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Aug. 14th, 2007 09:42 pmTonight you need a random quote from the letters of Elizabeth I. This one is the opening of a letter to James VI, March 1586.
"The expertest seamen, my dear brother, makes vaunt of their best ships when they pass the highest billows without yielding, and brook nimblest the roughest storms. The like proof, I suppose, may best be made, and surest boast of friends, when greatest persuasions and mightiest enemies oppose themselves for parties. If then a constant, irremovable goodwill appear, there is best trial made. And for that I know there is no worse orator for truth than malice, nor shrewder inveigher than envy, and that I am sure you have wanted neither to assail your mind to win it from our friendship; if not availing all these meaners you keep the hold of your promised inward affection, as Randol at length have told me and your own letters assure me, I dare thus boldly affirm that you shall have the better part in this bargain.
For when you weigh in equal balance, with no palsy hand, the very ground of their desires that would withdraw you, it is but root of mischief to peril yourself, with hope to harm her who ever hath preserved you."
The letter gets better. My favourite bit is "only natural affection ab incunabulis stirred me to save you from the murderers of your father and the peril that their complices might breed you" which leads her to saying she won't sign whatever document he wants her to sign.
I had a bunch of thoughts on politics and election years and emotional blackmail, but instead I've decided to emulate Queen Elizabeth and finish certain emails with "And thus I end my troubling you." (which she has in her final paragraph) when I'm politely refusing to do something. Maybe it will mean I can say 'no' more often.
"The expertest seamen, my dear brother, makes vaunt of their best ships when they pass the highest billows without yielding, and brook nimblest the roughest storms. The like proof, I suppose, may best be made, and surest boast of friends, when greatest persuasions and mightiest enemies oppose themselves for parties. If then a constant, irremovable goodwill appear, there is best trial made. And for that I know there is no worse orator for truth than malice, nor shrewder inveigher than envy, and that I am sure you have wanted neither to assail your mind to win it from our friendship; if not availing all these meaners you keep the hold of your promised inward affection, as Randol at length have told me and your own letters assure me, I dare thus boldly affirm that you shall have the better part in this bargain.
For when you weigh in equal balance, with no palsy hand, the very ground of their desires that would withdraw you, it is but root of mischief to peril yourself, with hope to harm her who ever hath preserved you."
The letter gets better. My favourite bit is "only natural affection ab incunabulis stirred me to save you from the murderers of your father and the peril that their complices might breed you" which leads her to saying she won't sign whatever document he wants her to sign.
I had a bunch of thoughts on politics and election years and emotional blackmail, but instead I've decided to emulate Queen Elizabeth and finish certain emails with "And thus I end my troubling you." (which she has in her final paragraph) when I'm politely refusing to do something. Maybe it will mean I can say 'no' more often.