FIOS was screening a movie in which someone playing Shakespeare was talking to someone playing his patron and king. Shakespeare was laying on the praise pretty thick, and the king knew full well we was being lathered up, but they were both enjoying the game.

Shakespeare topped off his praise with some lines that ran:

When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
(Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate;
       For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
       That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

That’s Sonnet 29 he was reciting, one line of which I particularly like and want to use the next time a friend of mine has something I want, like friends to go out with on a weeknight:

Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,

The double “like him, like him” slays me. OK, so maybe I get a little carried away. But, hey, it’s Shakespeare.

Today I wanted to share something with you from that sonnet, and by accident, I ran across this, which is what I’ve decided to share:

It’s going to make Shakespeare a lot easier to memorize. There’s a Rhetoric lesson in there for those who can find it. Enjoy the song. [The last lines slay me now. Thank you, Rufus.]