Tuesday 2 September 2008

Unleash The Dogs Of War...

I'm not sure where the post title originates; looking it up on Google brought up several references to pop songs, and I'm sure it's older than that. There are also references to Frederick Forsythe's novel, and quite a few people seem to use it as a quote. I thought it might be The Bard himself, but that is possibly a red herring, or at least a mis-quote...

...but I digress!

I just wanted to say that school starts for me again tomorrow, and the madness begins again! Oh well, at least I didn't have to go back on Monday, like Leutgeb!

12 comments:

Hilary Jane Margaret White said...

It's a paraphrase of Hamlet:

"Cry havoc! and let slip the dogs of war".

johnf said...

Cry Havock and let slip the dogs of war,
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial

(Mark Antony, soliloquy over the body of Julius Caesar)

I'm not a smart alec - I just recall it from O Level English. The Jesuits were excellent teachers.

Londiniensis said...

" ... And Caesar's spirit, raging for revenge,
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice
Cry "Havoc!" and let slip the dogs of war,
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial ... "

said by Mark Antony - from Julius Caesar Act 3, scene 1

Anonymous said...

Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Act III Scene 1,

Mark Anthony's soliloquy at the end of his funeral oration for Caesar:

"Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines, with a monarch's voice,
Cry 'Havoc' and let slip the dogs of war;
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial!"

(I thought it was Julius Caesar, but asked my son--who starts university tomorrow--and he not only confirmed it but quoted it right off.

Well, I used to be able to recite it myself at one time . . .)

Rob said...

Have a great day!

Anonymous said...

It could well be a misquote of the Bard:

"Cry havoc! And let slip the dogs of war!"

Joe said...

Two days in to term, no lessons yet taught .... but slept for 10 hours last night! Is it anticipation?

gemoftheocean said...

Heck mac I was just about to add the same ... "with a monarch's voice / Cry 'havoc!' and let slip the dogs of war" (3.1.275-6)

But to throw in another not dissimilar from the prologue of Henry V:

Then should the warlike Harry, like himself,
Assume the port of Mars; and at his heels,
Leash'd in like hounds, should famine, sword and fire
Crouch for employment.

Did you snooze through Shakespeare?

Jane said...

'Well done class, 99% pass rate!
(Puts on genuinely kind teacher face) Hilary Jane White, how often have you been told you to check your work before handing it in, particularly in a public examination.'

Ah me! 'There's many a true word spoken in jest.' How, where does that come from?!

Anonymous said...

Teach me to look things up.

PJA said...

Just cry God for Mac, England and St George!

Jane said...

Hilary Jane Margaret:

You didn't spot my two 'deliberate mistakes'!

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