Today’s Totally Random
Line(s)
No, madam; for so long
As he could make me with this eye or ear
Distinguish him from others, he did keepThe deck, with glove, or hat, or handkerchief,
Still waving, as the fits and stirs of’s mind
Could best express how slow his soul sail’d on,
How swift the ship.
Cymbeline Act I, Scene iii, Line 14
Yup, another really long sentence; but a good one.
First, context: Imogen, the king’s daughter, has married Posthumus, a worthy fellow, but not a royal; ergo, Posthumus gets banished. Now Pisano is describing Posthumus’s departure to Imogen. How slow his soul sailed on, how swift the ship. I just can’t help it; I find this writing absolute genius. I know, you’re reading this and saying to yourself, what the heck are you talking about, Pete? Let me make a feeble attempt to help you understand what I’m talking about.
Pisanio’s got to explain to Imogen that Posthumus didn’t just wave his handkerchief as the ship sailed off; he’s got to explain how loathe that Posthumus was to leave her. So… For as long as he thought Pisanio could see him for so long as he could make me with this eye or ear distinguish him from others he kept waving with glove, or hat, or handkerchief (he wasn’t just standing there waving) to make it clear that he didn’t want to go - to best express how slow his soul sail’d on, so much slower than the ship he was standing on was moving.
I don’t know, did that help? Probably not. Good
thing I’m not a lit teacher, eh? Oh well. Maybe read it over once or twice; Will’s
words, not mine. Maybe a little of the genius of the words will start to sink
in. Maybe not.
1 comment:
Hm.
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