The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 23.175  Friday, 27 April 2012

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

Date:         April 23, 2012 7:12:36 AM EDT

Subject:     In Memoriam

Today, on Shakespeare’s birthday, and to commemorate the Globe Theatre’s multilingual celebration of his works, the Guardian has published the following: 

Skal jeg sammenligne deg med en sommers dag?

Veel zachter en veel zonniger ben jij  

Der Sturm zerreißt des Maien Blüthen‑Kränze,

Och sommarns fröjd hvad är så kort som den?

As vezes em calor e brilho o Sol se excede

Interdum, aut hebes est aureus ille color;

Toute beauté parfois diminue de beauté,

Sciupata dal caso o dal mutevole corso di natura;

Mas tu eterno estío no decaerá

Ty nikdy neztratíš nynejší jas své krásy,

Kuolemakaan ei kersku; vaikka vaellat sen varjossa,

Sen esitken ebedi misralarla zamana

Mentre els homes respirin i els ulls puguin mirar,

So long lives this and this gives life to thee.

Surely we can hope that this will now be recited solemnly on all formal occasions by the committee of the International Shakespeare Association. With gestures.

T. Hawkes