Up Fish-street! Down Saint Magnus’-corner!

 Kill and knock down! Throw them into

 Thames!

-Jack Cade

King Henry VI, Part II            Act IV, Scene 8, Line 1

 

Yup, first line of the scene. I think I’ll give you the setting as it’s stated in the play

SCENE VIII

Southwark.

Alarum and retreat. Enter again CADE and all his rabblement.

 

That’s right, Jack Cade enters with his rabblement. There’s a good word, eh?

Jack Cade is some peasant-type guy who claimed to be of royal descent (historians pretty much agree that he wasn’t) who led the common folk in an uprising against the throne, specifically Henry VI. He caused a bunch of trouble and took over parts of London before being vanquished. This scene is towards the end of Jack’s short rebellion. He and his rabblement are in London, but the party’s about to come to an end. A couple pages down the road in Scene X, we’ll find Jack hiding in someone’s garden outside London, and he meets his demise there between the tomatoes and the arugula.

But for now, he’s enjoying having the crowd, I should say rabblement, at his command.

Here you go. That top pic is St. Magnus the Martyr Church, and the bottom one is looking across the street from the church up Fish St. towards the Fire of London Monument. How about that? This might be the spot Jack Cade was talking about, albeit looking a little different than it did in Jack's time.

These pics, by the way, are compliments of Google Maps. I usually use my own pics, but today I decided to JUST USE THE GOOGLE. Hmmmm, wonder where I got that idea?

 

I pray you, daughter, sing; or express yourself in a more comfortable sort.

 

-Volumnia

Coriolanus             Act I, Scene 3, Line 1

 

Since this is the first we see of Volumnia, Coriolanus’s mother and an important figure in this play, I’m going to give you her whole opening piece. She’s speaking to her daughter-in-law Virgilia, Coriolanus’s wife. Virgilia is worried about her husband who is off at war. Volumnia, not so much. It’s a little long, but pretty easy.

I pray you, daughter, sing; or express yourself in a more comfortable sort. If my son were my husband, I would freeller rejoice in that absence wherein he won honour than in the embracements of his bed where he would show most love. When yet he was but tender-bodied and the only son of my womb, when youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way, when for a day of kings’ entreaties a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding, I, considering how honour would become such a person, that it was no better than picture-like to hang by the wall, if renown made it not stir, was pleased to let him seek danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him; from whence he returned, his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child than now in first seeing he had proved himself a man.

So this is Volumnia (I can’t think of any female person I know who would like to have that name) speaking about her son. I think Will is trying to immediately lets us know what she’s all about, because she’s pivotal in this play, especially near the end. She comes off right away, at least to me, as a pretty cold-hearted bitch. She seems more fit to be a general than a mother, don’t you think? Just for the heck of it, let’s compare Volumnia to another of Shakespeare’s mothers, Constance, in King John. We heard from Constance back in January 2017 (wow, was it that long ago?). Here’s the link:

https://totallyrandomdailyshakespeare.blogspot.com/2017/01/thenhave-i-reason-to-be-fond-of-grief.html

What do you think? There’s a little bit of difference between the two mothers, eh?

 

Well, I was looking for a picture of opposite things to exemplify the difference between Volumnia and Constance, and I came across this pic of Scout and Sam. I was thinking of size difference, but then I realized that these are two of the best dogs I've ever known, so that they are more alike than different. Oh well, still a good pic.

 

 

7/12/21

Sir Hugh, persuade me not; I will make a Star-

Chamber matter of it: if he were twenty Sir

 John Falstaffs, he shall not abuse Robert

 Shallow, esquire.

-Shallow

The Merry Wives of Windsor          Act I, Scene i, Line 1

 

It's said that The Merry Wives of Windsor was written simply as a vehicle for Will to bring back the character of Falstaff because of this character’s incredible popularity. That being the case, the fact that the very first line of the play is a reference to Falstaff and his rapscallion behavior should come as no surprise. The audience is told as once, that if they came to see Falstaff they will not be disappointed.

Will was a consummate writer, a poet, and a dramatist; the best the world has ever known. But Will was also a businessman and a pragmatist. His greatest works pleased the audience because they were spectacular, and their greatness lay in the fact that he was writing what he felt was the best. Like all great artists, he was creating to and for himself. In the case of The Merry Wives of Windsor, however, he was perhaps more than any other of his works, writing not for himself, but to please the audience.

