(not including endless work on Froissart and fixing stuff and learning more tech stuff and typing. July 29, 2007. Tacitus' Germany, is finally proofed! Published in 1819, The Preface by W. Gunn to The Historia Brittonum Commonly Attributed to Nennius; From a Manuscript Lately Discovered in the Library of the Vatican Palace at Rome: edited in the Tenth Century by Mark the Hermit -- with absolutely fascinating notes on the history of the Vatican Library, the history of Punctuation, etc. is online. (partially proofed.) From A Book of Seventeenth Century Lyrics by Felix E. Schelling (1899), p. 126:
Now fie on love! it ill befits Or man or woman know it: Love was not meant for people in their wits, And they that fondly show it Betray their too much feathered brains, And shall have only Bedlam for their pains. To love is to distract my sleep, And waking to wear fetters; To love is but to go to school to weep; I 'll leave it to my betters. If single, love be such a curse, To marry is to make it ten times worse. From The New Pun Book, p. 123;
appeared to have only one arm; is that all he has?" SHE -- "Oh, no; the other arm was around somewhere." July 28, 2007. For Roger Pearse, I found another poem by Sir William Davenant, who lived during the Restoration period in England, modernized by A. H. Bullen:
And, climbing, shakes his dewy wings; He takes this window for the east, And to implore your light he sings; Awake, awake! the morn will never rise Till she can dress her beauty at your eyes. The merchant bows unto the seaman's star, The ploughman from the sun his season takes But still the lover wonders what they are Who look for day before his mistress wakes. Awake!, awake! break through your veils of lawn, Then draw your curtains and begin the dawn. Bullen has this to say about Davenant, in his Preface to Musa Proterva, Love-Poems of The Restoration, (privately printed) London: 1889, pp. ix-x:
1605, he had been a copious writer for the stage in the reign of Charles I. An ardent loyalist he had suffered some inconveniences -- in the way of imprisonment -- at the hands of the Parliamentarians. Much of his time was spent in France, where he had the misfortune to lose his nose. His briskness astonished younger men. "I found him," said Dryden, "of so quick a fancy that nothing was proposed to him on which he could not suddenly produce a thought extremely pleasant and surprising." On Restoration literature his influence was considerable." Also, after Charles the II was "Restored", Davenant and Killigrew both started theaters and were authorized to use women on the stage for the first time. July 27, 2007. Chapter II, with two excerpts from Ammianus Marcellinus on the Visigoth Invasion of Italy in the fourth century are online and proofed with an Introductory sketch from A Source Book of Mediæval History , edited by Frederic Austin Ogg. Proofed, even. Also, online Pan in Wall street, A. D. 1867, a poem by Edmund Clarence Stedman, from Half-Hours with the Best Humorous Authors, Volume II. From The New Pun Book, p. 142: THE WIFE (savagely) — Don't let me catch you flirting. THE HUSBAND (meekly) — No, dear, never again. That's the way you did catch me, you know! From Wit and Humor for Public Speakers, p. 321:
"Don't have to. I'm quittin' next Saturday." July 25, 2007. The Marriage of Baptiste, by Timothy Flint is online. Also online Book II of the Silvae of Statius, translated by D. A. Slater. The above are only partially proofed. And also online -- an interesting book, My Lady Pocahontas, Writ by Anas Todkill, with Notes by John Esten Cooke. This book is interesting because it appears to be a modernized primary source account. But this is controversial. According to a google search, the book was felt to be a hoax, passed off as a primary source account and is really romantic fiction by Cooke. Now Cooke wrote both novels and history. He is still considered an eminent Virginian historian. Whatever the truth may be, the story is a good one and is accurate in much of the details, with large chunks correctly quoting primary sources. As an intriguing glimpse of that first settlement and much that is certainly correct about Pokahontas, and John Smith, it is well worth reading. The fact that it was published by The Riverside Press, noted publishers of primary source material adds an element of verity. I have written the publishers to see if they have any knowledge of whether they printed it as fiction or as primary source, I don't really expect to hear, though. Interesting, too, is the fact that the Pocahontas Story regarding the rescue of Smith was disbelieved by his first American expert on his life, but believed by th first English expert on his life, Edward Arber. When I read this book and then did some research, then and only then, did I discover that the Pocahontas story is considered a myth by some! This book is finally proofed. I have yet to put in the marginal summaries though or the examples of the chapter decorations and number the footnotes. Can't have all my fun at once, can I? That reminds me, from The New Pun Book, p. 85:
She sang in plaintive key; And all the neighbors yelled, So are we ! so are we." From Wit and Humor for Public Speakers, p. 77;
The Toastmaster arose to introduce a prominent speaker, and said: "Gentlemen, you have just been giving your attention to a turkey stuffed with sage, and now you will please give your attention to a sage stuffed with turkey." July 24, 2007. Rest of Tacitus' Germany online. First part proofed (with help from Bill Thayer). Also online, two anonymous stories from Half-Hours with the Best Humorous Authors, Volume II: The Book-Canvasser, and The Merchant and the Book-Agent. From Wit and Humor for Public Speakers; p. 109:
