Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

What fashion, madam, shall I make your breeches?

 

Lucetta

The Two Gentlemen of Verona     Act II Scene vii, Line 49

That’s an interesting question. Have you ever had anyone ask you what fashion they should make your breeches? I certainly haven’t. I’m not sure I’ve ever had anyone ask me what fashion they should make anything of mine. I guess I’m not very big on fashion.

In any event, Lucetta is helping the madam get dressed up as a man. Whoa! There’s a shocker! Can you believe it? Well, we’ve certainly never seen that before in Will’s works: a woman getting dressed up as a man?

So here’s an interesting side point. We need fonts that indicate implied tone. I’m talking about that last sentence never seen that before in Will’s works. I’m obviously being sarcastic, but if you’re completely unfamiliar with Will’s works (then why the heck are you reading this?) you might not know that. Anyway, back to the breeches. Once more men, into the breech! No wait, that's a different play. Concentrate Pete, concentrate.

So I have no idea why, umm I think her name is Julia, is getting dressed up as a man. Do you Mojo?

 

 

Well, well, what's going on here? Talk about getting dressed up, little man! 

What's with the bow tie. Got a date?

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

For the fair kindness you have show’d me here,

And, part, being prompted by your present trouble,

Out of my lean and low ability

I’ll lend you something:

Viola

Twelfth Night         Act III Scene iv, Line 343

Today, we’re dealing with another case of confusion/mistaken-identity. Antonio, the guy that Viola’s addressing here, thinks that Viola is her twin brother Sebastian. Remember, if you will, that Viola is masquerading as a man, so it’s a reasonable case of mistaken identity. Antonio has just asked Viola for some of the money which is in Antonio’s purse that he gave to Sebastian for safe keeping. Remember, Antonio thinks he’s speaking to Sebastian. Unfortunately though, whilst Sebastian and Antonio are well acquainted, Viola has absolutely no idea who Antonio is or what he’s talking about. Even so, she’s offering to give Antonio some small amount of her own money, though she doesn’t have much to spare.

And there you have it: a synopsis of today’s line. 

 

I wasn't sure where else to go with today's line, so I asked my associate to lend an ear whilst I read it to him; I thought he might have some ideas. Well, he took me quite literally, and the ear is all I got; I wasn't able to get anything else out of him. I guess I should be grateful that I got the ear?

So anyway I got nothin' else for you on today's line.

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Why, I must die;

And if I do not by thy hand, Thou art

No servant of thy master’s: ‘gainst self-slaughter

There is a prohibition so divine

That cravens my weak hand.

 

Imogen

Cymbeline              Act III Scene iv, Line 75

So Imogen here, is asking Pisanio to kill her. Hmmm, well this doesn’t seem to be a very pleasant scenario. The girl is pleading with this guy to kill her, and says it’s his duty to his master. She also says she’d do it herself if suicide weren’t such a great sin.

There’s certainly a bit, perhaps a lot, of context missing here. Would you find it interesting to know that Pisanio’s master is Imogen’s husband? It’s true. And why does Imogen’s husband want his servant to kill his wife? It has something to do with Imogen’s infidelity. Actually, her husband thinks she’s been unfaithful, but of course, she hasn’t.

Imogen goes on for a bit, trying to coax Pisanio into killing her. The fellow comes up with a pretty interesting line.

O gracious lady,
Since I received command to do this business
I have not slept one wink.

                     Do’t and to bed then.

I’ll wake mine eyeballs out first.

How about that: he’ll wake his eyeballs out first. He’ll stay awake worrying about having to kill her so long that his eyeballs will fall out from lack of sleep. It’s almost a funny line, isn’t it?

This is one guy who will never, ever have to worry about waking his eyeballs out. Never.