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William Shakespeare
by RS  admin@creationpie.com : 1024 x 640


1. William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare (English writer and actor)

2. Ravages of time
The works of Shakespeare (1564-1616) are full of funny allusions and puns and play on words and meanings. However, these do not come through in modern English. Those subtle remarks and allusions, etc., have to most people been lost to the ravages of time.

Some works of Shakespeare
Comedy of Errors Romeo and Juliet Merry Wives of Windsor
Julius Caesar Phoenix and Turtle Much Ado About Nothing
Macbeth Merchant of Venice Midsummer Night's Dream

3. Welkins
The word "welkin" is used numerous times by Shakespeare. In English, the word "cloud" eventually replaced "welkin".
The German word "die Wolke""the cloud" is related to the Old English word "wolcne""cloud" and the Old English word "welcan""cloud" which is the source of "welkin" as used by Wesley.

4. The world as a stage
Verse routeLuke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. [kjv]

It appears that everyone has a role to play, as an actor in a play. Some have big parts, some have small parts. Some have (worldly) successful parts, some have (worldly) painful parts.

5. The world as a stage
This brings to mind the poem of Shakespeare entitled "All the world's a stage" (from "As You Like It").

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
...

6. Luke 12:48

   Luke 12:48 
 All 
KJV: But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Greek: ο δε μη γνους ποιησας δε αξια πληγων δαρησεται ολιγας παντι δε ω εδοθη πολυ πολυ ζητηθησεται παρ αυτου και ω παρεθεντο πολυ περισσοτερον αιτησουσιν αυτον

7. Follow-on
The follow-on is less well known.
... His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant, Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms. Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school. And then the lover, Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier, Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard, Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel, Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice, In fair round belly with good capon lined, With eyes severe and beard of formal cut, Full of wise saws and modern instances; And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts Into the lean and slippered pantaloon, With spectacles on nose and pouch on side; His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice, Turning again toward childish treble, pipes And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all, That ends this strange eventful history, Is second childishness and mere oblivion, Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.


8. Riddle of the Sphinx
An older version of this theme is the riddle of the Sphinx. The Great Sphinx of Giza is a famous landmark in Egypt.

The riddle is something like the following, the original being lost to time. Oedipus solved the riddle. The Greek sphinx had a different appearance.

The second riddle goes as follows.

9. End of page

by RS  admin@creationpie.com : 1024 x 640