The Reformation of Wolfshausen

Teil Fünf-Und Vierzig

To hear the Bear and the Crow read this episode, click on the happy evangelist.

To read this week's episode, follow Thomas Didymus' finger.

The story so far is here.

Cackle

CACKLE, v.i. To celebrate the birth of an egg.

They say that hens do cackle loudest when

. There's nothing vital in the egg they've laid;

. And there are hens professing to have made

A study of mankind, who say that men

Whose business is to drive the tongue or pen

. Make the clamourous fanfaronade

. O'er their most worthless work; and I'm afraid

In this respect they're really like the hen.

Lo! The drum-major in his coat of gold,

. His blazing breeches and high-towering cap,

Imperiously pompous, "bloody, bold

. And resolute"-an awe-inspiring chap!

Who'd think this hero's only warlike virtue

Is that in battle he will never hurt you?

2009 Update: To argue as the fowl argues or laugh as the witch laughs, or to contemplate as Lou Dobbs contemplated.

Cane

CANE, n. A convenient article for admonishing the gentle slanderer and the inconsiderate rival.

2009 Update: A portable foundation with which to reinforce the rigidity of the elderly, or upon which to erect an upright child. A mobile martyrdom, Crux mobilis.

TLP, Decider

A morning is for glory,

Late morn for glory past,

When a man can sit upon his couch

And be thoughtful at last.

But quiet, cautious contemplation

Serves only as a provocation

To the kind of woman whose vacation

She spends spreading aggravation.

Do the Roosters out in Pennsyltucky

Arise to Lucy's crowing?

Do the clouds break when she thunders

And the winds gust when she's blowing?

Here in LA, the sky is brightening,

The weather's clear, the morals heightening.

The burdens of the times are lightening

But I won't relax while Lucy's tightening.

BOSSY, adj. Minutely gracious.

Cudgel

CUDGEL, n. A medicine for external application to the head and shoulders of a fool.

2009 Update: A heavy club which, the likeliest weapon of Friar Tuck, has since obsolesced in favor of theology.

Coenobite

COENOBITE, n. A man who piously shuts himself up to meditate upon the sin of wickedness; and to keep it fresh in his mind joins a brotherhood of awful examples.

O Coenobite, O coenobite,
Monastical gregarian,
You differ from the anchorite,
That solitudinarian:
With vollied prayers you wound Old Nick;
With dropping shots he makes him sick.
—Quincy Giles

2009 Update: A contemplative who leaves town and home in search of community.

The Reformation of Wolfshausen

Teil Vier-Und Vierzig

To hear Weirsdo telling this week's story, hide in the breadbasket.

To read this week's episode, watch from over in the haystack.

The story so far is here.

Eulogy

EULOGY, n. Praise of a person who has either the advantages of wealth and power, or the consideration to be dead.

2009 Update: A brief review of the virtues from a life well and fully lived.

Epigram

EPIGRAM, n. A short, sharp saying in prose or verse, frequently characterize by acidity or acerbity and sometimes by wisdom. Following are some of the more notable epigrams of the learned and ingenious Dr. Jamrach Holobom:

We know better the needs of ourselves than of others. To serve oneself is economy of administration.

In each human heart are a tiger, a pig, an ass and a nightingale. Diversity of character is due to their unequal activity.

There are three sexes; males, females and girls.

Beauty in women and distinction in men are alike in this: they seem to the unthinking a kind of credibility.

Women in love are less ashamed than men. They have less to be ashamed of.

While your friend holds you affectionately by both your hands you are safe, for you can watch both his.

2009 Update: Refined babble.

Those who seek shall surely find what they who lie unsought express in rhyme.

-Anonymous

Anthropogenic Global Whining

Whether the science from gleaning of data

Is right that the world's getting warmer

Or the others are right that the science won't matter

If we cede all our plans to the former:

It's summery here in C.A. in November

And might be for Christmas, the worse.

So I'm starting my day, hoping to remember

To drive in to work in reverse.

DISCOMFORT, n. Heaven's first gift to the good and wisdom's middle curse on the industrious.