Looking south-east in Autumn, the Sussex Weald from Black Down summit, 280 metres, to the South Downs, West Sussex, England.

Speech by John of Gaunt, in Shakespeare’s play, King Richard ll.

 

 

This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle,

This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,

This other Eden, demi-paradise,

This fortress built by Nature for herself

Against infection and the hand of war,

This happy breed of men, this little world,

This precious stone set in the silver sea,

Which serves it in the office of a wall

Or as a moat defensive to a house,

Against the envy of less happier lands,--

This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.

William Shakespeare, "King Richard II", Act 2 scene 1

Greatest English dramatist & poet (1564 - 1616)

 

I dare not have the audacity and arrogance to suggest that I could

put this description of our hallowed land a thousandth as well as the Great Bard, himself,

William Shakespeare, in my opinion, the greatest English man to ever draw breath,

a veritable genius, a demi-God.

 

Done