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. 

 

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? 

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

A cloak as long as thine will serve the turn?

 

Duke of Milan

Two Gentlemen of Verona   Act III, Scene i, Line 131

 

That’s a somewhat odd line made odder by turning it into a question. I feel compelled to find out what’s going on.

Ahh, it appears that the Duke and Valentine are having a discussion about hiding a rope ladder underneath one's cloak. So, the question makes some sense. 

Now, do we want to know why Valentine and the Duke are talking about hiding a rope ladder underneath one’s cloak? No? Are you sure?

Yes, quite sure, thanks.

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

‘Aroint thee, witch! The rump-fed runyon cries.

First Witch

Macbeth                Act I, Scene iii, Line 6

We’re on the heath at the opening of Act III, and this is where Macbeth and Banquo first meet the three witches. The three witches are talking to each other here, before the two guys enter.

For clarity, aroint means be gone, away with you. Ronyon is a mangy creature; a term of abuse for a woman. Rump-fed? Well you’ll have to work that one out as best you can on your own. As far as I know, a rump is a rump. 

Here is the full reply of the First Witch when asked where she’s been.

A sailor’s wife had chestnuts in her lap,
And muncht, and muncht, and muncht:-
    ‘Give me,’ quoth I:
‘Aroint thee, witch!’ The rump-fed ronyon cries.
Her husband’s to Aleppo gone, master o’th’Tiger:
But in a sieve I’ll thither sail,
And like a rat without a tail,
I’ll do, I’ll do, and I’ll do.

So I thought that Asimov might have something on Aleppo and master o’th’Tiger in his book on Shakespeare, but nope, all he has to say about these lines is

For some thirty lines they (the witches) engage in witch-ish mumbo jumbo, and talk of killing swine and putting curses on sailors. It has nothing to do with the play, or, for that matter, with the witches. It is merely there for atmosphere, and, undoubtedly, to please King James.

So there you have it. Today’s Line is part of a section of witch-ish mumbo jumbo. At least, as far as Isaac Asimov is concerned, that’s what it is.

What do you think of that?

  

Ahheehhhhhhhh

That's Mojo doing his best Lurch. 

That's what Mojo thinks of that.

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

My life itself, and the best heart of it,

Thanks you for this great care: I stood i’the level

Of a full-charged confederacy, and give thanks

To you that choked it.

 

King Henry

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

Henry is thanking Cardinal Wolsey for rooting out a conspiracy that could have taken the life of the king. The only problem with this is that the accused, Buckingham, is innocent and that it’s Wolsey who is the rotten apple in the bunch. Oh well, that’s politics eh?

But rather than digress into a discussion of modern day Wolseys and Buckinghams, let take a look at Will’s language instead. I think we’ll find that much more satisfying.

I stood i’the level of a full-charged confederacy, and give thanks/To you that choked it.

There’s three parts to that that I’d like to look at separately:

I stood in the level,

A full-charged confederacy,

You that choked it.

He stood in the level. I’m not sure if the level is synonymous with a gun sight, or whether it’s something else, but it is an interesting phrase, much more interesting and prosaic than saying that he faced it. And, no, don’t throw that no unneeded words nonsense at me. Strunk and White does not apply to William Shakespeare.

A full-charged confederacy. No, it’s not just some guy who’s got some treasonous plans, it’s a confederacy, and a full-charged one at that; not just some half-assed thing.

You that choked it. That’s right, Wolsey didn’t just stop it, he choked it, he throttled it, he put his hands around the throat of the confederacy and squeezed the airpipe shut until it was dead. 

So you see, if you take a close look, you can really appreciate Will’s language. And you can enjoy it.

 

Or you can just sleep through it.

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

O, my old master! Who hath bound him here?

Dromio of Syracuse

The Comedy of Errors       Act V, Scene i, Line 339

Okay, last act and scene of the play. Here is where everyone figures out who everyone is. 

This is Dromio of Syracuse talking to Aegeon who is being led away as a prisoner. Remember, Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse were raised by Ageon before they took off to search for the other Dromio and Antipholus, so of course they're going to recognize him when they see him. Now finally, here in the last scene, line 339 (the play ends with line 426) they come across Aegeon, and a few lines further down, the mother they haven’t seen in I don’t know how many years. 

It all gets tied up with a nice pretty bow; kind of like a Hallmark Christmas movie.

Hallmark Chris....

This is making absolutely no sense at all to me. 

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Ventidius

I’ll humbly signify what in his name,

That magical word of war, we have effected;

How, with his banners and his well-paid ranks,

The ne’er-yet-beaten horse of Parthia

We have jaded out o’the field.

