Were you listening to NPR this morning when there was a discussion of this topic? Reference was made to Act IV of King Lear when the blind Gloucester is told that he is standing at the edge of the White Cliffs of Dover. He is not. The actors know this. The audience knows this. Everyone goes along with it. It’s called dramatic irony.
Lots of talk just now about a cliff we’re supposedly, blindly, standing at the edge of. We’re not. The leading players know this. The audience (That would be us.) knows this. Everyone goes along with it. It’s called dramatic irony.
King Lear is a tragedy and, after the show, everyone claps and goes home. Next week the same cast will perform Much Ado About Nothing.
Mother likes to choose a carol to play on her organ every day before Christmas. A couple of days ago it was this one:
This illustration is from the Little Golden Book she and I always sang from at the piano when I was a little girl. She sent it to me a few years ago.
And this is a much grander rendition of the assignment to Jeanette and Isabella, who were, apparently, two little French girls called upon to dash to the stable bringing a warm light.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtDbBd8yh9U
I’m not sure the Mormons understand this, but Jeannette and Isabelle are two girls (there’s a comma in between) and not one.
UN FLAMBEAU, JEANNETTE, ISABELLE!
1. Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle
Un flambeau, courons au berceau.
C’est Jésus, bonnes gens du hameau,
Le Christ est né, Marie appelle
Ah! Ah! Ah! que la mère est belle
Ah! Ah! Ah! que l’Enfant est beau.
2. Qui vient là frappant de la sorte
Qui vient là frappant comme ça.
Ouvrez donc j’ai posé sur un plat
De bons gâteaux qu’ici j’apporte.
Toc! Toc! Ouvrez-nous la porte
Toc! Toc! Faisons grand gala
3. C’est un tort quand l’Enfant sommeille
C’est un tort de crier si fort.
Taisez-vous l’un et l’autre d’abord,
Au moindre bruit Jésus s’éveille
Chut! Chut! Chut! Il dort à merveille
Chut! Chut! Chut! voyez comme Il dort.
4. Doucement, dans l’étable close
Doucement, venez un moment
Approchez! Que Jésus est charmant,
Comme Il est blanc, comme Il est rose
Do! Do! Do! Que l’Enfant repose
Do! Do! Do! Qu’il rie en dormant.
Decked out with a collection of candlesticks, giant sugar pine cones Elizabeth brought from Tahoe a few years ago, and fresh magnolia just in from out back. Looks pretty good, but I guarantee no one is coming down that chimney with all the anti-racoon-squirrel-and bird devices I’ve had installed!
They’re ready to burst into bloom. When they do, they’ll have to be moved off the dining-room table. No one can eat with their sweet perfume filling the air.
