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    An Exposition of Classics By British Authors Second Edition
    An Exposition of Classics By British Authors Second Edition
    An Exposition of Classics By British Authors Second Edition
    Ebook324 pages4 hours

    An Exposition of Classics By British Authors Second Edition

    By Daniel Zimmermann

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    About this ebook

    This edition treats “Lady of the Lake” by Sir Walter Scott plus “King Lear” and “Othello” by Shakespeare. Other Shakespearean plays treated are “Macbeth,” “Hamlet,” “As You Like It,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Julius Caesar,” “Twelfth Night,” and “Coriolanus.” Also treated are John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress,” Milton;s “Paradise Regained,” “Beowulf,” “Robinson Crusoe” byDaniel Defoe, “Gulliver’s Travels” by Johnathan Swift, “The Rivals” by Sheridan, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Coleridge, “The Second Jungle Book” by Kipling, “The Traveler’s Story about a Terribly Strange Bed” by Wilkie Collins, “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, and two stories by Robert Louis Stevenson. The works are treated in considerable detail.
    Several works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle are also treated, such as “The Terror of Blue John Gap,” “The Lost Special,” and “The Brazilian Cat.” I have treated Sherlock Holmes mysteries in a different e-book.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLulu.com
    Release dateJul 14, 2018
    ISBN9781387945580
    An Exposition of Classics By British Authors Second Edition

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      An Exposition of Classics By British Authors Second Edition - Daniel Zimmermann

      An Exposition of Classics By British Authors Second Edition

      An Exposition of Classics by British Authors, Second Edition

      By Daniel Zimmermann

      Notes on Lady of the Lake

      Canto First

      Sir Walter Scott begins this canto with an invocation, not to the muses, but to the harp of the north, which formerly entertained Caledon with thrilling lays of love and glory. Many years have passed since its enchanting voice was heard, Now it is time for the harp to awaken. Scott admits that he can not handle it with the consummate skill of the old Scottish minstrels, but he hopes that his efforts will touch the hearts of at least a few.

      The action begins with a hunting scene in the highlands of Scotland. One hundred horsemen and one hundred hounds chase a lone stag for many hours. The chase is tiresome and the terrain is rugged, so many horsemen and many hounds give up.. In the end, a solitary hunter and two hounds close in on the quarry, but the tired stag eludes its pursuers. The chase ends when the lone hunter’s exhausted horse stumbles, falls, and eventually dies.

      The hunter then recalls his hounds by blowing his bugle. He wanders through unfamiliar terrain, vainly attempting to rejoin some of his comrades. He eventually reaches a hill from which he can see Loch Katrine.

      The day is drawing to a close. He believes that he might have to sleep outside in the wild. He blows his bugle, hoping that a friendly ear will hear it. He knows, however, that his bugle might attract the wrong kind of people. He is courageously ready to fight if necessary.

      Ellen, the lady of the lake, heard the sound of the bugle. As she rowed from an island to the shore in a shallop, the hunter hid himself so that he could observe her without being seen. [As we learn much later, Ellen is the daughter of James of Douglas, whom the king has exiled.]

      Ellen thought that her father or a young man named Malcolm had blown the bugle. When the hunter stepped out of the shadows, she was startled. However, when the hunter explained his plight, she realized that there was no danger. In fact, the house was ready to receive the stranger, since the minstrel Allan-bane had foreseen his arrival.

      With manly chivalry, the hunter offered to row the shallop back to the island. He was a clumsy rower, but because of his strength, the shallop reached its destination quickly.

      As they entered the island home, a sword fell to the floor. The hunter inspected it. He noticed that only a very powerful man could wield that sword.

      The mistress of the house was a matron whom Ellen treated as a mother. The hunter identified himself as James Fitz-James. He wished to learn the name of Ellen’s father, but his hints bore no fruit. [As we learn later, the mistress of the house was Lady Margaret, the mother of Roderick Dhu, and James Fitz-James was none other than James V, king of Scotland.]

      Ellen entertained her guest with a wonderful song:

      "Soldiers, rest! thy warfare o’er,

      Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking, etc."

      Then they prepared him a bed in the hall, where guests had often slept in greater numbers.

      The hunter slept uneasily. The climax of his nightmares was a scene in which he was speaking words of love to the sympathetic ears of Ellen. However, when he endeavored to clasp Ellen’s hand, the maiden disappeared, and in her place appeared a sinister figure in armor. Instead of holding Ellen’s hand, he found himself clasping an iron gauntlet. The sinister figure bore some resemblance to Ellen.

