“When beggars die, there are no comets seen;
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes”
(Julius Caesar, act 2, sc. 2)
Comments. When beggars die for sure there are no comets, but even when they live there are no comets seen. This quote and entry is almost a natural sequitur to the previous quote and comments, related to the pregnancy of Kate Middleton. In fact, the deprecated fanfare about the event (see the entry) happened to cause one victim, a suicide – the nurse who mistook a prank call by two disk jockeys for queen and husband.
Her unfortunate end was quietly reported in the context of the pregnancy in question – even so, as per Shakespeare’s line, no comet was or is likely to be seen.
It may be so by necessity, but the deep reality of it should not escape us – or so I think anyway.
Tips for Use. Make it a rallying cry against class distinction.
In the Play. Calpurnia tells husband Caesar that extraordinary and unnatural events signify the impending doom of a VIP.
Site for Image. http://janus.astro.umd.edu/front/pages/links/Comets2.html