Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

And then he (Marc Antony) offer’d it (the crown) the third time; he (Julius Caesar) put it the third time by; and still as he refused it, the rabblement shouted, and clapt their chopt hands, and threw up their sweaty nightcaps, and utter’d such a deal of stinking breath because Caesar refused the crown, that it had almost choked Caesar; for he swounded, and fell down at it: and for my own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips and receiving the bad air.

 

Casca

Julius Caesar         Act I, Scene ii, Line 242

Casca is telling Cassius and Marus Brutus what just happened with Caesar and the crowds. Cassius and Brutus were busy talking and did not witness it.

Apparently, the crowd, at the suggestion of Marc Antony, three times offered to make Caesar king, and three times he declined. Also apparently, Casca has a pretty low opinion of the crowd and the whole spectacle.

Cassius and Brutus had been busy talking about how they were afraid of Caesar becoming the king, and the fact that this would not be a good thing. Casca will be joining these two when the conspiracy to take out Caesar is formed.

Hmmm, someone making rumblings about becoming king in what was up until then a representative republic, and other people discussing the danger of that. It’s too bad that none of Will’s works have any relevance to our modern- day world (in case you missed it, that was sarcasm).

Program note: We will be leaving early tomorrow for four days in Cally before taking off from there for New Zealand for three weeks. We won’t be back in CT for most of January, and consequently, it’s unlikely I’ll be posting again before the end of January. Just so you know.

They're going where?

Until when?!!?! 

Uh-oh.

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

  

Come, come, do you think I do not know you by your excellent wit? Can virtue hide itself? Go to, mum, you are he: graces will appear, and there’s an end.

 

Ursula

Much Ado About Nothing   Act II, Scene vi, Line 117

 

This scene is a masked ball. Ursula, one of Hero’s waiting-women, is dancing with Antonio, Hero’s uncle. Ursula knows that the masked man she is dancing with is Antonio, but Antonio is trying to convince Ursula that it’s not him. To this protestation, Ursula gives us Today’s Line.

A line or two further up, she had told Antonio that she knew it was him by his hands,

Here’s his dry hand up and down: you are he, you are he.

Hands always give away age, don’t they?

He’s right; they do.

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Ajax hath ta’en Aeneas: shall it be?

No, by the flame of yonder glorious heaven,

He shall not carry him; I’ll be ta’en too,

Or bring him off:--fate, hear me what I say!

I reck (care) not though I end my life to-day.

 

Troilus 

Troilus and Cressida    Act V, Scene vi, Line 24

 

Note that this is scene six. You might have noticed that when Will has battles in his plays, he tends to have a lot of scenes within those acts, as he switches back and forth between spots on the battlefield. Such is the case here. 

This is the final act of the play, taking place on the battlefield below the walls of Troy, and it has ten scenes. Every one of Will’s plays (as far as I know) is made up of five acts. Usually each act is made up of one to five scenes; with exceptions as I just noted.

I didn’t have anything exciting to say about Today’s Lines, so I thought I'd toss out a little tidbit about Will’s play constructions.

That's the best you could do, huh?

Yes, your highness, that's the best I could do. I'll try harder next time.

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

I would I were thy bird.

 

Romeo

Romeo and Juliet    Act II, Scene i, Line 226

 

This is Romeo’s response to Juliet. I think it best if we look at the six lines of hers that he is responding to.

‘Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone,--

And yet no further than a wanton’s bird,

Who lets it hop a little from her hand,

Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves,

And with a silk thread plucks it back again,

So loving-jealous of his liberty.

Wanton, used as a noun, can be one given to self-indulgent flirtation or trifling, a lewd or lascivious person, a pampered person or animal, or a frolicsome child or animal (all per MW online). You decide what Will considers Juliet to be.

Gyves are fetters or shackles (again, per MW online).

So Romeo is saying that he wants to be the bird held by Juliet on a silk thread leash. There’s a lot to unpack there, between her six lines and his one.

