Reply #14: You sceptic you. [View All]

[tjwmason]

:P

If one looks at the Coverdale translation (which is used for singing psalms according to the B.C.P. in our cathedrals &c. to this very day) which was produced in the 1530s (i.e., 30 years before W.S. was born) then the pattern holds pretty close - with the 46th word of the 46th Psalm being shake, and spear being 48 words from the end. The two translations are very obviously linked:

Ps 46, iii.

Though the waters thereof rage and swell: and though the mountains shake at the tempest of the same. - Coverdale

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. - Authorised Version

Also in the A.V. the final word of the Psalm is "selah" the meaning of which is disputed with many holding that it is actually a musical mark rather than an integral part of the text - which would mitigate against counting this as one of the 47 words.

I don't have a copy of the original text Douay Rheims (the R.C. translation which predates the A.V.) but the Challoner reivision of 1749-1752 doesn't have either "shake" or "spear" in there (this being Ps. 45, of course).

Finally given that Shakespeare was probably a Catholic sympathiser, and at the least was not very enthused about the Church of England - it's hardly likely that he would have got involved. Now I'm going to search through the Bible to see if I can find a hidden reference to Marlow ;)