Totally Random Daily Shakespeare

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

With a thief to the gallows; for though he go as softly as foot can fall, he thinks himself too soon there.

 

Rosalind      

As You Like It              Act III, Scene ii, Line 333

This line, spoken to Orlando, is prefaced by him asking, Who doth he gallop with?

This conversation starts with a discussion of Time, and Rosalind saying that he/Time travels in divers places with divers persons. She says that sometimes Time ambles, sometimes he trots, sometimes he gallops, and sometimes he stands still.

Today’s Line tells us that he gallops with a thief to the gallows since, for someone about to be hanged, time flies.

And for whom does time stand still? If you recall from a week ago, we were told by Henry Van Dyke, For those who love, Time is not.

Will has a different answer. Rosalind tells us that Time stands still with lawyers in the vacation; for they sleep between term and term, and then they perceive not how Time moves. Terms are court sessions, so I guess she’s saying that lawyers sleep when they’re not in court and so perceive no movement of time. I’m not exactly sure what she’s insinuating about lawyers, but it doesn't sound particularly complimentary. Nevertheless, I kind of like Van Dykes sentiment better: 

Time stands still for lovers.

 

They say you can tell a person’s age by looking at their hands. Well, I don’t think time is standing still for me, because that is not a young man’s hand.