Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Speak thou for me, and tell them what I did.

[Throwing down the Duke of Somerset’s head]

 

Richard

King Henry the Sixth Part III    Act I Scene i, Line 16

I included the stage direction with today’s line because I thought it would spice up Today’s Totally Random Line which was, otherwise, a bit boring. Also, it gives us a pretty good idea what Richard did, without getting into a lot of context.

“Tell ‘em what I did,” he said, tossing the severed head of Somerset to the ground at their feet.

  “Well it seems pretty obvious what you did, Dick, unless you’ve got something more interesting to tell us about; more interesting than having cut off Somerset’s head?”

Severed Head? 

 

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Why, he hackt at it with his dagger; and said he would swear truth out of England, but he would make you believe it was done in fight; and persuaded us to do the like.

 

Peto

King Henry the Fourth Part I    Act II Scene iv, Line 312

Falstaff has just told Prince Hal the story of how he, Falstaff, and his friends fought off eleven attackers. Hal knows the story is a complete fabrication, so he asks Peto, one of Falstaff’s fellows, how Falstaff’s sword got so hacked up. And that’s what Peto’s talking about above. So basically, Falstaff made up a story and then nicked up his sword to make it look like he really had been in a fight. And he had his buddies do the same. That is classic Falstaff.

A little bit about Sir John Falstaff. This is one of Shakespeare’s most well known, and well loved characters. Oddly, he is little known to the world outside of Shakespereans (for lack of a better word). Whilst the character of Hamlet has the most lines of anyone in one play, Falstaff has the most lines in all of Shakespeare’s works because he appears in three plays.

Falstaff is a common man. He is a glutton, a heavy drinker, a jokester, and a con man. He steals almost any scene he appears in, and is a big crowd favorite. Maybe you can think of a Falstaff in your life. Most of us have one.

 

 

We've got this guy; he’s jokester, a scene stealer, and definitely a con man.

That’s right 'Falstaff', I knew all along that wasn’t a ‘cigarillo.’ I know a treat when I see one. Not looking for a light today, are we?

 

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

This should be the same voice of Friar John.—

Welcome from Mantua: what says Romeo?

Or, if his mind be writ, give me the letter.

 

Friar Laurence

Romeo and Juliet    Act V Scene ii, Line 2

And here comes the part that makes this play a tragedy. Or maybe it should be called The Comedy Of The Friars?

In any event, recall that Romeo’s been banished, and Friar Knucklehead Laurence has concocted a plan whereby Juliet fakes her death with a sleeping potion, and then Romeo will come back and meet her at the graveyard and they can run away together. So the Friar sends a message to Romeo in Mantua via Knucklehead # 2 (aka Friar John) to let Romeo in on the plan. Now Knucklehead #2 is back and Knucklehead # 1 is looking for Romeo’s response. But, uh oh, now what? Did you deliver the letter to Romeo, Friar John?

        Going to find a barefoot brother out,

One of our order, to associate me,

Here in this city visiting the sick,

And finding him, the searchers of the town,

Where the infectious pestilence did reign,

Seal’d up the doors, and would not let us forth;

So that my speed to Mantua there was stayed.

Long story short, Tony, long story short. What happened to the letter?

I could not send it,- here it is again,-

Nor get a messenger to bring it to thee,

So fearful were thy of infection.

Oh, you gotta be kidding me. So this guy had one job in this play: get the message to Romeo. Well, here comes the tragedy: Romeo doesn't get the message from Friar Laurence (or John), but he does get the public news that Juliet is dead. So he’ll show up at the graveyard, where she hasn’t woken up yet, thinking she’s really dead, and… well, you know the rest.

Gotta love those Friars. 

 

 I think you're being a little unfair to the friars, Mr. Blagys. They clearly did the best they could. Sort of like you automatically assumed it was my fault for chewing on your shoe laces when the lace broke.

Oh, for cryin' out loud Mojo, you know you chewed that lace!