Today’s Totally Random
Lines
Now sways it (the battle) this way, like a mighty sea,
Forced by the tide to combat with the wind;
Now sways it that way, like the selfsame
sea
Forced to retire by fury of the wind:
Sometime the flood prevails, and then the
wind;
Now one the better, then another best;
Both tugging to be victors, breast to
breast,
Yet neither conqueror nor conquered:
So is the equal poise of this fell war.
King Henry
King Henry the Sixth
Part III Act II, Scene v, Line 7
There’s that
word fell again. Remember, in this case it has nothing to do with falling;
it means simply evil.
And what of
this passage?
Here we have King Henry pausing, alone, on the sidelines of a great battle. It is a battle that he should be leading, but is not. Whilst his queen and lieutenants run the show, he is left sitting there ruminating about the battle and the war. His musings are interesting and valid, but also a very sad reminder of what an ineffectual leader he is.
If this were Henry V, this king’s father, we’d be hearing “Once more into the breach!” and so on as he led the troops to into battle. But with the son, not so much. He’d rather ruminate on the vicissitudes of war than participate in it.
Honestly, I think I am much more like the son than the father. Not very heroic of me, eh?
You’ll always be my hero, Mr. Blagys. Speaking of that, do you think my new hairdo makes me look fierce?
Take a look at it from the back. What do you think? Fierce?
Very fierce, Mojo. Very fierce indeed.
