Todd Bernhardt

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Todd Bernhardt has posted 946 annotations/comments since 8 January 2003.

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First Reading

About Wednesday 26 April 1665

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"For girls getting an upgrade to first class accommodation’s it be said, that it be easier for the female of the species than the male."

Observations like this are one reason I enjoy reading your annotations, oh Man of a Thousand Names...

About Wednesday 26 April 1665

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

Well, we know that sometimes her relationships with people are difficult, but not that she has dementia...

Question:
"But I do very much fear that Mrs. Pickering’s honour, if the world comes to take notice of it, may be wronged by it"

Why would this be? Right now, she seems to be rejecting Creed's advances, so I'm not sure I understand Sam's concern here.

A headcold *and* nausea all night ... ugh.

About Tuesday 25 April 1665

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"did give me an account how the fleete did sayle, about 103 in all, besides small catches, they being in sight of six or seven Dutch scouts, and sent ships in chase of them"

How evocative an image is that? It must have been something to see...

About Monday 24 April 1665

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"and it is strange how he will preserve his constant humour of delaying all business that comes before him"

Who? Creed or Povy? I got lost here...

Sam has a right to be more than "a little proud" ... he's definitely Getting Noticed by Those Who Matter.

About Monday 27 March 1665

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

I sense that, here at the halfway (or so) point of the Diary, in the past several days we've reached a turning point in Sam's life. We all know that several Big Events are on the horizon, but on the personal front it seems as if Sam's diligence over the last five years is really starting to pay off -- he's becoming a "known man" and is about to begin reaping the rewards.

About Sunday 26 March 1665

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

The Diary looks just fine to me, except for today's entry, which is MIA. I'm sure Phather Phil has all in hand, however.

Mary, nice explanation of Sam's attitude. Death was much more of a constant presence in people's lives back then, and I think one of the reasons that Sam lives his life with such gusto is because he's very aware he's been given a "second chance."

About Saturday 25 March 1665

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"This afternoon of a sudden is come home Sir W. Pen from the fleete, but upon what score I know not."

Maybe because he got word that his compatriots were questioning his courage?

(While we're at it, what does "he was articled against for it" mean?)

About Thursday 9 March 1664/65

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"Up and to the office, where we sat all the afternoon. At noon to dinner at home, and then abroad with my wife"...

Is "afternoon" here a mistake on Sam's part?

About Monday 6 March 1664/65

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"and so home, and there find our new chamber-mayde, Mary, come, which instead of handsome, as my wife spoke and still seems to reckon, is a very ordinary wench, I think, and therein was mightily disappointed."

Psych!!

Oh Sam, you fool. Elizabeth's got to be chortling up her sleeve...

About Sunday 5 March 1664/65

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"and a pretty odd demand it was of my Lord to my Lady before me: 'How do you, sweetheart? How have you done all this week?' himself taking notice of it to me, that he had hardly seen her the week before"

Nice slice of life there. It's always interesting when Sam quotes people directly. Sometimes the language seems so different, and then sometimes -- like today -- it's as if they were sitting across the room from us.

Good to see Sam and "My Lord" getting on again.

About Saturday 4 March 1664/65

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"I, with being empty and full of ayre and wind, had some pain to-day."

Given how consistently he talks of having wind when he's not eaten, you'd think he'd grab a bite before heading out into the "bitter cold." I wonder why Sam so often makes such a point of not eating a substantial meal until dinner?

About Friday 3 March 1664/65

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"I am growne proud"

I think Sam might be admitting to the Diary that the fact that he's glad he didn't go to "the greatest feast that ever was yet kept by a Reader" confirms her suspicion that he has indeed grown proud.

About Thursday 23 February 1664/65

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Here I've been celebrating my son's upcoming birthday by hosting one party and taking my daughter to another, and neglecting Samuel's! Though belated by 343 years, my wishes are heartfelt, good sir.

Strange that there's no mention at all of a celebration of any sort...

About Tuesday 21 February 1664/65

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"looks like Sam was violent with Mrs B., which clarifies how consensual the relationship really is."

Yeah, not so "Oh Sir Jasper" after all, I guess.

(Yet she was waiting to be his Valentine! Go figure. Perhaps "struggling" has a different connotation here?)

About Tuesday 14 February 1664/65

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

re: Mrs. B

I think you're right, Robert ... her early appearance made me think right away that she was there as part of a plan to tie herself even more closely to Sam, but of course that's not what it's all about for him -- if you acknowledge someone as your Valentine, it can be another way of saying they have some power over you (or, at least, that the relationship is reciprocal). In this case, Sam is the one with the power, and wants it to stay this way (it's most likely part of the turn-on for him).