Humor

---

SHAKESPEAREANESQUE: A LEXICON AND PHRASEBOOK


WHAT IS SHAKESPEAREANESQUE?

Shakespeareanesque is a combination of Authorized King James Bible language and English Renaissance speech; not quite one or the other and neither both. It includes pronouns (Thee, thou, thy etc.) and some other verbiage (yea verily, go ye therefore, etc.) that one may find more plentiful in Bible passages which smack of a more literary resonance, and also many other expressions and sentiments only found in cultural snippets disclosed from Shakespeare’s colorful lines (for certain, you’ll never find “Sirrah!” or “Fie!” or “Hey nonny, nonny!” in the Bible).

Shakespeareanesque then, is found in the lines of “Esther, the Hebrew Queen” and in the mouths of the players when they are not speaking their lines. Try out a conversation, with yourself, with a friend, or with one of our “most excellent and competent King’s Court Players”. Here’s a lexicon and phrasebook to help you out.


SHAKESPEAREANESQUE PHRASEBOOK


HOW TO ADDRESS SOMEONE IN SHAKESPEAREANESQUE

“Good my lord” or “Good my lady”
(Literally, “my good man” or “my good lady”; addressing someone as “my lord” is not necessarily acknowledging nobility, it is approximately the same as calling someone “sir” today – it’s just politeness.)


HOW TO SAY HELLO IN SHAKESPEAREANESQUE

“Good morrow my lord/lady”
“Blessings upon thee, my lord/lady”
“What ho! My good man!”
“Greetings unto thee, my lord/lady”
“Good day my lord/lady”
“Hail and well met, my lord/lady”
“How dost thou, fair sir?”

HOW TO SAY GOODBYE IN SHAKESPEAREANESQUE

“God be wi’ you. Fare you well.”
“Farewell, we shall meet again anon.”
“Fare thee well, gentlemen

PROPER FLATTERY IN SHAKESPEAREANESQUE

“My lady, thou art virtue incarnate.”
“Thou art a paragon of honor, my lord.”
“I’faith, my lord, would that we had more of thee an’ thy ilk ‘pon these shores
“ Would that I were all that is of thee, my lord, I should be most satisfied.”


PICK UP LINES IN SHAKESPEAREANESQUE

“I would not wish any companion in the world but you, nor can imagination form a shape besides yourself, to like of.”
“Thy beauty rivals that of the Hebrew Queen Esther herself.”
“Though I had a minstrel’s tongue, no verse would e’er serve adequate praise for one so lovely.”
“I see thee and all poet’s dreams fall gray.”
“I might call thee a thing divine, for nothing natural I ever saw was so noble.”
"Doubt that the sun doth move, doubt truth to be a liar, but never doubt I love”
“I would not wish any companion in the world but you, nor can imagination form a shape besides yourself, to like of.”
"It is the east, and thou art the sun"
"O! she doth teach the torches to burn bright".
“All the drunkenness of a thousand nobles could not fog thy beauty.”
“Good my lady, didst thou hurt thyself when thou fell from heaven? Thy visage is’t angelic to mine eyes” (Some pick-up lines reeking with hollow flattery never change)

FUN THINGS TO SAY IN SHAKESPEAREANESQUE

“Hey, nonny nonny!”
“What ho innkeep! An’ fill me up an’ again!”
“How now, my good nog?”
“Zounds! I am vexed within and withal!”


HOW TO ASK FOR THE RESTROOM IN SHAKESPEAREANESQUE

“Good my lord/lady, mightest thou direct me to the privy?”


COMMON PHRASES YOU MIGHT WANT TO USE IN SHAKESPEAREANESQUE:

“’Struth, but these King’s Court Players are of a rare and excellent quality!”
“Yea, I wouldst like to support the arts and become a most honored patron!”
“’Pon my word, i’faith, the revelries this eve are, in my counting, surpassed by none!”


