Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

But, I beseech you, what’s become of Katherine,

The princess dowager? How goes her business?

 

Second Gentleman

King Henry the Eighth          Act IV, Scene i, Line 24

We’ve run into these two unnamed gentlemen before. We’re at the coronation of Anne Boleyn and these two are discussing what’s going on. Today’s Second Gentleman’s question relates to Queen Katherine of Aragon who has been very reluctant to grant Henry the divorce he needs to be able to marry Anne. In fact, much of this play has been about this struggle between Henry and her.

Would you like to know what happened to her? The First Gentleman knows.

That I can tell you too. The archbishop
Of Canterbury, accompanied with the other
Learned and reverend fathers of his order,
Held a late court at Dunstable, six miles off
From Ampthill, where the princess lay; to which
She was often cited by them, but appear’d not:
And, to be short, for not appearance and
The king’s late scruple, by the main assent
Of all these learned men she was divorced,
And the late marriage made of none effect:
Since which she was removed to Kimbolton,
Where she remains now sick.

So, basically, Henry divorced her after all, and shipped her off. I guess it didn’t pay to fall out of the king's favor. No worries: Anne will fall out of favor in time as well. She, however, will not be so lucky as Katherine. The latter, at least, go shipped off in one piece. Anne will not be so lucky.

Wait, what does that mean that she's not going to get shipped off in one piece?

Never mind, Mojo. You don't want to know.

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Better ten thousand base-born Cades miscarry

Than you should stoop to unto a Frenchman’s mercy.

 

Old Clifford

King Henry the Sixth Part II         Act IV, Scene viii, Line 49

 

Jack Cade is leading his rebel crowd in the streets of London when Buckingham and Old Clifford catch up with them. Old Clifford is telling the crowd that they’d best ditch Cade and follow the king into France if they don’t want the Frenchies invading England.
The fickle crowd listens to Old Clifford. I'm not sure whether that’s a good thing in this case or not.
Crowds. Am I right?

I feel as though we have a crowd running the show a lot lately in this country. The Greek philosophers warned us about the dangers of crowds being able to take over in a democratic state. Of course, they were right. The great twentieth century writer Isaac Asimov also had something to say about crowd mentality.

There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is as good as your knowledge.

Well, I’ve gone a bit far afield today. Nonetheless, food for thought, eh?

Did someone say 'food'?

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

I’ll bear thee hence; and let them fight that will,

For I have murder’d where I should not kill.

 

Father

King Henry the Sixth Part III       Act II, Scene v, Line 121

 

Well this is a sad scene. King Henry is standing alone on the battlefield whilst the battle rages. He’s lamenting that he’s king and wishes that he were a simple peasant, because they don't have to deal with the stuff that a king does. Then a young man comes up with a dead body, someone he just killed in battle. He suddenly realizes that the guy he killed is his own father. Then an older guy comes up, also with a dead body of someone he killed in battle. He soon realizes that it’s his own son.

So these two guys lament life, war, and pretty much everything whilst Henry looks on. Today’s lines are the last lines of the Father before he leaves the scene carrying his son’s body.

I listened to the scene this morning. As I said, pretty sad, and a pretty good commentary on the absolute misery and wastefulness of war.

Ayyyyyy! He killed his own son!?!

Yes Mojo; I told you it was sad.

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

There is no following her in this fierce vein:

Here therefore for a while I will remain.

So sorrow’s heaviness doth heavier grow

For debt that bankrout sleep doth sorrow owe;

Which now in some slight measure it will pay,

If for his tender here I make some stay.

                                        [Lies down and sleeps.]

 

Demetrius

A Midsummer Night’s Dream      Act III, Scene ii, Line 86

 

Well, we don’t need too much context other than that Hermia has just told Demetrius to buzz off and has, herself, left the scene. So Demetrius has decided to take a break from it all.

The first two lines are easy, the next four a little bit challenging. I think though, that he's basically saying he’ll feel better after a little rest; simple as that. 

Not a bad thought, if you ask me.

Well, for once this guy's not sleeping. 

He's not paying any attention to today's line either. 

I'm pretty sure he's just looking out into the morning sun wondering what kind of trouble he can get into today.

