https://pixabay.com/en/panoramic-grass-landscape-nature-3267048/
***
QUIET
***
Where is your quiet?
A place where you can just be
You and no other
***
Free davidbrucehaiku eBooks (pdfs)
https://davidbruceblog.wordpress.com/patreon/
Free eBooks by David Bruce (pdfs)
https://davidbruceblog.wordpress.com/about-the-blogger/
Use the silence. Silence has a way of helping us to find our mind, body, and soul. Especially when we find ourselves struggling with everyday life or certain situations. 30 more words
via Micro-Poetry: Be the Calm — Wolff Poetry | Poems – Resources for Beginning Writers
By Charles Robert Lindholm
Your Eyes Will Tell Me
View original post 20 more words
I am in my garden watering wildflower seeds- they are getting their second set of leaves which is a good sign. My garden teems with life- a kaleidoscope of tiny lilac butterflies have been here a few days. Hummingbirds buzz past me in their haste to slurp on the nectar in the feeders. Out […]
The roses we planted together are thriving. They bloom profusely in Spring, and then again near your birthday in December. You loved your Rio Samba roses mom. I’m always amazed at not only their size, but also the profusion of color they display. I had a visitor in the garden recently mom; a beautiful Flame […]
https://pixabay.com/en/scarecrow-woman-of-straw-figure-939486/
***
FREE (After Hōjō Dansui)
***
This figure is free
Look! Here comes the emperor!
Keeps her hat on head
***
Free davidbrucehaiku eBooks (pdfs)
https://davidbruceblog.wordpress.com/patreon/
Free eBooks by David Bruce (pdfs)
https://pixabay.com/en/double-personality-psychology-3391536/
***
ME AND MYSELF
***
Looking at myself
Myself-evaluation
I like what I see
***
NOTE: I think everyone else likes what she sees, too.
***
Free davidbrucehaiku eBooks (pdfs)
https://davidbruceblog.wordpress.com/patreon/
Free eBooks by David Bruce (pdfs)
— 1.4 —
In a room in Philario’s house in Italy, a number of people were speaking about Posthumus. They were Philario, Iachimo, and a Frenchman, a Dutchman, and a Spaniard. Iachimo and the others were friends of Philario’s.
Iachimo said, “Believe it, sir, I have seen Posthumus in Britain. He was then of growing reputation, expected to prove as worthy as since he has been so called, but I could then have looked on him without the help of wonder and amazement, even if the catalog of his endowments had been written on a tablet by his side and I was able to peruse him with the benefit of the items written in the catalog. He was not all that impressive.”
Philario replied, “You are talking about him when he was less furnished than he is now with that which makes him distinguished both without and within. Now, he is more distinguished than he was then, both in his appearance and in his character.”
The Frenchman said, “I have seen Posthumus in France. We had very many men there who could behold the Sun with as firm eyes as he.”
The Frenchman was referring to the eagle, a symbol of nobility, which was reputed to be able to look at the Sun without blinking. Like Iachimo, the Frenchman was wondering if Posthumus’ excellent reputation was inflated.
Iachimo said, “This matter of marrying his King’s daughter, wherein he must be weighed rather by her value than by his own, has given him an excellent reputation that I am sure he does not deserve.”
The Frenchman said, “His banishment also plays a role in his reputation.”
“That is true,” Iachimo said. “Many who mourn the lamentable separation of Posthumus Leonatus and Princess Imogen and who are on the side of the Princess have given their approval of Posthumus, and this has greatly boosted his reputation and has served to justify her choice of him as husband. If not for that, a case might easily be made that she made the wrong choice when she took as her husband a beggar — which I say Posthumus is without even taking into account his lower rank. But how is it that he comes here to stay with you, Philario? How did he creep into your life and become acquainted with you?”
Philario replied, “His father and I were soldiers together; to his father I have been often bound for no less than my life. On more than one occasion, he saved my life.”
He heard a noise, looked up and saw Posthumus coming toward them, and said, “Here comes the Briton. Let him be so entertained among you as gentlemen of your savoir-faire should treat a stranger of his quality and rank. Treat him well. I beg all of you to become acquainted with this gentleman, whom I commend to you as a noble friend of mine. How worthy he is I will leave to appear hereafter, rather than to tell you his story and accomplishments in his own hearing.”
The Frenchman said to Posthumus, “Sir, we have met in Orleans.”
Posthumus replied, “Since that time I have been debtor to you for courtesies that I will never be able to pay for in full.”
“Sir, you overrate my poor kindness,” the Frenchman said. “I was glad I was able to reconcile my countryman and you. It would have been a pity if you two should have fought a deadly duel about so slight and trivial a matter.”
