Special Sub-Topic: The Bawdy Bard Click Here To Play: The Bawdy Bard

William Shakespeare is visiting his mother - Mary Arden, in Stratford, and she asks him if he'd like a "sop 'o' the moonshine?" What do you think she wants him to have?

A dish of eggs cooked in oil. Kent - [to Oswald]" What a brazen-faced varlet art thou, to deny thou knowest me!.. you rogue .. I'll make a sop 'o' the moonshine of you ..! ("King Lear" Act II.(ii) line 30)

Later, on his way home, he's surprised to meet Christopher Marlowe whom he hasn't seen in years. He secretly feels the playwright has become very "hard-favoured". What does he mean?

He's as ugly as sin. Audrey - " Would thou have me honest?" Touchstone - " No, truly, unless thou wert hard favoured/For honesty coupled to beauty is to have honey a sauce to sugar." ("As You Like It" Act" III.(iii) line 26)

After their conversation, he realises he's a complete "Hecate" for thinking such a thing. What is he calling himself?

The Queen of the Witches. Hecate - [ to the three witches in Macbeth ] "O well done! I commend your pains .. And every one shall share i' the gains; and now about the cauldron sing, like elves and fairies in a ring." ( "Macbeth" Act IV.(i)line 39 )

No sooner has the Bard arrived home to Anne Hathaway, his "periwig pated" partner, when she tells him some bad news. Why is he so shocked?

She's wearing a wig. Hamlet - [ of poor acting] "O it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters." ("Hamlet" Act III.(ii) line 10)

On account of this latest upset to young Will's sensibilities, he tells her he's heading back to London and leaves Anne in tears as she struggles with the "batlet". What's that you say?

A wooden club used for beating clothes during washing. Touchstone - " I remember, when I was in love I broke my sword upon the stone and bid him take that for coming a-night to Jane Smile; and I remember the kissing of her batlet." ( "As You Like It" Act II.(iv) line 46 )

When Will arrives at the Globe Theatre, there's a group of "groundlings" all around him - so he hurries inside. What's he running from?

The part of the audience who pay a penny to see plays. Hamlet - [the effect of poor acting on the audience] " .. to split the ears of the groundlings, who for the most part are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumbshows and noise."("Hamlet" Act III.(ii) line 12 )

As Shakespeare sits at his desk writing with his quill, he hears a "throstle" which distracts him for a few moments. What's he listening to?

A thrush. Portia - [ of an ignoble potential suitor] ".. if a throstle sing, he falls straight a capering: he will fence with his own shadow: if I should marry him, I should marry twenty husbands." ( "The Merchant Of Venice" Act I.(ii) line 59 )

It's nearly time for William's play to start, and the public are clamouring to get a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth who has turned up for a private showing. "Will you flap-dragon, your majesty?", Will asks nervously. What is he expecting her to do?

Swallow or gulp down. The Clown to the Shepherd, describing the shipwreck in Bohemia - "But to make an end of the ship, to sea how the sea flap-dragoned it." ( The Winter's Tale" Act III.(iii) line 103 )

When yet another monarch is killed on stage, the Queen glances sharply over at Will who, catching her eye, becomes " a man of salt." What has he become?

A man of tears. King Lear - " No seconds? all myself?/Why this would make a man a man of salt;/To use his eyes for garden winter-pots/Ay, and laying Autumn's dust." ( "King Lear" Act IV.(vi) line 210 )

When the long day comes to an end, William seeks out his friend Burbage at the local inn, and finds him "high-stomach'd" after a night's drinking. "All's well that ends well", thinks William but what is Burbage thinking?

"I'm ready for a fight!". Richard II - [ speaking of Henry Bolingbroke and Thomas Mowbray] "Then call them to our presence .. ourselves will hear/The accuser and the accused freely speak/High-stomach'd are they both, and full of ire." ( "Richard II" Act I.(i) line 18 )