      The hunter woke up. He fixed his eye upon the sword that he had inspected when he first entered the hall. He suspected that it belonged to a member of the exiled Douglas clan.

      The hunter stepped outside, attempting to clear his mind. He summed up his anxieties with the words:

      "Why is it, at each turn I trace

      Some memory of that exiled race?

      Can I not mountain maiden spy,

      But she must bear the Douglas eye?

      Can I not view a Highland brand,

      But it must match the Douglas hand?

      Can I not frame a fevered dream,

      But still the Douglas is the theme?"

      The hunter went back to bed, determined to dream no more.

      Canto Second

      While the shallop was conveying the hunter back to  shore, he heard the voice of Allan-bane. He sang a song that may be summed up as follows:

      People quickly forget about benefits that they have received. So  enjoy your high position at court and forget what happened here in this isle. But if a disconsolate wanderer longs for his highland home, remember the kindness that you enjoyed in this isle, and soothe the wanderer’s woe. Or if you suffer misfortune, do not brood over the thanklessness of courts,

      "But come where kindred worth shall smile,

      To greet thee in the lonely isle."

      When the hunter reached the shore, he cast a lingering look at the minstrel who had treated him to a prophetic song. He and Ellen also cast admiring glances at one another. Because of this, her conscience bothered her. Her love belonged to a man named Malcolm Graeme.

      To atone for her wayward thoughts, she asked the minstrel to sing about the glory of the Graeme clan.

      The minstrel attempted to fulfill her request, but his harp would not cooperate. This filled his mind with premonitions of disaster, which Ellen did not take seriously. She managed to cheer him up.

      A long conversation followed. The minstrel hoped that Ellen, who was of noble birth, would eventually enjoy a position at the royal court where she belonged. Ellen probably sympathized with his words, but she pointed out that her present life was advantageous in many ways. Then the minstrel pointed out that Roderick Dhu loved her and wanted to marry her. Ellen acknowledged that this bold chieftain had many excellent qualities. However, he was a ruthless man. Ellen did not love him, and she could never marry him.

      As they were talking, they heard bagpipe music. Roderick Dhu was coming home. Shortly thereafter, a bugle signaled the presence of Ellen’s father and Malcolm. Ellen eagerly went ashore in the shallop to bring them to the island.

      Roderick was not pleased when he saw Malcolm, his rival. However, he was a hospitable host, at least at first.

      At noon, Roderick received some bad news. The king, who had subdued the southern part of Scotland, was coming to the highlands. He brooded over the matter until the evening banquet. Then he told the others the bad news.

      Ellen’s father thought that he was the reason for the king’s unfriendly visit. He promised that he and Ellen would leave Roderick’s isle and hide in some secluded spot. Then it would be easy for Roderick to make peace with the king.

      Roderick Dhu had different ideas. He suggested that Ellen be given to him in marriage. With their alliance thus sealed, friends and allies would flock to their banners. This would utterly frustrate the designs of the king.

      In spite of her aversion to the proposed match, Ellen probably would have married Roderick for the sake of her father. However, her father was not willing to sacrifice his daughter. Nor was he willing to rebel against his sovereign.

      Because of this rebuff, Roderick was in a bad mood. So when Ellen began to leave the banquet and Malcolm rose to assist her, he began to quarrel with Malcolm. If it had not been for the intervention of Ellen’s father, assisted be Margaret and Ellen, a deadly fight would have ensued.

      Nevertheless, the animosity remained. Malcolm left the scene. He swam from the island to the shore because he did not want to be indebted to Roderick in any way, not even for boat transportation.

      Canto Third

      The next day Roderick Dhu summoned his clansmen to battle. This involved a fiery cross and some unusual rites. Roderick killed a goat, and Brian, a hermit with an unusual history, served as priest. The hermit fashioned a cross from rods of yew. Then he pronounced a curse on any clansman who failed to comply with his chieftain’s summons.

      The ends of the cross had been set on fire. After pronouncing the curse, Brian used the blood of the goat to quench the fire. He concluded the rite by pronouncing another dire imprecation.

      This cross was a sign that Roderick was summoning his clansman for battle. Malise, his henchman, took the cross and promptly visited the houses where the clansmen were living. The mustering place was Lanrick mead.

      After Malise made his own rounds, he went to the house of Duncan, who normally would have taken the cross and visited more clansmen. However, Duncan had died and the members of his family were grieving before his bier. So Angus, the son of Duncan, took the cross and continued to summon the clansmen.

