September 2004 The Shoreline Page 15
The Shakespeare in All of Us
By Dick Reeves
Few of us realize that we can scarcely speak three or
four sentences without, unknowingly, quoting the Great
Bard. When we say everyday things like “foregone
conclusion”, “better days”, “budge an inch”, “fair play”,
“the crack of doom”, or almost any other time-worn
cliche’ we are quoting the greatest wordsmith of all
time, William Shakespeare (1564-1616) au
thor of 36 plays, 154 sonnets and four long
poems.
So the next time you are at a bar or
cocktail party, you can surprise your
companions by saying something like,
“I’ll bet you don’t know where that
phrase you just uttered comes
from.” Even if the speaker guesses
Shakespeare, chances are that he
or she won’t be able to name the
play, to say nothing of the act /
and scene.
Here are a few you would
know had you paid greater at
tention in school.
Bated Breath - Shylock, “The Merchant of Venice”,
Act 1, Scene 3.
Be all and end all - Macbeth, “Macbeth”, Act 1,
Scene 7
Have seen better days - Duke Senior, “As you Like
it”. Act 2, Scene 7.
The better part of valor is discretion - Falstaff,
“Henry the Fourth”, Part 1, Act 5, Scene 4
Brevity is the soul of wit - Polonius, “Hamlet”, Act
2, Scene 2.
Budge an inch - Sly, “The Taming of the Shrew”,
Intro, Scene 1.
Good riddance -Patroclus, “Troilus and Cressida”,
Act 2, Scene 1.
The green-eyed monster - lago, “Othello”, Act 3,
Scene 3.
Hoist with his own petard - Hamlet, “Hamlet”,
Act 2, scene 4.
An itching palm - Cassius, “Julius Caesar”,
Act 4, Scene 3.
The milk of human kindness - Lady
Macbeth, “Macbeth”, Act 1, Scene 5.
One fell swoop - MacDuff,
“Macbeth”, Act 4, Scene 3.
What’s done is done - Lady
Macbeth, “Macbeth” Act 3, Scene 2.
Fair play- Bastard, “King John”,
Act 5, Scene 1. Flaming youth -
Hamlet, “Hamlet”, Act 3, Scene 4.
For goodness sake - Prologue,
Henry the Eighth”, Prologue 23-25.
Full circle - Edmund, “King Lear”,
Acts, Scene 3.
Wild goose chase - Mercurio, “Romeo and Juliet”,
Act 2, Scene 4.
All of the above phrases and many, many more are
from - “Brush up your Shakespeare" by Michael
Macrone, Grammercy Books, Copyright 1990 by Cader
Company, Inc.
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Chamber Music
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Join world-class musicians for Ijeautiful classical
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Tango!
Thursday. September 9.7:30 D.ni.
Masonic Theater
516 Hancock Street
Tango dancers & classic Tango music!
Literary Journey
Thursday. September 16.7:30 p.m.
Bank of the Arts
317 Middle Street
Music inspired by the words of
Shakespe^, Joyce, and others.
American Landscape
Saturday. September 11.8:00 p.m.
Open Rehearsal & Luncheon
Friday. September 17.10:00 a.m.
First Baptist Church
239 Middle Street
Copland, Gershwin and Others
Christ Episcopal Church
320 Pollock Street
Musicians prepare for the Gala Concert!
Festive Family Concert
Sunday. September 12.3:00 p.m.
NB-CC Public Library
400 Johnson Street - Free Admission
Special guest narrator
lor kids of all aget!
Gala Concert
Saturday. September 18.8:00 p.m.
Christ Episcopal Church
320 Pollock Street
The woi1(^remiere of North Carolina Songs
by Timothy Hoekman and more.
Tickets may be purchased at the Bank of the Arts.
Reservations and info by phone at 626-5419 or online at www.cccmf.org
The Coastal Carolina Music Festival
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