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"Thou art come to answer
A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch,
Uncapable of pity, void and empty
From any dram of mercy."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Duke, in The Merchant of Venice, act 4, sc. 1, l. 3-6.
To Antonio, about Shylock; "answer" means defend yourself; "dram" means minute amount. |
"Do thou amend thy face, and I'll amend my life."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Falstaff, in Henry IV, Part 1, act 3, sc. 3, l. 24-5.
To Bardolph, whose nose is inflamed with drinking. |
"1st Guard. Is this well done?
Charmian. It is well done, and fitting for a princess
Descended of so many royal kings."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. First guard and Charmian, in Antony and Cleopatra, act 5, sc. 2, l. 325-7.
Caesar's guards find Cleopatra dead. |
"Gloucester. Is't not the King?
Lear. Ay, every inch a king!
When I do stare, see how the subject quakes!"
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Gloucester and Lear, in King Lear, act 4, sc. 6, l. 107. |
"Lay not that flattering unction to your soul,
That not your trespass but my madness speaks;
It will but skin and film the ulcerous place,
Whilst rank corruption, mining all within,
Infects unseen."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Hamlet, in Hamlet, act 3, sc. 4, l. 147-9.
To Gertrude, who thinks he is mad; "flattering unction" means soothing ointment of flattery. |
"But now he's gone, and my idolatrous fancy
Must sanctify his relics."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Helena, in All's Well That Ends Well, act 1, sc. 1, l. 97-8.
Love ("fancy") turns into quasi-religious worship. |
"I had rather hear a brazen canstick turned,
Or a dry wheel grate on the axle-tree,
And that would set my teeth nothing on edge,
Nothing so much as mincing poetry.
'Tis like the forced gait of a shuffling nag."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Hotspur, in Henry IV, Part 1, act 3, sc. 1, l. 129-33.
Hotspur, speaking in verse, dismisses poetry as affected or effeminate ("mincing"); "canstick" means candlestick; "turned" means on a lathe. |
"Jaques. Let's meet as little as we can.
Orlando. I do desire we may be better strangers."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Jaques and Orlando, in As You Like It, act 3, sc. 2, l. 257-8. |
"Fortune, good night; smile once more, turn thy wheel."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Kent, in King Lear, act 2, sc. 2, l. 173.
Recalling the proverbs, "Fortune's wheel is ever turning," and "Fortune can both smile and frown." |
"Will you vouchsafe to teach a soldier terms
Such as will enter at a lady's ear
And plead his love-suit to her gentle heart?"
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. King Henry, in Henry V, act 5, sc. 2, l. 99-101.
Having defeated the French, Henry tries to make love to Katherine, daughter of the French king. |
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William Shakespeare
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