This piece takes as its premise the quote from a number of fairy tales which are common in many countries which show how the good hearted daughter refuses to flatter her father when he asks his daughters in turn how much they love him. The most honest states ‘she loves him like salt’. I.e. in ancient times salt was highly prized, in fact, salt is what Roman soldiers were paid in and led to our word salary – (from salt) and our unit for currency. The tale formed the basis for Shakespeare’s King Lear. The honest daughter Cordelia is banished and the evil flattering ones rewarded. Lear later comes to rue his folly and this leads to his down fall – and the death of Cordelia. I want the words ‘I love you like salt’ to be written in salt at the water’s edge – when the tide is low so that the incoming tide will engulf them and the words erased – claimed by the sea and the material consumed and returned from whence it came – the sea. I want this to illustrate the redemptive and cleansing powers of the sea and to show that love can reach out across the world but can be easily destroyed and all trace of it removed. Instructions: Buy salt in NZ. Take to the beach and when tide is low write the words: ‘I love you like salt’ with the salt on the beach. Photograph and then film or photograph the words as they are reclaimed and erased. Post the images/film on the internet and circulate via social networks the link with these instructions and the narratives below. To Love My Father All William Shakespeare Lear Which of you shall we say doth love us most? That we our largest bounty may extend Where nature doth with merit challenge. Goneril, Our eldest-born, speak first. Goneril Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter, Dearer than eye-sight, space and liberty, Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare, No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour, As much as child e'er loved or father found; A love that makes breath poor and speech unable; Beyond all manner of so much I love you. ... Regan I am made of that self metal as my sister, And prize me at her worth. In my true heart I find she names my very deed of love; Only she comes too short: that I profess Myself an enemy to all other joys Which the most precious square of sense possesses, And find I am alone felicitate In your dear highness' love ... Cordelia I cannot heave My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty According to my bond; nor more nor less. Lear How, how, Cordelia! mend your speech a little, Lest it may mar your fortunes. Cordelia Good my lord, You have begot me, bred me, loved me: I Return those duties back as are right fit, Obey you, love you, and most honour you. Why have my sisters husbands, if they say They love you all? Haply, when I shall wed, That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry Half my love with him half my care and duty: Sure, I shall never marry like my sister, To love my father all. Source: William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King Lear, act 1, scene 1. Written 1605 or 1606. This story is also told by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his Historia Regum Britanniae, finished about 1136. An on-line edition: The British History of Geoffrey of Monmouth, translated from the Latin by A. Thompson; revised and corrected by J. A. Giles (London: James Bohn, 1842), pp. 32-37. Return to the table of contents. Cap o' Rushes England Well, there was once a very rich gentleman, and he'd three darters [daughters]. And he thought to see how fond they was of him. So he says to the first, "How much do you love me, my dear?" "Why," says she, "as I love my life." "That's good," says he. So he says to the second, "How much do you love me, my dear?" "Why," says she, "better nor all the world." "That's good," says he. So he says to the third, "How much do you love me, my dear?" "Why," she says, "I love you as fresh meat loves salt," says she. Well, he were that angry. "You don't love me at all," says he, "and in my house you stay no more." So he drove her out there and then, and shut the door in her face. Well, she went away, on and on, till she came to a fen. And there she gathered a lot of rushes, and made them into a cloak kind o', with a hood to cover her from head to foot, and to hide her fine clothes. And then she went on and on till she came to a great house. "Do you want a maid?" says she. "No, we don't," says they. "I hain't nowhere to go," says she, "and I'd ask no wages, and do any sort o' work," says she. "Well," says they, "if you like to wash the pots and scrape the saucepans, you may stay," says they. So she stayed there, and washed the pots and scraped the saucepans, and did all the dirty work. And because she gave no name, they called her Cap o' Rushes. Well, one day there was to be a great dance a little way off, and the servants was let go and look at the grand people. Cap o' Rushes said she was too tired to go, so she stayed at home. But when they was gone, she o