Another Riddle from the Hobbit

 A box without hinges, key or lid,
 Yet golden treasure inside is hid.
What is it?

Answers soon!

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Cymbeline: The End

Cymbeline is talking with Lucius, and tells him that the army will be killed, as well as himself. Lucius asks that Fidele's life be spared. Cymbeline grants this, as well as anything  Fidele might ask. Fidele asks to ask Iachimo where he got his ring. Iachimo confesses that it came from Posthumus, and tells how he won it. Posthumus came forward, and in his grief called Imogen's name. She ran forward, but not recognizing her, he throws her to the floor. Pisonio tells that it is Imogen. The queen has just died, confessing her hatred of Imogen and Cymbeline, and a plot that she would use a mineral that would waste away the king. She had asked the doctor to give her poison, saying it was for rats, but he had suspected that she was trying to fool him. Then the king's eldest son, Guiderius,(as Polydor) says that he has killed Cloten. Cymbeline says that Polydor must die. Then Belarus tells how he stole the young princes from their beds. He shows which is which: Cadwal is really Arviragus,and Polydor Guiderius. He also had proofs of their being princes. Posthumus forgave Iachimo, and Cymbeline forgave all, even telling Lucius that Briton will pay the tribute. The soothsayer interprets the dream, which fortold all that happened.

The End!
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Riddles: the answers

Here are the answers to the riddles:

What grows, and only stops when one cries out in woe?: Age

What has roots as nobody sees, is taller than trees, up up it goes, and yet it never grows?: Mountain

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Fabius

Fabius was given a triumph, because of his great victory. The governor of the town at the time it was taken by Hannibal, Marcus Livius. Livius was grumpy, and once openly said in the senate that Fabius had not taken the town without his help. To which Fabius jokingly replied;  You say very true, for if Marcus Livius had not lost Tartum, Fabius Maximus had not recovered it. The people rewarded Fabius greatly, among other things making his son consul. Once, when the consul was on foot with his guard, Fabius approached on horseback. Seeing this, his son sent a man to tell him that if he had any business with the consul he should come on foot. Bystanders were astonished that the son should so treat his father! But Fabius came running from his horse, and said to his son" Yes my son, you know over whom you have power, and when to use it. This is the way we and our forefathers advanced Rome, by loving Rome and her honor and service to our fathers and children."

I think Fabius was so pleased with his son's response because it meant that the lessons were learned, that his son knew how to use his power, and to use it rightly. This was a good thing, for both Rome and Fabius. A good consul was very necessary for the safety and well-being of Rome.

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A riddle

What grows, and only stops when some cry out in woe?


From the Hobbit:
What has roots as nobody sees,
Is taller than trees,
Up, up, it goes,
And yet it never grows?

I will post the answers later!
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Science

I have 5 Q. and A. for Science. Here they are:

1. Define linear momentum:  Momentum in a straight line. 
2. Define angular momentum: The momentum of spinning objects
3. Write the equation for linear momentum and define the terms: p = m x v. P- momentum, M- mass, V-velocity.
4. Define the law of conservation of momentum: The linear momentum of any object stays the same unless an outside force interferes.
5. What three things do you need to measure angular momentum?: Mass, radius, and velocity. 

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Brutus

I first posted these posts about Brutus in 2010- January 2011. That is why they are short and stiff.

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End of Brutus

Brutus was very sad, and told his men it was every man for himself . Then Brutus went with 2 or 3 men and stabbed himself.
the end  
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Brutus

Brutus's bravest man surrendered himself to the enemy, and the other brave men died, all but one who said he was Brutus. The man was found out and treated well, for Antonius was glad,and he served Antonius till he died. Brutus is in a bad place.




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Brutus

Brutus was troubled, for his own camp was full of prisoners, so they needed a guard, and Cassius's soldiers were unhappy at the loss of their leader. But Brutus had won a sea battle he did not know about,but if he had he would have made battle. He did, but his soldiers fled, and he lost.




