HELPS TO STUDY. Biographical: William Shakespeare, 1564-1616, was the greatest English poet, and was one of the greatest poets the world has ever known. He wrote for all times and all peoples. He was born at Stratford-on-Avon, where fifty-two years later he died. At the age of twenty-two he removed to London, where for twenty years he wrote poems and plays, was an actor, and later a shareholder in the theater. The last ten years of his life he spent quietly at Stratford. Americans in visiting England invariably go to "the Shakespeare country.' This beautiful song is taken from the comedy "As You Like It." This exquisite song is from "Cymbeline," one of Shakespeare's comedies. Phoebus Apollo was the god of the sun. He, only, could drive the "flaming car of day," the chariot of the sun. This beautiful song is found in the historical play "King Henry VIII." Queen Katharine says to one of her attendants, "My soul grows sad with troubles: Sing and disperse them if thou canst."' The maiden takes her lute, and to its accompaniment, sings this song. Orpheus, a son of Apollo, became the most famous of musicians. Men and beasts were softened by his music. Trees crowded around him and even rocks lost some of their hardness when he played. This song occurs in the comedy, "The Tempest." Ariel, an "airy spirit, ," has taken the form of a sea-nymph and is calling from the shore of the island to the sea-nymphs, the "sweet sprites" of the seng. The poet here gives us an idea of the ceremonies which opened certain dances in his time. Notes and Questions. What things mentioned in the song show that the singer is on the sea-shore? "'courtsied" What was the first movement of the dance? What was the second movement? Words and Phrases for Discussion. foot it featly" ́ ́burthen”—the song to which a dance is danced when there are no instruments. "The wild waves whist' calmed the waves by kissing. This is the song of the fairy, from "Midsummer Night's Dream." Orbs are fairy rings-supposed to be made by fairies in thei dances. They are really caused by the growth of certain fungi. Queen Elizabeth's favorite attendants were called "pensioners." They were tall, handsome men, and wore spotted gold coats. The height of the cowslip (tall to the fairy), and its color carry out the comparison. Heigh-ho, sing, heigh-ho, unto the green holly: Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly: Then heigh-ho, the holly, This life is most jolly. 2 Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky, Though thou the waters warp, Thy sting is not so sharp As friend remembered not. Heigh-ho, sing, heigh-ho, unto the green holly: This life is most jolly. HELPS TO STUDY. This song occurs in the comedy "As You Like It." |