Also, Happy William Shakespeare’s (presumed) Birthday!

On this day in 1616, William Shakespeare, the greatest figure in English literature and (with the King James Bible and The Book of Common Prayer) one of the greatest influences on the English language, passed beyond the confines of this mortal life, at the age of 52.

On or about this day, in 1564, he was also born! (He was baptized on 26 April.) Since his actual birth-date is unknown, it is usually celebrated on this day, as well. Long may he live in honoured memory here on earth, and by God’s grace, to all eternity “beyond the Jordan”!

Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s greatest dramatist. He is often called England’s national poet and the “Bard of Avon” (or simply “the Bard”).

“Even if you’ve never seen a Shakespeare play, you’ll have used one of his words or phrases…In fact, during his 52 years on earth, he enriched the English language in ways so profound it’s almost impossible to fully gauge his impact… He gave us uniquely vivid ways in which to express hope and despair, sorrow and rage, love and lust. Even if you’ve never read one of his sonnets or seen a play – even if you’ve never so much as watched a movie adaptation – you’re likely to have quoted him unwittingly. It’s almost impossible to avoid.”

BBC Culture: “How Shakespeare influences the way we speak now.”

And if you like it not, your wit’s as thick as a Tewkesbury mustard. Fie upon such a pigeon-livered and rump-fed runion!

Anniversary of Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales,” 1397

Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote,

The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,

And bathed every veyne in swich licóur

Of which vertú engendred is the flour;

Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth

Inspired hath in every holt and heeth

The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne

Hath in the Ram his halfe cours y-ronne,

And smale foweles maken melodye,

That slepen al the nyght with open ye,

So priketh hem Natúre in hir corages,

Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,

And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,

To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;

And specially, from every shires ende

Of Engelond, to Caunterbury they wende,

The hooly blisful martir for to seke,

That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke…

 

Today in History: In the Year of Our Lord 1397, Geoffrey Chaucer tells the “Canterbury Tales” for the first time, at the court of the English King, Richard II.

 

Image: Historiated initial of Chaucer holding an open book, at the beginning of the prologue to the Canterbury Tales. From the British Library; date c. 1410.