APAD: Hide not thy poison with such sugar’d words


"Hide not thy poison with such sugar’d words." is a Shakespeare quote from Henry VI.  It means "don't disguise harmful intent with sweet talk," urging honesty by revealing true, malicious intentions rather than masking them with pleasant language, highlighting betrayal and deceit.  It is a direct command to stop hiding evil or treacherous motives behind flattering or gentle speech.

In the play, King Henry VI says this to the Duke of Suffolk, who has been instrumental in harming Henry's uncle, Gloucester, and is now trying to manipulate the King with seemingly kind words, but Henry sees through the deception:

"Hide not thy poison with such sugar'd words; Lay not thy hands on me; forbear, I say! Their touch affrights me as a serpent's sting".

Note betrayal is a central, recurring theme in Shakespeare’s works, driven by ambition, jealousy, and forbidden love, often leading to total destruction, death, or ruin. Iconic examples also include Brutus killing Caesar, Hamlet’s rage over his mother’s hasty marriage, Lago’s manipulation of Othello, and Lear's betrayal by his daughters.

- From online with editing
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By definition, betrayal means someone you trust breaking that trust. It can happen to a country, a group, or a person.

I have been betrayed before, and bet most of us have experienced some also.  It hurts so much that it can make one wonder the meaning of life, and may take a long long time to recover.  

Guess that's one of the reasons we love innocent children and animals. They are sweet and they don't "hide not thy poison with such sugar’d words".

Sorry for a dry and somewhat loaded phrase today.  Best wishes to all to stay away from betrayal.

And hopefully this recent photo of sweet boy Maowi the cat will light up the day. 加油

 

所有跟帖: 

forbear as verb is new to me. I only knew forebear. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/01/2026 postreply 09:59:54

Stories of betrayal abounded in the Cultural Rev'n. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/01/2026 postreply 10:02:22

So true!!! Dad told me a true story he saw then: an old prof -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (455 bytes) () 02/01/2026 postreply 10:28:59

I know U know more words than me!!! But the Bard is a grand -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/01/2026 postreply 10:16:55

master of English ... ... -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/01/2026 postreply 10:17:53

Not sure if I know more but Will owned a word mint. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/01/2026 postreply 10:55:15

:-) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/01/2026 postreply 11:03:25

Think devil has horns? His hair combed, wear suit&tie, he is -移花接木- 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/01/2026 postreply 10:22:51

polite and nice, catch you by surprise -移花接木- 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/01/2026 postreply 10:23:28

Good & vivid description! Wish the world is simpler & easier -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/01/2026 postreply 10:34:17

2 tell between devils&angels, as said in Grimms' Fairy Tales -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/01/2026 postreply 10:38:15

But it's hard, esecially after changed clothes & masks -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/01/2026 postreply 13:03:51

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