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I can think of a couple immediately – Edgar’s description of his father’s ‘fall’ from ‘Dover Cliffs’ in King Lear, and there is something in a speech by the Friar in Romeo and Juliet though I cannot bring it properly to mind (something like “gossamer that idles in the summer air”?)…
Are these the ones you are referring to, or are there others?
Well, this database certainly returns only two hits, and (as you say) no pairing with wings…
http://www.gh.cs.usyd.edu.au/~matty/Shakespeare/test.html
Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 6
FRIAR LAURENCE These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume: the sweetest honey
Is loathsome in his own deliciousness
And in the taste confounds the appetite:
Therefore love moderately; long love doth so;
Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.
[Enter JULIET]
Here comes the lady: O, so light a foot
Will ne'er wear out the everlasting flint:
A lover may bestride the gossamer
That idles in the wanton summer air,
And yet not fall; so light is vanity.
King Lear, Act 4, Scene 6
EDGAR Hadst thou been aught but gossamer, feathers, air,
So many fathom down precipitating,
Thou'dst shiver'd like an egg: but thou dost breathe;
Hast heavy substance; bleed'st not; speak'st; art sound.
Ten masts at each make not the altitude
Which thou hast perpendicularly fell:
Thy life's a miracle. Speak yet again.
You're 100% right and pretty darn good to recognize them off the top of your head. Better than me. I only found them with a search engine.
Well, I'd say I know Lear extremely well, but the R&J was more by good luck than judgement! It so happened I was leafing through it recently becuase my poor kids are being tortured with it by Holofernes... ;)
I must say, I thought you might well be right about gossamer wings - I believed there was some reference in a poem (other than the dramas) but!
but then, John, maths would be your strong point, wouldn't it?
i have a childrens Math book that has instructions for making set of Napier's Bones, using card stock, not ivory.
using card stock
Ivory'll one at home :p :)
and who's John, hmmmmm?
who knew? they're also butterflies http://makeashorterlink.com/?N20812351 or http://www.ecofloridamag.com/archived/florida_butterflies.htm and a role playing game (not a fan myself) and a band and a picture and so many things, still can't find the first reference though
I'd have sworn there were gossamer wings in Midsummer Night's Dream.
Mav, John Napier, mathmatician = Napier's Bones.. (could be Napier ghost or spirit..) but most definately = John, wouldn't you think? In anycase, he is now..
Anyone remember the Gossamer Albatross?
wasn't that the human powered plane that attemped to cross the english channel?
made of carbon fiber and saran wrap as i recall? and power by a very strong cyclist!
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