MESSALA

Believe it not so.

CASSIUS

I but believe it partly;

For I am fresh of spirit, and resolved

To meet all perils very constantly.

 

-Messala and Cassius

Julius Caesar                  Act V Scene i, Line 90

The army of Brutus and Cassius is about to face off against the army of Octavius Caesar and Marc Antony. In the lines previous to today’s Totally Random lines Cassius talks of seeing eagles the day previous but

        This morning are they fled away and gone;

And in their steads do ravens, crows, and kites,

Fly o’er our heads, and downward look on us,

As we were sickly prey: their shadows seem

A canopy most fatal, under which

Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost.

In today’s lines Messala is saying not to believe this omen, and based on Cassius’s response it sounds like maybe he won’t. So that’s good. You can’t go letting a bunch of stupid birds determine your future for you. You’ve got to make your own way. Right? Atta boy, Cassius.

Though, speaking of birds – spoiler alert –, the omen is actually correct: Cassius’s goose is cooked (pun intended). This is a Shakespearean tragedy after all. You should have known it. 

This colorful little guy is a malachite kingfisher. What do you suppose Cassius would have done if he saw these guys circling? Perhaps he would've said, "What the heck are those malachite kingfishers doing here. We're not in southern Africa."

 

 

Alas, your too much love and care of me

Are heavy orisons ‘gainst this poor wretch!

 

-King Henry

King Henry the Fifth              Act II Scene ii, Line 52

Henry is talking to Scroop (I love that name), Cambridge, and Thomas Grey. They’re discussing the punishment for some anonymous henchman, this poor wretch, who apparently rail’d against the king. I’m not sure exactly what that means, but it sounds like he got drunk and was going off about Henry.

Henry says the guy just had too much wine, so let him go. These other three want him punished, because he needs to be made an example of for the sake of Henry’s safety, and that’s what Henry is responding to in today’s Totally Random line. Orisons in this context are pleas.

Of course, the funny part about this is that several lines down the king arrests all three of these guys for treason. When they appeal to him for mercy he answers

 

        The mercy that was quick in us but late,

        By your own counsel is suppress’d and kill’d:

        You must not dare, for shame, to talk of mercy;

 

What comes around goes around, eh?

These two coconuts kept comin' around and goin' around. Lord have mercy, that ride would have made me ill. 

 

That’s done sir; they have all stomachs.

 

-Launcelot Gobo

The Merchant of Venice         Act III Scene v, Line 48

Lorenzo just told Launcelot to go in and bid them prepare for supper. Today’s Totally Random line is Launcelot’s wise-ass reply. They’re all ready because all they need to be prepared for supper is to have a stomach, and they have all stomachs.

Comedy.

And speaking of stomachs...

A pretty unflattering picture of your favourite blogger, I'll grant you that; but it gives you a pretty good picture of the stomach I'm dealing with. Good news? You bet. The starting point was 248.2 lbs about six few weeks back. Today I broke into the 230's for the first time with 239.8 lbs. Still got a long way to go, but I'm happy with the progress. Steady as she goes Cap'n!

 

And thrice cried, ‘Courage, father! Fight it out!’

 

-Duke of York

King Henry the Sixth Part III         Act I Scene iv, Line 10

I think I’ll not spend any time with context today and, since the line mentions ‘father’ and today is Father’s Day, just take the line in general and talk about it. And yes, today's line is Totally Random, believe or not. 

The Duke is talking about the encouragement he’s received from his sons, or maybe in this case, one son. So I'm going to reflect on the sons I've received encouragement from. But of course I also receive a tremendous amount of encouragement from my daughters. I’m a very lucky guy. I have two wonderful daughters, one fabulous son, and three tremendous stepsons. Oh and let’s not forget about those two stupendous sons-in-law, two fantastic daughters-in-law and that outstanding godson. And holy crow, there's the newcomers: an amazing granddaughter and two unbelievable grandsons (have I left anyone out?) 

Jeez, so much encouragement. How could I possibly not fight it out?

Okay, I know you're thinking, 'wait a minute Pete, who this?' You were probably expecting a pic of one, or all, of the coconuts I mentioned above. That's understandable. But I got to thinking about it, and thinking about where I got my encouragement before I was a father. See that guy in the back there (I know, hard to look past the stylin' shirt I'm rocking)? He's my big brother, and he was giving me encouragement when my dad was alive and has continued to be like a second dad to me since dad died. So I wanted to give a shout out to this guy on father's day. Happy Fathers Day Big Guy! (he doesn't like being called Big Guy, but don't worry, he doesn't read this blog)

 

 

You are as fond of grief as of your child.

