June 2 - June 8, 1998 Just as if love hadn't yet been mentioned in various (and often glorious) pieces of poetry, this song from Twelfth Night offered me a new vision, which I can't say I agree with, even though it is - another vision!

 

Sweet-and-Twenty

O mistress mine, where are you roaming?      O, stay and hear! your true love's coming.      That can sing both high and low:  Trip no further, pretty sweeting;  Journeys end in lovers meeting,      Every wise man's son doth know.      What is love? 'tis not hereafter;      Present mirth has present laughter;          What's to come is still unsure:      In delay there lies no plenty;      Then come kiss me, sweet-and-twenty!          Youth's a stuff will not endure.

William Shakespeare

(April 23, 1564 - April 23, 1616)

 

This song is sung by the clown Feste in Twelfth Night, to two of the comic characters, Andrew Aguecheek and Sir Toby Belch. Feste offers a love song, or a song of good life. Sir Toby replies, "A love song, a love song," and Andrew agrees, saying, "Ay, ay. I care not for good life."

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