this strange unaccountable weariness

[incandescens]

Did a good day's work, started putting the binding on that quilt, and rewarded myself by playing Pokemon. (I got a Snivy.)

For some reason, I'm now feeling tired. Can't think why.

Here's a bit of an update from lj on the current notification issues (for those who are suffering from them) - http://news.livejournal.com/135748.html - though the comment at http://news.livejournal.com/135748.html?thread=94343492#t94343492 is more informative. Hmph.

---

At this, the Dame enter'd to them, Naked-arm'd, bare-footed, her Frock tuck'd, her hair knotted, and folded with Vipers; in her Hand a Torch made of a dead Man's Arm, lighted; girded with a Snake. To whom they all did Reverence, and she spake, uttering, by way of Question, the End wherefore they came: which if it had been done either before, or otherwise, had not been so natural. For, to have made themselves, their own Decypherers, and each one to have told upon their entrance, what they were, and whether they would, had been a most pitious Hearing, and utterly unworthy any quality of a Poem: wherein a Writer should always trust somewhat to the capacity of the Spectator, especially, at these Spectacles; where Men, beside inquiring Eyes, are understood to bring quick Ears, and not those sluggish ones of Porters and Mechanicks, that must be bored through, at every Act, with Narrations.

-- commentary from The Masque of Queens, by Ben Jonson - http://hollowaypages.com/jonson1692fame.htm

Comments

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

You ever get the impression that in the 16th century English was a new language that people hadn't quite got the knack of, and that was apt to run away with them if they weren't vigilant about putting in periods? Jonson manages better than some, but he still takes an awful lotta words to say Show don't tell.

Though maybe what was new was writing English that could have been Latin.

[incandescens]

And also, this bit was being written for publication -- he might have been turning up the elaboration factor by a few notches when inscribing that bit, with a view to Later Generations.