Happy Birthday to Shakespeare

Thanks to Chris Grieb for noting that today is the day that tradition claims as William Shakespeare's birthday (exact date is not known, but it is guessed to be 4/23 based on his baptism having been 4/26 and the customs of the day).

I'm using this opportunity to list a few of my favorite Shakespearean insults... his writing and wit will always amaze. He often used insults that sounds a bit dated, but aren't that uncommon, like rascal, rogue, crafty devil, fishmonger, dull fool, jackaknape, and so on. But these I find particularly good:

• hourly promise-breaker
• notable coward
• infinite and endless liar (see also: measureless liar)
• counterfeit module
• unbaked and doughy youth
• fat and greasy citizen
• you of basest function (see also: basest thing)
• confirmer of false reckonings
• nature's sale work
• carcass fit for hounds
• mere anatomy
• that-way-accomplished courtier
• depender on a thing that leans
• wretch whose natural gifts were poor
• breeder of sinners
• slovenly unhandsome corpse

Ouch! And those are just from the first two pages of the interesting book "Shakespeare's Insults: Educating Your Wit". I'll post more favorites later...