Monday, April 28, 2008

When Daisies Pied and Violets Blue
by William Shakespeare

When daisies pied and violets blue
And lady-smocks all silver-white
And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue
Do paint the meadows with delight,



The cuckoo then, on every tree,

Mocks married men;

for thus sings he,

Cuckoo;

Cuckoo, cuckoo:

O, word of fear,

Unpleasing to a married ear!






When shepherds pipe on oaten straws,
And merry larks are ploughmen's clocks,
When turtles tread, and rooks, and daws,
And maidens bleach their summer smocks,
The cuckoo then, on every tree,
Mocks married men; for thus sings he,
Cuckoo;
Cuckoo, cuckoo: O, word of fear,
Unpleasing to a married ear!



These lines, along with their companion piece "When Icicles Hang by the Wall" come at the end of Love's Labour's Lost. The pun on "cuckoo" and "cuckold" is a reminder that the words are related, supposedly because of the behavior of the female bird. (Wm Harmon's comments)


This is my first introduction to this early comedy by Shakespeare. I look forward to reading the play which I *won* in a contest over at Buried Treasure. I correctly guessed a line from Taming of the Shrew :)

4 comments:

  1. Sumer is icumen in,
    lhude sing, cuccu.

    I don't think I've ever read The Taming of the Shrew, though I've seen the Liz Taylor version, and the Kathryn Grayson/Mario Lanza musical based on it, "Kiss Me, Kate." I like the latter better -- I still really don't understand Shakespeare's story. I think the man is a jerk.
    :-p

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  2. I've seen Taming only once.... but never seen Kiss Me Kate.

    So, I think I rent that one soon.

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  3. Looks like it was the featured play for Hillsdale College's Shakespeare in the Arb this year.

    http://www.hillsdalecollegian.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=d8a9801d-96de-477b-b263-c146f8f24302

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  4. Wow! Your daughter is very talented. Is there anywere to see more of her work?

    Would you be willing to share the things you don't like about Hillsdale? You can email me at gwynmir at gmail dot com. Obviously, no college is perfect!

    ReplyDelete