But you know, like much of Will’s work, these seven lines need no unpacking. That is to say, they’re not going to get any better by me analyzing them for you. They are best left alone by me, and read by you, and experienced by you in whatever way it is that you will experience them.

You now know the meaning of the two words that might have given you trouble, so please read it again: first Juliet’s six lines, and then Romeo’s one line response.

And have your own experience with them.

‘Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone,--

And yet no further than a wanton’s bird,

Who lets it hop a little from her hand,

Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves,

And with a silk thread plucks it back again,

So loving-jealous of his liberty.

I would I were thy bird.

Beautiful.

 

Agreed: Beautiful.

 

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Look, what is best, that best I wish in thee:

This wish I have; then ten times happy me!

 

Sonnet  37

 

Yes, it’s sonnet time again! And Today’s Lines are the rhyming couplet that finishes this particular sonnet. Shall we take a look at the first twelve lines? Based on this ending, I’m going to assume that it’s fairly upbeat. Let’s hope it’s understandable as well.

 

As a decrepit father takes delight (okay, maybe it’s a little depressing; let’s not give up hope yet.)

To see his active child do deeds of youth (at the very least, easy to understand what he’s saying so far…)

So I, made lame by Fortune’s dearest spite (Fortune’s dearest spite?)

Take all my comfort of thy worth and truth (hmmmm…).

 

For whether beauty, birth, or wealth, or wit (all good things),

Or any of these all, or all, or more (yes, yes…)

Entitled in their parts do crowned sit (getting a little less clear here)

I make my love engrafted to this store: (getting fuzzier)

 

 

So then I am not lame, poor, nor despised

Whilst that this shadow doth such substance give,

That I in thy abundance am sufficed,

And by a part of all thy glory live.

 

Look, what is best, that best I wish in thee:

This wish I have; then ten times happy me!

 

 

I think he’s saying is:

Q1 I’m happy just watching you, even though I don’t have you.

Q2 I’m happy with whatever good things you/I? have?

Q3 I’m happy living in the shadow of your glory?

Concl.  If you’re happy, I’m happy.

 

Well, if that’s a valid interpretation, then it’s not such an upbeat poem after all, is it?

Here’s the summary of this sonnet from the Katherine Duncan-Jones book.

Extending the notion (from the previous sonnets) that he partakes vicariously of the young man’s good parts, the poet finds consolation, perhaps delusory, for his own unlucky and inferior status in his young friend’s talents and good fortune.

Yeah, that’s pretty much what I said. And yeah, that’s not particularly upbeat, if you ask me. Oh well, what can you do?

 

 What can I do? I can sit here and be a lot happier than that guy, that’s what I can do.

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Who calls?

 

Calchas

Troilus and Cressida             Act V, Scene ii, Line 2

 

Simple as that. Who calls? So, who calls? I’ve no idea. 

There’s not much to this line, is there. We could go into the context; it is, after all, just the second line of the scene, so there’s not much has taken place yet. But that would lead us into a need to understand where we are in the play, and since it’s in the fifth act, we could be setting ourselves up for quite a bit of context.

No thank you. Not today.

Who calls? Nina, Jeff, and Sam will be calling on us today. 

There: that’s who calls.

 

I like Jeff. 

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

You know his nature,

That he’s revengeful; and I know his sword

Hath a sharp edge: it’s long, and, ‘t may be said,

It reaches far; and where ‘twill not extend,

Thither he darts it.  

 

Duke of Norfolk

King Henry the Eighth         Act I, Scene i, Line 110

 

The Duke of Norfolk is talking about Cardinal Wolsey. He is warning the Duke of Buckingham to be wary of the Cardinal. Wolsey has pulled a Grima Wormtongue on the king, and whilst Henry has not been incapacitated the way Theoden was, Wolsey nonetheless has a very strong hold on him. The only difference between the cardinal and Grima Wormtongue is that, unlike Grima, Cardinal Wolsey serves only himself. Unfortunately for Buckingham, it serves Wolsey's interests to have the Duke taken out of the picture.

