Shakespeare Quiz:

Who speaks this speech, and what play?

O sir, we quarrel in print, by the book; as you have
books for good manners: I will name you the degrees.
The first, the Retort Courteous; the second, the
Quip Modest; the third, the Reply Churlish; the
fourth, the Reproof Valiant; the fifth, the
Countercheque Quarrelsome; the sixth, the Lie with
Circumstance; the seventh, the Lie Direct. All
these you may avoid but the Lie Direct; and you may
avoid that too, with an If. I knew when seven
justices could not take up a quarrel, but when the
parties were met themselves, one of them thought but
of an If, as, 'If you said so, then I said so;' and
they shook hands and swore brothers. Your If is the
only peacemaker; much virtue in If.

Finally, which "degree of the lie" have you most recently resorted to? The Reply Churlish? The Countercheque Quarrelsome? The Quip Modest?

I know it's from As You Like It; I can't remember the character's name, though.

Dang. Time to turn in my college degree.

I know it's from As You Like It;

Correct.

I can't remember the character's name, though.

Who's the clown in that play?

Also, you didn't answer the last question. I suspect you've used The Reply Churlish on chatty coworker this week.

I suspect you've used The Reply Churlish on chatty coworker this week.

Oh, I only EVER use The Reply Churlish. Anything else is just inauthentic dissembling.

I'm reading Octavia Butler's book, The Fledgling. I know it wasn't supposed to be one of her best, but I feel almost awkward reading it, like I'm in someone else's business. The POV character is not a very informed one at this point in the book, but somehow it all feels childlike to me. Having a hard time convincing myself to finish.

Why won't the damn library find me a copy of Swordspoint???

Why won't the damn library find me a copy of Swordspoint???

I need to steal my library's copy of it. I swear I'll love it properly.

I need to steal my library's copy of it. I swear I'll love it properly.

You! You are the villain!

Somehow I managed to end up with a book after it, and now it seems there's no way I'm getting Swordspoint before I have to return what I have.

Heh. I just started rereading that the other night. Hivemind in action.

I just read that a couple of weeks ago! I really enjoyed it, though I liked The Privilege of the Sword even better -- anyone read that one yet? I fell head-over-heels for the main character, while nobody in Swordspoint quite grabbed me like she did. It also made me wonder if Swordspoint would be a significantly different book if Kushner wrote it now, instead of in the 80s, just in terms of (barely spoilery) attitudes towards sex and sexuality -- how much to show vs. tell, that sort of thing.

I read Swordspoint when it first came out, and have had to buy another copy to reread before I tackle The Fall of Kings before I get to Priviledge of the Sword. All three are in the TBR pile. Somewhere. I loved her Thomas the Rhymer, too.