felis_ultharus

"Sylvester Stallone has stated, 'I could play Hamlet if I wanted to. I just don't want to.' Mr. Stallone may be understating his case. He may be able to play Lear."
--- John Ralston Saul, The Doubter's Companion

Rarely do I have reason to question the words of the great John Ralston Saul. But could anyone actually imagine a version of King Lear starring Sylvester Stallone?

How about this: King Lear is driven into the woods by the abuse suffered at the hands of his daughter. He's driven into a mine, but the Duke of Cornwall flushes him out. So King Lear hijacks a horse-driven cart and steals an M60 rapid-fire assault crossbow. Then he invades Dover, and goes on a killing rampage.

It'd be followed by King Lear: First Blood Part II.

So I've been researching Middle English to try and put the words "We're here/We're queer/Get used to it" in perfectly natural Medieval English.

I tried this once before, but without the same rigour. Now I've gone over my Chaucer, my Pearl-Poet materials, online etymological sources, the OED. Plus, this time I've added a Medieval representation of two male Hyaenas embracing. Hyaenas were believed to have the power to change sex, and so they became symbols of homosexuality.

( What to wear to the Medieval queer pride parade, London 1350! )