Be careful Buckingham, Gandalf’s not going to be showing up to save you!

  

Uh oh, batten down the hatches!

 He’s started mixing in his crazy Tolkien references again!

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Here comes his mother

                                         Let’s not meet her

                                             Why?

They say she’s mad.

 

Junius Brutus and Sicinius Veletus

Coriolanus              Act IV, Scene ii, Line 7

This is a short back and forth between the two tribunes who turned the crowds against Coriolanus and had him banished. Now they’re about to meet up with Coriolanus’s mother, Volumnia.

The scene starts with the two congratulating themselves for the job they did in convincing the mob to turn against Coriolanus.

The nobility are vext, whom we see have sided

In his behalf.

Now we have shown our power,

Let us seem humbler after it is done.

It continues with Volumnia and Menenius entering and the former giving the tribunes a piece of her mind.

                        ‘Twas you incensed the rabble;--

Rats, that can judge as fitly of his worth

As I can of those mysteries which heaven

Will not have earth to know.

Once the tribunes leave, Menenius tries to settle Volumnia down, inviting her to dinner. He’s always the one trying to play the peacemaker, but she’ll have none of it.

Anger’s my meat; I sup upon myself,

And so shall starve with feeding.

It’s a great scene, quite short, and perhaps best summed up by the last six words of it:

Volumnia leaves saying, Come, come, come.  

Menenius, left alone mutters simply, Fie, fie, fie!

Come, come come and Fie, fie, fie. Hmm, I'm not quite sure what to make of that, Mr. Blagys. Are you sure that's a good representation of the entire scene? I mean really, is that the best you can do?

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

This last old man,

Whom with a crackt heart I have sent to Rome,

Loved me above the measure of a father;

Nay, godded me, indeed. Their latest refuge

Was to send him; for whose old love I have,

Though I show’d sourly to him, once more offer’d

The first conditions, which they did refuse,

And cannot now accept; to grace him only

That thought he could do more, a very little

I have yielded to: fresh embassies and suits,

Nor from the state nor private friends, hereafter

Will I lend ear to. –Ha! What shout is this?

 

Caius Marcius Coriolanus

Coriolanus                  Act V, Scene iii, Line 11

 

Well, that's a bit of a mouthful, isn't it? What can we say about Today's Lines? 

To be brief, Coriolanus, the former Roman hero now sided with the Volscians, is at Rome’s gates, ready to sack the city. He is speaking with Volscian Tullus Aufidius, telling him that he, Coriolanus, has spoken with Menenius Agrippa who was sent by the Romans to plead with Coriolanus. But he sent Menenius away, and now will hear no more from any Roman embassies.

Well, not really. Coriolanus’s mother, wife, and young son are next on the list of people to show up pleading for mercy for Rome, and (spoiler alert) he will be unable to say no to them. That will be the undoing of Coriolanus.

So yes, Today’s Lines are a difficult twelve lines to work with. As such, let’s just leave it at that.  

I'll tell you what's also difficult: trying to access what this young lad is concentrating on. No, he's not concentrating on Coriolanus, Aufidius, or anything else in Today's Lines, that's for sure. But look at that stare: he's certainly concentrating on something. Most likely it's got something to do with treats. 

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Good morrow, and well met. How have ye done

Since last we saw in France?

 

Duke of Buckingham

King Henry the Eighth      Act I, Scene i, Line 1

Well, well, well. We have the first line of the play- sort of. King Henry the Eighth starts with a Prologue, so I guess that’s the first lines of the play. But this is the first line of Act One, Scene One. Buckingham is speaking with Norfolk and they’re here to do a little table setting for us- give us an idea of what’s going on. You might have thought that the Prologue could have taken care of that for us, but I guess not.

