Today’s Totally Random
Lines
We
therefore have great cause of thankfulness;
And
shall forget the office of our hand,
Sooner
than quittance of desert and merit
According
to the weight and worthiness.
King Henry
King Henry the Fifth Act II Scene ii, Line 34
Henry is talking to a few of his guys who are actually plotting against him. Henry knows this, but they don’t know that he knows it. They are telling Henry what a beloved king he is, and what Henry is saying in today’s four lines is that he should be thankful for this, and that as such, he can afford to go easy (forget the office of our hand) as opposed to being a hard-ass guy (sooner than quittance of desert and merit) and should take into account the seriousness of any offenses committed before passing judgment (according to the weight and worthiness).
But it’s a set up by Henry, because when the plotters tell the
king that he has to stay strong and punish wrong-doers to set an example, Henry turns the tables on them and tells these guys that he knows they’re traitors and they’re
going to be executed. Of course, then they change their tune and cry for mercy.
Please don’t try to tell me that that Will’s works are not relevant in 2025. Please don’t try to tell me that.
Hold on then, give me a sec’. I'm concentrating; let me see if I’ve got this straight:
Henry is saying that since he’s such a beloved king that he can
afford to go easy on his subjects and not punish them too harshly for minor
offenses. Then these guys, who are actually traitorous sycophants, advise him
to punish wrong-doers harshly, regardless of the crime, to maintain good order.
Then Henry tells these same guys that they are sentenced to death for treason,
and they plead for mercy. Did I get that right?
No comments:
Post a Comment