Friday, October 19, 2007

Poetry Friday 68

I'm back with more Shakespeare this week (sorry about last week's no-show - personal stuff got in the way of everything last Friday). This week I've got "Under the Greenwood Tree":

Under the Greenwood Tree

Amiens sings:
UNDER the greenwood tree,
Who loves to lie with me,
And turn his merry note
Unto the sweet bird's throat,
Come hither, come hither, come hither:
Here shall he see
No enemy
But winter and rough weather.

Who doth ambition shun,
And loves to live i' the sun,
Seeking the food he eats,
And pleased with what he gets,
Come hither, come hither, come hither:
Here shall he see
No enemy
But winter and rough weather.


Jaques replies:
If it do come to pass
That any man turn ass,
Leaving his wealth and ease
A stubborn will to please,
Ducdamè, ducdamè, ducdamè:
Here shall he see
Gross fools as he,
An if he will come to me.


This week's Poetry Friday round-up will be hosted by Kelly Fineman.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I used to sing a vocal setting of Under the Greenwood Tree, which consisted of only the first two verses you've posted, as one might expect. It was a glorious arrangement by Douglas Moore, and it really soared on "Here shall he see no enemy". I may have to dig it out and torture my family with it.

Michele said...

Have fun with that, then !!