      Eventually all the clansmen came to Lanrick mead, even Norman, a bridegroom who had just spoken his wedding vows.

      Ellen and her father left the isle and hid in a spooky nook called Goblin Cave. The minstrel went with them.

      In the meantime, Roderick Dhu did some reconnoitering and prepared for the coming struggle in other ways, such as, providing for the safety of the women and children and others unfit for warfare. As the day drew to a close,  Roderick moved slowly, allowing his comrades to forge ahead. He lingered in the vicinity of Goblin Cave, hoping to hear Ellen’s voice. He heard her utter a prayer to the Virgin Mary.

      Roderick then hastened to Lanrick mead. As he arrived, his clansmen greeted him with joyful shouting.

      Canto Fourth

      At Roderick’s behest, Brian attempted a desperate augury, to be used only in dire emergencies. He wrapped himself in a bull’s hide and waited for prophetic inspiration. This was the result:

      WHICH SPILLS THE FOREMOST FOEMAN'S LIFE,

      THAT PARTY CONQUERS IN THE STRIFE.

      In the meantime, Ellen was brooding over the absence of her father. She figured that he was going to surrender to the king, thinking thereby to buy his friends safety with his own.

      A little later, after Ellen had sung a ballad, James Fitz-James came to visit her. He hinted that he loved her and that he wanted to take her to safety.

      In reply, Ellen refused. She admitted that her father was considered an outlaw, and she pointed out that she loved someone else.

      Though James no longer hoped to win her love, he still sympathized with her. After further offers and further refusals, he gave her a ring and instructed her to give it to the king if she ever had any urgent need. He claimed that the king owed him a favor, and she could claim this favor by presenting the ring.

      Murdoch, a clansman of Roderick Dhu, was serving as a guide for James. Ellen hinted that she did not trust him. James ignored the warning, and he did not interrogate Murdoch before they left..

      However, James became concerned when his guide suddenly whooped loud and high.

      Murdoch hastily explained that he was trying to frighten a raven. James knew that the raven must be eating his dead horse, but he was not completely satisfied with Murdoch’s explanation.

      Soon thereafter, they met a woman whose mind was deranged. Roderick Dhu had killed her husband on the day of their wedding. She was currently a captive, but she had managed to escape. Her name was Blanche.

      Blanche sang a song that clearly warned James that he was being led into a trap. Convinced of his imminent danger, James said: Disclose thy treachery, or die!

      Murdoch started running. He turned and shot at James, but hit Blanche instead. After killing Murdoch, James returned to Blanche, who told him where his enemies were lying in wait and asked him to avenge the death of her bridegroom. James took a lock of her hair, together with a lock of her bridegroom that Blanche had been keeping. He was going to dip them in Roderick’s blood.

      James had to travel through difficult terrain in order to avoid the ambush. He eventually met a knight. After a brief conversation, the two men learned that they were enemies. James also learned that Roderick Dhu thought that James was a spy, which he promptly denied.

      The knight considered it dishonorable to fight a man who was overcome with fatigue. Instead of fighting, he treated James hospitably and allowed him to enjoy a good night’s sleep.  He also promised to guide James as far as Coilantogle ford.

      Canto Fifth

      In the morning, the knight fulfilled his promise to serve as his guide. After they had walked for a long time, they engaged in a frank discussion. The knight wanted to know why he considered Roderick Dhu an enemy. James gave several reasons, citing in particular his raids against the  people of southern Scotland. In reply, the knight pointed out that the highland clans originally owned the fertile farmland of southern Scotland. Its present inhabitants had stolen these lands from the highland clans. By raiding the lowlands, Roderick Dhu was simply sallying forth to spoil the spoiler and rob the robber.

      After considerable discussion, James said that he did not want to upset the knight by bringing further accusations against Roderick Dhu. Instead, he simply said:

      "Enough, I am by promise tied

      To match me with this man of pride:

      Twice have I sought Clan-Alpine's glen

      In peace; but when I come again,

      I come with banner, brand, and bow,

      As leader seeks his mortal foe.

      For love-lore swain in lady's bower

      Ne'er panted for the appointed hour

      As I, until before me stand

      This rebel Chieftain and his band!"

      The knight granted his wish. He whistled, and the clansmen of Roderick Dhu emerged from their hiding placed. The knight then informed James that he was Roderick Dhu.

      Startled, James stood with his back to a rock and said:

      "Come one, come all! This rock shall fly

      From its firm base as soon as I."

