William Shakespeare – The first part of King Henry the Fourth

A black-and-white-and-black  play, that puts the rising brave warrior Hotspur against the libertine Prince of Wales, Henry. The latter being driven by vanity and passion.

Yet as the play progresses it seems like both are driven by the same vanity, just on different playing fields: one among thieves, the other among warriors.

Moreover, once the Prince is needed to defend his father’s crown against Hotspur, it is him who changes for the better, develops modesty and humility and thereby beats Hotspur not just physically but also from a moral point of view.

“Prince Henry:

… Thou art violently carried away from

Grace: there is a devil haunts thee, in the likeness

Of an old fat man, - a tun of man is thy com-

Panion. Why dost thou converse with that runk

Of humours, that bolting-hutch of beastliness, that

Swoll’n parcel of dropsies, that huge bombard of

Sack, that stuff cloakbag of guts, that troasted

Manningtree ox with the pudding in his belly,

That veverend vice, that gray iniquity, that father

Ruffian, that vanity in years? Wherein is he good,

But to taste sak and drink it? Wherein neat and

Cleanly, but to carve a capon and eat it? Wherein

Cunning but in craft? Wherein crafty, but in

Villainy? Wherein villainous, but in all things?

Wherein worthy, but in nothing?” (Shapespeare, 1993, p.431).

“King Henry:

By seeing seldom, I could not stir

But, like a comet, I was wonder’d at;

That men would tell their children, ‘This is he;’

(…)

Enfeoft himself to popularity;

That, being daily swallow’d by men’s eyes,

They surfeited with honey, and began

To loathe the taste of sweetness, whereof a little

More than a little is by much too much.

So, when he had occasion to be seen,

He was but as the cuckoo is in June,

Heard, not regarded.” (Shapespeare, 1993, p.435).

“Prince Henry:

And that shall be the day, whene’er lights,

That this same child of honour and renown,

This gallant Hotspur, this all-praised knight,

And your unthought of Harry, chance to meet.

For every honour sitting on his helm,

Would they were multitudes, and on my head

My shames redoubled! For the time will come,

That I shall make this northern youth exchange

His glorious deeds for my indignities.” (Shapespeare, 1993, p.436).

“Hotspur:

(…)

O gentlemen, the time of life is short to spend that shortness basely were too long,

If life did ride upon a dial’s point,

Still ending at the arrival of an hour.

If die, brave death, when princes die with us!” (Shapespeare, 1993, p.444).

“Hotspur:

… and here draw I

A sword, whose temper I intend to stain

With the best blood that I can meet withal

In the adventure of this perilous day!” (Shapespeare, 1993, p.444).

“Hotspur:

If I mistake not, thou art Harry Monmouth.

Prince Henry:

Thou speak’st as if I would deny my name.

Hotspur:

My name is Harry Percy.

Prince Henry.

                                                                 Why, then I see

A very valiant rebel of the name.

I am the Prince of Wales; and think not, Percy,

To hare with me in glory any more:

Two stars keep not their motion in one sphere;

Nor can one England brook a double reign,

Of Harry Percy and the Prince of Wales.

Hotspur: Nor shall it, Harr, for the hour is coe

To end the one of us; and would to God

Thy name in armswere now as great as mine!

Prince Henry:

I’ll make it greater ere I part from thee;

And all the budding honours on thy crest

I’ll crop, to make a garland for my head.” (Shapespeare, 1993, p.446).

Poems – Emily Dickinson 1993

“This is my letter to the World

That never wrote to Me –

The simple News that Nature told –

With tender Majesty” (Dickinson, 1993, p.17).

 “Those fair – fictitious People –

The Women . plucked away

From our familiar Lifetime –

The Men of Ivory –

(…)

Esteeming us – as Exile –

Themselves – admitted Home –

Through easy Miracle of Death –

The Way ourself, must come -“ (Dickinson, 1993, p.36).

“Your thoughts don’t have words every day.” (Dickinson, 1993, p.40).

“I dwell in Possibility – “ (Dickinson, 1993, p.41).

“He found my Being – set it up –

Adjusted it to place –

Then carved his name – upon it –

And bade it to the East

Be faithful – in his absence –

And he would come again –

With Equipage of Amber –

That time – to take it Home –“ (Dickinson, 1993, p.44).

