Queen Henrietta Maria: "The Queen's Letter"-BA 371
Full Context: "Sir, I am and always shall be your most dutiful wife and liege woman."
Men and women are so different now than they were then. She signs her letter as the King's dutiful wife. What's that? I think of it as her being busy doing business for the King like securing weapons and funds for his war.
In the last part of the signature, she claims she is the King's liege woman. Through this statement, she claims she is not only working hard to complete him (do what he cannot), but she is also very loyal to him.
Just a thought: I know marriages then were not perfect, but what if men and women today practiced the same sort of encouragement, loyalty, dutifulness, etc. to their spouse as she writes about in her letter? I think it would make his/her significant other feel better (rest easier) to know that they are important to the one they love (or are attached to somehow).
Thursday, February 12, 2009
"Honourable Justice"
Queen Henrieta Maria: "The Queen's Letter"-BA 371
Full Context: "promoting and assisting your Majesty's cause and actions, which are so full of honourable justice"
I got really confused while reading the phrase, "honourable justice." What the heck does she mean by this? I looked up justice on the Merriam Webster's Online Dictionary/Thesaurus, and it gave me words like righteousness, honor, and virtue. If justice is already honorable, then why did she have to say it before justice as if to describe what kind of justice it is?
It looks like (to me) that he thought he was being just because he was king...maybe he wasn't though. She, being the supportive wife, just reassures him that everything is fine. She wants him to know that his planned intentions (justices) are fair and virtuous...even if they weren't.
Full Context: "promoting and assisting your Majesty's cause and actions, which are so full of honourable justice"
I got really confused while reading the phrase, "honourable justice." What the heck does she mean by this? I looked up justice on the Merriam Webster's Online Dictionary/Thesaurus, and it gave me words like righteousness, honor, and virtue. If justice is already honorable, then why did she have to say it before justice as if to describe what kind of justice it is?
It looks like (to me) that he thought he was being just because he was king...maybe he wasn't though. She, being the supportive wife, just reassures him that everything is fine. She wants him to know that his planned intentions (justices) are fair and virtuous...even if they weren't.
"Bedlam" and "Punk"
Again, Nicholas Breton: "An Atheist or Most Bad Man"-BA 15
"Bedlam" and "Punk"
These two words will be talked about separately, but were close together in the work; therefore, I've decided to put them in this one common place.
1.) Bedlam-In the beginning of his characterization of an atheist, he compares this bad man to a bedlam. After checking out the footnote, I learned that the OED says it means the same as madman. Breton says this man, "in passion a bedlam." So, in any kind of excitement, frustration, or any emotion, this man forgets who he is and becomes a madman or just someone who acts totally crazy.
2.) Punk-As I continued to read about the atheist's character, I found that Breton uses the word "punk." When I saw this, I thought of a naive, young brat that insists on doing things his/her own way without accepting assistance in trying to figure out what is best for them (aka: hoodlum). But according to the footnote, the OED defines it as a prostitute. Breton continues to describe the atheist by saying, "his punk his paradise." By using the word paradise, I'm assuming that he is saying that to this bad man, there is no greater joy in life than his prostitute.
Neither of these accusations are kind or nice. Therefore, I can only conclude that it was heavily frowned upon to be an atheist during this time.
"Bedlam" and "Punk"
These two words will be talked about separately, but were close together in the work; therefore, I've decided to put them in this one common place.
1.) Bedlam-In the beginning of his characterization of an atheist, he compares this bad man to a bedlam. After checking out the footnote, I learned that the OED says it means the same as madman. Breton says this man, "in passion a bedlam." So, in any kind of excitement, frustration, or any emotion, this man forgets who he is and becomes a madman or just someone who acts totally crazy.
2.) Punk-As I continued to read about the atheist's character, I found that Breton uses the word "punk." When I saw this, I thought of a naive, young brat that insists on doing things his/her own way without accepting assistance in trying to figure out what is best for them (aka: hoodlum). But according to the footnote, the OED defines it as a prostitute. Breton continues to describe the atheist by saying, "his punk his paradise." By using the word paradise, I'm assuming that he is saying that to this bad man, there is no greater joy in life than his prostitute.
Neither of these accusations are kind or nice. Therefore, I can only conclude that it was heavily frowned upon to be an atheist during this time.
"Beck"
Nicholas Breton-"A Wanton Woman"-BA, 16
"Her beck is a net"
The footnote says that a beck (according to the OED) is an "inviting look or signal." A Wanton Woman is a great seductress and her beck is one of her ways to entice. It is similar to how a wife looks at her husband a certain way...and he knows what that look means! Her beck will capture the seeker like a "net" and not let go of the prisoner caught in it.
