shakespeare and Hathaway, sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g
April 26, 2025 8:37 AM subscribe
A letter found in a book binding may reveal that shakespeare didn't abandon his wife. The letter, known since 1978 but only now linked more firmly to the Bard, "at least doubles the number of letters known to be addressed to or sent from shakespeare and his family."
(I was going to use a "-y-n-g-e" ending in the post title, but as shakespeare was the first English writer to use the participle kissing I couldn't bring myself to.)
(I was going to use a "-y-n-g-e" ending in the post title, but as shakespeare was the first English writer to use the participle kissing I couldn't bring myself to.)
All of those spellings make me realise that William must have pronounced his name with a shack as in "Love shack" and pear as in the fruit.
posted by rory at 8:42 AM on April 26 [1 favorite]
posted by rory at 8:42 AM on April 26 [1 favorite]
This week is also the traditional estimate of William shakespeare's birthday, including a birthday parade today in stratford-upon-Avon.
posted by one for the books at 9:42 AM on April 26 [1 favorite]
posted by one for the books at 9:42 AM on April 26 [1 favorite]
shakespeare was the first English writer to use the participle kissing
One of the first. Thomas Malory's 1485 Morte Darthur includes, "And whanne syre Launcelot felte a rough berd kyssing hym he starte oute of the bedde lyghtely" (book 6 chapter 5).
posted by cyanistes at 10:07 AM on April 26 [2 favorites]
One of the first. Thomas Malory's 1485 Morte Darthur includes, "And whanne syre Launcelot felte a rough berd kyssing hym he starte oute of the bedde lyghtely" (book 6 chapter 5).
posted by cyanistes at 10:07 AM on April 26 [2 favorites]
I think they meant spelled in that way—i.e. not kessinge, cussinge or kissyng. W. shakp. spelled it "kissing" in all 27 of the shakespeare quotations using the word in the OED—ones like "The warme effects which she in him finds missing, she seekes to kindle with continuall kissing". That's what I meant by not spelling it in a more Ye Olde way in the post title, anyway.
posted by rory at 10:27 AM on April 26 [2 favorites]
posted by rory at 10:27 AM on April 26 [2 favorites]
I should have highlighted more the feature of this story that caught my eye: that for centuries, writers and scholars have assumed that William's and Anne's marriage was an unhappy one, and have even imagined that Hathaway was some sort of harridan, because there was no evidence of their living together in London. Long-distance relationship plus him leaving her his second-best bed equals mutual loathing and misery. But now it seems pretty clear that she was living in London with him all along.
I was inspired to write asonnet limerick...
Was Anne Hathaway, shakespeare's old missus,
His sweetheart? Were theirs lives of blisses?
When William's will said
"Have my second-best bed",
Did he add "love from Will, hugs and kisses"?
posted by rory at 3:07 PM on April 26 [1 favorite]
I was inspired to write a
Was Anne Hathaway, shakespeare's old missus,
His sweetheart? Were theirs lives of blisses?
When William's will said
"Have my second-best bed",
Did he add "love from Will, hugs and kisses"?
posted by rory at 3:07 PM on April 26 [1 favorite]
Another argument is that the second-best bed is the one they would have shared, the official best bed being for show and guests rather than comfort?
posted by clew at 4:56 PM on April 26
posted by clew at 4:56 PM on April 26
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posted by rory at 8:40 AM on April 26 [2 favorites]