Abbott: "A fool and his money are soon parted." Mrs. Abbott (joyfully): "Oh, John! You are so good! How much are you going to give me?" July 22, 2007. Tacitus' Germany is online elsewhere in English. A revised English translation from the Oxford translation of the text, because it comes with extensive, invaluable notes -- which are included -- might be welcome. The translation is so very readable, I have begun this version here. The translator/editor is not mentioned, but this book forms part of the Handy Literal Translations Series from the early 20th century. Along with this, part of the Silvae of Statius, the English translation in prose by D. A. Slater, is online. The selection is one of his pieces celebrating the recovery of Rutilius Gallicus, Prefect of Rome, from an illness, which contains a link to the part of Tacitus now up. Also the prose version of a description of the Baths of Claudius Etruscus, and one of the Emperor's Carnivals free food, fighting women and warring dwarves included!) Both partially proofed. And to connect with one more of the footnotes in Tacitus, from the eighth century A. D. -- A Letter by St. Boniface and other bishops, to King Aethelbald (Ethelbald), translated by Edward Kylie. Also from the Silvae of Statius, A poem on the occasion of the unveiling of a statue of Domitian and one on the marriage of his friend and poet Stella, to Violentilla. All these are partially proofed. From Wit and Humor for Public Speakers, p. 37:
Jean: "Why did you refuse Charley, if you really loved him, as you say?" Marie, sadly: "Well, you see, he said he couldn't live without me, and it aroused my curiosity." July 18, 2007. From Wit and Humor for Public Speakers, by Will H. Brown; p. 124;
Each member of the class in drawing was told to make a picture of a horse and wagon. The teacher, observing that one of the boys had stopped with a picture of the horse only, asked: "Harry, why don't you draw the wagon?" "I'm going to let the horse do that," he carelessly replied. July 15, 2007. My very favorite poem, the one that started me on the quest for humorous poetry is now re-found and online: Ballad, by Charles Godfrey Leland. It is a spoof in "dialect." Leland was also a friend of that dear, wise and funny man, Frederic Cozzens. Cozzens had a magazine called The Wine-Press and he included an essay by Leland in it, here. July 14, 2007. The tune to this Song is obvious, at first: My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean. In this, the chorus fits that tune but the verses after have an extra line -- make up your own melody for that one. As Nancy comments, it is "Do It Yourself' sort of music: Here's the best picture of the subject of the song (click on it to enlarge and she will look even better!):
par moi (A Ma.)
My angel now plays in cold seas, Too far to see, though I’m squinting, Oh, bring back my baby to me! Our mountains may be a lot older, And sagging with age, ... (like me). Our black bears are not quite so vicious; While snakes, mean as a grizzly, Can thrill her, if only she’ll see!
Blubber and Bubble Tea are lacking, Bugs right here, at least, are diverse. Boys? Just the same, all perverse. Bread now may not be as seedy, But, darling, our Nuts are no worse!
Soooooooooo………. Cast off the mud from your booties, Grab your pooch under your arm. Jump on the next Juneau ferry (I’ll steam the dang biscuits, my sweetie,) As you flit your way Eastward to me!
Note: "Blubber" refers to the fat of whales, which is still a staple (and taste treat to many) in parts of Alaska. A frozen cube of raw whale blubber was a snack that an Alaskan native, that I met 2 years ago, missed the most when she spent a few years in Connecticut. If they sold such chunks, would they be called "Fatsicles," do you think? "Bubble Tea" is a college-trendy non-alcoholic drink. Round pea-sized balls of tapioca are added to herbal teas and served with large straws. They are clear, so the tea looks like it has bubbles in it. Also, people eat the bubbles as they suck them up. The teas come in exotic flavors, but the bubbles taste like nothing and have the texture of gummi-worms. Besides Juneau, there's a cute little bistro in downtown Boston that sells bubble tea and their slogan is "Tea with Balls." They also warn you to suck responsibly, so you don't choke on the little blobs. The Liberty-Pole, by John Trumbull is an excerpt from his Revolutionary War epic satire, called McFingal, now online. (Finally proofed, too.) An interesting verse in a poem by Sir William Davenant (16th century):
Will hide her drowsy head, And, for the sport of kings, increase The number of the dead. The whole poem is found here at the bottom of the page. July 13, 2007. Online, Aunt Anniky's Teeth, by Katharine S. McDowell, from Half Hours with the Best Humorous Authors, Volume II (1889). From Wit and Humor for Public Speakers, p. 205:
"Congressman Fording, your constituents can not understand your speech on the Federal reserve banking system." "Good! It took me seven hours to write it that way." And a quote:
[Highlights from Archives] There once was a painter quite bold Who never did as she was told She steadied her ladder But it didn't matter, Now she is on the floor, out cold!
© May, 2007. Uh, oh! Straydoc is a little peeved, I see! Find out why here, it's pretty funny. Hopefully this will help change behaviors, as you laugh. Share the page with your friends and enough publicity could lead to a difference in abusive corporate business tactics. Go to the Archives for the chronological record of the additions for the past 2 years.
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