Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

What, what, what? Ill luck, ill luck?

Shylock

The Merchant of Venice                Act III, Scene i, Line 96

This is Shylock hearing for the first time that one of Antonio’s ships may have failed, and consequently that Antonio may not be able to pay the bond. It would appear that Shylock is pretty excited about this prospect. At least, that's a common way to interpret this scene. And this can lead us right into what could be a long and potentially contentious discussion about Shylock, his Jewishness, and what that means to this play. In fact, it is this topic which has made this play a very touchy subject and has led to it being discontinued as subject matter in many schools. 

So, is The Merchant of Venice an Anti-Semitic work? It depends on who you ask. If you ask me, the answer is no. Will's works are among the most complex bodies of literary works in existence, and much of what you see in his works goes far beyond what it appears to be. So, whilst there is no one answer to the question of whether or not it is Anti-Semitic, like much of Will's work, this play is many different things to many different people. 

But as I noted, it depends on who you ask.

He's such a contemplative little fellow. I read today's post to him, and he just looked up at me for a moment saying nothing. Then he hopped down and walked slowly over to the door and sat down there to think. And he's been sitting there contemplating the complexities of Will's works ever since.

It's either that or he's just looking for some birds to bark at. 

 Today’s Totally Random Lines

You are a saucy fellow.

Katherine

King Henry the Eighth                  Act IV, Scene ii, Line 101

What a great line. What can I say about that?

He is indeed a saucy fellow, 

but I'm afraid Sam does not really appreciate his sauciness. 

 Today’s Totally Random Lines

             How, my lord!

What cheer? How is’t with you, best brother?

Polixenes

The Winter’s Tale                  Act I, Scene ii, Line 148

Polixenes is addressing Lenontes. The latter is already convinced that the former is having an affair with his wife, and that’s what he’s thinking about when Polixenes asks him how he is.

What a wiener.

Big Yawn.

Yes, I know Mojo, we've covered this bit before. Sorry to bore you. 

 Today’s Totally Random Lines

  

                                            Then began

A stop i’the chaser, a retire; anon

A rout, confusion thick: forthwith they fly

Chickens, the way which they stopt eagles; slaves

The strides the victors made:

 

Posthumus Leonatus

Cymbeline              Act V, Scene iii, Line 88

 

These are just a few lines in the middle of a long bit where Posthumus has met up with a Roman Officer, and he is describing the battle. Remember, we’re in old Britain (circa 500 A.D.?) when the Romans had invaded. So this battle is between the Brits and the Romans. Will is using the tactic of having one of his characters describe the action that took place rather than to try to stage that action. Nowadays, in the movies, we manage to make the action the centerpiece of the show; forget about dialogue. Who needs dialogue.

Anyway, this is a long bit, a lot longer than the four lines I gave you, and it’s not really easy to understand- as you can see from these four lines, But I read through it a few times and, lo and behold, it made a little more sense each time. Posthumus is describing how the Romans were chasing the Brits but then the retreat stopped and the Brits began routing the Romans.   

Trust me; that’s what he’s talking about. 

Some how I don't feel like Mojo trusts me on this one. 

I feel like he thinks I'm trying to sell him a bag of goods. 

 Today’s Totally Random Lines

Why, then,

She’s fled unto that peasant Valentine;

And Eglamour is in her company.

 

Duke of Milan

Two Gentlemen of Verona     Act V, Scene ii, Line 36

Eglamour? There’s a name for you. Eglamour. I don’t think I’ve ever run into that name.

So I don't have anything to say about today’s line, other than remarking on the name Eglamour. That’s because I’ve no idea about what’s going on with today’s line, so I didn’t really want to get into discussing it.

Eglamour.

Happy Mother's Day all. 

My associate has abandoned Will and me today in favor of his Mother.

He knows who butters his bread.

 Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

                O you are well  tuned now!

But I’ll set down the pegs that make this music,

As honest as I am.

Iago

Othello                    Act II, Scene i, Line 200

 

Iago is saying this line in an aside after watching Othello and Desdemona express their love and affection for each other. He’s letting the audience know that he’ll be making sure that this love and affection does not last.

I like that he ends his thought with as honest as I am. I’m familiar with the fact that honest Iago is a phrase oft repeated in this play, but I didn’t realize that even dishonest Iago says it. That’s kind of funny. 

I caught Mojo in a sunbeam this morning.

Now here's a guy who is always honest and straightforward with me. Yes sir, with Mojo it's what you see is what you get.

 Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Anointed, I implore so much expense of thy royal sweet breath as will utter a brace of words.

Armado

Love’s Labour’s Lost             Act V, Scene ii, Line 519

Okay, no context today, mostly form. Well, a little context.

Today’s lines are preceded in the text by the stage direction Enter Armado, and immediately followed by the further stage direction Converses apart with the King, and delivers him a paper. So that whatever is going on, Armado enters and interrupts with Today’s Totally Random Line.

Having said that, it’s a pretty solid interruption. Honestly, he starts off with addressing the King as anointed. That’s pretty good. It seems appropriate when addressing a king, but it’s not one I’ve run into before, as far as I can remember. And then he implores the king. He doesn’t just ask, he implores. And what does he implore: the expense of thy royal sweet breath. Well as far as interruptions go, this is one sweet interruption.

We should all get this sort of treatment when being interrupted. I know that I would be much more willing to listen to anyone interrupting me if they started with anointed, I implore so much expense of thy sweet breath as will utter a brace of words. See, I took out the word royal (since I’m not a king) and it still sounds really great. This is one of those lines that I wish I could remember, but I know I never will.

Anointed, I implore so much expense of thy sweet breath as will utter a brace of words.

Zzzzzzz.

When this guy gets comfortable it doesn't matter how sweetly you put it. He's simply not going to have his nap interrupted. Period.