Shakespeare Anagram: Measure for Measure
Friday, March 21st, 2008From Measure for Measure:
He, who the sword of heaven will bear
Should be as holy as severe;
Pattern in himself to know,
Grace to stand, and virtue go;
More nor less to others paying
Than by self offences weighing.
Shame to him whose cruel striking
Kills for faults of his own liking!
Twice treble shame on Angelo,
To weed my vice and let his grow!
O, what may man within him hide,
Though angel on the outward side!
How many likeness made in crimes,
Making practice on the times,
To draw with idle spiders’ strings
Most pond’rous and substantial things!
Shift around the letters, and it becomes:
The former governor of New York State seemed like someone we might trust.
When he held the attorney general post, he had a reputation for upholding the law, so we dismissed character assassins and voted for his vision.
But now he’s fallen. He got caught lying, breaking the law, and dismissing morality.
What will we be thinking about seemly politicians that ask for votes or money now? How can we risk what misconducts one might be hiding? How do we tell smiling inspirational charm from hidden smug selfishness?