Thou shalt have cause to fear before I leave thee.

-Walter Whitmore

King Henry the Sixth Part II      Act IV, Scene i, Line 118

So says Walter Whitmore to the Duke of Suffolk. And he’s right, because before the end of the scene he leaves and re-enters with Suffolk’s lifeless body. Simple as that.

It’s a little bit funny that this guy has a first and last name. He’s just one step above an anonymous henchman, and yet he’s got a full name. Walter Whitmore. Hmmm.

 

Here's a pic of a different Walter, a fellow I worked with. His name was Walter Frankenburger. Walt was a good guy, and he certainly never threatened me like Walter Whitmore apparently would have.

 

 

I am a rogue, if I were not at half-sword with a dozen of them two hours together. I have scaped by miracle. I am eight times thrust through the doublet, four through the hose; my buckler cut through and through; my sword hackt like a handsaw, --ecce signum!

-Sir John Falstaff

King Henry the Fourth Part I      Act II, Scene iv, Line 170

This is the beginning of Falstaff’s version of what happened during the robbery. Of course, it’s all rubbish, and Hal knows it’s rubbish, but Falstaff does not yet know that Hal knows. Ecce signum means (according to my notes) hold the sign. I’m not sure that Falstaff isn’t just using it as an exclamation.

Ecce signum!

Okay, they're not holding the sign, they're standing on either side of it. Just the same, remember, L'otters are not afraid!

 

Faith, that was not so well, yet would I knew

That stroke would prove the worst!

-Iago

Othello                    Act IV, Scene i, Line 273

Iago is working his evil magic on Lodovico, an uncle of Desdemona. They’ve witnessed Othello slap his wife and then storm off. Lodivico is now questioning the suitability of Othello to be the military leader. What, strike his wife!, he says, and Iago replies with today’s Totally Random line.

I was reading other parts of this scene to get some better context and I came across another line worth looking at. Lodovico remarks to Othello that Desdemona is weeping. He replies,

If that the earth could teem with woman’s tears,

Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile.

I didn’t know that Will was responsible for the term crocodile tears. Did you?

Well, I'm glad I saw that line, because it makes sense. There's no way this eye is going to be crying any tears. 

 

A pair of boots that have been candle-cases, one buckled, another laced;

-Biondello

The Taming of the Shrew      Act III, Scene ii, Line 45

Petruchio is on his way to Baptista’s house for his wedding day. Biondello has seen Petruchio on the way, and is giving a long and detailed description of Petruchio and his horse to Baptista. It seems that Petruchio and his horse are quite oddly appareled. Today’s Totally Random line is a small piece of the description. It’s twenty-two lines long and a bit long-story-short-Tonyish. It’s also chock full of antiquated terms and so a bit hard to understand. Apparently old boots that are no longer wearable are turned into receptacles for holding candles, so that the boots that Petruchio are wearing are mismatched and completely worn out. Everything that is described about him and his horse is a picture of… I can’t think of the word…decrepit? Slip-shod? Worn out? Stupid looking? I guess you’d have to read it (and you’d need the accompanying notes) to form your own opinion. 

So, for today’s pic, here’s the passage with the notes. You'll probably have to zoom in a bit on the pics, unless you've got superhuman vision.

This is the first part of it, starting with Why, Petruchio is coming in a new hat... and it's got the notes for this part in this same pic.

Here's the rest of the description, ending with pieced with pack thread.

And here's the notes to the second part. 

All set? Good!

 

                                          As I hope

For quiet days, fair issue and long life,

With such love as ‘tis now, the murkiest den,

The most opportune place, the strong’st suggestion

Our worser Genius can, shall never melt

Mine honor into lust, to take away

The edge of that day’s celebration

When I shall think: or Phoebus’ steeds are founder’d

Or Night kept chain’d below.

-Ferdinand

The Tempest                   Act III, Scene iv, Line 27

 

Okay, a bit long, and today’s line is not the clearest that we’ve come up with in the past six years, but let’s spend a few minutes with it. First, here's a little context.

Prospero has just told Ferdinand that he’s going to bless the union of Ferdinand and Miranda. He’s also told him there better not be any hanky panky before the wedding day. Today’s Totally Random lines are Ferd’s response to that.

Now, at first blush these lines appear to be a bit tough, but let’s take a closer look. And one other thing: where it says or Phoebus, substitute either Phoebus. I think that might make that last part a little more understandable.

Essentially Ferd is saying three things: 1. He’s hoping for a long, and prosperous life with Miranda, 2. Nothing will turn his honor to lust and so ruin the wedding day, 3. The day of the wedding will seem to last forever.

The first part’s easy; it’s the first line and a half. The second part’s also pretty easy, it goes from there up to that day’s celebration. The third part is harder. But if you understand that when he talks about Phoebus’s steed foundering and night chained below, he’s talking about that day lasting forever, and it begins to make sense.

Got it?

Now, this might be another case of you saying, ‘Well, Pete, what good is this stuff if it needs to be translated?’ If that’s what you think then I’m not sure what to say. Yeah, this is a bit of a tough line, but once you understand it, doesn’t it seem to be worth the effort? 

All I can say is that if you don't think it's worth the effort, then you’re missing out. I guess you’ll just have to trust me on that one. Try to think of me as your better Genius as opposed to your worse one.

Here's my pic for worser Genius. I think when Ferd talks about this he's talking about his bad angel as opposed to his good angel. Here you can see my bad angel in my left ear, and my good angel in my right. I used this pic once before, but I think it's perfect for today. 

 

Madam, an hour before the worshipt sun

Peer’d forth the golden window of the east,

A troubled mind drave me to walk abroad;

 

-Benvolio

 

Romeo And Juliet                   Act I Scene i, Line 117

 

What a lovely couple of lines. Benvolio is talking about an hour before dawn. Does he say ‘an hour before dawn?’ Of course not. He says ‘an hour before the worshipt sun peer’d forth the golden window of the east.’ 

Ah Will, you never cease to amaze, and I hope you never do.  

I'm not sure whether this sun is peering forth the golden window of the east, west, north, or south. My associate and I were in a very northern clime in August and the sun was shining almost twenty-four hours a day, so I'm just not sure what time of day this is, or what direction the camera is facing. But it's a nice pic, eh?

 

O father, what a hell of witchcraft lies

In the small orb of one particular tear!

  

A Lover’s Complaint                      Line 288

 

No play today, but a pretty good pair of lines, nonetheless. A Lover’s Complaint is a long poem Will wrote about a maid telling her tale to an old man about how she was seduced by ‘one by nature’s outwards so commended/That maidens’ eyes stuck over all his face:’ That’s right, a pretty boy. I’m not sure if she ever caught his name. Anyway, it was apparently the lad’s tears that convinced her of his sincerity, and won her over in the end. Now she’s lamenting that.

That should clarify what today’s Totally Random line is about. Now, don’t you agree that it’s a good line? I think it’s a really good line.

 O father, what a hell of witchcraft lies

In the small orb of one particular tear!

One tear!

No pic needed, eh?