 

-King Philip

King John                       Act III Scene iv, Line 92

I’m not sure where to begin, but I’m afraid I’m going to rattle on a bit today, because today’s Totally Random line leads into one of my favourite passages in all of Will’s works. I wrote at length on this passage once previously, about five years ago, and here’s that blog, if you’re interested Totally Random Daily Shakespeare . Today I want to throw a slightly different angle at you.

Almost thirty years ago the wonderful American author Toni Morrison gave remarks upon the acceptance of her Nobel Prize in Literature. I’ve read a copy of those remarks several times, and I think it’s a really extraordinary composition on language. One of points (if not the main point) that she makes is about the ‘…recognition that language can never live up to life once and for all. Nor should it. Language can never “pin down” slavery, genocide, war. Nor should it yearn for the arrogance to do so. Its force, its felicity is in its reach toward the ineffable.’

I read this for the first time a number of years ago, and it’s really stuck with me. At the time, I had to think ‘of course that’s right’. But on the other hand, without it being stated, the obviousness of it might never have been apparent to me. But it is now, and it gives me pause.

The best writers are those who allow us to visit places or experience situations that we would otherwise not be able to. And yet, we know, or should know, that it’s only a semblance, not the real thing. I think of this specifically when I read or hear Constance’s response to King Philip, speaking of the child she has lost. 

        Grief fills up the room of my absent child,

        Lies in his bed, walks up and down with me,

        Remembers me of all his gracious parts,

        Stuffs out his vacant garments with his form;

        Then have I reason to be fond of grief!

 

I think to myself, ‘I know full well that I do not actually know how Constance feels, having never experienced this type of loss. But I believe her words, Will’s words, bring me oh so close to that feeling.’

Stuffs out his vacant garments with his form; Where, or how, on earth did Will come up with this?

 

And I guess that’s all I’ve got to say about that.

 

 I have been studying how I may compare

This prison where I live unto the world:

And for because the world is populous

And here is not a creature but myself,

I cannot do it; yet I’ll hammer it out.

 

-Richard

King Richard the Second                Act V Scene v, Line 1

A most excellent line; the beginning of Richards soliloquy in the cell before he is murdered. I’m tempted to give you the whole thing, but it’s pretty long, so I suppose not. I really like the yet I’ll hammer it out part. I actually use that line occasionally. No, really, I do.

Apparently we’ve covered this soliloquy, at least in part, once before in Totally Random Daily Shakespeare. Here’s a link to that post in case your interested.

Totally Random Daily Shakespeare

 

I'm quite certain I've used this pic before, but I really like it. It has nothing to do with today's line, but everything to do with the fact that it's little Nina's birthday today. 

 

 

 

Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?

 

-Desdemona

Othello                            Act IV Scene iii, Line 66

The deed that Desdemona is asking Emilia about is cheating on her husband. Emilia answers that if it was truly for ‘all the world’, she would do it, but not for anything less. Desdemona says that she wouldn’t cheat on her husband for anything. 

This is a very sad scene as Desdemona has sensed her forthcoming demise and talks about it with Emilia. Before they get into the discussion about cheating, Desdemona sings a sad song. I think you would appreciate it more if you heard Desdemona sing the song, but regardless, I think I’ll give you the words.

         The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree,

                        Sing all a green willow;

        Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee,

                Sing willow, willow, willow;

        The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur’d her moans;

                Sing willow, willow, willow;

        Her salt tears fell from her, and soften’d the stones;

                Sing willow, willow, willow;

        Sing all a green willow must be my garland.

        Let nobody blame him; his scorn I approve,

(Desdemona corrects herself after this line, ‘Nay, that’s not next’, but then continues.)

        I call’d my love false love; but what said he then?

                Sing willow, willow, willow;

        If I court moe women, you’ll couch with moe men.

And this leads to Desdemona asking Emilia the question which is today's Totally Random line. 

So sad.

You're wondering what the heck these are pictures of, and I'm going to tell you. The top one is an old black and white photo that my sister Jean took of the willow tree that was at the bottom of the street where I grew up. My dad always told us that my grandfather planted that willow. The picture below that is a pic that I just snapped of a piece of the tree in the photo. When they cut the tree down, forty or so years ago, I grabbed a piece of it to save. And I still have it. 

Sing willow, willow, willow.