Not only can reading Aristotle enrich your mind, it might just save your life! Legend has it that centuries ago, a student at The Queen's College, Oxford was walking through the woods on Christmas day and reading Aristotle. Suddenly, a wild boar charged him. Having no other weapon, the resourceful student saved his life by quickly thrusting his Aristotle down the boar's throat. That night the boar's head was finely dressed and garnished and served to all the students at The Queen's College. Apparently, the students then sang, "The Boar's Head Carol," which was published in 1521 and is still sung today. I think I'm going to start carrying Nichomachean Ethics with me wherever I go. You just can't be too careful.
THE BOAR'S HEAD CAROL
The boar's head in hand bear I
Bedecked with bays and rosemary
I pray you, my masters, be merry
Quot estis in convivio (so many as are in the feast)
CHORUS: Caput apri defero, Reddens laudes domino (the boar's head I bring, giving praises to God)
The boar's head, as I understand,
Is the rarest dish in all this land,
Which thus bedecked with a gay garland
Let us servire cantico. (let us serve with a song)
CHORUS
Our steward hath provided this
In honor of the King of bliss
Which, on this day to be served is
In Reginensi atrio. (in the Queen's hall)
2 comments:
I love how "bear I," "rosemary," and "merry" are used in rhyme. It's possibly the greatest ever done, at least until Steve Miller rhymed "Texas," facts is," "justice," and "taxes."
I agree, Toph. Consider also the rhyming genius of Rick Springfield, who rhymed "start acting cute" with "I want to tell her that I love her, but the point is probably moot." Brilliant.
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