This quote is from Act I, scene iii of Henry
VIII. Here's your quote, in the context of the
scene:
CHAMBERLAIN
.
. .Now I would pray our monsieurs
To think an English courtier may be
wise,
And never see the
Louvre.
LOVELL
They
must either,
For so run the conditions, leave those remnants
Of fool
and feather that they got in France. . .
And understand again like honest men.
.
..
CHAMBERLAIN
What
a loss our ladies
Will have of these trim
vanities!
LOVELL
Ay,
marry,
There will be woe indeed, lords; the sly whoresons
Have got a
speeding trick to lay down ladies.
A French song and a
fiddle has no
fellow.
SANDYS
The
devil fiddle 'em! I am glad they are going,
For, sure, there's no converting
of 'em.
This exchange is in
reference to a "proclamation" that English courtiers reform their French-i-fied ways and
begin to behave like honest Englishmen, unsullied by the debauched ways of the French.
The "French song and a fiddle" is reference to the smooth moves that the right music and
atmosphere can produce for seducing a lady. This is why Lovell, above, refers to use of
these two things as a "speeding" or successful "trick."
The
English and French, during Shakespeare's day, enjoyed a rivalry of culture. Shakespeare
is making fun of how focused on silly entertainments and seducing women the English
young men who travel to France become.
For more on this
play, please follow the links below.
No comments:
Post a Comment