“I beg your pardon, sir,” Posthumus said. “I was then a young and inexperienced traveller; I did not always agree with what I heard because I did not want my every action to be guided by others’ experiences. But upon my improved judgment — I hope that I do not offend anyone if I say that my judgment has improved — my quarrel was not altogether slight.”
“I disagree,” the Frenchman said. “The quarrel was to be decided by a duel fought by two people, one of whom would in all likelihood have destroyed the other, or perhaps both of you would have fallen.”
Iachimo asked, “Can we, without causing offense, ask what the quarrel was about?”
“You can, I think,” the Frenchman said. “It was a quarrel in public, which I may tell you about without anyone contradicting me. It was much like the argument that fell out between us last night, where each of us began to praise our country’s women. This gentleman — Posthumus — at that time was vouching — and pledging that he would bloodily fight anyone who disagreed — that his lady was more beautiful, virtuous, wise, chaste, constant and true, and less capable of being seduced than any of the rarest of our ladies in France.”
Iachimo said, “That lady is not now living, or this gentleman’s opinion has changed by this time.”
Posthumus replied, “She is still alive and still virtuous, and I have not changed my opinion.”
Iachimo said, “You must not so far esteem her above our ladies of Italy.”
Posthumus said, “Even if I were as provoked as I was in France, I would not lessen my opinion of her, though I profess myself her adorer, not her lover. To me, she is more than a piece of flesh.”
“As beautiful and as good — a kind of hand-in-hand comparison; in other words, saying that British ladies and Italian ladies were equals — would have been an opinion too fair and too good for any lady in Britain,” Iachimo said. “If your lady goes before others I have seen, as that diamond ring of yours outshines many I have seen, I could not but believe that she excelled many ladies, but I have not seen the most precious diamond ring that exists, nor have you seen the most precious lady who exists.”
“I praised her as I rated her,” Posthumus said. “I do the same thing with my diamond ring.”
“What do you esteem it at?” Iachimo said. “What do you value it at?”
“I value it at more than the world possesses.”
“Either your unparagoned — unequalled — mistress is dead, or she’s outprized by a ring,” Iachimo said. “The lady is part of the world, so the diamond ring is more valuable than she is.”
Posthumus replied, “You are mistaken. The diamond ring may be sold, or given, if there were wealth enough for the purchase, or merit for the gift. The lady is not a thing for sale, and only the gods can give such a gift.”
“Is she a gift whom the gods have given you?” Iachimo asked.
“The lady is my wife: Princess Imogen. I will keep her, by the graces of the gods.”
“You have married her, and you may wear — enjoy — her because she is legally yours,” Iachimo said, “but, you know, strange fowl light upon neighboring ponds.”
In this society, the word “pond” was slang for “vagina.”
Iachimo continued, “Your ring may be stolen, too. Of your brace — your duo — of treasures beyond price, the lady is frail and the diamond ring is subject to accident and chance. A cunning thief or a that-way-accomplished courtier would run risks to win both.”
Posthumus said, “Your Italy does not contain a courtier accomplished enough to overcome the honor of my wife, if you think her frail in the holding or the loss of her honor. I don’t doubt that Italy has an abundance of thieves; notwithstanding, I’m not afraid I will lose my ring.”
“Let’s stop this conversation, gentlemen,” Philario said. “Let’s change the subject and talk about something else.”
“Sir, with all my heart,” Posthumus said. “This worthy signior, I thank him, does not consider me a stranger; we are familiar — not formal — with each other right from the start.”
“With five times as much conversation,” Iachimo said, “I could get ground on your fair mistress, I could make her retreat, and I could even make her yield to me, if I had admittance into her company and the opportunity to befriend and become acquainted with her.”
“No, no,” Posthumus said.
“I dare to bet half of my estate against your ring,” Iachimo said. “In my opinion, half of my estate somewhat exceeds your ring in value, but I make my wager rather against your confidence in your wife than against her reputation, and to stop your giving offence with your confidence, I dare to attempt to seduce any lady in the world.”
Iachimo’s words are interesting. A close examination of his words reveals that he is betting that he can shake Posthumus’ confidence in the chastity of his wife. Chastity means refraining from unlawful sexual intercourse; a chaste woman can have lawful sex with her husband, but she will not engage in adultery. One of the ways for Iachimo to shake Posthumus’ confidence in the chastity of his wife would be for Iachimo to seduce her, but there are other ways for him to shake Posthumus’ confidence in the chastity of his wife.
