jss (01/29/83)
I had only two responses to my puzzle: "two english words, spelled the same, pronounced the same, different meanings, different etymologies, one derived from German, the other from Latin, used as a pun by Shakespeare." The correct response was "grave", from German Graben, a hole in the ground, and from Latin gravis, serious. In Romeo & Juliet, Mercutio's dying speech includes "Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man." The nearly correct response was "lie", with a reference to act III of Hamlet. However, both meanings of "lie" are from German (lugen, to prevaricate, and liegen, to lie there). I *think* the reference in Hamlet is to "Lady, shall I lie in your lap?", which I believe is not a pun, but a double entendre (explained at great length by Shakespeare in the next several lines, and including a real pun on "nothing"). I am embarrassed that i have misplaced the names and addresses of the responders: i put them into a file and can't seem to dredge it up. it passed my eyes recently while i was trying to edit something else, but now it seems to be hiding. apologies to both of you. (i am obviously not a unix-wizard) judith schrier !decvax!brunix!jss