"There was a star danced, and under that was I born"

Today we honor what might or might not have been (where have I heard almost that exact phrase before?) the birthday of William Shakespeare, who showed us the whole world, and ourselves in it, in a wooden Globe. Even though the weather's reminiscent of the third act of King Lear, under my umbrella I am singing Happy Birthday to the Bard.

However, because the first Globe Theatre caught fire during a performance in 1613, I think it best to refrain from putting four hundred and forty-seven flaming candles atop the cake.

But mark you this! Hamlet brought a cake, too! And it's chocolate!