In any event, since we’re not going to be proceeding any further into the play this morning, I don’t think we need to get into the info that these two are going to give us. Rather, I thought I’d say a few words about the word morrow.

Morrow, in 1600’s England could mean either tomorrow or morning. In Today’s Line it’s obviously the latter. Good morning, and well met. This double usage most likely comes to us from the German morgen, which means (you guessed it) tomorrow or morning -  morgen fruh: tomorrow morning, and guten morgen: good morning. As you know, Old English is primarily a Germanic language, so there you have it.

So, today’s takeaway? When reading or listening to Shakespeare morrow might mean morning. Yup, that’s it.  

 

My little Pikachu does not seem to be buying into my explanation of morrow; I see a significant amount of doubt written on that cute little face. Her friend Mojo, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to give a hoot. In fact, if I didn’t know better, I’d think he wasn’t even listening. But I know that can’t be; he finds my posts riveting.

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Now with the drops of this most balmy time

My love looks fresh, and Death to me subscribes,

Since, spite of him, I’ll live in this poor rhyme,

While he insults o’er dull and speechless tribes.

Sonnet 107

Lines 9-12

Here we have the third quatrain of Sonnet 107. As I’ve pointed out many times in the past (but it’s been a while since we looked at a sonnet) the sonnets are made up of three quatrains (lines of four) and one final couplet (two lines). Each quatrain is best understood taken as a whole (as opposed to looking at one single line), and further, it’s easier to understand this quatrain if we look at the two that precede it, and/or the sonnet as a whole. So here we go…

Not mine own fears, nor the prophet’s soul

Of the wide, world, dreaming on things to come,

Can yet the lease of my true love control,

Supposed as forfeit to a confined doom.

Nothing (Not mine own fears, nor the prophet’s soul/Of the wide, world, dreaming on things to come,) can control my true love (for you).

The mortal moon hath her eclipse endured,

And the sad augers mock their own presage;

Uncertainties now crown themselves assured,

And peace proclaims olives of endless age.

Things have come and gone (The mortal moon hath her eclipse endured, And the sad augers mock their own presage) but now we can be assured that we’ve come to a peaceful age.

 

Now with the drops of this most balmy time

My love looks fresh, and Death to me subscribes,

Since, spite of him, I’ll live in this poor rhyme,

While he insults o’er dull and speechless tribes.

And in this peaceful time my love looks fresh, and death submits to me, since in spite of him I’ll live on in this sonnet while he just goes on killing.

 

And thou in this shalt find thy monument,

When tyrants’ crests and tombs of brass are spent.

And this sonnet will be my monument to you long after tyrants, and the monuments they create, have crumbled to dust.

 

Well there, taken as a whole it’s pretty darn easy to understand Today’s Lines and the whole sonnet, isn’t it?

 

Yessiree Mr. B., easy peasy. Just about as easy as it will be for you to put those covers back, eh? I wasn't quite ready to get up yet, comprendez?

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

                                        [to the TRIBUNES]

Masters of the people,

We do request your kindest ears; and, after,

Your loving motion toward the common body,

To yield what passes here.

 

First Senator

Coriolanus             Act II, Scene ii, Line 55

This is a relatively short scene which Mojo and I took the opportunity to listen to. It’s early in the play. Coriolanus has returned to the city after leading his troops to victory over the Volscens at Corioli. Now, the senate has convened to appoint Coriolanus as the leader of Rome. With Today’s Line, the First Senator is asking the tribunes (the representatives of the common folk) to listen to the one of the generals describe what Coriolanus did, and then to vote with them on approving him as the leader.

Of course, it’s not going to be that simple. Is it ever?

 

No, you’re right Mr. B., nothing is simple. Look at me for example; I hopped up here expecting some treats and attention, but all Mrs. B. wants to do is look at those stupid birds. Simple? I think not.

