1. I don't believe it is a coincidence that the 1662 Anglican Book of Common Prayer to the "Prayer for the Clergy and People," which it situates near the end of the Order for Evening Prayer, asking that God "send down upon our Bishops, and Curates, and all Congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy grace; and that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing," prefaces the following:
"Almighty and everlasting God, who alone workest great marvels...."
2. Shakespeare is subtle. In Hamlet's famous proto-emo speech, he poses what looks like two possible solutions to the ultimate perplexity:
"whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer / The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, / Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, / And by opposing end them?"
But the rest of the speech, hinted at here, goes to show that Hamlet is not really considering both options. The second option is little more than an ironic jest, for in fact it is impossible to fight a
sea with force of arms.
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