Shakespeare Brunch

Week Twenty: I Do Much Wonder

May 21, 2023

Happy Sunday! Welcome to our weekly celebration of coffee, food, Shakespeare and song. Add your own pot-luck dish by recording and sharing a favorite piece of Shakespeare or Sunday song … and we’ll pair it with a brunchy dish and cup of Joe.

Notes on Progress: In pursuit of decent coffee

I’ve written before about the lack of progress in kitchen appliances in the last 50 years. The last great kitchen appliance was the microwave—introduced in 1967—and they haven’t changed much since.
But the home espresso machine is an exception. The first widely adopted home espresso machine, the La Pavoni Europiccola, was released in 1961. Since then, they have evolved in …

Much Ado About Nothing - Act II - Scene III

Benedick

I do much wonder that one man, seeing
how much another man is a fool when he dedicates his
behaviours to love, will, after he hath laughed at such shallow
follies in others, become the argument of his own scorn
by falling in love; and such a man is Claudio. I have known
when there was no music with him but the drum and the
fife; and now had he rather hear the tabor and the pipe.
I have known when he would have walked ten mile afoot to
see a good armour; and now will he lie ten nights awake
carving the fashion of a new doublet. He was wont to
speak plain and to the purpose, like an honest man and a
soldier; and now is he turned orthography; his words are a
very fantastical banquet—just so many strange dishes. May
I be so converted and see with these eyes? I cannot tell; I
think not. I will not be sworn but love may transform me to
an oyster; but I'll take my oath on it, till he have made an
oyster of me he shall never make me such a fool. One
woman is fair, yet I am well; another is wise, yet I am
well; another virtuous, yet I am well; but till all graces be
in one woman, one woman shall not come in my grace.
Rich she shall be, that's certain; wise, or I'll none; virtuous,
or I'll never cheapen her; fair, or I'll never look on
her; mild, or come not near me; noble, or not I for an
angel; of good discourse, an excellent musician, and her
hair shall be of what colour it please God. Ha, the prince
and Monsieur Love! I will hide me in the arbour.