Posthumus replied, “You are a great deal deceived in holding this very bold opinion of women, and I don’t doubt that you will receive what you deserve if you dare to attempt to accomplish what you say you will do.”
“What’s that?” Iachimo asked.
“You will deserve a repulse, though your ‘attempt,’ as you call it, deserves more; it deserves a punishment, too.”
Philario attempted to make peace between the two men: “Gentlemen, enough of this. This argument was born too suddenly; let it die as it was born, and, please, become better acquainted and friends with each other.”
“I wish that I had bet my estate andmy neighbor’s that I can do what I have spoken about!” Iachimo said.
“What lady would you choose to assail and seduce?” Posthumus asked.
“Yours,” Iachimo replied, “your wife who in constancy and faithfulness to you, you think stands so safe. I will bet you ten thousand ducats against your ring that if you write me a letter of introduction to the court where your lady is and give me no more advantage than the opportunity of a second meeting with your wife, I will bring from thence that honor of hers that you imagine so preserved. If I can meet her only twice, I can seduce her.”
“I will wage against your gold the same amount of gold, but I will not bet my ring,” Posthumus replied. “My ring I value as dearly as I do my finger; it is part of it.”
“You are afraid to bet your ring, and therein you are the wiser. You know your wife well, and you know what you can afford to bet on her. Even if you buy ladies’ flesh at a million units of money for one dram — an exorbitant price — you cannot preserve it from being tainted. I see that you have some religion in you because you fear. My bet has put the fear of God in you. You are afraid that your lady will sin, and you are afraid that you will lose the bet.”
“This is only macho talk of the kind that you are accustomed to speak,” Posthumus said. “You have something more serious in mind, I hope.”
“I am the master of my speech, and I will undertake to do what I have said that I will do,” Iachimo said. “I swear it.”
“Will you? I shall give my diamond ring to Philario to hold until your return,” Posthumus said. “It shall be only a loan — I will get it back. Let there be a legal agreement drawn up between us concerning this bet. My wife exceeds in goodness the hugeness of your unworthy thinking. I dare you to compete against her.”
He then offered his ring to Philario, saying, “Here’s my ring.”
“I will not allow this bet,” Philario said, declining to take the ring.
“By the gods, the bet is already made,” Iachimo said.
He then said to Posthumus, “If I bring you no sufficient testimony that I have enjoyed the dearest bodily part of your wife, my ten thousand ducats are yours, and your diamond ring, too. If I leave the court and give up my efforts and leave her with such honor as you trust she has, she your jewel, this your jewel, and my gold are yours — provided I have your letter of introduction so that I may be well received at the court and am able to have a conversation with your wife.”
“I agree to these conditions,” Posthumus said. “Let us have a legal agreement drawn up between us. However, let us add these conditions. If you make your attempt to seduce my wife and give me direct evidence that you have prevailed, I am no further your enemy; if she can be seduced, she is not worth our being enemies. However, if she remains unseduced, and you are not able to make it appear otherwise, then for your ill opinion of her and the assault you have made against her chastity, you shall answer me with your sword — we shall fight a duel.”
Posthumus’ words are interesting: “if she remains unseduced, andyou are not able to make it appear otherwise ….” Part of the bet was that Iachimo would not be able to convince Posthumus that his wife had committed adultery. Of course, it is possible that Iachimo could fail to seduce Posthumus’ wife and yet convince Posthumus that he — Iachimo — had succeeded in seducing Posthumus’ wife.
“Give me your hand,” Iachimo said. “Let us make a contract between us. We will have these things set down by lawful counsel, and I will leave immediately for Britain, lest our agreement catch cold and starve and die. I will fetch my gold ducats and we will have our two wagers recorded. Someone will hold on to my gold ducats and your ring until we know which of us has won our wager.”
Posthumus said, “I agree.”
Posthumus and Iachimo exited.
The Frenchman asked Philario, “Will they really do this, do you think?”
“Signior Iachimo will not back down from it,” Philario replied. “Come, let us follow them.”
***
Copyright by Bruce D. Bruce; All Rights Reserved
***
J.K. Rowling sent some sample chapters of her children’s book Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone to the Christopher Little Agency, which did not handle children’s books. Her manuscript was rejected immediately and almost did not get read. Fortunately, a 25-year-old manuscript screener named Bryony Evens looked over the sample chapters instead of mailing them back to Ms. Rowling. She was enthusiastic about what she read, and she impressed Mr. Little with her enthusiasm, and so he asked to read the entire manuscript. The rest, as they say, is history. Ms. Evens met Ms. Rowling later, in 1998, when she waited in line for Ms. Rowling to sign a Harry Potter book. Ms. Rowling was very happy to meet her, and she signed the book in this way: “To Bryony—who is the most important person I’ve ever met in a signing queue & the first person ever to see merit in Harry Potter. With huge thanks. J.K. Rowling.”
