'I'm always looking for the Hows and the Whys and the Whats,' said Muskrat, 'That is why I speak as I do. You've heard of Muskrat's Much-in-Little, of course?'
'No,' said the child. 'What is it?'
- The Mouse and his Child. Russell Hoban.

Go here to find out more.

Monday, 11 November 2019

Do not ...



Here's a choice. But very much N O T my own!
Having said that, it makes for a harder 'live'.


I'm reading 'Room With a View' and Lucy sings:

"Look not thou on beauty’s charming,
Sit thou still when kings are arming,
Taste not when the wine-cup glistens,
Speak not when the people listens,
Stop thine ear against the singer,
From the red gold keep thy finger;
Vacant heart and hand and eye,
Easy live and quiet die."

- Sir Walter Scott
from The Bride of Lammermoor.
It reminds me of Dylan Thomas : Do not Go Gentle ...

2 comments:

  1. I've never read 'Room With a View' although I've seen the film several times or more. I always recall the wistful tones with which Lucy sang "Easy live and quiet die." Quite the opposite, I thought, to DT's "Rage, rage against the dying of the light.".

    ReplyDelete
  2. Absolutely the opposite Geeb. Thomas is saying 'don't give up!' and Lucy (where she was at the time - muddled and fooling herself she didn't love George) is wanting to deny all feelings and risks and take on the 'quiet' life ironically propounded by Scott. At least, I believe him to be being ironical - stating what he doesn't believe. I also like the way the two clergy in the story, Mr Beebe and Mr Eager, represent the two views.

    ReplyDelete

Spam will go in the incinerator. All other comments are gratefully received. Communication is what makes the world go 'round.