A mother and two brothers: but, O scorn!
Gone! they went hence so soon as they were born.
And so I am awake. -- Poor wretches that depend
On greatness' favour dream as I have done,
Wake and find nothing.--But, alas, I swerve:
Many dream not to find, neither deserve,
And ye are steep'd in favours; so am I,
That have this golden chance, and know not why.
What fairies haunt this ground? A book? O, rare
one!
Be not, as in our fangled world, a garment
Nobler than that it covers: let thy effects
So follow, to be most unlike our courtiers,
As good as promise.
[Reads.] When
as a lion's whelp shall, to himself unknown, without seeking find, and be
embraced by a piece of tender air; and when from a stately cedar shall be
lopped branches which, being dead many years, shall after revive, be jointed
to the old stock, and freshly grow; then shall Posthumus end his miseries,
Britain be fortunate, and flourish in peace and plenty.
'Tis still a dream; or else such stuff as madmen
Tongue, and brain not: either both or nothing:
Or senseless speaking, or a speaking such
As sense cannot untie. Be what it is,
The action of my life is like it, which
I'll keep, if but for sympathy.
The text from page 911 is listed in bold, followed by commentary on its
meaning; phrase by phrase.
Bradley Jordan
Sept. 18, 2001
SCENE IV.] CYMBELINE 911
"A mother and two brothers:"
Mother = U.S.; two brothers = 1. twin towers; 2. Ishmael
(Muslim) and Isaac (Jews/Christians)
"but, O scorn!"
U.S. moral degradation
"Gone!"
"they went hence so soon as they were born."
The 99-year lease for the World Trade Center was just recently closed -- less
than two months prior to the Sept. 11 attack.
"And so I am awake. --"
America, the sleeping giant, is awakened. Introspection abounds.
"Poor wretches that depend
On greatness' favour dream as I have done,"
The superintending hand of providence has mostly smiled on the inhabitants of
this land, notwithstanding their habitual backsliding.
.Or so it seemed in the state of slumber in which this nation was prior
to this time.
"Wake and find nothing."
Once awakened, they realize the superficiality of the prosperity and
tentativeness of their greatness.
"--But, alas, I swerve:"
Now there is a drunkenness of unbelief at our awful situation.
"Many dream not to find, neither deserve,"
So much of the supposed wealth was over-inflated indebtedness.
"And ye are steep'd in favours; so am I,"
Nearly the entire business and political infrastructure is based on unethical
kickbacks and bribes.
"That have this golden chance,"
Leaning on the arm of flesh, they miss the great opportunities that are
available to them under freedom's abode if they would but grasp it.
"and know not why."
The education system and general media of the country no longer address the
basic principles of freedom,
.but have been overrun by humanist /socialist ideologues.
"What fairies haunt this ground?"
1. They cannot distinguish between the just cause of inherent equal rights
of men and women, blacks and whites, as compared to the abhorrent push for
non-discriminatory sexual preference, a vices can be overcome through
faith. 2. They clamor for sensational spiritualism through paid
clairvoyants and astrologists, but scorn the word of God and its invitation to
personal revelation from God facilitated best by upright living.
"A book?"
The Bible used to be the primary national standard of reference not just for
moral guidance but for political policy.
"O, rare one!"
Now it collects dust and is cracked not by reading but from misuse. But
those who cherish its words are finding meanings never before fathomed.
Be not, as in our fangled world, a garment
Nobler than that it covers:
Is America for show, or is it for real? What is the substance of her
soul? Now we shall find out.
"let thy effects
So follow,"
May the vine bring forth good fruit because it is grafted into the tree of
life.
"to be most unlike our courtiers,"
To stand apart from those who would buy our favors with ungodly strings
attached.
"As good as promise."
May integrity once again define nobility.
[Reads.] When as a lion's whelp shall, to himself unknown, without seeking find, and be embraced by a piece of tender air; and when from a stately cedar shall be lopped branches which, being dead many years, shall after revive, be jointed to the old stock, and freshly grow; then
shall Posthumus end his miseries, Britain be fortunate, and flourish in peace and
plenty.
The Muslim branch is destined to be grafted in once again to good favor
based on mutual respect for humble piety.
"'Tis still a dream;"
Will take time to come to fruition.
"or else such stuff as madmen
Tongue, and brain not:"
The idea of humble reconciliation at at time of such deep national anger
appears as foolish prattling.
"either both or nothing:"
Either the two brothers, descendants of Ishmael and Isaac, come together as
one, or both will seek the other's destruction until they are no more.
"Or senseless speaking, or a speaking such
As sense cannot untie."
The codes such as the various ones currently being considered (e.g. 911
index) help decipher this message.
"Be what it is,"
Applying the words to oneself and ones life; using them as measuring
sticks for the conscience so as to align it more closely with truth.
"The action of my life is like it,"
The first write-up that began this 911 index compared the recent events of my
personal life to the events leading up to the attack and the possible
outcome. I mention this not to draw attention to myself but rather to
the principle of drawing lessons by comparing one's individual life with
civilization as a whole, and vise versa.
"which I'll keep,"
Such lessons, without resolve to live up to them, are useless.
"if but for sympathy."
If anything, they teach compassion for the woes that society is
experiencing.
Re-enter First Gaoler
Gaol. Come, sir, are you ready for death?
The U.S., while appearing undaunted outwardly, is actually on the brink of
destruction by many means, from economic implosion, to foreign invasion, to
internal unrest.
.and has been such for many, many years; nay; many, many decades.
Post. Over-roasted rather; ready long ago.
Gaol. Hanging is the word, sir: if you be ready for that, you are
well cooked.
"Will give them the rope with which they will hang themselves"
-- Khrushchev?
Post. So, if I prove a good repast to the spectators, the
dish pays the shot.
Revelation 18 -- the great city of Babylon destroyed in an hour and all
the world watch on in wonder.
Goal. A heavy reckon for you , sir.
Indeed, massive destruction slated for the U.S. given the course she is on
(but from which she could yet change).
[Discussion between Gaolar and Posthumus Leanatus about the
consequences and ramifications of death.]
Enter a Messenger
Mess. Knock off his manacles; bring your prisoner to the king
Post. Thou bringest good news,--I am called to be made
free.
A redemptive clause kicking in to turn away destruction from America and back
to her destiny to be a land of freedom, a beacon to all mankind, capital of
the future New Jerusalem.
Gaol. I'll be hanged then.
If America is let off the hook for her abominations, then how is justice (Gaoler)
served?
Post. Thou shalt be then freer than a gaoler; no bolts for
the dead.
Justice swallowed up in mercy.
[Exeunt Post. and Messenger
Gaol. [.] I would we were all of one mind, and one
mind good;
The unity and righteousness of the coming society of peace foretold.
O, there were desolation of gaolers and galowses!
No more death penalties, for there will be no more crimes unto death.
-- [page 911 continues] --