      Roderick was pleased that he was facing a worthy opponent. At his signal, his clansmen returned to their hiding places. He assured James that he would keep his promise to guide him safely as far as Coilantogle ford.

      When they reached Coilantogle ford, Roderick assured James that his clansmen were nowhere in the vicinity. He had kept his promise. Now James would have to defend himself with his sword.

      James had begun to respect Roderick. To avoid bloodshed, he made various proposals. However, Roderick was adamant.

      In the ensuing fight, Roderick was stronger, but James was more skillful, and he gave Roderick some serious wounds. Eventually James knocked the sword out of Roderick’s hand and urged him to surrender.

      Instead, Roderick attacked James and wrestled him to the ground. He took his dagger and aimed a blow at his prostrate opponent. However, his brain and eye began to reel as a result of his wounds. His dagger struck the turf, and the stalwart chieftain fainted.

      In Roderick’s blood, James dipped the tufts of hair of Blanche and her bridegroom. Then he blew his horn, and four mounted squires appeared on the scene, leading an extra horse. Ellen would have ridden this horse if she had come.

      James ordered two of the squires to bandage Roderick’s wounds. He then jumped on the extra horse and ordered the other two squires to follow. He wanted to be present at the archer games at noon, so he had to hurry,

      On the way, he saw a powerful form approaching. He said to his squires:

      "Tis James of Douglas, by Saint Serle!

      The uncle of the banished Earl.

      Away, away, to court, to show

      The near approach of dreaded foe:

      The King must stand upon his guard;

      Douglas and he must meet prepared."

      James of Douglas had come to surrender, but he could not resist participating in the games. He emerged victorious in every event.

      After these games, a stag was let loose. Two royal hounds were supposed to catch and kill it. However, Lufra, the hound of James of Douglas, caught and killed the stag before the royal hounds could reach it, The king’s huntsman was angry at the interloper and struck the dog with a leash.

      James of Douglas loved Lufra  and treated him like a pet. He swiftly avenged his hound, knocking the king’s huntsman unconscious.

      It became known that James of Douglas was the man who won all the games and knocked out the king’s huntsman. King James commanded that he be arrested.

      A tumult arose. The crowd sympathized with the arrested hero. Bloodshed would have occurred if James of Douglas had not calmed the crowd with a persuasive speech. Almost everyone was moved by his noble words, even the soldier who escorted him to the castle.

      The king did not like it that the crowd was honoring Douglas. As he brooded over the matter, a messenger came from the Earl of Mar, who was commanding the royal army. He told the king that a battle would soon be fought with Robert Dhu and his clansmen, who stood ready to help James of Douglas.

      In reply, the king said:

      "Say to our faithful Lord of Mar,

      We do forbid the intended war;

      Roderick this morn in single fight

      Was made our prisoner by a knight,

      And Douglas hath himself and cause

      Submitted to our kingdom's laws.

      The tidings of their leaders lost

      Will soon dissolve the mountain host,

      Nor would we that the vulgar feel,

      For their Chief's crimes, avenging steel."

      Nevertheless, the king feared that the battle would begin before the messenger could stop it. Indeed, as the day drew to a close, it was rumored that a bloody battle had been fought on the shores of Lake Katrine.

      Canto Sixth

      The rumors proved to be true. A furious battle had been fought, and neither side had gained a decisive victory.  At least in part, the soldiers of the king were mercenaries who came from various European countries. They were a course group of people who liked to drink and jest.

      On the morning after the battle, Bertram of Ghent brought Ellen and the minstrel to the place where the mercenaries were lounging. At first, they thought that they had come to furnish entertainment for the soldiers, but Ellen quickly earned their respect, especially after she showed the signet ring that she had received and asked for an audience with the king.

      Lewis, the captain, took her to a bower, where female attendants took care of her. She was instructed to wait there until the king awakened.

      Meanwhile, the minstrel asked that he be permitted to share the captivity of his master. A soldier named John of Brent led him to a reasonably comfortable room where a prisoner was confined. However, he mistakenly thought that Roderick Dhu was his master, so he led him to the wrong cell.

      The minstrel assured Roderick that Ellen and Lady Margaret were safe. He also explained the outcome of the battle.

      At Roderick’s request, the minstrel sang an impromptu song about the battle. Since Bertram had given him ample information, the minstrel was able to give a detailed account.

      While the ministrel sang, Roderick died of his wounds. The minstrel then sang a lament.

      Meanwhile, James Fitz-James came to Ellen. He told her that he was going to lead her to the king.