Having said that, it’s still Shakespeare, and like they say ‘A bad day of fishing (or in my case, golfing), is still better than a good day of work.'

And here I am out on the course. That's Howth Castle behind me, and beyond that the Irish Sea. This was actually a pretty good day of golf.

 

More man? Plague, plague!

-Timon

Timon of Athens              Act IV, Scene iii, Line 197

 

Now there’s a line for you. Wait, that’s how I started yesterday’s post. But that’s okay; though I have a slightly different meaning in mind when I say that today than I did yesterday.

I guess it can’t be much clearer what Timon thinks of human company at this point. Plague, plague! Try to imagine yourself getting to a point in your life where another human walking into your presence makes you say plague, plague! Think about it. Really try to imagine yourself being that miserable.

Okay, c’mon back. Everything’s okay. The world’s not that bad (though, yeah, sometimes it might seem so). It’s not. Spend a moment or two with yesterday’s line. It’s much less depressing.  

Well I couldn't find any picture that seemed even remotely relevant to today's line, so I decided to give my new mug a second day in the sun, so to speak. Come to think of it, I suppose I could've used the Google to come up with an idea for the picture. Oh well.

 

Lovers and madmen have such seething brains,

Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend

More than cool reason ever comprehends.

-Theseus

A Midsummer Night’s Dream         Act V, Scene i, Line 6

 

Now there’s a line for you; a beaut. This is one of those lines you can

 just read over a few times and let it sink in, and enjoy the language: 

seething brains and shaping fantasies. Note that shaping is an 

adjective here. And the stuff these lovers and madmen deal with

needs to be apprehended, as if it were an elusive criminal. Think 

about it.

Great, great line.

A great mug to go along with a great line. In fact, best mug ever. 

Just use the Google!

 

How! Poor? Look upon his face; what call you

 rich? Let them coin his nose, let them coin his 

cheeks: I’ll not pay a denier. What, will you 

make a younker of me? Shall I not take mine 

ease in mine inn, but I shall have my pocket 

pickt? I have lost a seal-ring of my 

grandfather’s worth forty mark.

-Sir John Falstaff

King Henry the Fourth Part I         Act III, Scene iii, Line 81

 

Well this is very typical John Falstaff baloney. I think you could come up with many, many, many modern actors and roles which pull off of Falstaff. From WC Fields to… I can’t think of a modern day one, but it’ll come to me. He’s part flim flam, part false bravado, and yet perhaps more fully human than any other of Will’s characters. And I guess that may be why he is so revered by the Shakespeare faithful. Yes, I believe revere is the right word.

Since today is July 8 I thought this would be an appropriate pic. It has nothing to do with today's line, but today is the birthday of Edwin, a fellow I work with. Whilst he's nothing like John Falstaff, he does bear more than just a passing resemblance to the fellow in this picture. Edwin was born in Peru, and this picture was taken in Ecuador. Not exactly the same thing, and I don't know if this fellow here is Ecuadorean or not, but he and Edwin could very well have some similar South American native roots. Who knows?

Happy Birthday Edwin!

 

 

Why, what a ruthless thing is this in him, for

the rebellion of a codpiece to take away the 

life of a man!

 

-Lucio

Measure For Measure            Act III, Scene ii, Line 116

 

Lucio is speaking to the Duke, who is disguised as a friar. He’s talking about the fact that Angelo, the fellow who is in charge in the Duke’s absence, is going to have a man put to death for the crime of getting a woman pregnant (or was it just for having sex with her? Not sure). The rebellion of a codpiece. The codpiece was a flap of material that covered a man’s genitals. Interesting phraseology. The codpiece rebelled.

It’s always interesting to wonder about how many of these turns of phrase Will invented, and how many were common phrases of the day that he just documented. Certainly many had to be the latter. I guess the scholars know which is which from a study of other writings of the times, but I sure don’t.

Still, it’s an interesting phrase and one that could still easily be used. Let’s see.

Ahh, there was no rebellion of the codpiece last night, Bert. I came home from the bar quite alone.

Quel Domage, my friend. Quel domage.

