[Romantic Old Bird]

William Shakespeare was born on this day in 1564

I think he deserves a mention.........



"Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none."
-- "All's Well That Ends Well" Act i, Sc.2

"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."
-- "Twelfth Night" Act ii, Sc.5

"Kindness, nobler ever than revenge."
-- "As You Like It" Act iv, Sc.3

"The course of true love never did run smooth."
-- "Midsummer Night Dream" Act i, Sc.1

"'Tis better to be brief than tedious."
-- "Richard III" Act i, Sc.4

"Have more than though showest; speak less than thou knowest; lend less than thou owest."
-- "King Lear" Act i, Sc.4

[Sticks]

The problem is that there is little credible evidence that William Shakespere existed.

His name was never spelled the same more than once.

There is a case that his plays, which required greater knowledge than he allegedly had, were actually written by the Earl of Oxford.

See this link

See also this link

[BusyBee]

Trust you to be the oracle of all knowledge ROB.

When I was at school I had to learn the whole of Henry V's speech which starts

'Once more unto the breach dear friends once more or close the wall up with our English Dead

In peace there's nothing so becomes a man than modest stillness and humility."

Can still remember the thing from beginning to end.

I must say I've only realised how fantastic the Shakespeare plays are as I've grown older. I love Romeo and Juliet (obvious that) plus Midsummer Nights Dream.

[peachy]

Here is old Will. Happy Birthday to you,old bean.

Sticks, he did exist. All that tosh about him being an aristo, is just snobbery because academics in the past could not believe that anyone without a university education could have written such fantastic plays. When I saw Shakespeare's signature on a First Folio of Hamlet in the British Museum, it gave me a real thrill.

[Mairi]

My favourite Shakespeare play is "The Scottish Play" but I also have a soft spot for "The Merchant Of Venice" which I read in school at the age of 14.

This is my favourite monologue from the play:

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: 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes the throned monarch better than his crown; His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, the attribute to awe and majesty, wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; but mercy is above this sceptred sway; it is enthroned in the hearts of kings, it is an attribute to God himself; and earthly power doth then show likest God's when mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, though justice be thy plea, consider this, 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. I have spoke thus much to mitigate the justice of thy plea; which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.

Happy Birthday, William

[sweetlittlesara]

My favourite Shakespeare play is "The Scottish Play"

grrr dont remind me, i have JUST finished a coursework essay on the banquet scene. Thank you Shakespeare

[steve_o]

Happy Birthday Will, not that I'm bothered but it's another post on the count.

[Romantic Old Bird]

quote:
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Originally posted by steve_o
Happy Birthday Will, not that I'm bothered but it's another post on the count.


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Methinks thou hast a sharp tongue and a tardy wit.

Beshrew thee for a knave


Anyway............it's all good stuff..........

[steve_o]

Good ole Will, draw thy tool. that always had me rolling about in class, the naughty man.