A new generation always comes along that is unknowing of some of the great people of previous generations. Walter Payton once signed an autograph for a young kid who was excited to get his autograph. Just then, Stan Musial arrived, and the young kid’s father was excited and asked Mr. Musial to sign an autograph for his son. Mr. Musial did so, but after he left, the young boy asked, “Who was that?” The father replied, “Son, that was Stan the Man.” The son asked, “Who?” The father replied, “Stan Musial, the greatest baseball player who ever lived.” The son said, “Never heard of him.” Joe Kane was present and told his friend Mr. Payton, “Walter, remember this day. Someday you will be forgotten as well. That’s the way it works.” Apparently, Mr. Payton learned the lesson. He was never accused of being proud, and he realized that all records, including his own, were made to be broken.
For a while, Garry Wills and William F. Buckley were friends, and for a while, they were not friends. (When Mr. Buckley died, they were friends again.) When they were friends, Mr. Buckley gave Mr. Wills affectionately inscribed copies of his books. When they were not friends, Mr. Wills needed to reduce the size of his library so he could move it into smaller quarters, and he invited a used-bookstore owner to look at his books and buy what he wanted. The used-bookstore owner wanted, among other book, the books that Mr. Buckley had inscribed. Friends of Mr. Buckley used to find the books in the used bookstore, buy them, and send them to Mr. Wills along with a note berating him because he sold the gifts.
NBA great Patrick Ewing studied fine arts at Georgetown University. One of his works of art was stolen from an exhibition, but he suspects that it was stolen so that someone could have his autograph. Mr. Ewing did have a reputation for not giving his autograph because he disliked being the only member of the team who was asked for his autograph. When people asked him for his autograph, he told them, “I’ll sign after you’ve asked my teammates.” Also, instead of giving fans his autograph, he often would shake hands with them instead. He reasoned, “It means a lot more than having me sign my name.”
One day, Muhammad Ali and his daughter were late for a flight because he had signed so many autographs. By the time they boarded the flight, a man and his son were sitting in the Alis’ first-class seats although under normal circumstances they man and his son would have been flying in tourist. The stewardess asked the man and boy to move to tourist, but Mr. Ali asked the boy if he had ever flown first class before. The boy answered, “No.” Mr. Ali replied, “Then this is your lucky day,” and he and his daughter went to sit in the tourist section of the plane.
If you watch the credits of the 2008 Pixar movie WALL-E, you will see that the film is dedicated to Justin Wright (1981-2007). From birth Mr. Wright suffered from a severely defective heart, getting a transplant at age 12. He liked to draw, and his doctor and he visited Pixar together. When he was in college, he became an intern at Pixar, and then he worked there as a storyboard artist. Unfortunately, he suffered a heart attack and died in March, a little before WALL-E was released. Now his name will live at least as long as people watch WALL-E.
Joe Moscheo, the pianist for the gospel group The Imperials, met Elvis Presley for the first time at a gospel-music gathering, and of course he asked Mr. Presley for his autograph—he lied and said that the autograph was for his mother, although he actually wanted it for himself. However, he was shocked when Mr. Presley knew who he was. Mr. Presley explained that he studied gospel music constantly and knew much more about gospel than most people thought he knew. Then he said about the autograph, “If you give me yours, I’ll give you mine.”
When Irene Daye, the singer for Gene Krupa’s band, retired, Anita O’Day took over for her. One day, someone asked her for her autograph, which she was happy to give. Unfortunately, after the person had gotten her autograph and the two had parted, Ms. O’Day heard the autograph-seeker mutter, “Aw, she ain’t Irene!” Ms. O’Day then looked back, and she saw the autograph-seeker tear out a page from the autograph book and throw it away.
Sam Snead was occasionally mistaken for fellow professional golf player Ben Hogan. One day, a golf fan semi-recognized him and came running after him, yelling, “Mr. Hogan! Mr. Hogan! Can I have your autograph!” Mr. Snead told the golf fan, “I’m not Hogan.” The golf fan replied, “But you’re somebody.” Mr. Snead agreed, “You’d better believe it.”
When opera singer Joan Hammond returned to Australia for a visit, two of her nieces asked for her autograph — in fact, they each gave her a piece of paper and asked that she sign each piece of paper ten times. When she had finished, they said, “Goody! Now we can swap these for twenty tadpoles!”
***
Copyright by Bruce D. Bruce; All Rights Reserved
***
davidbruceblog #2 