Who are the speaker and the one addressed? Whom does the cicada of the tale symbolize? Whom the singer helped by the cicada? What application is made of the story? What serious meanings and feelings underlie the tone of raillery? What things mark the light and humorous tone of the speaker? Point out the harmony between style and theme.
CAVALIER TUNES. (PAGE [67].)
[[Return]]
Note the swinging, martial movement, and the energetic spirit in these lyrics. For an account of the history of the period, see Green's Short History of the English People, Chapter VIII, and Macaulay's History of England, Chapter I. For an account of[page 245] the qualities of the Cavaliers, see Macaulay's Essay on Milton.
I. MARCHING ALONG
[1]. Kentish Sir [Byng]. The first of the family known to fame was George Byng, Viscount Torrington (1663-1733), who could not be the man meant here by Browning.
[2]. crop-headed. In [allusion] to the close-cropped hair of the Puritans. Long wigs were the fashion among the Cavaliers; hence the Puritans were nicknamed "Roundheads."
[7]. King [Charles] the First. Pym, John (1584-1643). Leader of the Parliament in its actions against King Charles and the Royalist party.
[13]. [Hampden], John (1594-1643). One of the leaders of Parliament, known principally for his resistance to the illegal taxations of Charles I.
[14]. [Hazelrig], Sir Arthur. One of the members of Parliament whom Charles tried to impeach. Fiennes, Nathaniel. One of the leading members of Parliament. young Harry. Son of Sir Henry Vane, and a member of the Puritan party.