 

 

Well finding a picture for today's topic could have got me into all sorts of trouble. So instead of staying on topic, I'll just give you a pic of Spike in his pajamas. It has nothing to do with anything, but I hope you'll admit that Spike really knew how to rock those pj's. In fact, getting back on topic, I'll bet those pj's could get 'ol Spikey into some codpiece rebellions if worn in the right company. Am I right?

 

 

Only we still retain

The name, and all the additions to a king;

The sway, revenue, execution of the rest,

Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm,

This coronet part betwixt you. [Giving the crown]

 

-King Lear

King Lear                        Act I, Scene i, Line 136

 

In the lines previous to this Lear has disowned poor Cordelia and given his kingdom to his other two daughters and their husbands. Apparently, though, it remains to be seen just how much of the name, and all the additions to a king that he’s actually going to be able to retain. Not much, I’m afraid. Once he gives away the crown and, in his own words, my power,/pre-eminence, and all the large effects/that troop with majesty, well then he’s pretty much put himself at the mercy of his two daughters and two son-in-laws. And that’s going to prove to be not only a big mistake, but the crux of the play.

So here is one of my Cordelia's and a son-in-law. Hmmm, maybe I'd better just hold on to that crown for now. 

 

He hath confest: away with him! He’s a

 villain and a traitor.

 -All

King Henry the Sixth Part II       Act IV, Scene ii, Line 103

 

We touched on this scene, but just barely, in a post back in August 2019. So let’s get into it a bit today.

The ‘All’ here is a mob, and the mob leader is a fellow named Jack Cade. Now on the one hand, this is taking place in the time of a monarchy, you know, divine rights of kings and all that. So a group of ordinary folks rising up might seem like a good thing. Right? Well, not exactly.

In this case we have a group of ordinary folks being led by a king wanna-be. Cade is a pretender to the throne. His aspirations are not about the good of the common folk, his aspirations are about the good of Jack Cade. And right now they have found an educated fellow, a common folk, who can read and write. They’re going to take this as a sign that he’s part of the establishment and they’re going to hang him.

And this just shows that there’s a difference between democracy and mob rule: a big difference, and yet sometimes a fine line. Consider: A bunch of unhappy guys get together in Philadelphia in 1776, and we're celebrating it almost 250 years later. A bunch of unhappy guys (and gals) get together in Washington on January 6, 2021; no cause for celebration there.

So listen to Will. He has a lot to say about a lot of things. He won’t give you all the answers, but he’ll get you to ask a lot of important questions.

Happy Fourth of July y'all.

 Faith, Sir John, ‘tis more than time that 

I were there, and you too; but my powers are 

there already. The king, I can tell you,

looks for us all: we must away all night.

 

-Earl of Westmoreland

King Henry the Fourth Part I         Act IV, Scene ii, Line 58

 

Prince Hal and the Earl of Westmoreland have come upon Sir John on the road, in the night. Falstaff is leading a very ragtag group of men/soldiers, and the Earl is telling him that they need to get moving and catch up with the king at Shrewsbury since battle is looming.

The better part of this scene is the soliloquy that Falstaff gives us before Hal and the Earl show up. It’s about his group of misfit soldiers. So if you’re going to look at this scene, that’s probably what you want to concentrate on. Here’s the link. It’s a short scene, less than one page and, like any Shakespeare, well worth the read.

I wonder how Falstaff's ragtag group would do against these guys? Well, considering they're made out of clay, Falstaff's group would probably do okay. But if these guys were real? Well that would be a different story.

 

Where I have learn’d me to repent the sin

Of disobedient opposition

To you and your behests, and am enjoin’d

By holy Laurence to fall prostrate here,

And beg your pardon: pardon, I beseech you!

Henceforward I am ever ruled by you.

 

-Juliet

Romeo and Juliet            Act IV, Scene ii, Line 20

 

This is Juliet’s response to her father’s question, Where have you been gadding? Which naturally leads to our question, what the heck is gadding?

Well I looked in my Shakespeare app and there’s nothing for gad or gadding, but the online dictionary has it: go around from one place or another, in the pursuit of pleasure or entertainment.

So that is supposedly a modern definition, and it appears to work perfectly. Okay then, there’s a word to add to our vocabulary. 

 

 

What's this a picture of, you ask? Well it's just my two Cordelias. We were gadding about the Tennessee state capital when we decided we needed a pic of this Geodesic Survey Marker. Go figure.