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Brutus

Brutus's army did not wait to be told to fight, but charged and scattered the enemy. They plundered the camp. Cassius's army lost, and Cassius fled to a hill, and seeing the horsemen Brutus send to help him, mistook them for the enemy. He did send a friend to see, but thought he got captured. So he killed himself.



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Brutus

Brutus gave each man in his army 50 silver drachmas, and some animals to give to the gods, whereas the leader of the enemy gave only 5 drachmas and a bit of corn. So Brutus and Cassius's' soldiers were better pleased.Now Brutus was for starting the Battle on the morrow, but Cassius did not want to, because he had unlucky signs, but Brutus overruled him, so they decided to make battle on the morrow.


more later,

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Brutus

Posted on January, 2011 
But as Brutus and Cassius prepared to go out into the rest of Europe, something happened. Brutus was a careful man, and he never slept in the day-time,and only a little at night. One night, having slumbered a little after supper, he spent the rest of the night sorting the most weightiest causes, when he heard one come to him,and looked towards the door. He saw one who said, I am your evil spirit, Brutus. Then he said, We will meet again in Philippes.Then Brutus said, Well, than I shall see you again.
No-one had been seen.


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Brutus

Posted in 2010

Brutus and Cassius separate for a bit. Brutus captures a city that does not want to be under Roman rule. Here's how: nets are put in the river that runs through the city, so no one can get out that way. Some men set fire to some of the things used to knock down the walls, and the fire spread to the wall, burning the city. Brutus paid each soldier that saved a man, yet no more than 50 were saved. Brutus and Cassius met alone. However, a man came in and said something funny. more later,



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Brutus

Posted in 2010

Brutus is condemned by some Romans. He went into Asia, and got ships. He met Cassius, and was reconciled to him. He had men and ships enough to fight for the empire of Rome.





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Brutus

Posted in 2010

Brutus won an army by his good qualities. He made it bigger by taking smaller armies, and putting them with his army. People liked him because of his good qualities. He took an important general's army.





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Brutus

Posted in 2010

The people were in a tumult. But seeing that they killed no one, the people calmed down. Brutus made a speech to them. Then he made his second great mistake, letting Antonio make a speech, and he read Caesar's will to the people. He stirred up the people against the conspirators, and showed the people the body of Caesar. The people burned Caesar's body. Brutus had to flee. He could not go back because Caesar's soldiers wanted to kill him.




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Brutus

 Posted in 2010

The conspirators met on the day of the meeting of the senate, because they would not be suspected. They concealed daggers in their clothes to kill Caesar with. They surrounded his chair
as if asking for something. One of them did something to Caesar's garment, and Casca struck Caesar. Caesar was killed by them.






more next time,
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Brutus

 First posted on 

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Now we will be learning about Marcus Brutus. In Plutarch's lives, Brutus is portrayed as a good man, with many good qualities. Caesar favored  Brutus very much.The friends of a man named Cassius warned Brutus  about taking Caesar's favors.Cassius reconciled himself to  Brutus and asked him to come to the senate on the 1st of march if they were invited. Brutus said yes.

more later!

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Solon

All the posts about Solon are a year or so old. That is why they are short and not as good as the Fabius ones.

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The End of Solon

The people were not picky about how many club men Pisistratus had, and he got an army! He took over, and Solon chided them for giving up so easily, and than gave up because they would not listen. I think that was right; how can you help someone who won't listen? He wrote poems that chided the Athenians. Pisistratus did not kill Solon, but honored him and kept many of Solon's laws. Plutarch does not say how or when Solon died.

The End
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Solon

When Solon was gone, the citizens began to quarrel.One man was perfect on the outside, but horrid on the inside. The people loved him. Solon saw this before anyone else, and warned the man to quit being ambitious. Then the man got hurt, and the people said to give him bodyguards, and this does not sound good, because he can get more and more.

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Solon

Solon talked with Coerces, a king that was very rich. Solon did not like that, and when Coerces asked Solon who was the happiest man Solon had known, Solon said other people every time, and said that these people had done something good for someone else. Some time after, Coerces was captured and was to be killed by a another king. Then Coerces called out the name of Solon, and the other king asked him why. Coerces told him about the instruction Solon had given him, and the other king let Coerces go.

