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Many strokes, though with a little axe,
Hew down and fell the hardest-timber’d oak.

PLAY: King Henry VI Part 3
ACT/SCENE: 2.1
SPEAKER: Messenger
CONTEXT:
Environed he was with many foes,
And stood against them, as the hope of Troy
Against the Greeks that would have enter’d Troy.
But Hercules himself must yield to odds;
And many strokes, though with a little axe,
Hew down and fell the hardest-timber’d oak.
By many hands your father was subdued;
But only slaughter’d by the ireful arm
Of unrelenting Clifford and the queen,
Who crown’d the gracious duke in high despite,
Laugh’d in his face; and when with grief he wept,
The ruthless queen gave him to dry his cheeks
A napkin steeped in the harmless blood
Of sweet young Rutland, by rough Clifford slain:
And after many scorns, many foul taunts,
They took his head, and on the gates of York
They set the same; and there it doth remain,
The saddest spectacle that e’er I view’d.

DUTCH:
En, zij de bijl ook klein, een tal van slagen
Houwt om en velt den sterksten, hardsten eik.

MORE:

Proverb: Hercules himself cannot deal with two
Proverb: Many strokes fell great oaks

Environed=Surrounded
In high despite=Contemptuously
Yield to odds=Be outnumbered

Compleat:
Environed=Omringd, omcingeld
Despite=Spyt, versmaading

Topics: proverbs and idioms, invented or popularised, strength
Categories: , , |

To whom do lions cast their gentle looks?
Not to the beast that would usurp their den

PLAY: King Henry VI Part 3
ACT/SCENE: 2.2
SPEAKER: Clifford
CONTEXT:
My gracious liege, this too-much lenity
And harmful pity must be laid aside.
To whom do lions cast their gentle looks?
Not to the beast that would usurp their den.
Whose hand is that the forest bear doth lick?
Not his that spoils her young before her face.
Who ‘scapes the lurking serpent’s mortal sting?
Not he that sets his foot upon her back.
The smallest worm will turn being trodden on,
And doves will peck in safeguard of their brood.
Ambitious York doth level at thy crown,
Thou smiling while he knit his angry brows.

DUTCH:
Mijn hooge vorst, schud die te groote zachtheid,
Dit schaad’lijk medelijden van u af.
Wien werpen leeuwen zachte blikken toe?
Toch niet aan ‘t beest, dat in hun hol wil dringen.

MORE:

Proverb: Tread on a worm and it will turn

Lenity=Mildness
Spoils=Seizes, hunts
Level at=Is aiming for
In safeguard of=To protect

Compleat:
Lenity=Zachtheid, zoetelykheid, gedweegzaamheid, slapheid
To spoil=Bederven, vernielen, berooven
Safeguard=Beschutting, bescherming

Topics: pity, mercy, nature, ambition, strength

Categories: , , , , |

The smallest worm will turn being trodden on

PLAY: King Henry VI Part 3
ACT/SCENE: 2.2
SPEAKER: Clifford
CONTEXT:
My gracious liege, this too much lenity
And harmful pity must be laid aside.
To whom do lions cast their gentle looks?
Not to the beast that would usurp their den.
Whose hand is that the forest bear doth lick?
Not his that spoils her young before her face.
Who ‘scapes the lurking serpent’s mortal sting?
Not he that sets his foot upon her back.
The smallest worm will turn being trodden on,
And doves will peck in safeguard of their brood.

DUTCH:
De kleinste worm verheft, getrapt, den kop

MORE:

Proverb: Tread on a worm and it will turn

Lenity=Mildness
Spoils=Seizes, hunts
Level at=Is aiming for
In safeguard of=To protect

Compleat:
Lenity=Zachtheid, zoetelykheid, gedweegzaamheid, slapheid
To spoil=Bederven, vernielen, berooven
Safeguard=Beschutting, bescherming

Topics: pity, mercy, nature, ambition, strength

Categories: , , , , |

I think, by some odd gimmors or device Their arms are set like clocks, stiff to strike on

PLAY: King Henry VI Part 1
ACT/SCENE: 1.2
SPEAKER: Reignier
CONTEXT:
CHARLES
Let’s leave this town; for they are hare-brain’d slaves,
And hunger will enforce them to be more eager:
Of old I know them; rather with their teeth
The walls they’ll tear down than forsake the siege.
REIGNIER
I think, by some odd gimmors or device
Their arms are set like clocks, stiff to strike on;
Else ne’er could they hold out so as they do.
By my consent, we’ll even let them alone.
ALENCON
Be it so.

DUTCH:
Met raderwerk of koord zijn wis hun armen
Als bij een klok gemaakt, om steeds te slaan ,
Want anders hielden zij liet nooit zoo vol.
Laat hen met rust, zietdaar wat ik zou raden.

MORE:
Gimmors=A gimcrack, clockwork, a curious contrivance (also gimmer, gimmal)
Rascal=(a) wretch; (b) lean deer not worth hunting
Hare-brained=Reckless
Still=Continuously

Compleat:
Rascal=(a) Een schelm, guit, schobbejak, schurk,vlegel, schavuit; (b) (a rascal (lean) deer) Een mager Hert of Rhee
Harebrained=Dolkloppig, onbesuisd
A harebrained fury=Een onbesuisde woede, dolkoppige raazerny
Still=Steeds, gestadig, altyd

Topics: strength, loyalty

Categories: , |

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