Tuesday, August 20, 2024

 Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Many a time hath banisht Norfolk fought

For Jesu Christ in glorious Christian field,

Streaming the ensign of the Christian cross

Against black pagans, Turks, and Saracens;

And toil’d with works of war, retired himself

To Italy; and there, at Venice, gave

His body to that pleasant country’s earth,

And his pure soul unto his captain Christ,

Under whose colours he had fought so long.

 

Bishop of Carlisle

King Richard the Second       Act IV, Scene i, Line 96

 

That’s a pretty long way of saying that Norfolk’s not going to be returning. 

The first seventy lines of this scene are about Bagot, Aumerle, Fitzwater, and a bunch of others arguing over who’s telling the truth. Bolingbroke is overseeing this imbroglio and says that everyone’s differences will be settled when Norfolk returns. The bishop responds, letting them all know that Norfolk’s not going to be returning. Apparently, Norfolk outsmarted them all and retired to Venice where he passed away peacefully. It sounds a little more like something more from a modern movie script than from Shakespeare, doesn't it?


Mr. World Traveler, who thinks he belongs in a movie, hasn't yet been to Venice; but he's hopeful. 

Yes Mojo, you're right, that guy's seat is not lay-flat. You have a much nicer seat in your "special private traveling cabin"
(that's what he likes to call the pet carrier).

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