Saturday, April 23, 2011

Parallel - Air as the Seat of a house; Smells that 'woo'

First, Shake-Speare:

Duncan:  This castle hath a pleasant seat, the air
         Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself
         Unto our gentle senses.
Banquo:               This guest of summer
         The temple-haunting martlet, does approve
         By his loved mansionry, that the heaven's breath
         Smells wooingly here.
 Macbeth 1.6.1-6

Now, Bacon:  
"He that builds a fair house upon an ill seat committeth himself to prison. Neither do I reckon it an ill seat only where the air is unwholesome, but likewise where the air is unequal".
   Essay on Buildings

"I am much beholding to your highness's worthy servant Sir John Vaughan, the sweet air and loving usage of whose house hath already much revived my languishing spirits".
   Letter to Prince Henry

"But for the choice of places or seats, it is good to make trial not only of the aptness of air to corrupt but also of the moisture and dryness of the air".
   Natural History

"[Smells which are not too  strong] rather woo the sense than satiate it".
   Natural History

Comment:  Shake-Speare, and Bacon in two of his passages, describe the quality of the air as the "seat" of a house. Did anyone else? Both our authors speak of smells "wooing". Did anyone else?

No comments:

Post a Comment