Monday, October 21, 2019


As you from crimes would pardon’d be,

Let your indulgence set me free.

-Prospero



The Tempest                                Epilogue, line 20



These are the last two lines of The Tempest in the epilogue spoken by Prospero. Since we wrote the whole book on a retelling of The Tempest, I’ve decided to give you our full retelling of the epilogue. Here you go.





Sunday, October 20, 2019


Thou hast a perfect thought:



-Hubert de Brugh



King John                                         Act V, scene vi, line 6



I don’t think that context is all that relevant this morning. I’m just going to go with Thou hast a perfect thought. So next time you have to urge to respond to someone with That’s a great idea, try this instead. Thou has a perfect thought. See what happens. Just consider it part of our quest to bring a little more of Will's language into today's world. 
Lord knows we can use it.

We were out and about and we saw this sign. So Jess said, Hey, I'll think I'll take a stroll down this way and see what Normalville is like for once.


But about sixty seconds later she turned around and came back and said, Nah, that sounds boring. And of course I replied Truly Jess, thou hast a perfect thought.


Friday, October 18, 2019

He has no equal.

-Junius Brutus

Coriolanus                               Act I, scene i, line 49

This is Junius Brutus talking and he is the stereotypical politician. In other words, he’s a jerk and Will wants us to see that he’s a jerk. Apparently politicians four hundred years ago were held in the same contempt that they are today. Junius is talking about Coriolanus and he is being facetious and cynical here. But in truth, he’s also right. Though I’m not sure he realizes it.

Now, since I’ve decided to try my hardest to stay off the news today, especially political news which is really upsetting me lately, and since a further discussion of this play will inevitably lead me to a discussion of the current political situation, I’m afraid I’m going to have cut today’s discussion short. Let me end by saying that this is a really good play and that the 2011 movie starring Ralph Fiennes is also really good. If you have a chance to see it please don’t pass it up. I won’t say that Ralph has no equal, but he’s quite good.



 These are some ruins of a Roman aqueduct somewhere in Spain. Relevance? Well, Coriolanus is a play set in Rome. 
Sorry, that's the best I could do.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019


What men are you?

-King John

King John                                  Act I, scene i, line 49

Nothing fancy here. Two guys show up wanting to see the king and he wants to know who they are. Not a lot going on with today’s Totally Random line. But I guess that’s all right.

 Okay, this picture addresses at least two issues from today's post. For one thing, it makes up a little for the lack of anything interesting in the post. If I'm not mistaken, these two guys are cooking pigs feet on the sidewalk with a blowtorch. So that's at least a little bit interesting. And for another thing, they are certainly deserving of the question 'What men are you?' And just when you thought I had a Totally Random line for which I wouldn't be able to come up with a pic!


  Today’s Totally Random Lines   What fashion, madam, shall I make your breeches?   Lucetta The Two Gentlemen of Verona      ...