I have puzled over this text for years, but there is no easy answer. There is a change of voice in the poem from Narrator to he to she, or she to he to she. It SEEMS that the voice changes over to Nico as a he. But as I read it now, I could believe that the "he" character is anonymous.
So it could read Scene She (Nico) lures He spies her She pulls or Scene Nico (he) waits He spies She pulls The role reversal in the second interpretation seems a bit dissonant--though perhaps deliberate--in context. Whereas in the first scenario, she is springing the trap. Also, the chanting could have the suggestion of incanting, enchanting. Which would be in character with the role in the idylls. Perplexing. dt At 01:54 AM 3/17/2009, you wrote: >On Mon, Mar 16, 2009 at 8:43 PM, David Tayler <vidan...@sbcglobal.net> wrote: > > Auden gives Nico, but I never tracked down the reference so > perhaps it is Niso > > >Fellowes gives Nicho, a copy of what looks like an Oxford edition gives Nico. >http://kulturserver-bayern.de/home/harald-lillmeyer/Texte/Downloads/Liedtexte/Cavendish/LiedtexteCavendish.html >gives Nico for the solo versin and Nicho for the tutti. >I'll check the facsimile this afternoon to see what the other voices have. > >Anyway, Nicho, a man's name?), fits better with the text. No nymph then, alas. > >Another question: > >Euery bush now springing, >Euery bird now singing, >Merily fate poore Nicho >Chanting tro li lo >Lo li lo li lo, >Til her he had espide, >On whom his hope relide, >Down a down a down, >Down with a frown, >Oh she puld him down. > > >The story is clear enough. But is Nicho/Niso 'just' sitting here, >'merely'. Or is he a happy guy, singing for himself, so should I read >'merrily'? Doesn't fit with the 'poore', does it. But poore or not, he >is chanting the lolilo bit, so he's not that sad after all. > >I know it's not important, but I think every detail counts, so any >thoughts welcome. > >David - grateful as ever > > > > >-- >******************************* >David van Ooijen >davidvanooi...@gmail.com >www.davidvanooijen.nl >******************************* > > > >To get on or off this list see list information at >http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
