Grasping for the Wind

Happy B-day Mr. Shakespeare

Today in 1564 is a the accepted Birthdate of Mr. William Shakespeare. Grateful I am for his birth, for he created these favorite lines of mine from Much ado About Nothing.

BENEDICK
That a woman conceived me, I thank her; that she
brought me up, I likewise give her most humble
thanks: but that I will have a recheat winded in my
forehead, or hang my bugle in an invisible baldrick,
all women shall pardon me. Because I will not do
them the wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the
right to trust none; and the fine is, for the which
I may go the finer, I will live a bachelor.

DON PEDRO
I shall see thee, ere I die, look pale with love.

BENEDICK
With anger, with sickness, or with hunger, my lord,
not with love: prove that ever I lose more blood
with love than I will get again with drinking, pick
out mine eyes with a ballad-maker's pen and hang me
up at the door of a brothel-house for the sign of
blind Cupid.

DON PEDRO
Well, if ever thou dost fall from this faith, thou
wilt prove a notable argument.

BENEDICK
If I do, hang me in a bottle like a cat and shoot
at me; and he that hits me, let him be clapped on
the shoulder, and called Adam.

DON PEDRO
Well, as time shall try: 'In time the savage bull
doth bear the yoke.'

BENEDICK
The savage bull may; but if ever the sensible
Benedick bear it, pluck off the bull's horns and set
them in my forehead: and let me be vilely painted,
and in such great letters as they write 'Here is
good horse to hire,' let them signify under my sign
'Here you may see Benedick the married man.'

CLAUDIO
If this should ever happen, thou wouldst be horn-mad.

Posted by John on April 23, 2007 09:01 AM | Posted to Literature and Language
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