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Out of their saddles into the dirt; and thereby hangs a tale.

 

Grumio

The Taming of the Shrew   Act IV, Scene i, Line 55

Okay, I did a little reading and listening, so here’s what’s going on.

Petruchiuo has married Kate and is traveling back to his home with her. Grumio was with them, but he has gone ahead to make sure the servants are preparing the house for the newlyweds’ arrival. So now Grumio is at the house talking with Curtis (apparently one of the servants of the house). Curtis wants to hear some news, so Grumio tells him,

First, know my horse is tired; my master and mistress fallen out.

How?

Out of their saddles into the dirt; and thereby hangs a tale.

Now, I suppose you want to hear the tale? Okay, here it is.

…we came down a foul hill, my master riding behind my mistress…

…her horse fell, and she under her horse; thou shouldst have heard, in how miry a place; how she was bemoiled; how he left her with the horse upon her; how he beat me because her horse stumbled; how she waded through the dirt to pluck him off me; how he swore; how she pray’d-that never pray’d before; how I cried; how the horses ran away; how her bridle was burst; how I lost my crupper;

By the way, bemoiled is soiled or encumbered with mud and dirt (MW online, and it is considered obsolete, so I'll give you that one), and crupper is a leather loop passing under a  horse's tail and buckled to the saddle (also MW online, and NOT obsolete).

And that’s the crux of the tale. Not a bad tale, eh? 

That’s an interesting tale, Mr. Blagys, and I think it’s adds to the humor of this comedy which can at times get easily lost with the tendency to view it, mistakenly in my opinion, as a tale of misogyny.

I couldn’t agree more, Mojo. I think you've hit the nail on the head.

Yes, I'm a good nail hitter, opposable thumbs notwithstanding. 

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Nay, but I bar to-night: you shall not gauge me

By what we do tonight.

Gratiano

The Merchant of Venice             Act II, Scene ii, Line 198

Gratiano has requested to join Bassanio on his trip to Belmont. Bassanio says yes, but with the proviso that Gratiano behaves himself. Gratiano replies,

                                Signior Bassanio, hear me:

If I do not put on a sober habit,

Talk with respect, and swear but now and then,

Wear prayer-books in my pocket, look demurely;

Nay, more, while grace is saying, hood mine eyes

Thus with my hat, and sigh, and say amen;

Use all the observance of civility,

Like one well studied in a sad ostent

To please his grandam,--never trust me more.

 

And then one line later he follows this up with Today’s Line, essentially saying, Except for tonight, not tonight. So,  Gratiano's going to be an angel - except for tonight, not tonight.

Ostent, by the way, is appearance: Like one well studied in a sad or solemn appearance. And that is from MW online with no note of this word being old or out of use.

So there you have it. Gratiano has promised to behave himself; after tonight.

 

What’s Gratiano going to do tonight, Mr. Blagys?

I have no idea, Mojo, but I wouldn't worry about it. I'm pretty sure it's safe to come out of there.

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Oui, vraiment, sauf votre grace, ainsi dit-il.

 

Alice

King Henry the Fifth           Act V, Scene ii, Line 112

Alice is the waiting woman of Katherine, the daughter of the King of France. The fighting in France is over, the English have won, and now Henry wants to take Katherine as his bride, as part of the peace settlement. He’s trying to tell her that he will love her, but Henry’s French is not good, and Katherine’s English is no better. Alice is acting as a bit of an interpreter.

Henry has just told Katherine that she is like an angel. Katherine says to Alice, Did he just call me an Angel?, and Alice replies in French with Today’s Line. It translates as, Yes, truly, save your grace, that’s what he said.

And that is Today’s Totally Random Line. Yes, it’s in French. Yes, it’s Shakespeare’s original text. Did Will speak good enough French to write this, or did he have some Frenchman help him write this scene? 

Je ne sais pas. 

I do not know.

