Mojo, The Bard, & Me

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

So I do, madonna; but to read his right wits is to read thus: therefore perpend, my princess, and give ear.

 

Clown

Twelfth Night              Act V,  Scene i, Line 297

Clown is reading a note from Malvolio to Olivia. Both Clown and Malvolio are in the employ of Olivia. Notice that in Today’s Line the clown addresses her as madonna and princess. In his previous line he says your ladyship, but in almost every other spot in this scene he simply calls her madam. I’m not sure why he's deviating from madam here, but you can bet there’s something behind that. 

Perpend, by the way, means reflect on carefully; ponder. MW online notes that it’s a word not often used, but it is not considered archaic. I guess that means that it’s a word you can use if you want. Therefore, perpend on the word perpend.

It can be pretty tough to try to figure out what this guy is perpending on.