I think Solon had the right definition of happiness. We are always happy when we do something for someone else, and it makes us sometimes the happiest.

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More Laws (Solon)

Solon said that women could not have dowries, but only three suits of clothes, a bit of household stuff, and that was all, so no one would marry for money. Also no man could speak evil of the dead, and is good to respect them, and also no man could speak evil of the living in the temples, the courts of justice, the public offices, or at the games, or else to pay 3 drachmas to the person and 2 to the public. For men must learn to control their tempers at least part of the time. Wills could now be made, and friends could be given some of it. Also women had laws which said they could not be immodest, or have in public more than 3 articles of dress. There were others too. There were others about funerals. I think the laws were wise.

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New Laws (Solon)

 Solon made lots of new laws; here are some of them: There were lots of foreigners, and they were to be farmers, and the legal people were to be traders and such. Another law was that is there was not a public well within 4 furlongs, dig your own, and if 10 fathoms had been dug, and there was no water, you could get 4 and a 1/2 gallons from your neighbors a day. You could not plant some trees within 9 feet of a neighbor's. All these laws were to help uncrowd Athens. I think they were good.

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Solon

Solon made laws that were fair. The people who were worth 500 measures of fruit were the 1st class, the people worth 300 measures or could keep a horse were the 2nd class, and the people worth 200 measures were 3rd class. The rest were not able to have offices, but could be jurors.  This was still a great privilege, as many cases were brought to the courts. Also, anybody could help the weak to get cases against the people who hurt them.

more later
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Solon

The people of Athens were having trouble with debts. So Solon decided to cancel all debts. But he told 3 of his most trusted friends that the land would stay, and at once they borrowed large sums of money and bought farms. Then they did not pay back the money. The people blamed Solon. They got mad, but Solon fixed it. The people would have nothing to do with the friends anymore.

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Solon

This was posted in October 2011. 

This philosopher was from a noble stock. His father was Execestides, a man of power in Athens. But he lost his money being kind! He would not let his friends help him. Solon was always wanting to get wisdom, and when he got old he said that "he got more wisdom every day". He made great laws, and was one of the seven sages of Greece. Many men knew of him. One man, Anacharsis, a Scythian philosopher, knocked on Solon's door. He said he wanted to be Solon's friend. "It is better to make friends at home" said Solon. Then you at home be friends with me" replied Anacharsis. They because friends and Solon kept Anacharsis in his home.

 I think this tells us Solon was generous.

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Fabius

A young soldier in  Fabius's army had a sister in a town captured by the enemy. This sister had a man in love with in love with her from Hannibal's army, and the brother decided to put this to good use for the Romans. He told his plan to Fabius and then went to the house of his sister and did not say at first  that he knew whom she loved. He talked with her and then he told her he knew. She called her friend. The brother and the friend became friends with each other. Then the brother told the friend the plan and the friend agreed to it. Fabius sent out a decoy to fool Hannibal and it worked. At the agreed time,the friend let them in.  Fabius was overcome by ambition and killed many of the townspeople. This was not the right thing to do! He showed poor  judgment and did not control his ambition.

more later
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Fabius

There were two different generals whom Hannibal feared: Fabius when he sat still, and Marcellus when he moved. Hannibal had to deal with either one of these generals for a long time, because each was five times counsol. At last Marcellus fell into a trap that Hannibal had set for him and was killed in his fifth consulship. Then Fabius was counsol. But Hannibal's tricks never worked on him! Only once was he in danger of falling into a trap, when Hannibal foraged some letters that would bring him into the path of an ambush. He was reverted by looking at the birds. This, however, must be attributed to the favor of the gods rather than the prudence of Fabius.

