“This will last out a night in Russia,
When nights are longest there“
(Measure For Measure, act 2, sc. 1)
Tips for use. A sentiment that, no doubt, many of us have felt or acquired when exposed to interminable presentations by a particularly boring speaker. Or when we have been obliged by politeness to attend an interminable ceremony or a tedious theatrical performance. Talking of which, on the advent of the Restoration, after the years of Cromwell’s Commonwealth, Shakespeare’s plays were re-introduced on the English stage. They were not very popular at the beginning, especially the tragedies and dramatists at times re-worked the plots so as to provide a happy ending. Dryden’s brother in law, the Hon. James Howard arranged Romeo and Juliet so that they lived happily ever after. In the early days of the Restoration, England was the only country in Europe where women’s parts were played by men. In the “History of the English Stage” Thomas Betterton (1635-1710) reports that, “His Majesty being at the Representation of Hamlet, and thinking the Entry of the Queen, in that play, a little too tedious, one of the Actors most humbly acquainted the Audience that the Queen was not quite shaved.”
Take a look at the web-page describing the book “Your Daily Shakespeare”, 1390 pages filled to the brim with over 10,000 situations you may find yourself in or involved with, attuned to the perfect Shakespearean repartee that will get you on the stage or at least out of the water – besides making you a winner of verbal contests. “Your Daily Shakespeare” has been described as the most unusual, useful and unique book of Shakespearean quotations. Nothing similar exists or has ever existed.
And if you like this website why not subscribe (see last menu item to the right)? You will get automatically any new blog as well as any other information and novelty that will be forthcoming, including a system to effortlessly (yes) remember hundreds of Shakespearean quotes by heart while having fun in the process. You can also chat with me – please go to the chat-page. And I promise, no sales calls, trade leads, venomous schemes, hidden plots, Machiavellian conspiracies, commercial ploys, psychological tricks, leads exchanges, barter proposals, suggestions or offers of any kind imaginable (and unimaginable).
In the play. Angelo, Deputy Duke of Vienna, comments on the trivial and lengthy exchanges between Froth and Pompey. The reference to nights in Russia reflects the generalized geographical notions of the time. In Russia’s Northern latitudes nights are very long, as they are in all Scandinavian countries, but the long winter nights of Russia found their way into popular parlance.
Image Source: http://www.free-desktop-backgrounds.net/Architecture-wallpapers/City-town-architecture/Moscow-town-night-Russia.html