Thursday, April 14, 2011

Shakespearean Insults for the Day | Issue #1

While cleaning off our bookshelf at work, we came across a book called 'Barbs from the Bard', that I briefly thumbed through (I have my own copy somewhere; packed) before, but wanted to share some of its contents with you.  You never know when you will come across someone who is so Full-On Fail with a bonus limited intelligence to use these on!

Insult #1: O, if men were to be saved by merit, what hole in hell were hot enough for you?
~Henry IV Part: I, 2~


Translation: You're the lowest of the low, by any standard worth naming.

Insult #2: Thy sin's not accidental, but a trade.
~Measure for Measure III, I~

Translation: You're a real pro...

Insult #3: Assume a virtue, if you have it not.
~Hamlet III, 4~

Translation: At least pretend you've got some shame.

I am going to try to keep these up on a regular basis.  I wouldn't want to give you too much awesomeness all at once!

Reference: Barbs from the Bard: Shakespearean Insults with Modern Translations; Viner, M.; Rudnicki, S.; New Millennium Press * (2000).

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