Now in the camp there was a man who was making trouble. Fabius sent for him and told him ' I have heard that you are neglecting your good service and merits, and shall not be happy if the next time you are aggrieved you do not come to me.' After he said this, he gave the man an excellent horse and many presents. Henceforth, there was not a more faithful man in all the camp. I think this shows that Fabius knew how to handle bad tempers and disobedient men.

more next week,
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Fabius

The consul Varro, with a thin company, fled to Venusia; Aemilius Paulus, unable any longer to oppose the flight of his men, or the pursuit of the enemy, all wounded, in both soul and body, sat on a stone, thinking someone would kill him, when a man recognized him and begged him to come back to Rome. Paulus refused and the man took a message to Fabius saying Paulus had done all he asked. Paulus then threw himself on the place where the slaughter was thickest.
When Varro came back to Rome, the people did not chide him but respected him. They then elected Fabius for a dictator, they seeing that his tactics were best against Hannibal. He cheered the people and did not neglect the special sacrifices to the gods. He placed guards at the gate to keep the people from running away.

When Plutarch wrote that "Paulus then threw himself on the place where the slaughter was thickest." shows that Paulus was a weak man by nature, not wanting to face the people, he killed himself!

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Fabius

Fabius stepped down and two men became consuls,  Varro, of a strong and bold nature, and Paulus, rather weak, that being the word that best described him. Varro raised a army of 88,000 fighting men, alarming only the wise, for if this army was cut off, being the flower of Roman youth, what would happen to Rome?! They appealed to Paulus, who said, "Did I only consider myself, I should rather choose to be exposed to the weapons of Hannibal than once more to the suffrages of my fellow - citizens, who are urgent for what you disapprove; yet since the cause of Rome is at stake, I will rather seek in my conduct to please and obey Fabius than all the world besides." opposed Varro. But Varro said that one day Paulus would command, the next, Varro. Hannibal tricked the Romans to getting in between the wings of his army, by putting the best men in the wings and the weakest men in front, so that the middle would draw back and he could catch the Romans. The Romans were confused, and defeated.

Paulus was weak, and I think that Fabius had difficulty getting him to stand up to Varro was because he was afraid of the people. Fabius was successful with Paulus, but Varro forced him to a compromise that was dangerous for Rome!   

more next week,
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Fabius

Fabius has split the army with Minucius, and Minucius exalted in his triumph over Fabius, but Fabius said " If you must vie with me, try to vie in who can have more care for Rome". Minucius thought that Fabius was just jealous of him. Minucius moved in front of a flat-looking plain, that had dips and rises that were hidden so the plain looked flat. Hannibal hid men there and sent some out to get Minucius to come onto it. Minucius did so, and Hannibal's  men came up from the rear, attacking the Romans. Fabius hurried to his rescue, and dispersed Hannibal's men. Fabius said nothing harsh or unkind to Minucius, and both gathered their armies. Minucius went to the camp of Fabius and called him father, and the soldiers with Minucius called patrons the soldiers of Fabius, that being the term freedmen call their liberators.   

I think Fabius's response " If you must vie with me, try to vie in who can have more care for Rome" is a very Roman one. He loves his country and wants to protect it. Many loyal Romans would give all for their country. Fabius is proving himself to be a loyal Roman.

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Fabius

Fabius is called away for some sacrifices and leaves his second-in-command in charge and tells him not to attack. Minucius immediately attacks Hannibal, and wins! Then people have many speeches, and slandered Fabius, praising Minucius, who becomes a cock, full of himself. Fabius says the thing he most fears is Minucius's success!?!?!?!?! Fabius hurries back to the army saying he will punish Minucius, and the people get scared for his life and say Minucius and Fabius will have equal power over the army. Fabius is undisturbed,and they each get two legions.

When Fabius says" The thing I most fear is Minucius's success " he is saying that Minucius is dangerous because he is full of himself and will do rash things in his pride.