 

 Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

No, my good lord: myself, he, and my sister,

To-day did dine together. So befall my soul

As this is false he burdens me withal!

 

Adriana

The Comedy of Errors           Act V, Scene i, Line 209

 

Well, not an overly impressive line today. It’s all part of the mistaken identity premise which this whole play is based on, and which is about to come crashing down, here at that end of the play.

As I said, not a very exciting line. 

What'd you think Moj.....

Never mind.

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

That this foul deed shall smell above the earth

With carrion men, groaning for burial.

 

Marc Antony

Julius Caesar         Act III, Scene i, Line 274

 

Okay kids, we’ve got ourselves a humdinger this morning. I gave you the last two lines of Antony’s soliloquy, but I’m going to give you the whole darn thing in a minute. First though, a little setup.

This is the scene in the play where Brutus, Cassius, & Co, kill Caesar. “Et tu Brute?” and all that. Then Marc Antony shows up on the scene. Now Marc Antony is a very big fan of the dead guy lying on the ground. Brutus explains why they did it, and hopes that Antony will go along with them. He assures them that he will, and then as soon as they leave, he gives us this soliloquy to tell us how he really feels. Ready? If I can type the whole thing, you can read it. It’s really good. Will at his best. Ate, by the way, is the Greed Goddess of discord and revenge.

O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,

That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!

Thou art the ruins of the noblest man

That ever lived in the tide of times.

Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!

Over thy wounds now do I prophesy,--

Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips,

To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue,--

A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;

Domestic fury and fierce civil strife

Shall cumber all the parts of Italy;

Blood and destructions shall be so in use,

And dreadful objects so familiar,

That mothers shall but smile when they behold

Their infants quarter’d with the hands of war;

All pity choked with custom of fell deeds:

And Caesar’s spirit, ranging for revenge,

With Ate by his side come hot from hell,

Shall in these confines with a monarch’s voice

Cry ‘Havoc,’ and let slip the dogs of war;

That this foul deed shall smell above the earth

With carrion men, groaning for burial.

 

Cry ‘Havoc,’ and let slip the dogs of war. Now don’t try to tell me you’ve never heard that phrase. And now you see the proper context for it; where it comes from. That’s right, Marc Antony is out for revenge. Watch out Brutus and Cassius and the rest of you guys.

Look at this guy! Amazing!

I read him the whole thing and asked him if he could do a good let slip the dogs of war face. He suggested I use this camera angle.

I have to say, I'm intimidated. 

How about you?

 

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

What, ho! Chamberlain!

 

Gadshill

King Henry the Fourth Part I      Act II, Scene i, Line 47

 

A chamberlain is a bedchamber attendant. Gadshill is one of the n’er-do-wells that Hal hangs out with.

So, do we feel a need to discuss this line further? Not really. It should be noted, however, that it is a useful salutation. It can be used pretty much anywhere.

What, ho! Mojo!

What're you up to in your little rider basket there, buddy?

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Speak not so grossly.  – You are all amazed:

 

Portia

The Merchant of Venice       Act V, Scene i, Line 266

 

Well, that’s not the end of the sentence, because she goes on for fourteen lines before coming to a period. No, it’s not a sonnet. She simply explains how she and Nerissa were the doctor and the clerk at the trial (everyone is amazed), and she also has good news about Antonio’s ships. Then, a few more lines down, the story ends. Everyone is happy, the couples all retire to the bedrooms, presumably Antonio is left alone with his good news, and Shylock is long forgotten.

 And that, my friends, is an Elizabethan Comedy.

"Wait a minute," you're saying, "neither of those two look like Mojo."

Well, you're right; and actually there are three. That's Bill Scrapps in the bottom right-hand corner of the picture. Luigi is the light haired guy on my lap, and that's the dark-haired lady Truffles sitting next to him. And that's a stack of Ikea boxes in front of us. 

Why this pic? Well, it is a pretty good explanation of the lack of posts lately. I was visiting Jessica and these guys at Little Broom Farm in Tennessee and helping out with some cabinet construction among other things. It was time well spent, but I'm afraid it kept me away from posting for a while. 

Anyway, I'm back to my own place now, and so back to posting. 

Amazed?