V 13 N. 94 You Thought You Were Done With English 201? Not Quite So

 Our recent posts using literary profundities went well with a number of our readers contributing their own prose and poetry to those of us who can still read and reflect.    This inspired me to look for more passages from the lad from Stratford Upon Avon and I found that young Will may well have competed  in Cross Country for the Stratford U. A.  Blunderbusses to be able to finesse his memories into his later work.   Here are some of his bits shown in bold type, followed by my humble interpretations.  George

These quotes are taken from  A-Z Quotes   https://www.azquotes.com/author/13382-William_Shakespeare/tag/running

                                                A Running Race in 16th Century Germany

Bid me run and I will strive with things impossible.    

Life's challenges are mind over matter, and like running, gives me cause to test my mettle.

The course of true love never did run smooth.     from  "Midsummer Night's Dream"

Only a person of experience could know this.  I've also known a few cross country courses that ran like true love.

Wisely and slow, they stumble that run fast.  Friar Laurence to Romeo.   Updated version:  Even pace, lad,  with this Juliette.  Too hard at the start and you will stumble over your cod piece.  Ah, a friar with life experience.  

A woman would run through fire and water for such a kind heart.   Mistress Quickly in "The Merry Wives of Windsor".   Act 3 Scene 4    Update:   A flame burns in me for her affection but I dare not say so in this time of political correctness.

The wildest hath not such a heart as you.  Run when you will, the story shall be changed,  Appllo flies, and Daphne holds the chase;  the dove pursues the griffin, the mild hind makes speed to catch the tiger, bootless speed, when cowardice pursues and valour flees.

You are the game changer on this day and my money is on you in the fifth race.  Don't worry about Appollo and Daphne, they are overtrained and their coach is an ass.  Small game such as the dove can often wear out a griffin, and the same for a fawn chasing a tiger.  Take off your shoes my man and don't worry about pre-meet rankings.  The Ducks arses will shrivel when they see what you have brought to the field today.

Be advised; Heat not the furnace for your foe so hot that it do singe yourself: we may outrun, By violent swiftness that which we run at, and lose by overrunning.  Know you not, the fire that mounts the liquor let run o'er, In seeming to augment it, wastes it?

Never but never overtrain for that seeming invincible foe, for you shall burn yourself out before the race begins.    It seems that Shakespeare's high school team may have had this problem as he repeats himself on occasion about going too hard and burning out or stumbling.  Maybe that is why he suggested going barefoot in one of the above passages.  And modern shoes were still six centuries away from development.

We may outrun by Violent swiftness but lose by overrunning.  

There again is that recurring theme.  Stay on our race plan at 72 seconds for the first two furlongs.  

If thou remember'st  not the the slightest folly that ever love did make thee run into , thou hast not loved.    from "As You Like It"  

We can't be crazy out there.  This ain't no county track meet.  Use your bleedin' heads and you are not going to the prom the night before the state meet.

Thou hast seen a farmer's dog bark at a beggar?  And the creature run from the cur?  There thou mightest behold the great image of authority - a dog's obeyed in office.   from "First Quarto of King Lear

This obviously is a metaphor for politics.   However the Bard recalls those long runs through the countryside on Sunday's when he should have been in chapel and thus equates a nasty dog with with a member of the local Stratford town council.

Time and the hour run through the roughest day.    

You got beat today, but it is a lesson to be learned for the next battle.  Be strong, my team, and say your prayers, for tomorrow is another day, and ye best be ready.  The clock will not slow down.

I will not trust you, nor longer stay in your curst company.  Your hands than mine are quicker for a fray,  My legs are longer, though to run away..

As we all know, "runners are guys with few options"*,  too small to play football, can't make the three pointer in basketball,  or  can't hit the curveball.  Therefore they are runners.   Our protagonist admits he is a wimp, but the bully will never be able to catch him.  He can run to save himself.   

* This idea is taken from Bill Schnier former coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Coward dogs must spend their mouths when what they seem to threaten runs far before them.

Again our author shows his experience with vicious dogs along the path of his long workouts.   They cannot outrun him, their barking mouths are spent in trying to catch him.  He shall prevail.

And so we leave you to contemplate the wisdom of 16th and early 17th century running.

The written test on this lesson will be next Tuesday.   No computers, compasses, or calculators will be permitted in the classroom,  only pencils and bluebooks.

You humble the rest of us with your erudition.  Paul O'Shea

I thought the wrath of Cain had descended on my head when three comments came in today from 

Peter , Paul , and John

George

George,

Thanks for service to those of us still coaching.  You’ve given us a great source for Coachly Inspiration.

Roy B.

Comments are getting a little out of hand so I'm taking some down.   ed.