Many thanks for that detailed and thoughtful reply, Tony, and for the closer examination of the Shakespeare 'quotes'. I think you and Roy Hattersley hit the nail on the head when you say that Nelson may well have 'absorbed Shakespeare through his pores'. Certainly, his use of the word 'Benedict' in a letter to his brother William, meaning a resolute batchelor who succumbs to marriage was a common figure of speech (see SOED) originally from 'Much Ado About Nothing', of course. Some of his Shakespeare-derived usages may well come from common parlance. Another possible source, apart from reading in his cabin, was from his visits to the theatre. Nelson was an avid theatre goer when ashore - on one occasion, in Birmingham, I think - Mark will know - he was invited to choose a play. Again, off the top of my head, I think he chose Shakespeare's Henry 1V part 2. This is the play in which the future Henry V turns his back on youthful folly and companions and devotes himself to his country: a very Nelsonian theme. And he must have known the play to choose it. But we can, as you say, absorb the phrases and cadences of language through frequent aural exposure (as Nelson did in his father's church with the Bible and the Prayer Book) expressions from which are echoed, often not completely accurately, throughout his writing. Direct exposure through theatre visits, as well as merely repeating common usages might explain some of his Shakespearean references. The Macbeth 'quote' you mention is indeed tenuous: Shakespeare actually wrote: 'Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more.' Yes, CW was stretching it a bit!
It also occurs to me that Dr Scott, knowing how poor his eyesight was, might well have read to him as he relaxed after shifting his paperwork, and Shakespeare would be an obvious choice.
It would be foolish to claim that Nelson was an avid bibliophile, and this thread is certainly not an attempt to do that; but neither was he the unlettered ignoramus, knowing nothing other than the language of the sea, that some of his detractors maintain. The 'pamphlets' that you mention would probably have been the reading material, sometimes purely factual, sometimes highly polemical, that was produced by the political journalists of the day and covered a wide range of topics on national and international affairs. Such interests, combined with history, poetry, plays and maybe (!) a bit of Shakespeare, indicate a man who had some degree of intellectual curiosity, who wished to keep himself informed on topics of contemporary concern, despite the exigences of demanding professional duties and the handicap of impaired vision.
I am probably breaching copyright here, but I cannot resist quoting the late, wonderful Bernard Levin's tour de force revealing how Shakespeare has entered our everyday speech.
"If you cannot understand my argument, and declare: It's Greek to me, you are quoting Shakespeare. If you claim to be more sinned against than sinning, you are quoting Shakespeare. If you recall your salad days, you are quoting Shakespeare. If you act more in sorrow than in anger, if your wish is father to the thought, if your lost property has vanished into thin air, you are quoting Shakespeare. If you have ever refused to budge an inch or suffered from green-eyed jealousy, if you have played fast and loose, if you have been tongue-tied - a tower of strength - hoodwinked or in a pickle, if you have knitted your brows - made a virtue of necessity, insisted on fair play - slept not one wink - stood on ceremony - danced attendance on your lord and master - laughed yourself into stitches, had short shrift - cold comfort or too much of a good thing, if you have seen better days or lived in a fool's paradise - why, be that as it may, the more fool you, for it is a foregone conclusion that you are as good luck would have it quoting Shakespeare. If you think it is early days and clear out bag and baggage, if you think it is high time and that that is the long and short of it, if you believe that the game is up and that the truth will out even if it involves your own flesh and blood, if you lie low till the crack of doom because you suspect foul play, if you have your teeth set on edge at one fell swoop - without rhyme or reason, then - to give the devil his due if the truth were known for surely you have a tongue in your head, you are quoting Shakespeare. Even if you bid me good riddance and send me packing, if you wish I was dead as a door-nail, if you think I am an eyesore - a laughing stock - the devil incarnate - a stony-hearted villain - bloody-minded or a blinking idiot, then - by Jove! - O Lord! – Tut, tut! - for goodness’ sake! - what the dickens! - but me no buts - it is all one to me, for you are quoting Shakespeare..."
A final thought: Nelson was not a deeply cultured man; indeed, he expressed regret at his lack of knowledge of painting when he spoke to Benjamin West. But he respected works of art, and, as this letter, (which I have quoted 'Inside Nelson's World, but which is worth repeating here) reveals, his heart was in the right place.
To J. Fagan, Esq. Rome
Palermo, December 19th 1799
Dear Sir,
Sir William Hamilton has been so kind as to communicate to me the distinguished honour intended me by the inabitants, by you and the Professors and Admirers of Fine Art at Rome, to erect a monument. I have not words sufficient to express my feelings, on hearing that my actions have contributed to preserve the works which form the School of Fine Arts in Italy, which the modern Goths wanted to carry off and destroy. That they may always remain in the only place worthy of them, Rome, are and will be my fervent wishes, together with the esteem of, dear sir, your most obliged servant, Bronte Nelson.
Contrast this with Napoleon's plunder of Venice - the city I love most in the world - which horrifies me every time I think about it: treasures looted in their hundreds and numerous churches of exquisite architectural beauty and significance simply razed to the ground because they were obstacles to Napoleon's grand scheme for the city.
_________________ Anna
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