Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#67022 04/23/2002 8:06 PM
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
dxb
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
Today is the anniversary of Shakespeare's birth and death.

Today is also St George's day.


#67023 04/23/2002 8:29 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Dear dxb: Do you mean Shakespeare died on his birthday?


#67024 04/24/2002 12:25 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
dr. bill asks, Do you mean Shakespeare died on his birthday?

Yes -- to the extent the dates are known. http://shakespeare.about.com/library/faqs/blfaqsbirth.htm
It is spooky to me to realize that he died on this day at precisely my age this day.


bartleby's quotation-of-the-day, today, is this spring-thought from his pen:

Now ‘tis the spring, and weeds are shallow-rooted;
Suffer them now, and they’ll outgrow the garden,
And choke the herbs for want of husbandry.


-- Queen Margaret, in Henry VI, Part 2, act 3, sc. 1, l. 31-3.



#67025 04/24/2002 12:51 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 819
old hand
old hand
Offline
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 819
Samuel Clemmens (Mark Twain) was born in the year of Halley's comet, and died in the year of the next Halley's comet. What other famous anniversary coincidences might there be?


#67026 04/24/2002 2:01 AM
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 320
enthusiast
enthusiast
Offline
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 320
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the same day--a significant anniversary--July 4, 1826.


#67027 04/24/2002 3:09 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
Adams' last words were, "Thomas Jefferson still lives" -- he could not know that Jefferson had died a few hours earlier.


#67028 04/24/2002 4:06 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Dr Bill inquires: Do you mean Shakespeare died on his birthday?

Indeed... which makes his prolific output all the more wondersome since he lived less than 24 hours.


#67029 04/24/2002 4:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
died on his birthday

It should be noted that dxb's original post said nothing of the sort. What it said was that April 23rd was the anniversary of Shakespeare's birth and death.



#67030 04/24/2002 5:22 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
On which logic we must of course delete the entire birthday thread.


#67031 04/25/2002 6:40 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 170
member
member
Offline
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 170

#67032 04/25/2002 6:48 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
I think it appropriate that my virgin post here should be as provocative and disruptive as possible.
Well now, why would you think that, I wonder? I am posting to advise you that we have had more than enough of that recently. Though I applaud your topic as being appropriate, I question your stated motive. This is not an invitation to reply.

Edit--Note: I made this post, speaking as the Administrator.


#67033 04/25/2002 6:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
For those who embrace the copious evidence which supports Oxford as the writer, it may be interesting to note that his birthday is actually April 11th.

Which, quite significantly*is April Double Fools' Day, April Triple Fools' Day coming on July 10th. I've never had the stick-to-it-iveness to figure out when April Quadruple Fools' Day is.

*Or not, depending


#67034 04/25/2002 10:45 PM
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 477
hev Offline
addict
addict
Offline
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 477
Well, an interesting way to start SilkMuse, but WELCOME none-the-less...


#67035 04/25/2002 11:06 PM
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 688
addict
addict
Offline
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 688
Silk! I see you made it here! Welcome aBoard! Hope you enjoy posting here as much as I do.


#67036 04/26/2002 12:31 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
SilkMuse, if you really are a new person, then I bid you welcome. (Me, and the Administrator, too...)


#67037 04/26/2002 1:11 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
Now Jackie, that's hardly the warm welcome to a newcomer that's become your trademark.

The warmest of welcomes to you, silkmuse. Here's hoping you slide smoothly into our sweet company.


#67038 04/26/2002 1:12 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Imagination

Lovers and madmen have such seething brains,
Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend
More than cool reason ever comprehends.
The lunatic, the lover, and the poet
Are of imagination all compact:--
One sees more devils than vast hell can hold,--
That is the madman: the lover, all as frantic,
Sees Helen's beauty in a brow of Egypt:
The poet's eye, in a fine frenzy rolling,
Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven;
And, as imagination bodies forth
The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen
Turns them to shapes, and gives to airy nothing
A local habitation and a name.
Such tricks hath strong imagination,
That, if it would but apprehend some joy,
It comprehends some bringer of joy;
Or in the night, imaging some fear,
How easy is a bush supposed a bear!

from A Midsummer's Night's Dream, Wm Shakespeare? Francis Bacon? Edward DeVere? Christopher Marlowe?





The Only WO'N!

#67039 04/26/2002 7:45 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981
jmh Offline
Pooh-Bah
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981
>or the obviously well educated, well travelled and well-read man who is responsible for the plays which bear the name of Shakespeare

There is also the view that a collection of writers got together in the pub to write and whenever they thought that they'd turned out something decent they called it Shakespeare - that might well account for his inability to spell his own name consistently.

I also love Tom Stoppard's idea in the script of "Shakespeare in Love" that all his best plots came from Marlowe.

Will we ever know the truth? Whatever the answer, April 23rd is as good a day as any to celebrate the Bard - the Scots have Burns Night, so I think that we should have a big party every year, any excuse really.

By the way Maverick, do the Welsh have a special Dylan Thomas day?


#67040 04/26/2002 8:38 AM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
a special Dylan Thomas day?

yes - it's any day with a 'd' in the name




#67041 04/26/2002 8:47 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409

#67042 04/26/2002 12:37 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 170
member
member
Offline
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 170

#67043 04/26/2002 12:42 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
the suspicion with which a "newbie" might be greeted here

aptually® we have a long history of exceptionally welcoming and receptive attitudes on this board - you enter on the coat-tails of discord which has seemed at times to deliberately ferment such attitudes. So in the spirit of enquiring minds, I bid you welcome, draw up a seat and have fun!

yeah, right, that's what we need, another lawyer...



