Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

He knows me, as the blind man knows the cuckoo,

By the bad voice.

 

Portia

The Merchant of Venice   Act V, Scene i, Line 112

This, for our purposes (and for once), is pretty much a stand-alone line. We can simply read it and respond to it. I guess we could get the context and discuss it within that context. But today we have the choice of looking at the line without looking at the speaker or the situation. Let’s do that.

So, the cuckoo has a bad voice? In southern Africa there’s a bird they call the go-away bird because it has an annoying call, but I don’t think it’s the cuckoo.

Okay, I just googled it, and the African Grey Go-away bird is so named because of its call which sounds a bit like “go away”. So I guess that’s not really pertinent to our discussion of today's line, and therefore I should just delete what I’ve typed here? But if I do that, you’ll never know what I was thinking. Of course, if I don’t, then you can see the process of my thoughts on this writing. I think I should leave it.

Do you think a blind man (if this was written in Braille) would know me by the convoluted way of my thinking?

 

Yes! Just, yes. 

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

But, indeed, words are very rascals, since bonds disgraced them.

 

Clown

Twelfth Night; Or, What You Will   Act III, Scene i, Line 21

  

The explanation of what the clown is saying here is rather long, and a bit confusing. As such, I’m not sure it’s worth the trouble. And doesn’t that absolutely prove the first part of today’s line to be true: words are very rascals.

Indeed, words are very rascals, aren’t they? Words are what separate us from the beasts; they are an essential part of our humanness. But even so, with all our supposed human superiority, words can betray us, confound us, and deeply hurt us; whilst in the next breath the little rascals can also amuse, delight, and touch us to our very soul.

Words are indeed very rascals.  

And yet, there are those who don't need words at all to touch us to our very soul. 

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

By cock and pie, you shall not choose, sir: come, come.

 

Page

The Merry Wives of Windsor           Act I, Scene i, Line 289

 

Well, that’s a bit of an odd sounding line, isn’t it? Let’s see if we can get a little bit of context; just a wee bit.

Okay, I’ve got it. By cock and pie is just an innocent rustic oath, according to G. B. Harrison. It pretty much means nothing; like for goodness sake, or gee whiz. They’re trying to get Slender (yes, the guy Page is talking to is named Slender) to come in to have dinner with them, Slender says that he chooses not to, and Page responds with today's line. 

And that's about it.

So...no pie?

That's right, Mojo; no pie.

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

With this, there grows,

In my most ill-composed affection, such

A stanchless avarice, that, were I king,

I should cut off the nobles for their lands;

Desire his jewels, and this other’s house:

 

Malcolm

Macbeth             Act IV, Scene iii, Line 80

 

Malcolm, the true heir to the Scottish throne, and Macduff are in exile in England and talking with each other about the situation at home in Scotland. They started by talking about the tyrant Macbeth, but now Malcolm is trying to convince Macduff that he, Malcolm, would be an even worse leader than Macbeth. He’s only doing this to test Macduff and make sure that he is loyal and will help Malcolm to get rid of Macbeth.

Today’s lines are part of Malcolm describing what a bad king he would be; how he’d be so greedy that he’d be taking noble’s lands and riches from them. Macduff is not swayed by this and still wants to go and kill Macbeth, and help Malcolm become king. So he passes Malcolm’s test.

It’s kind of a stupid test if you ask me.

I agree: stupid test. You would never try to pull that malarky on me, would you?

No Mojo, I would never test you. 

Besides, I'm pretty sure you're malarky-proof.

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Pluck down benches.

 

Third Citizen

Julius Caesar            Act III, Scene ii, Line 263

 

What are they going to do with the benches? They’re going to start a fire. What are they going to do with the fire? They’re going to cremate the body of Julius Caesar. And then what? They’re going to burn the houses of the men who killed Caesar.

So whilst Pluck down benches may sound rather innocent, when put in the context of someone who’s part of a mob yelling it, it can take on a bit more gravity.

This, by the way, is the same crowd that listened to Brutus’s explanation of why he killed Caesar, and they were satisfied with that explanation. Then Brutus left and Mark Antony spoke and now they’re ready to pluck down benches and burn down Brutus.

Don’t you just love a good mob?

Should have had this guy in charge of crowd control. 

He knows how to handle a mob.

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

And me, my royal sovereign.

 

Sir Thomas Grey

King Henry the Fifth        Act II, Scene ii, Line 64

 

 

Sir Thomas Gray is one of three traitors who’s been found out and is about to be sentenced to death, but he does not yet realize that. King Henry asks who it is who had been promised a commission (apparently a commission is a good thing), and the three traitors are quick to say me, me, me, Sir Thomas being the last of the three to speak. So the king hands each a piece of paper which they each think is something good, only to find out that the pieces of paper are their death sentences for treason.

Oooh, Roasted! That should teach you not to be so fast with the me, me, me.

Okay, who would like some food from the table, instead of eating the dinner that was prepared for them?

Me! Me! Me, me, me!

Did he read any part of that post?

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Fool, fool, fool, I say,--

 

Malvolio

Twelfth Night            Act IV, Scene ii, Line 106

 

Malvolio is speaking to someone who is listed in the script as Clown. Malvolio is a character is this play who thinks of himself as quite proper: sort of like the type you would see being the head butler in an upper-class British household. 

So, given what Malvolio is, and given that the other fellow is listed as clown, today’s line seems about right.

Wouldn’t you agree?

Mojo had no comeback today. 

I couldn't tell if he was confused or ambivalent, but either way I've left him speechless for once.