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Admit that the waters around you have grown
Some History just happened, did you sleep through it?
Tomorrow the world* can wake up and realize that the institution of marriage hasn't collapsed overnight. There will continue to be grumbling about the downfall of society, and most likely protracted legal battles over Full Faith and Credit, but next month this will be the status quo. As with so many cases of moral repression, posterity will be left wondering what all the fuss was about.
This day is called the feast of Cathian:
He that outweds this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Cathian.
He that shall wed this day, in his old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'Tomorrow is Saint Cathian:'
Then will he bare his hand and show his ring.
And say 'This band I had on Cathan's day.'
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What friends he had that day: then shall their names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Goodridge et al, Bailey and Davies,
Wilson and Compton, Balmelli and Horgan,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Cathan Cathian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But they in it shall be remember'd;
Those few, those happy few, with banns of marriage;
For he today that gets his license signed
Shall so be married; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition.
And people in New England now abed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their marriage cheap whiles any speaks
That wed with us upon Saint Cathan's day.
*Except for Belgium, the Netherlands, and parts of Canada, where they've already figured that out.
Tomorrow the world* can wake up and realize that the institution of marriage hasn't collapsed overnight. There will continue to be grumbling about the downfall of society, and most likely protracted legal battles over Full Faith and Credit, but next month this will be the status quo. As with so many cases of moral repression, posterity will be left wondering what all the fuss was about.
This day is called the feast of Cathian:
He that outweds this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Cathian.
He that shall wed this day, in his old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'Tomorrow is Saint Cathian:'
Then will he bare his hand and show his ring.
And say 'This band I had on Cathan's day.'
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What friends he had that day: then shall their names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Goodridge et al, Bailey and Davies,
Wilson and Compton, Balmelli and Horgan,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Cathan Cathian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But they in it shall be remember'd;
Those few, those happy few, with banns of marriage;
For he today that gets his license signed
Shall so be married; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition.
And people in New England now abed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their marriage cheap whiles any speaks
That wed with us upon Saint Cathan's day.
*Except for Belgium, the Netherlands, and parts of Canada, where they've already figured that out.
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Shoveler: (indicates the bowl of egg salad he's been mixing) This is egg salad. It's loaded with cholesterol. The wife won't even let me touch it. Hardly seems to matter now, 'cause chances are we're already dead. Amazing is gone. There's no use waiting for the cavalry, because as of this moment, the cavalry is us.
This is our fight, whether we like it or not. Just we few. We're not your classic superheroes. We're not the favorites. We're the other guys. We're the guys nobody ever bets on. But I'll tell you what I think. (to Bowler) I think you and that ball of yours have an
appointment that you gotta keep. (to Invisible Boy) Invisible Boy, I think it's time you were seen. (to Sphinx) Sphinx, you have trained us well. (to Heller) And Dr. Heller, you might just have given us the edge we need. (to Spleen) And Spleen. I don't wanna stand behind you. But I'll fight beside you with pride. (to Blue Rajah) Jeff. You've got a rare and beautiful gift. The city needs you tonight. (to Mr. Furious) And Roy, in all the years I've known you, I've never seen you walk away from a fight. Why you lifted a city bus once, man. I think you've got what it takes to handle Casanova.
(to everyone) We're all in over our heads and we know it. But if we take on this fight, those of us who survive it will forever after show our scars with pride and say, "That's right. I was there. I fought the good fight." So what do you say? Do we all gather together, and go kick some Casanova butt? Or do I eat this sandwich?
And, if not, you know it now.
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(Of course, I am tremendously pleased with the event, and it's well worth celebrating. And of course, I am tremendously impressed with the versification above, it's worth remarking on, too.)
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