#67044 04/26/2002 1:24 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
I also love Tom Stoppard's idea in the script of "Shakespeare in Love" that all his best plots came from Marlowe.

I've seen it three times now and laughed just as hard the third time. "Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter."





The idiot also known as Capfka ...
#67045 04/26/2002 3:59 PM
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
dxb
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
If I take your point correctly, WO'N:
from A Midsummer's Night's Dream, Wm Shakespeare? Francis Bacon? Edward DeVere? Christopher Marlowe?,
I can only agree with you by saying - what's in a name? A rose by any other..........

dxb





#67046 04/26/2002 4:25 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
A rose by any other name would still have thorns.


#67047 04/26/2002 4:56 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
???? faldage? Non capisco.


#67048 04/27/2002 8:57 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
Pooh-Bah
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
May I add my, somewhat belated welcome to you, SilkMuse. May you spin us many an interesting yarn.

And how dare you suggest that our beloved Bill Shakespeare was anything other than our beloved Wm Shaksper.


#67049 04/27/2002 1:10 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Summary of Baconian Evidence for Shakespeare Authorship:

http://www.sirbacon.org/links/evidence.htm

There's also been some other discussion about all this here:

hhttp://wordsmith.org/board/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=words&Number=62240

The Only WO'N!

#67050 04/27/2002 1:31 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
A rose by any other name would still have thorns.

We can complain because rosebushes have thorns or rejoice because thornbushes have roses.



The Only WO'N!

#67051 04/27/2002 1:32 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
"deliberately ferment such attitudes."

Dear mav: to tease you gently,whouldn't this be in WW's thread about words that get confused?

ferment vs foment


#67052 04/27/2002 1:32 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 819
old hand
old hand
Offline
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 819
A rose by any other name would still have thorns.

Oh. I thought that ...A nose by any other name would smell a sweet.

I saw Bill Moyers' new PBS show last night wherein Herman Gollob, author of Me and Shakespeare, stated that the common theme of the tragedies was the conflict between ego and altruism. Using that idea, could a tragedy even be written today? IMHO, altruism has been murdered.


#67053 04/27/2002 3:42 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 170
member
member
Offline
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 170

#67054 04/27/2002 3:54 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Dear Geoff: though repeatedly violated, altruism is more widely practised than at any time in previous human history. It just hurts more because we notice selfishness more.


#67055 04/27/2002 5:31 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 170
member
member
Offline
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 170

#67056 04/27/2002 7:42 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 819
old hand
old hand
Offline
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 819
could a play be written today about dreams, since MacBeth murdered sleep?

Ohmygosh, I thought it was SHEEP, in keeping with Lady Mc's killing their dog ("Out, damn Spot!")


#67057 04/27/2002 7:59 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 819
old hand
old hand
Offline
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 819
Gollub's statement that "altruism vs. ego is a common theme of the tragedies of Shakespeare": this
seems an unsupported notion, given the tragedies themselves. Key, in point, are two of the most well-known:
Hamlet & Romeo&Juliet. IMHO, the only completely altruistic characters in these particular plays are,
respectively, Horatio and Benvolio - neither of whom is, unfortunately, actively involved in the conflict.


Don't these two stand as balance points, or sources of reason, somewhat like a Greek chorus, or Lear's fool? And the very name Benvolio seems to suggest altruistic behavior.

I'm not saying that I agree with Gollub, and your citations well refute what ws said in the short time allotted to him on TV - I just tossed it out as food for thought. As for altruism being dead, I did get hyperbolic, but the world seems so steeped in egoistic corporate power and the de-selfing of the common person (as seen in the term "consumer" usurping the place and implicit rights of "customer") that I go overboard with exaggeration at times.

As for your mentioning Arthur Miller's "All My Sons," I'm more worried about another "Crucible," wherein the righteous kill the right. Dr Bill, you lived through the time Miller wrote about in allegory. Do you not see parallels?



#67058 04/27/2002 9:59 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Dear mav: to tease you gently,whouldn't this be in WW's thread about words that get confused?

ferment vs foment


Well, Bill, you make an interesting point. But hang on a mo – just consider this definition of ‘foment’:

vt, to apply a warm lotion to; to foster or instigate (usually evil) – n fomentation the application of a warm lotion. […] to reduce inflammation and pain {from Latin fovere, to warm}

Instigating evil – yes, quite accurate; but reducing inflammation? I don’t think so! ;)

Now contrast it with this definition for ‘ferment’:

n a substance that excites fermentation; fermentation; agitation; tumult; vt to cause fermentation in; to work up, excite […] fermentation the act or process of fermenting; a slow decomposition process […] accompanied by evolution of heat and gas… {from Latin fervere to boil} (both definitions from Chambers Concise 1997)

Uh-huhhhhh – exciting tumult which results in slow decomposition accompanied by heat and gas – that does it for me



So how come ‘foment’ came to have the meaning of “instigating evil” attached to it, when otherwise it usually refers to a therapeutic poultice?



#67059 04/27/2002 10:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Dear mav: I can see we need not fear you fomenting a revolution.


#67060 04/27/2002 10:52 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 872
old hand
old hand
Offline
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 872
altruism is more widely practiced now than at any time in previous human history. - wwh

Hear, hear, Uncle Bill, so true, so true.

Now if we can only learn to properly integrate altruism with the purpose of our existence we will become a happy bunch.

- -


#67061 04/28/2002 1:42 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 170
member
member
Offline
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 170

Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2025 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0