dwgm | The Shakespeare Meme (Reply)

So many people have done this meme, I thought I'd better jump on the bandwagon.

When you see this, post a bit of Shakespeare in your journal.

Here's my bit, from The Tempest, which was my first experience with Shakespeare, at the age of seven. It was a TV production, with Richard Burton as Caliban, and Roddy McDowell as Ariel, among other great performers. I loved it.

Shortly after that I found Lamb's Tales From Shakespeare at the library and devoured it from cover to cover. Now, lo and behold, it's on the internet! Here's an exerpt from it, explaining the context of Ariel's Song...

Before Prospero left the island, he dismissed Ariel from his service, to the great joy of that lively little spirit; who, though he had been a faithful servant to his master, was always longing to enjoy his free liberty, to wander uncontrolled in the air, like a- wild bird, under green trees, among pleasant fruits, and sweet smelling flowers. 'My quaint Ariel,' said Prospero to the little sprite when he made him free, 'I shall miss you; yet you shall have your freedom.' 'Thank you, my dear master,' said Ariel; 'but give me leave to attend your ship home with prosperous gales, before you bid farewell to the assistance of your faithful spirit; and then, master, when I am free, how merrily I shall live!' Here Ariel sung this pretty song:

And here's Ariel's sweet song (which I sang myself when I was in high school, taking singing lessons)...

'Where the bee sucks, there suck I;
In a cowslip's bell I lie;
There I crouch when owls do cry.
On the bat's back I do fly
After summer merrily.
Merrily, merrily shall I live now
Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.'