tout est dit: everything is told

News from overseas: not good.

King Lear (Act 2, Scene 4): "Age is unnecessary."

It's enough to make one dwell on the differences between Lear and Hamlet. Lear argues against reality and Hamlet proclaims it; Lear denies himself and his condition, Hamlet invites his.

But we're in a small village in France, not Britain or Denmark, and among regular people.

Just a few days ago, our friend was seen walking through the narrow passageways of the village, from the top to the bottom and from bottom to top.

Now, just like that, we're told he is no more. We're not sure we knew him at all.

It's words we love until someone tells us the truth, it's images we venerate until we see death.