Very clever Frenchie, How about this:  

Ou est mon treat?

Where is my treat?

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

If music be the food of love, play on;

Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,

The appetite may sicken, and so die.

 

Duke of Illyria

Twelfth Night; Or, What You Will  Act I, Scene i, Line 1

I had thought to give you just that one first line, since it's a pretty famous line on it's own, but the next two lines finish the sentence and, more importantly, the thought. And the thought of the first line is terribly incomplete without those two additional lines.

So, just to be sure we’re all on the same page, surfeit is excess, or overindulgence, or even a disgust caused by excess. I believe what the Duke is referring to when he talks about the appetite sickening and dying, is the appetite for love, not for music. Much of this play is based around the duke’s unrequited love for Olivia, and so Will is getting right to that point in the first line of the play: the duke is tired of getting nowhere with his love for Olivia and would just as soon that his love sicken, and so die.

For all you who have heard that one line, If music be the food of love, play on; and thought that it was a positive sentiment about music and/or love, well, it’s not. And doesn’t that just show you how easily you can pluck a few words out of a sentence, or paragraph, or whatever, and with a lack of context completely misrepresent what’s being said.

Now it's one thing when this is done unintentionally (as with most of the people who might chance to quote this line), and an altogether different thing when done with full intent (as with modern day reporting on people or events). So let this line be a lesson to you.

  

What’s the lesson?

I feel like that's the exact some position you were in yesterday, Mojo.

                                        That’s the lesson?

No that's not...    

                            ...Oh never mind!

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

I kist thee, ere I killed thee: no way but this,

[falling upon DESDEMONA]

Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.         [Dies]

 

Othello

Othello                     Act V, Scene ii, Line 360

 

 

There you have Othello’s last words, and nearly the last words of the play, as he stabs himself and dies upon Desdemona's body. 

Cassio and Lodovico have a few more words to say, but nothing as final as Othello’s utterances. Here, why don’t I give you the rest, to the end of the play. 

 

Cassio

This did I fear, but thought he had no weapon;

For he was great of heart.

 

Lodovico [to Iago]

More fell than anguish, hunger, or the sea!

Look on the tragic loading of this bed;

This is thy work: the object poisons sight;

Let it be hid. Gratiano, keep the house,

And seize upon the fortunes of the Moor,

For they succeed on you. To you, lord governor,

Remains the censure of this hellish villain;

The time, the place, the torture. O, enforce it!

Myself will straight aboard, and to the state

This heavy act with heavy heart relate. [Exeunt]

 

It almost seems like Will should have ended with Othello’s words, don't you think? Oops, there I go again, trying to improve upon Will’s work.

 

You can’t edit the words of William Shakespeare, Mr. Blagys.

 

I know Mojo, I know. I just get a little carried away sometimes.

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

I hear how I am censured: they say I will bear myself proudly, if I perceive the love come from her; they say  too that she will rather die than give any sign of affection.

 

Benedick

Much Ado About Nothing    Act II, Scene iii, Line 227

Benedick has just been eavesdropping on Leonato, Claudio, and Don Pedro. However, these three know that Benedick is listening to them, and they are playing a trick on him. They are talking about how much Beatrice has been professing her love for Benedick (she has not), in an attempt to trick Benedick into pursuing Beatrice.

Now, in Today’s Lines Benedick is talking to himself about what he has just overheard. It’s a fact that Beatrice and Benedick are fond of each other, but neither has wanted to admit it and they both show their fondness by verbally sparring with each other. But after hearing these guys talk Benedick has decided to pursue Beatrice. As he ends his self discussion he sees Beatrice approaching. Here are the last lines of his talk with himself,

When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married.—Here comes Beatrice. By this day, she’s a fair lady: I do spy some marks of love in her.

And here we go.

That's it; that's the spot. Right there; don't stop.

Well, what do you think, Mojo; will Benedick and Beatrice end up together?

Benedick and Beatrice who?