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Saturday 23 April 2016

William Shakespeare: a rave.

Yes, today is the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death.

If you want to celebrate his life and work with laughter, love, by swimming in the tides of the universe, or by getting drunk, then all you have to do is read his words.

(Yes, it's easily possibly to get drunk on words: though I suppose some people may frown upon it as a form of tax evasion.)

As any words of mine are ridiculous and futile when you can have Shakespeare's, here are some of his (but which words? How is it possible to choose?)

Well, here are some from The Winter's Tale, though they happen to be not about winter at all:

                                                         daffodils
That come before the swallow dares, and take
The winds of March with beauty; violets dim,
But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes
Or Cytherea's breath; pale prime-roses,
That die unmarried, ere they can behold
Bright Phoebus in his strength, - a malady
Most incident to maids; bold oxlips and
The crown imperial; lilies of all kinds,
The flower-de-luce being one. Oh, these I lack
To make you garlands of, and my sweet friend
To strew him o'er and o'er

These, as it happens, aren't words full of philosophy, but they do what Shakespeare does better, far better than anyone else.

They make of the whole earth a treasure chest.

Words To Use Today: some of Shakespeare's. If you're stuck, then cream-faced loon from Macbeth is very satisfying to say.






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