Breton ultimately describes this "beck" and the "wanton woman" as evil, and these should be avoided unless the seeker wants to be corrupt like the seductress already is.
"Her beck is a net"
The footnote says that a beck (according to the OED) is an "inviting look or signal." A Wanton Woman is a great seductress and her beck is one of her ways to entice. It is similar to how a wife looks at her husband a certain way...and he knows what that look means! Her beck will capture the seeker like a "net" and not let go of the prisoner caught in it.
Breton ultimately describes this "beck" and the "wanton woman" as evil, and these should be avoided unless the seeker wants to be corrupt like the seductress already is.
"For men believe that their reason govern words"
I love the full sentence where this common place is found. In our BA on page 47, Francis Bacon says, "For men believe that their reason governs words; but it is also true that words react on the understanding; and this it is that has rendered philosophy and the sciences sophistical and inactive."
Another way to phrase this--words can have different meanings. I can tell someone I love them, but do they understand which type of love (eros, philos, and agape) I mean? Another is the way we use words (or names) for things that don't exist. Other than intangible things that don't physically exist (abstract ideas like freedom, love, courage, etc.), the words we use words for things that don't exist at all--Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, leprechauns, Unicorns, Tooth Fairy, etc. We even have words to describe nonexistence (nothing, absence, etc.).
According to Bacon, words can be very misleading.
Another way to phrase this--words can have different meanings. I can tell someone I love them, but do they understand which type of love (eros, philos, and agape) I mean? Another is the way we use words (or names) for things that don't exist. Other than intangible things that don't physically exist (abstract ideas like freedom, love, courage, etc.), the words we use words for things that don't exist at all--Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, leprechauns, Unicorns, Tooth Fairy, etc. We even have words to describe nonexistence (nothing, absence, etc.).
According to Bacon, words can be very misleading.
Pax vobis
I first looked into this phrase (Pax vobis) while reading Lancelot Andrewes' sermon in our anthology (BA: 5-14).
Pax vobis is the same as, "Peace be to you." The words are simple but have a huge impact when using them as a greeting. I mean, how would it feel if Christ stood before you and said this? Wow! Well, I would just be stunned if He were infront of me...but that's another story. As Andrewes explains, Christ was the peace-offering to God; and when he greets sinners by calling out Pax vobis, it was a symbol of what was being given to them.
Through Christ's words (Pax vobis), we not only only see a warm greeting, but also an offer of freedom from conflict and sin.
Pax vobis is the same as, "Peace be to you." The words are simple but have a huge impact when using them as a greeting. I mean, how would it feel if Christ stood before you and said this? Wow! Well, I would just be stunned if He were infront of me...but that's another story. As Andrewes explains, Christ was the peace-offering to God; and when he greets sinners by calling out Pax vobis, it was a symbol of what was being given to them.
Through Christ's words (Pax vobis), we not only only see a warm greeting, but also an offer of freedom from conflict and sin.
Friday, February 6, 2009
"Dives"
John Donne-BA 74
"I ask not Dives, who perished in the next world"
When I first read this, I didn't know what Dives was. I checked out the footnotes, and it pointed me to Luke 16:18-31 and Ecclesiastes 5:13. Dives is essentially the rich man. In Ecclesiastes, it refers to a man who was rich, but he had squandered his wealth. Therefore, there was nothing left for his son. However, I think the reference to Luke is the most beneficial to my understanding. This passage refers to a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. The poor man lived to eat the scraps off the rich man's table. When they died, the poor man went to Heaven and the rich man went to Hell. The rich man was in continual torment in his final destination.
So, I think the common place (Dives) I chose refers to the rich man in Luke (perishing in the next world) going to Hell.
"I ask not Dives, who perished in the next world"
When I first read this, I didn't know what Dives was. I checked out the footnotes, and it pointed me to Luke 16:18-31 and Ecclesiastes 5:13. Dives is essentially the rich man. In Ecclesiastes, it refers to a man who was rich, but he had squandered his wealth. Therefore, there was nothing left for his son. However, I think the reference to Luke is the most beneficial to my understanding. This passage refers to a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. The poor man lived to eat the scraps off the rich man's table. When they died, the poor man went to Heaven and the rich man went to Hell. The rich man was in continual torment in his final destination.
So, I think the common place (Dives) I chose refers to the rich man in Luke (perishing in the next world) going to Hell.
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