QUOTES FROM THE BARD

The laws are mine, not thine.
Who can arraign me for ’t?

PLAY: King Lear ACT/SCENE: 5.3 SPEAKER: Goneril CONTEXT: ALBANY
Shut your mouth, dame,
Or with this paper shall I stop it.—Hold, sir,
Thou worse than any name, read thine own evil.—
(to Goneril) Nay, no tearing, lady. I perceive you know it.
GONERIL
Say, if I do? The laws are mine, not thine.
Who can arraign me for ’t? DUTCH: En wat dan nog? Ik ben de wet, niet jij.
Wie klaagt mij daarvoor aan?/
En wat dan nog! Mij is de wet, niet u.
Wie heeft de macht mij aan to klagen?
MORE: The sovereign could not be tried, having no equal
Cited in Shakespeare’s Legal Maxims (William Lowes Rushton)
Schmidt:
Evil=Moral offence, crime
Arraign=To summon before a court of justice
Compleat:
Arraign=Voor ‘t recht ontbieden; voor ‘t recht daagen Topics: law/legal, offence, justice, equality

Jesters do oft prove prophet

PLAY: King Lear
ACT/SCENE: 5.3
SPEAKER: Regan
CONTEXT:
ALBANY
That were the most if he should husband you.
REGAN
Jesters do oft prove prophets.
GONERIL
Holla, holla!
That eye that told you so looked but asquint.

DUTCH:
Een dwaas blijkt dikwijls een profeet. /
Spotters zijn vaak profeten.

MORE:
Proverb: Many a true word spoken in jest
Schmidt:
Jester=One who cracks jokes, a scoffer
Compleat:
To husband=To supply with a husband, to marry

Topics: language, proverbs and idioms, still in use

Mine enemy’s meanest dog,
Though he had bit me, should have stood
that night Against my fire.

PLAY: King Lear
ACT/SCENE: 4.7
SPEAKER: Cordelia
CONTEXT:
To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder
In the most terrible and nimble stroke
Of quick cross lightning? To watch—poor perdu!—
With this thin helm? Mine enemy’s meanest dog,
Though he had bit me, should have stood that night
Against my fire.

DUTCH:
De wolfshond van mijn vijand,
al had hij mij gebeten, had die nacht
tegen mijn haard gestaan./
Had de hond van mijn vijand mij gebeten,
Ik had hem bij mijn vuur een plaats gegeven
Dien nacht.

MORE:
Perdu= (1) Lost soul; (2) Sentry in an advanced and dangerous position

Topics: mercy, pity

Categories: , |

Take up, take up,
And follow me, that will to some provision
Give thee quick conduct.

PLAY: King Lear
ACT/SCENE: 3.6
SPEAKER: Gloucester
CONTEXT:
There is a litter ready. Lay him in ’t
And drive towards Dover, friend, where thou shalt meet
Both welcome and protection. Take up thy master.
If thou shouldst dally half an hour, his life,
With thine and all that offer to defend him,
Stand in assurèd loss. Take up, take up,
And follow me, that will to some provision
Give thee quick conduct.

DUTCH:
Als gij talmt
Al is ‘t maar een half uur, dan is zijn leven
En dat van u en elk, die hem terzij staat,
Verloren, redd’loos./
Als u een half uur talmt, vindt hij met u
en allen die bereid zijn hem te helpen,
zeker de dood.

MORE:
CITED IN US LAW: Re. the definition of “offer”: State v Ahlgren, , 158 Minn. 334, 197 N.W. 738 (1924)

Topics: cited in law, remedy, time

Categories: , , |

And from th’ extremest upward of thy head To the descent and dust below thy foot A most toad-spotted traitor.

PLAY: King Lear
ACT/SCENE: 5.3
SPEAKER: Edgar
CONTEXT:
Despite thy victor sword and fire-new fortune,
Thy valor and thy heart—thou art a traitor,
False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father,
Conspirant ‘gainst this high illustrious prince,
And from th’ extremest upward of thy head
To the descent and dust below thy foot
A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou “No,”
This sword, this arm, and my best spirits are bent
To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak,
Thou liest.

DUTCH:
Verrader van uw schedel tot aan ‘t stof,
Dat onder uwe voeten is, gevlekt
Gelijk de vuilste pad

MORE:
Proverb: From the crown of his head to the soul of his foot (c.1300)
Schmidt:
Fire-new=Brand new, freshly minted
Toad-spotted=Tainted and polluted with venom like the toad
Compleat:
Fire-new (brand new)=Vlinder nieuw
Spotted=Bevlekt, gevlakt

Topics: insult, truth, honesty, conspiracy

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