Timon of Athens     Act III, Scene vi, Line 30

 

Timon is speaking this as an aside, in other words to himself. Let’s give you the whole exchange.

Timon

And how fare you?

Second Lord

The swallow follows not the summer more willing than we your lordship.

Timon (speaking to himself)

Nor more willingly leaves winter; such summer-birds are men.

This scene is taking place after Timon realizes that his friends are no friends at all. He’s fallen on tough times and every one of his friends has refused to help him. So he has invited them all to dinner where he’s going to tell them all off whilst serving them a bowl of warm water for dinner. They, of course, don’t know that yet, and Timon is pretending to still be the same old welcoming Timon.

So what does Timon’s comment mean? It’s not too hard.

Second Lord

We follow you like the swallows follow summer.

Timon

You also leave winter quickly, like a summer-bird.

I believe he’s using winter to mean tough times. In other words, you guys are fair-weather friends; not to be counted on in tough times.

I think it’s as simple as that.

And here is the polar opposite of fair weather friends:

Two of my favorite people in the world that I could count on ever and always.

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Be opposite all planets of good luck

To my proceeding! if, with pure heart’s love,

Immaculate devotion, holy thoughts,

I tender not thy beauteous princely daughter!

 

King Richard

King Richard the Third  Act IV, Scene iv, Line 405

 

Richard is talking to Elizabeth about her daughter, and trying to convince her how noble his intentions are. He wants to marry her daughter, and he’s trying to talk Elizabeth into helping him woo her. Only problem: he’s already killed Elizabeth’s husband and two young sons. Oh, is that all?

Shakespeare’s Richard is a really rotten dude. How historically accurate this picture is, might be questioned, but nonetheless, the fellow in this play is the pits: a ratfink extraordinaire. He’s responsible for the death of the woman’s husbands and sons, and now he wants to marry her daughter. Does the sheer absence of empathy, and overwhelming presence of gall remind you of anyone?

Hmmmm… I could swear there’s someone this reminds me of.. who could it be?

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

But which are the offenders that are to be examined? Let them come before master constable.

 

Sexton

Much Ado About Nothing    Act IV, Scene ii, Line 7

 

Sexton doesn’t have a name; he’s just sexton. So, we know that he’s someone that works at the church. Sort of like the guy I’m playing in Twelfth Night. I’m just an officer; no name. So, you know that I’m a member of the police force. And I guess that’s all you really need to know.

But here’s something you didn't know. Today is August Fourth. I started blogging this blog on August 1, 2016. Yes, ten years ago. I am now four days into year number eleven of doing this blog. This is blog post number 1,511. It’s personal post number 3,115. You see, I write my posts in Word before copying them to my blog. Often, about half the time, my Word post, for one reason or another, does not make it to my online blog. Obviously I miss days, for many reasons, but I’ve average almost six days a week writing about Will’s works in my personal log, and almost three days a week average of posting to this online blog. That’s not bad. Or maybe it represents a colossal waste of time? Who knows. Sometimes I like to think of this blog as my personal Watts Towers. You’re not familiar with the Watts Towers? I’m going to let you google that one.

Meantime, You can call me Sabato, and I’ll just keep blogging.

 

Okay, I’ll make it easy on you.

Watts Towers - Wikipedia

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher.

Benedick

Much Ado About Nothing         Act I, Scene i, Line 130

Chatterer, blabber, or empty talker: that’s what my Shakespeare glossary says parrot-teacher means. So, I guess this parrot-teacher word belongs in one of those Shakespeare Insults lists.

I never liked those lists. With all the fabulous writing that Will did, why on earth would we want to concentrate on some silly insult words? It’s an absolute travesty; nothing short of a travesty. 

And just so you know, yes, Benedick is addressing Beatrice with this line. Did you have any doubts about that?

I ran into this whilst surfing the web. It's Ian Flemings daily schedule; I would love to have this schedule. I wonder what a pink gin is, and what kind of powerful drinks he had at 5pm. I generally have a beer around 5pm, but that's neither here nor there. 

Now I'm just rambling, so I suppose you could call me a parrot-teacher!

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

For I have given here my soul’s consent

T’undeck the pompous body of a king;

 

Richard

King Richard the Second  Act IV, Scene i, Line 249

 

I didn’t want to overpower you with too many lines, but this is a pretty good speech by Richard. He’s been overthrown by Bolingbroke who’s going to unthrone him to become Henry IV. Now Richard has been brought out to tell everyone that he’s surrendering his crown to Bolingbroke.

Mine eyes are full of tears, I cannot see:

And yet salt water blinds them not so much

But they can see a sort of traitors here.

Nay, if I turn mine eyes upon myself,

I find myself a traitor with the rest;

For I have given here my soul’s consent

T’undeck the pompous body of a king;

Made glory base, and sovereignty a slave,

Proud majesty a subject, state a peasant.

There, that’s the whole thing. He’s giving up everything to Bolingbroke, and he’ not too happy about it.

I think the two lines that are Today’s Totally Random Lines may be the best of the bunch.

For I have given here my soul’s consent

T’undeck the pompous body of a king;

Though the next two lines aren’t bad either,

Made glory base, and sovereignty a slave,

Proud majesty a subject, state a peasant.

I guess he’s decided that he’s pretty much screwed it all up. Perhaps he has.

That’s a bit harsh, isn’t it, Mr. Blagys?

Well Mojo, I guess that's a matter of opinion, isn't it?

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

O Helicanus, strike me, honour’d sir;

Give me a gash, put me to present pain;

Lest this great sea of joys rushing upon me

O’erbear the shores of my mortality,

And drown me with their sweetness.

  

Pericles

Pericles               Act V, Scene i, Line 193

These five lines can be summed up with four words: pinch me, I’m dreaming.

Pericles has just come to the realization that the young woman he is talking to is his daughter, who he thought was dead. He tells his friend Helicanus to hit him; not because he thinks he might be dreaming, but because if he doesn’t get some pain right now, he might die of happiness. 

Well, not exactly the same as “pinch me I'm dreaming,” but the same idea. Will takes three lines to say “Lest I die of happiness.” Here’s where he proves himself the Poet Playwright.

Lest this great sea of joys rushing upon me

O’erbear the shores of my mortality,

And drown me with their sweetness.

Well, actually, the meter’s a bit questionable here, but oh well.

Forget about the meter, Mr. Blagys; 

just keep scratching.