Originally posted by Rusty
Don't worry Beo, I understand.
Maybe you can answer something I've wondered about, the phrase the "unkindest cut of all"? Just what is that and where - nobody seems to know ( or want to talk ) about it?
Hi Rusty - sounds like it might refer to circumcision (or worse...), but the phrase is actually
the most unkindest cut of all (double superlative, not 'proper' in modern standard english) - I'll give my standard answer - it's from Shakespeare's
Julius Caesar.
No, really it is - Act III, Scene II:
This was the most unkindest cut of all; for when the noble Caesar saw him [Brutus] stab, Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, Quite vanquished him: then burst his mighty hearty
From Marc Anthony speech, referring to the slaying of Caesar, and particularly to the betrayal of Caesar by Brutus - there is a sort double meaning between the actual cut of Brutus' knife and the 'cut' of Caesar being betrayed by one he so trusted, I believe.
Still wondering about the 'doves of war' thing - it does sound like a Scandinavian thing - it may be a 'kenning' for raven. Old English like 'kennings' too -
hilde-leoma, lit. 'battle-flame' is a kenning for a "sword" in OE. Or
swan-rad, lit. 'swan-road' is a kenning for "the sea". Old Norse uses even more of these than Old ENglish, so I'm guessing the phrase might originate in one of these - 'dove of war' = "raven" -- there's a similar example of 'dove of war' that I do know, but can't think of it right now.
B.