Mojo, The Bard, & Me

 

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.