(All beings drink joy at Nature's breast)
as the motto for his work."
[45] "L'Allegro" is here misquoted. Milton wrote of "jocund," not "jolly," rebecks.
[46] Shakespeare, of course, wrote this line otherwise than as it is carelessly given here.
[47] The Czech title of Dvořák's symphonic poem and of Erben's ballad is Holoubek. Carl Jaromir Erben (born 1811; died 1870) is known in America as the librettist of Dvořák's cantata, "The Spectre's Bride."
ELGAR
(Edward William Elgar: born in Broadheath, near Worcester, England, June 2, 1857; now living in Malvern, England.)
VARIATIONS ON AN ORIGINAL THEME ("ENIGMA"): Op. 36
These Variations have an inner history, or, rather, fourteen inner histories; but precisely what they are is a secret which is locked within the breast of Sir Edward Elgar and certain of his friends. The Variations are fourteen in number, and their purpose has been publicly avowed by the composer. In them, he says: "I have sketched ... the idiosyncrasies of fourteen of my friends; ... but this is a personal matter, and need not have been mentioned." The score bears the sub-title "Enigma," and is dedicated "to my friends pictured within." Hints as to their identity are contained in these initials and sobriquets printed at the head of the different variations: