IF YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND MY ARGUMENT, AND DECLARE:
it's Greek to me, you are quoting Shakespeare.
If you claim to be more sinned against than sinning,
you are quoting Shakespeare.
If you act more in sorrow than in anger, if your wish
is father to the thought, if your lost property has
vanished into thin air, you are quoting Shakespeare.
If you have ever refused to budge an inch or suffered
from green-eyed jealousy, if you have played fast
and loose, if you have been tongue-tied - a tower
of strength - hoodwinked or in a pickle, if you have
knitted your brows - made a virtue of necessity, insisted
on fair play - slept not one wink - stood on ceremony
- danced attendance on your lord and master - laughed
yourself into stitches, had short shrift - cold comfort,
or too much of a good thing, if you have seen better
days, or lived in a fool's paradise, why, be that
as it may, the more fool you, for it is a forgone
conclusion that you are as good luck would have it,
quoting Shakespeare.
If you think it is early days and clear out bag and
baggage, if you think it is high time, and that is
the long and short of it, if you believe that the
game is up, and that the truth will out, even if it
involves your own flesh and blood, if you lie low
till the crack of doom because you suspect foul play,
if you have teeth set on edge at one fell swoop -
without rhyme or reason, then to give the devil his
due if the truth were known for surely you have a
tongue in your head, you are quoting Shakespeare.
Even if you bid me good riddance and send me packing,
if you wish I was dead as a doornail, if you think
I am an eyesore - a laughing stock - the devil incarnate
- a stony hearted villain - bloody-minded, or a blinking
idiot, then by Jove - O Lord - tut, tut! - For goodness'
sake - what the dickens! - but me no buts - it is
all one to me, for you are quoting Shakespeare….…
BERNARD LEVIN
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