July 25th, 2018 → 5:21 am
“This nurse, this teeming womb of royal kings,
Feared by their breed and famous for their birth,
Renowned for their deeds as far from home
For Christian service and true chivalry
As is the sepulcher in stubborn Jewry
Of the world’s ransom, blessed Mary’s son.
This land of such dear souls, this dear, dear land,
Dear for her reputation through the world,
Is now leased out – I die pronouncing it –
Like to a tenement or pelting farm.
England, bound in with the triumphant sea,
Whose rocky shore beats back the envious siege
Of watery Neptune, is now bound in with shame,
With inky blots and rotten parchment bonds.
That England that was wont to conquer others
Hath made a shameful conquest of itself.” — Richard II
This is the second half of the description of England in Richard II, and it is rank with anti-Semitism, disappointment, and contempt. England is great and blessed, feared and exalted, but also, in hock, prejudiced, and shameful. We all have two sides. Good and bad, ying and yang. England does too. Heck, Shakespeare himself did. We all do. It behooves us to face this truth sometimes, and not be selective about it.
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art & Politics/Politicians
July 23rd, 2018 → 6:19 am
“This royal throne of kings, this sceptered isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for her self
Against infection and the hand of war.
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in a silver sea
Which serves it in the office of a wall
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.” — Richard II
I just finished watching Season 2 of The Crown. It ends with this famous quote describing England. And most commentators that use the quote today end it there. But the passage itself in Richard II does not end there. It continues along a darker vein. Presenting only the first half of this description is selective, inappropriate even, as it presents only a shining image of England. But – like most things in life – there is another side. I’ll quote that other side in my next post…
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art & Politics/Politicians
July 13th, 2018 → 6:11 am
“Keep thy friend
Under thy own life’s key.” – All’s Well That Ends Well
In this time of increasing transatlantic tensions, I thought I’d offer a quote that reminds us to value our friendships.
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians
March 25th, 2018 → 6:24 am
“Prevent it, resist it, let it not be so.” – Richard II
I am so proud of our youth today. They are strong, they are intelligent, and they are not giving up. They are exactly what this country needs.
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians
October 4th, 2017 → 6:34 am
“Noble friends,
That which combined us was most great, and let not
A leaner action rend us. What’s amiss,
May it be gently heard. When we debate
Our trivial difference loud, we do commit
Murder in healing wounds.” – Antony and Cleopatra
First, yes, I am reading Antony and Cleopatra right now, which is why all my quotes lately are coming from this one play. Second, this quote could apply to Democrats and the fight between moderates and more left-leaning liberals. Or, this quote could apply to Republicans and the internal divisions therein. Come to think of it, this quote could apply to Spain and the Catalonia referendum. Wherever one looks, there is division and in-fighting at the moment!
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians
November 22nd, 2016 → 6:55 am
“Presume not that I am the thing I was;
For God doth know, so shall the world perceive,
That I have turn’d away my former self;
So will I those that kept me company.” – Henry IV, Part II
I just re-watched Henry IV Parts I and II, of the amazing Hollow Crown series. In this set of plays we watch the future Henry V go from being a brash, licentious, dissolute youth, to a king who renounces his former ways and his former lowlife companions to become a better person. The plays end with the newly crowned King Henry V stating that he is a changed man, a better man, and that he will put from him the delinquent acquaintances of his youth. Wouldn’t it be nice if Trump did the same thing? Now that he is President-Elect, disavow his former scandalous self and his former villainous friends and become a more honest person. I’m pretty sure it won’t happen, but, wouldn’t it be nice?
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians & Stupid/Evil People
November 17th, 2016 → 5:34 am
“Truth shall nurse her,
Holy and heavenly thoughts still counsel her;
She shall be loved and feared.” – Henry VIII
Shakespeare wrote this about the first Queen Elizabeth, of course, but I’ll project it onto the second. Just watched Netflix’s new series The Crown and found it both interesting and entertaining. We all have such varied, difficult, and surprising lives to lead, royalty included.
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art & Politics/Politicians
November 8th, 2016 → 5:42 am
“Let time shape, and there an end.” – Henry IV
It took a long time, but the end of this U.S. presidential election is finally upon us. I will not be able to get any work done today – at all.
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians
July 26th, 2016 → 5:23 am
“Good wine is a good familiar creature,
if it be well used: exclaim no more against it.” – Othello
Going into the second week of convention politics, where is my glass of wine??
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians
July 17th, 2016 → 9:45 am
“Over thy wounds now do I prophesy…
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;
Domestic fury and fierce civil strife
Shall cumber all the parts of [Turkey];
Blood and destruction shall be so in use,
And dreadful objects so familiar,
That mothers shall but smile when they behold
Their infants quartered with the hands of war,
All pity choked with custom of fell deeds;
And [Erdogan’s] spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines with a monarch’s voice
Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war.” – Julius Caesar
Hopefully recent events in Turkey won’t turn into all out civil war, but I do fear Erdogan, and his spirit for hot revenge.
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians & Stupid/Evil People