More things that are like other things! Spotted recently:
SENATOR I would know why.
MEMMO You will know why anon, If you obey: and, if not, you no less Will know why you should have obeyed.
SENATOR To oppose them, but —
MEMMO In Venice “but” ’s a traitor. But me no “buts”, unless you would pass o’er The Bridge which few repass.
[Byron, The Two Foscari, IV.i.70-5]
This construction feels familiar… what does it remind me of? …Oh:
JULIET Not proud you have, but thankful that you have. Proud can I never be of what I hate, But thankful even for hate that is meant love.
CAPULET How, how, how, how? Chopped logic? What is this? “Proud,” and “I thank you,” and “I thank you not,” And yet “not proud”? Mistress minion you, Thank me no thankings, nor proud me no prouds, But fettle your fine joints ’gainst Thursday next To go with Paris to Saint Peter’s Church, Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither.
[Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, III.v.151-60]
And also:
BOLINGBROKE My gracious uncle —
YORK Tut, tut! Grace me no grace, nor uncle me no uncle. I am no traitor’s uncle, and that word “grace” In an ungracious mouth is but profane.
[Shakespeare, Richard II, II.iii.89-93]
#byron#the two foscari#shakespeare#romeo and juliet#richard ii#I haven't properly read 'The Two Foscari' yet#but Coleridge quoted this part in his commentary on Canto IV of 'Childe Harold'#I'm still working my way through Canto IV#partly bc it's the longest#partly bc WOW is there a lot going on in the footnotes to this one#and partly bc there are certain stanzas I just keep going back and rereading#(why do certain parts feel so much like I'm reading music?)