 Silius

                                 Where is he now?

Ventidius

He purposeth to Athen: whither, with what haste

The weight we must convey with’s will permit,

We shall appear before him.—On, there; pass along!

 

Antony and Cleopatra               Act III, Scene i, Line 34

Well there’s a bit of Shakespeare for you. The actual line that I picked was Silius’s Where is he now?, but I couldn’t bring myself to give you just that. The he that both of these guys are referencing is Antony.

Ventidius is one of Antony’s generals and he’s just won an important battle. But he’s decided to downplay the victory because he doesn’t want to upstage the Big Guy. Smart fellow this Ventidius. But downplay or not, they’ve gotta hustle off to Athens to let the boss know that Parthia’s been beaten.

I picked a line from this same scene nine years ago and at that time had more to say about this topic. Here’s the link if you’d like to read more about this idea of not outshining the guy in charge.

Mojo, The Bard, & Me

I would never do anything to outshine you, Mr. Blagys. 

Oh magnificent one!

You can cut the theatrics Mojo; you know darn well that you outshine me every time you show up in the room. 

For crying out loud, you're doing it right now! 

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

We know the time since he was mild and affable;

And, if we did but glance a far-off look,

Immediately he was upon his knee,

That all the court admired him for submission:

But meet him now, and, be it in the morn,

When everyone will give time of day,

He knits his brow, and shows an angry eye,

And passeth by with stiff unbowed knee,

Disdaining duty that to us belongs.

 

Queen Margaret

King Henry the Sixth Part II   Act III, Scene i, Line 17

The Queen, Suffolk, Cardinal Beaufort, Buckingham, and York are talking about the king’s uncle, Gloster. King Henry is here as well, and it seems that this whole crew is trying to convince Henry that his uncle is treasonous. Margeret, in Today’s Lines is noting that Gloster used to be perfectly subservient to the king and queen, as he should be, 

And, if we did but glance a far-off look,

Immediately he was upon his knee,

But now, not so much. Now he’ll just give you the hairy eyeball, 

And passeth by with stiff unbowed knee,

Disdaining duty that to us belongs.

A lot of talk about the knee, eh? In any event, Margaret is saying that this attitude of Gloster's just proves that he's up to no good.

But does it really? To be clear, I’m not sure who’s the schemer(s) here. Is Gloster actually plotting something  treasonous, or does this whole group just want him out of the way for their own purposes. Methinks it’s probably the latter, but again, I don’t know. I do, however, know that King Henry’s not buying it. As far as he’s concerned Gloster has done nothing wrong at all.

No matter though; with all those guys, and the queen, against him, I’m pretty sure that Gloster’s goose is cooked. So much for due process and all that silly stuff.

Well, that’s politics.

No, don’t worry, I’m not going to get into twenty-first century relevance of this stuff. I’ll let you go there yourself if you find it appropriate.

Mojo, any interest in taking this further?

  

Look at that cloud over there, Mr. Blagys. It's shaped just like a piece those chicken treats that Mrs. Blagys gives me.

I guess not.

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

I know not.

Some Other

Timon of Athens         Act III, Scene vi, Line 86

How about that! The line is I know not. Today, we would probably be more likely to say I don’t know, but either way it means the same thing. And who said Today’s Line? Some Other. So we don’t really know who said it either.

It’s just a lot of nothing. And we all know what will come of nothing:

Nothing will come of nothing!

 

Excuse me, but you don’t need that little red piece there, do you?

Were you even listening to any of what I said about Today’s Line?

What line? I know not about any line. But really, you don’t need that piece, do you? Nothing will come of it if I take it, right?

Uggghhhh!

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

                                              

Perge, good Master Holofernes, perge: so it shall please you to abrogate scurrility.

 

Sir Nathaniel

Love’s Labour’s Lost         Act IV, Scene ii, Line 55

 

Okay, this time you can say that this is pretty much unintelligible. It is. But, in Will’s defense, it’s supposed to be just that. Well, sort of.

Perge – proceed.

Abrogate - repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement)

Scurrility - the quality or state of being scurrilous, which is using or given to coarse language

So then, Sir Nathaniel is saying to Holofernes,

Proceed Master Holofernes, proceed since it will make you happy to do away with this coarse language.

This scene is with Dull, the constable (a plain spoken fellow), Holofernes, the schoolmaster (a fellow who uses big words to impress people) and Sir Nathaniel, a clergyman (who is impressed by Holofernes's big words).

There’s a lot of big words being bandied about (like Today’s Line), but I’m not sure there’s much of anything being said.

Comedy, eh?

I do believe I've left the lad speechless. How about that!