A Song from Shakespeare’s Cymbeline Sung by Guiderus and Ar
July 6, 2023Upon The Sherrifs Beere
July 6, 2023When Orpheus Sweetly Did Complayne
When Orpheus sweetly did complayne
Upon his lute with heavy strayne
How his Euridice was slayne,
The trees to heare
Obtayn’d an eare,
And after left it off againe.
At every stroake and every stay
The boughs kept time, and nodding lay,
And listened bending all one way:
The aspen tree
As well as hee
Began to shake and learn’d to play.
If wood could speake, a tree might heare,
If wood could sound true greife so neare
A tree might dropp an amber teare:
If wood so well
Could ring a knell
The Cipres might condole the beare.
The standing nobles of the grove
Hearing dead wood so speak and move
The fatall axe beganne to love:
They envyde death
That gave such breath
As men alive doe saints above
William Strode
William Strode (1600-1645) was an English poet and clergyman. He was educated at Oxford University and later became a member of the clergy. Strode's poetry often explored themes of love, nature, and religion. Some of his most famous works include "Aire and Angels," "Of His Mistress," and "On a Late Wounded Saint." Strode's work was admired by several of his contemporaries, including John Donne.