The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 22.0301  Tuesday, 15 November 2011

From:         Michael Egan < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >

Date:         November 15, 2011 12:33:57 AM EST

Subject:      Re: SHAKSPER: Thomas of Woodstock

Al Magary < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it > wrote,

>>Michael Egan wrote, in passing:

>>

>>I have promises to keep, among them a new Complete 

>>Shakespeare—for the first time, really complete, with 

>>the likeliest "apocryphal" plays printed alongside their 

>>First Folio counterparts, e.g. The Taming of a Shrew

>>and The Taming of the Shrew, The Troublesome Reign 

>>and King John, etc.

>> 

>>BTW, I am looking for Introducers/Editors, so if any readers 

>>would like to offer their talents I'll be glad to receive them. 

>>You may propose one play or a group of plays.

> 

>Come one! come all!  Enter the GREAT SHAKESPEARE 

>BONANZA right here! Anyone can enter! 25 cents admission, 

>bring whoever you want—and young'uns free!  See the 

>FEEJEE MERMAID—head of a monkey, tail of a fish!  

>Witness the CARDIFF GIANT rise up before you!  See 

>the AMAZING EXPANDING SHAKESPEARE!  Before your 

>very eyes he will write another famous play—not just one 

>play, but two, one with each hand!  It's magic, it's mystery!  

>In theater it's whatever you want!  Want a BEARDED LADY?  

>You got it!  And--there's more!  Free rides in a hot-air balloon, 

>launched hourly from the roof of SHAKESPEARE'S GRAND 

>TRAVELING MUSEUM, MENAGERIE, CARAVAN & 

>HIPPODROME!

I am stunned by Al Magary's childish response to my passing request for editors. Is his suggestion that a collection of Shakespeare plays, together with their early versions, is an unscholarly joke?

In the meantime, while this listserv gives space to mental infants like Magary, try publishing a serious discussion about, shall we say, Anonymous, or a comment that actually has something supportive to say about my thesis that Shakespeare wrote 1 Richard II. In the words of one recent private correspondent:

 “I am not allowed on SHAKSPER [...but...] I think your answers have been remarkably cool, calm and correct in spite of the snarling and sniping critics on Shaksper.  I can feel the heartfelt love of Shakespeare and confidence you have in your analysis of Thomas of Woodcock.  Thanks for your analysis and patience with some of their Shakscribers.  I am making every effort reading TOW and from your posts, while studying your analysis.  Keep up the good work, Michael.”

I can’t help recalling Atty Joe Welch’s famous remark to Sen Joseph McCarthy, June 9, 1954: “You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?”

Michael Egan