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Fabius

Fabius is in the hills, and Hannibal is scared. Then he thinks how to fool Fabius. He takes oxen and ties sticks and dry reeds to their horns. After dark he lights the sticks and reeds and his men drive the oxen on
before them. The oxen look like an army marching at first, but then the torches burn down their horns to the quick, making the oxen run crazily so they look like a confused army! Then the men guarding the passes for Fabius's army  leave, and Hannibal's army marches through. Fabius soon discovered this and attacked Hannibal in the rear. However, he waited until morning before attacking.
Then Hannibal sent some nimble troops to attack the Romans in their rear, and they killed many. Fabius retreated, and Hannibal went and destroyed much Roman land, but left the land of Fabius untouched, placing guards around it! This angered the people, and made them even madder, thinking that Fabius was in league with Hannibal, which was just what Hannibal wanted.

Now the prisoner exchange rate was man for man, or 250 drachmas for 1 man after all of the prisoners on one side had been exchanged. All of Fabius's prisoners were exchanged, but 240 Romans were still prisoner. So Fabius told his son to go and sell enough land to pay the ransoms. That was 60,000 thousand drachmas! Fabius paid for it all, and he would take back no money. I think this shows that he was willing to sacrifice for the good of the country.

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Fabius

Fabius is in command, and his trick is to run after Hannibal, never attacking him, but always scaring his men. The people are mad. They think Fabius is afraid to attack. Fabius is not swayed. He stays on the hills, and only Hannibal sees through him. The people want to get rid of Fabius, and are raging against him.

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About Fabius

Fabius was a famous man in Rome, and he lived in 3rd century B.C. His full name was Quintus Fabius Maximus. He fought Hannibal, the brilliant general of Carthage.

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Fabius

 When Fabius was a boy, he was slow, and many thought he was stupid because he was so slow. This slowness was because he thought about it before he did it. He served in the army of Rome, and he was second-in-command to a fiery general, who was impulsive.Fabius did not like it. He was put in command of the army when the general died as a result of his plan not working, and was chosen because he was wise beyond his years.

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Cymbeline, act 5 sn. 4

Posthumous is glad to be in chains, for he is tired of life, because he thinks Imogen has been unfaithful to him.
He is visited in his sleep by the ghosts of his family,who call to Jupiter who gives them a tablet with an oracle on it,that is a riddle telling them to be quiet! When Posthumus wakes he can not tell what it means! A messenger comes and tells Posthumus to come before the king, Cymbeline.


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Cymbeline Act 4 sns. 3-4, Act 5 sns. 1-3

    Act 4 

  Scene 3

Cymbeline is faced with war, his wife the queen on her sickbed almost dead, Cloten missing as well as Imogen. Pisanio tells the king he knows nothing of either Imogen or Cloten. The king believes him, but says 'I may yet punish you'.

Scene 4 

The young princes persuade Belarus to come to the war against Rome. Their being princes probably increases this. They tell him none shall recognize him, though he hath been well known.

Act 5 

Scene 1                                                                                                                      

 Posthumous is sorry for having ordered Pisanio to kill Imogen, and decides to try to get killed by appearing as a poor soldier in the Briton Army.   

Scene 2

 Iachimo is in the Roman army and Posthumus defeats and disarms him. Cymbeline is captured and Posthumus, Belarus, and the two princes rescue him. Causius Lucius tells "Fidele" to flee. 

Scene 3    

Posthumus puts on Roman garments and is captured by the winning Britons. They throw him in jail with chains that are welcome to him!?without recognizing him.

more next week!
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Cymbeline Act 3 sn. 7 and Act 4 sns. 1-2

The force against Cymbeline is commanded by Cauis Lucius. Cloten arrives at the place were he plans to rape Imogen and kill Posthumous. Cloten confronts Belarius and his "sons". Polydor then fights him, beheading him in the end. Afterwards, Imogen, not feeling well, takes the potion she has which puts her into a deathlike trance. Belarius, Polydor, and Cadwal think she is dead. They don't bury her and lay the dead and headless body of Cloten in Posthumous's clothes by her. When she wakes, she thinks it is Posthumous, and Cauis Lucius arriving then, wants to become his page. He welcomes Fidele into his service.