“I started Early – Took my Dog –

And visited the Sea –

The Mermaids in the Basement

Came out to look at me –

And Frigates – in the Upper Floor

Extended Hempen Hands –

Presuming Me to be a Mouse –

Aground – upon the Sands –

But no Man moved Me – till the Tide

Went past my simple Shoe –

And past my Apron – and my Belt

And past my Bodice – too –“ (Dickinson, 1993, p.45).

“To be alive – is Power –

Existence – in itself –

Without a further function –

Omnipotence – Enough –

To be alive – and Will!

‘Tis able as a God –

The Maker – of Ourselves – be what –

Such being Finitude!” (Dickinson, 1993, p.57).

“A little Snow was here and there

Disseminated in her Hair –

Since she and I had met and played

Decade had gathered to Decade –

But Time had added not obtained. “ (Dickinson, 1993, p.77).

“Itself is all the like it has –“ (Dickinson, 1993, p.170).

“Because I could not stop for Death –

He kindly stopped for me –“ (Dickinson, 1993, p.201).

“All but Death, can be Adjusted –

Dynasties repaired –

Systems – settled in their Sockets –

Citadels – dissolved –

Wastes of Lives – resown with Colors

By succeeding springs –

Death – unto itself – Exception

Is exempt from Change –“ (Dickinson, 1993, p.208).

“Some, too fragile for winter winds

The thoughtful grave encloses –

Tenderly tucking them in frost

Before their feet are cold.” (Dickinson, 1993, p.222).

“I made my soul familiar – with her extremity –

That at the last, it should not be a novel Agony –

But she, and Death, acquainted –

Meet tranquilly, as friends –

Salute, and pass, without a Hint –

And there, the Matter ends – “ (Dickinson, 1993, p.224).

“It is an honorable Thought

And makes One lift One’s Hat

As one met sudden Gentlefolk

Upon a daily Street

That We’ve immortal Place

Though Pyramids decay

And Kingdoms, like the Orchard

Flit Russetly away.” (Dickinson, 1993, p.234).

“If my Bark sink

‘Tis to another sea –

Mortality’s Ground Floor

Is Immortality –“ (Dickinson, 1993, p.235).

“This World is not Conclusion.” (Dickinson, 1993, p.236).

“He scanned it – staggered –

Dropped the Loop

To Past or Period –

Caught helpless at a sense as if

His Mind were going blind –

Groped up to see if God was there –

Groped backward at Himself

Caressed a Trigger absently

And wandered out of Life.” (Dickinson, 1993, p.237).

“Parting is all we know of heaven,

And all we need of hell.” (Dickinson, 1993, p.241).

“Forever – is composed of Nows –

‘Tis not a different time – “ (Dickinson, 1993, p.242).

“Exultation is the going

Of an inland soul to sea,

Past the houses – past the headlands –

Into deep Eternity –

Bred as we, among the mountains,

Can the sailor understand

The divine intoxication

Of the first league out from land?” (Dickinson, 1993, p.245).

“Behind Me – dips Eternity –

Before Me – Immortality –

Myself – the Term between –

Death but the Drift of Eastern Gray,

Dissolving into Dawn away,

Before the West begin –

(…)

‘Tis Miracle before Me – then –

‘Tis Miracle behind – between –

A Crescent in the Sea – “ (Dickinson, 1993, p.247).

The merchant of Venice – Shakespeare 1994

I am not sure I get this play.

There is a tension as Shylock is asked to place mercy above justice, just so they condemn him, without mercy.

“Duke of Venice:

How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none?

Shylock:

What judgement shall I dread, doing no wrong?

You have among you many a purchased slave,

Which like your asses and your dogs and mules.

You use in abject and in slavish parts.

Because you bought them: -  shall I say to you,

Let them be free, marry them to your heirs?” (Shakespeare, 1994, p.407).

“Portia:

The quality of mercy is not strain’d –

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest, -

It blesseth him that gives , and him that takes:

(…)

That in the course of justice, none of us

Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;

And that same prayer doth teach us all to render

The deeds of mercy.” (Shakespeare, 1994, p.409).