Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Britain's Poet Laureate

Andrew Bemoans Lack of E-Motion from Royal Family. (P'raps that's why the job comes with the case of some booze or other? So, he can weep into it? Sorry, don't drink, can't remember what the spirit is. Cognac? Sherry? Plonk? Guinness? Maybe it should be Shakespeare's milk of human kindness?)
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2 comments:

  1. Dave Lull10:14 AM

    Ben Jonson received a "terse of Canary wine":

    'The salary has varied, but traditionally includes some alcohol. Ben Jonson first received a pension of 100 marks, and later an annual "terse of Canary wine". Dryden had a pension of £300 and a butt of Canary wine. Pye received £27 instead of the wine. Tennyson drew £72 a year from the Lord Chamberlain's department, and £27 from the Lord Steward's "in lieu of the butt of sack".'

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  2. Judith Fitzgerald11:06 PM

    Hrm. That might explain his terse verse, "To Celia," then: "Drink to me only with thine eyes" (which was the first "tune" I learned to play on piano; I think it's a universal rule, though; everyone learns to play it first; and, then, "Heart And Soul").

    Have no idea what a "butt of sack" is; however, it sounds suspiciously close to orders parents give rowdy children under eight around seven so they can crack open a calming six-pack and take five. Thanks, Dave.

    (Oh, of course, that would be Canadian or British beer, not your weak American varieties; no offense intended; just the way it isn't as robust, generally speaking [or, so I've heard].)

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