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Cymbeline, Act 3 scenes 5-6

Cymbeline takes leave of Lucius, and wants to talk to Imogen but cannot find her. Cloten comes on Pisanio, and forces him to show the letter that says that Imogen is going to Milford Haven. Cloten get Pisanio in his service, telling him to get some of Posthumous's clothes; Pisanio obeys, without knowing what for. Cloten does not tell Pisanio that he is going to try to kill Posthumous and rape Imogen dragging her back to court! He leaves.

Next Scene

Imogen as Fidele stumbles exhausted and weary into the cave of Morgan, Polydor, and Cadwal, just before they come back. They find her and ask her to stay, thinking Imogen is a boy, Fidele. She accepts this and eats with them.

more next week,

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Cymbeline, Act 3, sn 4

On the way to Milford Haven, Pisanio shows Imogen the letter that says he is to kill her. She is distraught because Posthumous thinks she is unfaithful, though she is not, and tells Pisanio to kill her at once. He will not, and suggested that she pretend to be a boy and serve Cauis Lucius. She agrees, and Pisanio gives her what he thinks is a restorative medicine, but will really make you look dead. The Queen thinks it is a poison, made by a doctor who does not trust her with poison, and so told her it is but it is not. 


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Cymbeline, Act 3, sns. 1-3

Cymbeline is visited by Cauis Lucius from Rome, who wanted the tribute, but Cymbeline was urged by his wife and son to say no. Cymbeline tells Cauis Lucius no, and Cauis Lucius says "Then War!"Back in Imogen's rooms, Posthumous's servant gets a letter telling him to kill Imogen a Milford Haven, with Imogen being told to go there. She knows nothing of Pisanio's letter, and is ready to go.  Posthumous believes that Imogen was unfaithful, though she was not. Change of scene to a cave, with a man called Morgan, and two boys called Cadwal and Polydor. Morgan's real name is Belarius, and, though they know it not, being stolen from the king, Cadwal is really Arviragus,and Polydor Guiderius, who is the older.

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Cymbeline, by Shakespeare

Cymbeline, Act 1 Scenes 4-5. Ichiamo is talking to Posthumous and says he can make Imogen unfaithful to Posthumous. Posthumous agrees to see and says Ichiamo can't. Back at the castle, a doctor gives to the queen a box that he says to the queen  contains a poison, but whispers to himself that it will make the taker look dead. Thus these scenes end.

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Cymbeline

Cymbeline is a play by Shakespeare.

Cymbeline is the king of Britain. His Queen died, and his two sons were captured when the eldest was 3. Imogen is his only daughter. Her mother died when she was young, and she marries Posthumus Leonatus, who grew up with her.The King wanted her to marry Cloten, son to present Queen by a former husband. The King is mad, and he banishes Posthumus Leonatus, and Imogen is in all but name a prisoner. Posthumus flees, and draws his sword on Cloten, with no harm done. The queen is pretending to help Imogen, but is really helping the King.

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Science

These are some questions, and the answers are from a book on science. Here they are:

1. Define mechanics: The study of motion 
2. State Newton's first law of motion: If an object is moving, it will keep moving. If an object is still, it will remain still. 
3. What is another name for Newton's first law?: The law of inertia.
4. Define mass and acceleration: Mass is how much substance an object has, and acceleration is any change in the motion of an object. 
5. State Newton's second law of motion: The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the force applied to the object and inversely proportional to the  mass of the object. 
6. What is another name for Newton's second law of motion?: The law of acceleration.
7. Explain directly proportional and inversely proportional: If two measurements are directly proportional, than when one increases the other increases too. If two measurements are  inversely proportional, then when one increases the other decreases.  
8. Write the law if acceleration in simple equation form: acceleration = force/mass
9. Write Newton's second law of motion as force = ?: Force = mass x acceleration.
10. State Newton's third law of motion: For every action, there is a equal reaction.

Hello!

Hello! I really like to read, so I will be posting reviews of books on my blog, chapter by chapter. I also like animals. One of my favorites is The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. It is a really great book! Also, Plutarch is a great author. He wrote about famous men, like Brutus, from Julius Caesar, Fabius, a great general for Rome, Solon, a wise leader, and others.

Belle