Common Lit.

A bliss in proof, and prov’d, [a] very woe,

Before, a joy propos’d, behind, a dream.

William Shakespeare, Sonnet 129, Lines 11-12

This sonnet by William Shakespeare shows the power struggle between people who are in relationships that are built on lust. In these lines we see that this situation at time can be a blissful one and one that can hide the true nature of this kind of relationship. We see that there is an unnoticed trick involved in lust relationships that make them justifiable when they really are not. They are tricked in only seeing the good and only realizing the bad nature of these relationships when it’s too late.

MALCOLM

    But I have none: the king-becoming graces,
    As justice, verity, temperance, stableness,
    Bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness,
    Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude,
    I have no relish of them, but abound
    In the division of each several crime,
    Acting it many ways. Nay, had I power, I should
    Pour the sweet milk of concord into hell,
    Uproar the universal peace, confound
    All unity on earth.

Macbeth,William Shakespeare, 4.3. 91-100

Malcolm tricks Macduff into believing that he would be a terrible king and here me makes sure there is no possible way Macduff can say he is fit to be a king. He knows whats makes a tyrant which he a person that lacks human emotion and does not care if there is bloodshed of his own people and basically is calling Macbeth out. It leaves us confused as readers on whether he could be a tyrant king even though he says he’s not that kind of person. It leaves to me to believe if he was given an opportunity like Macbeth, that he too would fall to the same fate.

Mortimer Junior 

  Madam, return unto the court again.           
  That sly inveigling Frenchman we’ll exile,    
  Or lose our lives; and yet, ere that day come,    
  The king shall lose his crown; for we have power,    
  And courage too, to be reveng’d at full.

Christopher Marlowe, Edward II, Scene 2 Lines 56-60

Mortimer tells Queen Isabella of their plans to get rid of Gaveston and talks of how they have the power to do so. This lets us know as reader that they already have power over the King and will use it against him. He wants to also let the Queen know they are on her side and want Edward back to his old self. It seems like a noble act on their part to help the King get back to his senses, but later we find out this may not be the whole truth.

Gaveston

   Do. These are not men for me;
   I must have wanton poets, pleasant wits,
   Musicians, that with touching of a string
   May draw the pliant king which way I please:
   Music and poetry is his delight;
   Therefore I’ll have Italian masks by night,
   Sweet speeches, comedies, and pleasing shows;
   And in the day, when he shall walk abroad,
   Like sylvan nymphs my pages shall be clad;

Christopher Marlowe, Edward II, Scene 1, Lines 49-57

This shows the early stages of Gaveston’s want for power and how he will seduce the King into giving him what he wants. Gaveston believes that if he uses the Kings lust for men to his advantage he will remain in the King’s good graces. It becomes kind of confusing if he really want to be the King’s lover and make him love him more or just wants power. Before he can even put this plan into action he is foiled by the nobles and their dislike for him.

Lo, such it is not to be on your guard
Against the flatterers of the world, or yard,
And if you think my story is absurd,
A foolish trifle of a beast and bird,
A fable of a fox, a cock, a hen,
Take hold upon the moral, gentlemen.

The Canterbury Tale: The Nun’s Priest Tale, Geoffrey Chaucer, page 231.

The Nun Priest finally tells, us the readers, the true meaning behind his story, which is not be tricked by flattery because it never ends well. This is very true on many levels because there are plenty of time where a person is who they seem to be and become more trouble than necessary. The Nun Priest does a great job that showing that this story about animals can hold true to people and that we should be weary of flatters. Chantecleer got himself into a lot of trouble by believing that the fox just wanted to hear his voice, but learned from his mistake by flattering the fox back. This shows that trickery can work in two ways and hard to resist.