martes, 14 de abril de 2015

A FEW BOOKS WITH STRANGE TITLES

The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms, with Observations on their Habits, by Charles Robert Darwin.

Relato de un náufrago que estuvo diez días a la deriva en una balsa sin comer ni beber, que fue proclamado héroe de la patria, besado por las reinas de la belleza y hecho rico por la publicidad, y luego aborrecido por el gobierno y olvidado para siempre, by Gabriel García Márquez.

A Declaration of Egregious Popish Impostures, to withdraw the hearts of Her Majesty's Subjects from their allegiance, and from the truth of Christian Religion professed in England, under pretence of casting out devils. Practised by Edmunds, alias Weston, a Jesuit, and divers Romish priests his wicked associates. Whereunto are annexed the Copies of the Confessions and Examinations of the parties themselves, which were pretended to be possessed, and dispossessed, taken upon oath before her Majesty's Commissioners, for causes Ecclesiastical; by Samuel Harsnett.

"Terence, This is Stupid Stuff", by A.E. Housman. Not only the title (who would call a poem that? A brilliantly snarky title!), but it also contains a few gems of verses like:

The cow, the old cow, she is dead;
It sleeps well, the horned head:
We poor lads, 'tis our turn now
To hear such tunes as killed the cow.

A great piece of snark to the untimely demise of an adult female Bos primigenius taurus.

Oh many a peer of England brews
Livelier liquor than the Muse,

...

They poured strychnine in his cup
And shook to see him drink it up:
They shook, they stared as white's their shirt:
Them it was their poison hurt.

It's nice to see the gunner hoist by his own petard. I agree with Hamlet upon this. 

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