      As they entered the court, Ellen looked around, trying to figure out which of the assembled noblemen was the king. Eventually she noticed that everyone’s head was bare except the head of James Fitz-James. Obviously, he was the king.

      Ellen fell at his feet and showed him the ring. He told her to name her request, but assured her that she did not have to mention her father, who was now his friend. Mutual misunderstandings due to slander had kept them apart, but now there was peace.

      Ellen was slow to believe the good news. So at the king’s bidding, James of Douglas embraced his daughter.

      The king explained to Ellen that he had not lied. The Normans did indeed call him James Fitz-James. He then pointed out that she still had his ring. He asked her: What seeks fair Ellen of the king?

      She immediately thought of Malcolm Graeme, who had been arrested. However, she feared that Roderick Dhu was in danger of being executed, so she asked the king to pardon him.

      After briefly explaining his dealings with Roderick, he said:

      "Forbear thy suit; - the King of kings

      Alone can stay life’s parting wings."

      When the king asked her if she had no other request, she blushed and gave the ring to her father, expecting him to speak. However, because Ellen had given up the ring, the king claimed that the pledge had lost its force.

      At the king’s request, Malcolm stepped forth. The king pointed out that no suppliant had requested Malcolm’s liberty. Therefore, his crimes would be punished with fetters and a warder.

      The king then unstrung his chain of gold and flung the links over Malcolm’s neck and gave the clasp to Ellen, who henceforth would be his warder.

      Reference:

      ‘The Lady of the Lake" by Sir Walter Scott

      Thomas Kyd and His Spanish Tragedy

      Thomas Kyd was an older contemporary of William Shakespeare. He was born in 1558 and died in 1593.

      He was a friend of Christopher Marlowe, and this friendship may have contributed to his hardships in the final year of his life. He was arrested on suspicion of heresy, and incriminating materials were found in his lodging. He claimed that the materials belonged to Christopher Marlowe, who had been his roommate at one time.

      If it is difficult for investigators to find authoritative materials on the life of William Shakespeare, it is next to impossible to find anything about Thomas Kyd. I suspect that he wrote several plays. If so, most of them are lost. Only two works are confidently assigned to his pen: Cornelia and The Spanish Tragedy.

      I had the good fortune to find a cheap copy of The Spanish Tragedy in a local bookstore. I had often read about such Elizabethan luminaries as Greene, Kyd, and Marlowe, but other than Marlowe's Doctor Faustus and Greenes groats-worth of witte, bought with a million of repentance, I had not read any works by these older contemporaries of Shakespeare.

      In approaching "The Spanish Tragedy, it is necessary to remember that Kyd, an Englishman, was writing about Spanish politics either shortly before or shortly after the attempted invasion of the Spanish Armada in 1588. As a result, we would not expect him to treat the Spanish characters in his play too sympathetically, and it is not surprising that many of them died before the end of the drama.

      It is also important to remember that Spain and Portugal were ruled by the same king when Kyd wrote this drama. In 1580, the throne of Portugal became vacant, and Philip II of Spain added Portugal to his possessions. The successive kings of Spain were also the kings of Portugal until the year 1640.

      The Spanish Tragedy could almost be classified as a pioneer dramatic work.  According to the Miriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature, Kyd initiated the revenge tragedy of his day. In fact, one of the characters is Revenge personified.

      As the play opens, a ghost and Revenge appear on the scene. They serve as the chorus of the tragedy. However, they are a pale imitation of the chorus in a typical ancient Greek drama. The most important function of this two-member chorus is to explain what happened before the action of the drama begins.

      The ghost is the spirit of Andrea. The viceroy of Portugal had failed to pay tribute to the King of Spain. In the ensuing battle, Andrea was killed by Don Belthazar, the son of the Portuguese viceroy. Minos, Aeacus, and Rhadamanth, the judges of the underworld, had trouble deciding what to do with him, so they sent him to Pluto for judgment. Proserpine happened to be with Pluto when Andrea arrived. She asked permission to decide the matter. She decided to allow him to return to the world above to observe the sequel to the drama in which he had died.

      Revenge accompanied Andrea to the world above. He assured the ghost that Belthazar would die.

      Andrea explained one more factor in this lengthy introduction. He tells the audience: In secret I possessed a worthy dame, namely,Bel-Imperia, daughter of Don Cyprian, Duke of Castile and brother of the Spanish king. The Spanish nobility would recognize that it was a sin for a daughter to accept a suitor without the permission of her parents. This sin was the seed from which the ensuing tragedy grew.

      In spite of the death of Andrea,

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