Two Noble Kinsmen (Bard to the Bone #017)

Year written: 1613

Context of the writing (Shakespeare’s career, political events it was responding to): Definitely phoning it in. Working with a young guy called Fletcher. Basically  re-tread of Two Gentlemen of Verona, for better or worse.

Plot in a paragraph: Bezzies Arcite and Palamon are captured by king Theseus and fall in love at first sight with his sister-in-law Emilia. It ends in a duel to the death.  Er, that’s about it.

Things that worked well: Some of the language was fine. I guess.

Things that didn’t work well: The jailer’s daughter thing – gave me the ick.

Favourite character: Er, none of them, really

Words I learnt: 

ShakespearesWords.com

Word	Definition
Terrene	Terrene archaic of or like earth. “terrene dust”
Fescue	Fescue – [device for indicating letters to young readers] pointer, rod, stick
Cornett	Cornett – The cornett (Italian: cornetto, German: Zink) is a lip-reed wind instrument that dates from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods, popular from 1500 to 1650.[10]
Frampold	Frampold 1. obsolete : peevish, cross, vexatious, quarrelsome2 obsolete, of a horse : fiery, spirited
Dowsets	Dowsets variants or doucets archaic: the testes of a deer
Casque	Casque 1: a piece of armor for the head : helmet2: an anatomical structure (such as the horny outgrowth on the head of a cassowary) suggestive of a helmet
Friskin	Friskin – obsolete : a frisky action or person
Foison	Foison 1 archaic : rich harvest2 chiefly Scotland : physical energy or strength3 foisons plural, obsolete : resources
Calkin	Calkins- raised edge of a horse-shoe [which prevents the horse slipping]

Lines worth knowing: 

Act scene lines	Character	Lines	Comment
Act 1, scene 1, 231	Theseus	As we are men,Thus should we do; being sensually subdued,We lose our human title.
Act 1, scene 2, 9-10	Arcite	and to followThe common stream, ’twould bring us to an eddyWhere we should turn or drown;	Cf the king in Love’s Labour’s Lost
Act 1, scene 2	Palamon	I think the echoes of his shames have deafedThe ears of heav’nly justice. Widows’ criesDescend again into their throats and have notDue audience of the gods.
Act 1, scene 2	Arcite	Let th’ event,That never-erring arbitrator, tell us
Act 1, scene 3	Emilia	his sports,Though craving seriousness and skill, passed slightlyHis careless execution, where nor gainMade him regard, or loss consider, butPlaying one business in his hand, anotherDirecting in his head, his mind nurse equalTo these so diff’ring twins.
Act 1, scene 4	First queen	Heavens lend A thousand differing ways to one sure end.
Act 1 scene 4	Third queen	This world’s a city full of straying streets,And death’s the market-place where each one meets.
Act 2, scene 2	Palamon	I shall liveTo knock thy brains out with my shackles.
	Palamon	There’s many a man alive that hath outlivedThe love o’ th’ people; yea, i’ th’ selfsame stateStands many a father with his child. Some comfortWe have by so considering. We expire,And not without men’s pity. To live still,Have their good wishes; we preventThe loathsome misery of age, beguileThe gout and rheum that in lag hours attendFor gray approachers; we come towards the godsYoung and unwappered, not halting under crimesMany and stale. That sure shall please the godsSooner than such, to give us nectar with ’em,For we are more clear spirit
Act 5, scene 4	Pirithous	Yet is he living,But such a vessel ’tis that floats but forThe surge that next approaches

Marc’s entirely subjective verdict and score out of 5 bards (ymmv): xx

Will I be tracking down movies of this? : hell no.

How far would I travel to see a good production of this? I would not leave the house!

Limericks

Two kinsmen do fancy Emilia

“Hey lass will you give us a feel ‘o ya…”

They’re out of their gourds

And a dueling – with swords

Until Arcite’s as dead as Ophelia.

AND

Young Arcites and Pallie are tight

And in battle their swords have a bite

They’re captured and spot

Emilia – so hot!

Then a duel, and a horse – dead Arcite!

AND

The daughter (unnamed) of the jailer

Says “Pallie – you should nail her”

By “her”  I mean me

I helped you to get free!”

But Pallie’s desire is frailer…