A call for the diversions of Master Shakespeare

I do think we something of a diversion at court and my own preference is leading towards the work of dear Will Shakesperare.

Doth anyone have a favourite play they wudst have my royal players perform, or a favourite piece they wudst recite themselves? With my own occasional love of dressing up to escape my courtly duties and take other pleasures I doth find the whole idea of playing the life of another invented soul most delightful. Doth anyone have a favourite character they wudst like to discuss?

Alternatively I cudst just order him write us a new play to premiere at court if anyone hath any requests for a plot.

Antony and Cleopatra, a marvelous piece of work.

Indeed it is Lady Woodville. Though I have always had a great love of MacBeth my Lady

I do protest, that play always makes witches look so vulgar!

*smiles, blushing slightly* Well that is one fault of the work I must admitt.

I have always believed that witches would be amoung the most aluring and heartbreakingly beautiful creatures the ever grace this world

*flashes her a charming smile*

*blushes and looks down to the ground*

*smile broadens*

Shall I recite you something then ... ah I know the one ...

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this and this gives life to thee.

*blushes greater and eyes widen*
You read beautifully good Lorde.

I am glad to have pleased you My Lady

*blushes, his heart suddenly beating way too fast*

They are but pretty words that pale next to your vast beauty

Ah, that was most beautiful in both it's writing and recitation, I thank thee for thine good taste as always.

In thine company Sir Nicholas I can admit such horrors of bad beahaviour as the time I didst spit upon one of mine courters clothes because their choice of apparel didst so disgust me. Such a thing is most unladylike and unbefitting of mine place... but 'twas a truly vile outfit indeed!

I personally object to Macbeth for much the same reasons I feel my cousin Marie wudst adore it. It is full of rough, badly behaved Scots who know not manners nor their place. And it involves men taking a crown off it's rightful head by deceitful cruel murder insighted by a wicked female. I will not tolerate it in mine household.

Though how I didst laugh on my first viewing of it when the line "who is this bloody man before me" was spoken. Something about it didst tickle mine sense of humour greatly.

...I also have great wish part way through Romeo and Juliet to march upon the stage and knock their stupid infatuated heads together.

Sir Nicholas you have commited such a treachorous act! You have finally brought some Red to this silvery white rose of York! *laughs merrily* Shame on thee!

*laughs*

Shame on me indeed! But I simply can not help thine self my Lady Woodville, you effect me so.


So My Dear young Bess, then we shall lay MacBeth aside then I see. So then why not us take up Lady Woodville's most worthy suggestion ?

*wonders at her own capacity to always play the goosebury despite finding it always impossible to be left alone herself*

*quietly seats herself out of the way and opens her book of prayers looking for some diversion*

Why does my dear friend tuck herself away from us *smiles*

One for my Dear Elizabeth then ...

Who will believe my verse in time to come,
If it were fill'd with your most high deserts?
Though yet, heaven knows, it is but as a tomb
Which hides your life and shows not half your parts.
If I could write the beauty of your eyes
And in fresh numbers number all your graces,
The age to come would say 'This poet lies:
Such heavenly touches ne'er touch'd earthly faces.'
So should my papers yellow'd with their age
Be scorn'd like old men of less truth than tongue,
And your true rights be term'd a poet's rage
And stretched metre of an antique song:
But were some child of yours alive that time,
You should live twice; in it and in my rhyme.

I wudst find Antony and Cleopatra a great diversion indeed. I love the strength and captivating beauty that Celopatra was reported to have... though this is spoilt by the tradition that we must have a young boy play the part of Ceopatra. Twud be more convincing were the dazzling Lady Woodville to play the part of course.

I do suppose if we didst perform it in secret for our own diversions that no-one wudst know that women were scandalously taking part in a play. What dost thou think dear lady? I expect good sir Nicholas would be most entertained and wudst keep our little secret... and I for one am most excited at the prospect of being able to dress up and play the part of another.

Assuming thou art they only one in our presance capable of expressing the bewitching beauty of Cleopatra and that thou wudst choose Sir Nicholas as thine Antony I must consider what part to play myself.

*consults her copy of the play to think things over*

Another beautiful work Sir Nicholas, i'm sure our dear Lady Bess will be most pleased.
I am glad you like that play Elizabeth, I would gladly play Cleopatra and would just as gladly have Nicholas as my Antony, however I doubt that will impress our dear Marie much..

A masterful choice of words Sir Nicholas... though the intent behind Will's final marriage sonnet wudst of course leave a bitter taste in mine mouth were it issued by one of mine ministers.

Well unimpressed she will have to be ... she has laid no claim to me

I can see no other play Cleopatra and I would find it my honor and my pleasure to be your Antony

Marie wudst play up anyway were she not given starring role, and I do not think her able to carry off the calm, calculating intelligence of Queen Cleopatra.

Indeed they would be bitter, I do hope I have not saddened thy with my prose and that you accept the words in the way in which I intended

Such words from your lips my lord shall always be taken well. I realise that you know me too well to use the words of Master Shakespeare for any other purpose but to entertain.

Then Cleopatra and Antony we shall be!

Indeed we shall *smiles broadly*

Hmmm, I am still at odds over what part to play. I am torn between playing the role of a rather curiously dressed and melodrapatic soothsayer or perhaps the role of some strong roman man who wudst slice his enemies up with his sword!

*giggles with glee*

I expect Marie wudst be good as the great Caesar.