PROPER INSULTING IN SHAKESPEAREANESQUE (practice on a friend!):

“Hold thy peace, thou insolent nonny!”
“Go to, sirrah! I’ll have none of thy empty jests this day!”
“Fie upon thee yon knave!”
“Standest thou there the lyingest knave in Christendom!”!”
“Thou boil, thou plague-sore, thou embossed carbuncle!”
“Thou hath not so much brain as ear wax.”
“Thou art like the toad, ugly and venomous.”
“Rogue, thou hast liv'd too long.”
“Were I like thee, I'd throw away myself.”
“Out of my sight! Thou dost infect my eyes.”
“Thou art a fool, a coward, one all of luxury, an ass, a madman.”
“Thou art the stuff makes child’s ill dreams.”
“Oh, that mine eyes would fail rather than endure thy sight a moment longer.”



HOW TO PICK A FIGHT IN SHAKESPEAREANESQUE

“Thy hose is a disagreeable color, my lord; it suits thee” (Or any negative comment upon another’s dress; this may only lead to an argument or sharp words if your target has a calmer disposition)

“Aye, an’ thy utterance is like unto certain mongrels I can recall” (Or any negative comment upon another’s speech; again, your target may not be easily provoked and you may wish to increase the level of veracity)

“Thy beard is undoubtedly of the best in barbarian fashion, m’lord” (Or any negative comment upon another’s personal appearance, this is the same as violating someone’s personal space verbally, and could lead to a challenge. If you get no results, you might to try the direct approach.)

“I shall strike thee for thy insolence (slap with glove) there’s for thee!” (Striking another in contempt – this’ll get immediate action, honor demands it. Most likely you will be struck back and a duel challenge issued -- better hire a dueling coach immediately.)

Of course, you are really looking for trouble try…

“‘Struth, my lord, is that the best trollop thou couldst scrounge in a day?” (Insult the lady company of another – this will get you into serious trouble as chivalry and honor will not stand for this kind of insolence. You’d better be very good at dueling, because backing out at this point is pretty much impossible, and the duel may not be just to “first blood”, it may be “to the death”.)

“Good morrow, my lord.” (Sometimes just innocently saying “hello” could get you into a fight. These were dangerous times, and young “firebrands” were eager to mix it up whenever an opportunity presented itself.)



SHAKESPEAREANESQUE LEXICON

Alackaday! (ah LAK ah DAY) An exclamation expressing sorrow

Anon (Ah NON) At another time; later. In a short time; soon.

Belike: (bee LYK) Compound of by and likely, meaning it is likely or probably; perhaps

Betimes (Beh TYMZ) Compound of by and time, meaning in good time; early
Dram (DRAM) A small or minute quantity. (see also: Scruple)

Fie! (FIE) Exclamation used to express disapproval of, or annoyance or disgust with, somebody or something

Gramercy (grah MUR see /or/ GRAM er see) Surprise or gratitude; literally “grand thanks” from Old French

Groundling (GROWND ling) A playgoer in the cheap standing section; one who stands upon the ground in an audience.

Harken (HAR ken) Variant of Hearken, meaning To listen attentively; give heed.

Huzzah! (huz-ZAH) A cheer (practice this often during the show)

I’faith (eh FAYTH) Contraction of “in faith” meaning indeed; truly

Jape: (JAYP) A joke; knavery

Knave (NAYV) Male commoner or servant

Knavery: (NAY ver ee) Foolishness; vulgar or common jesting

Mayhap (MAY hap) From the phrase “it may happen” meaning perhaps, perchance

Nonny: (NOHN nee) A silly fellow; a ninny

Oft (OFT) Shortening of “often”

Prating (PRAYT ing )Empty, foolish, or trivial talk; idle chatter.

Prithee (PRIH thee) Used to express a polite request.

Scruple (SKRUW pul) An even more minute quantity than a “dram”

Sirrah (SUR-rah) Contemptuous form of address to inferior man or boy. Higher class addressing commoner; among peers it is considered an insult – See “Proper Insulting In Shakespeareanesque”

Sot (SOT) A drunkard

Vex (VEKS) To annoy, as with petty importunities; bother

Zounds!: (ZOONDS) Exclamation expressing astonishment

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE