The age is grown so pickt’ that the toe of the peasant comes so near the heel of the courtier, he gaffs his kibe.

-Hamlet

Hamlet                            Act V Scene i, Line 145

 

Oh boy, he gaffs his kibe? What language did you say this was? See, now this is why people think that Shakespeare’s works were not written in modern English. To be clear, and just in case you didn’t know, Shakespeare’s works were written in modern (albeit, sometimes referred to as early modern) English. So, let’s take a look at this line.

First of all, this is the gravedigger scene, made famous by the ‘Alas poor Yorick’ line. Right here, Hamlet is having a back and forth with one of the gravediggers. The gravedigger is being a bit of a wise ass with Hamlet, and that’s the reason for the line. You’re still not sure what he’s saying, are you? Okay, well pick’t just means refined, and the bit about the toe to his kibe? I’ll give you another GB Harrison footnote on that one:

The peasant follows the courtier so closely that he rubs the courtier’s heel into a blister. From about 1598 onward, writers, especially dramatists, often satirized the practice of yeoman farmers grown rich from war profits in sending their awkward sons to London to learn gentlemanly manners.

So after reading that footnote I have no idea exactly how to put that in my own words, even though I feel as though I understand it. Hmmm.

How about this: try not to gaff your kibe, with or without the help of a gravedigger. Okay?

 

I tell thee, Kate, ‘twas burnt and dried away,

And I expressly am forbid to touch it,

For it engenders choler, planteth anger,

And better ‘twere that both of us did fast,

Since, of ourselves, ourselves are choleric,

Than feed it with such overroasted flesh.

 

-Petruchio

The Taming of the Shrew         Act IV Scene i, Line 167

Okay, what have we got here. Well, today’s Totally Random line is Since, of ourselves, ourselves are choleric, and I thought it might add a little clarity if I gave the whole sentence. In retrospect, I’m not so sure it helped.

I believe Petruchio is telling Kate that burnt and dried meat causes hot temperedness, and since both of them are already hot tempered, Since, of ourselves, ourselves are choleric, they’re better off not eating it. As we know, this is all a ruse to starve Kate into

submission.

This is me sitting on Dave's lap with Jean on the right. I remember that right before this pic was taken  I had been listening to Dave reading this very passage. Dave went through a very early Shakespeare stage, but regrettably moved out of it pretty early as well. Anyway, I remember that I was still musing intently on this line while the picture was being taken, and had just repeated Since, of ourselves, ourselves are choleric. Well, Jean hadn't been there when Dave had been reading the passage to me, so she had no idea what I was talking about. I think the confusion is pretty evident on her face. Don't you?

 

Indeed! Ay, indeed:--discern’st thou aught in that?

Is he not honest?

 -Othello

Othello, The Moor of Venice     Act III Scene iii, Line 102

Little rat-fink Iago is just getting started here in his game of making Othello mad with jealousy. He’ll spend the rest of the play ratcheting it up before Othello ends up killing his own wife in the end. And the first thing he says to get it going? Indeed! Yes, that’s right, Indeed! That’s all it takes to get Othello’s interest: Iago’s response of Indeed! This Iago is a very subtle and very clever little rat-fink. Yes, indeed,  he is.

 Act III, scene iii

The scene goes on for another 380 lines, and by the end of it Othello is fully convinced that Cassio and his wife are having an affair. It’s a very interesting progression that Iago works Othello through. Here’s the link. Do yourself a favor and read it. What? You don’t have time right now, you say? Indeed!

 

More  matter for a May morning.

-Fabian

Twelfth Night; Or, What You Will     Act III Scene iv, Line 142

A bit of an alliterative response from Fabian to Sir Toby Belch when the latter explains his idea for playing a trick on Malvolio. It’s surprising that Fabian didn’t work Malvolio’s name into the response. More matter for Malvolio’s May morning. Or, to fit the meter a little better, More matter for Malvolio’s May morn’.

Look at me: editing Will’s writing to make it better. Ha, that's a hot one!

The working desk of Will's editor on this March morn'. Ha!

 

 

Yet cease your ire, you angry stars of heaven!

Wind, rain, and thunder, remember, earthly man

Is but a substance that must yield to you.  

 

-Pericles

Pericles, Prince of Tyre                 Act II Scene i, Line 3

 

These are the first three lines of the scene. Pericles is standing alone on the shore all wet because he has just swum ashore from being in a storm and a shipwreck. Earthly man is but a substance that must yield to you, he says. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

I had thought that I would be able to find a pic in my archives of me, or someone I knew, standing on a shore somewhere being contemplative. But rather than show someone being contemplative in the face of nature, I give you this one. It's one of my favourite pictures, and I'm pretty sure she's not thinking about being just an earthly substance. And I guess most of us don't think about that such an awful lot either. I suppose that's about right. 

 

 

A grandam’s name is little less in love

Than is the doting title of mother;

They are as children but one step below,

Even of your mettle, of your very blood;

Of all one pain, save for a night of groans

Endured of her for whom you bid like sorrow.

Your children were vexation to your youth,

But mine shall be a comfort to your age.

 

-Richard

Richard III                      Act IV Scene iv, Line 303

 

Richard is talking to Elizabeth about how he wants to marry her daughter (also named Elizabeth) and give Elizabeth grandchildren. He’s telling her how fabulous it will be for her to have grandchildren. Sounds kind of nice, eh? Except I didn’t give you the beginning part. In that part Richard and Elizabeth are talking about all the people Richard has killed on his way to becoming King; people that include Elizabeth’s sons (the other Elizabeth’s brothers) uncles, you name it.

Here are the lines that precede today’s Totally Random lines, spoken by Richard

       

        Look, what is done cannot be now amended:

        Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes,

        Which after hours give leisure to repent.

        If I did take the kingdom from your sons,

        To make amends, I’ll give it to your daughter.

        If I have kill’d the issue of your womb,

        To quicken your increase, I will beget

        Mine issue of your blood upon your daughter

        A grandam’s name…..

 

So, yeah, he’s quite the charmer.

I was thinking of giving you a pic of one of my grandparents or grandkids, but I thought something more reminiscent of Richard might be better. This guy here looks like he'd turn on you in a New York (or in our case simply York) Minute.

 

I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this.

These things being bought and orderly bestowed,

Return in haste, for I do feast tonight

My best-esteem’d acquaintance. Hie thee, go.

-Bassanio

The Merchant of Venice         Act II Scene ii, Line 171

 

Good Leonardo. I did a post on good; it was good Michael. Here’s the link to that post Totally Random Daily Shakespeare .

So I guess since I’ve given you the link, I don’t need to go into the good thing again, do I, good reader?

Anyway, I gave you four lines today because this is the sum of what Bassanio has to say to Leonardo. What he wants him to think on and exactly what things need to be bestowed, well I guess that’s not very important, but as long as Leonardo knows, then things should work out.