:

ΤΟ

Prof. James Geikie, LL. B., D. C. L., F. R. S., etc.

(of Edinburgh University)

WITH CORDIAL REMEMBRANCE OF MANY PLEASANT CONFERENCES ON THIS AND KINDRED TOPICS THIS VOLUME IS

AFFECTIONATELY Dedicated BY

THE AUTHOR

PREFACE.

IN preparing this volume on the music of Shakespeare, the author has been animated by a desire to show how closely the great poet allied himself to the Divine Art. Few of the readers of Shakespeare are aware of how much of his musical material can be traced home; many are unable to follow some of the poet's most subtile metaphors because they are unfamiliar with the musical works to which he refers, or with the song or melody which enriches the scene. It is hoped that this effort may in some degree give light upon a few of the dark places in the text. The classification has been difficult, for, in many of the scenes, different branches of music are simultaneously touched upon. In such cases, in order to preserve the beauty of the text, the author has deemed it best to cite the entire passage, rather than give it piecemeal, and refer back to it as often as necessary; he hopes that the repetition made imperative by such a course will find its apology in the poetic gain of reading a complete thought, or sequence of thoughts. As far as possible, musical technicalities have been avoided, for Shakespeare's musical allusions were intended, not for musicians only, but for all the world.

LOUIS C. ELSON.