Case 239. LANGUAGE LESSON CASE 217 Case is a grammatical term used to indicate the relationship of nouns or pronouns to other words in the sentence. A noun or pronoun that is the subject of a verb is in the nominative case. A noun or pronoun denoting possession is in the possessive case. A noun or pronoun that is the object of a transitive verb is in the objective case. The personal pronouns (Lesson 209) have separate forms for the different cases. The apostrophe is not used in the possessive case of pronouns. The pronoun who also has three forms: who, whose, whom. Make four sentences each containing a pronoun in the nominative case; four sentences each containing a pronoun in the possessive case; and four each containing a pronoun in the objective case. 240. ORAL LESSON A MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM A part of Shakespeare's play A Midsummer-Night's Dream takes place in a forest at night. Thither come many fairies in the trains of Titania, their queen, and Oberon, their king. Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustard seed are the names of some who sing and dance with Titania. The merriest and the most mischievous of all is Puck, or Robin Goodfellow, the servant of King Oberon. His pranks make trouble for many mortals, and especially for Titania. Oberon squeezes on Titania's eyelids the juice of a flower which will make her fall in love with the first person whom she sees when she awakes. Puck arranges that she shall see a foolish weaver named Bottom, on whose shoulders he places the great head of an ass. Bottom has also been asleep, and when he awakes is greatly bewildered to find that he has a hairy face, an appetite for hay, and a bevy of pretty little fairies to serve him. A few selections will give some idea of the story of the play, and will show what charming poetry the fairies talked. Read or recite the selections as if they made a play. Puck. Fairy. A Midsummer-Night's Dream I. A FAIRY AND PUCK MEET IN THE FOREST How now, spirit! whither wander you? Over hill, over dale, Thorough bush, thorough brier, Thorough flood, thorough fire, In those freckles live their savours: I must go and seek some dewdrops here II. THE FAIRIES SING A LULLABY FOR TITANIA First Fairy. Chorus. You spotted snakes with double tongue, Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen; Philomel, with melody Sing in our sweet lullaby; Lulla, lulla, lullaby, lulla, lulla, lullaby: Never harm, Nor spell nor charm, Come our lovely lady nigh; So, good night, with lullaby. 219 First Fairy. Weaving spiders, come not here; Chorus. Hence, you long-legg'd spinners, hence! Worm nor snail, do no offence. Philomel, with melody, etc. Second Fairy. Hence, away! now all is well. One aloof stand sentinel. Oberon. Exeunt fairies. Titania sleeps. Enter Oberon and squeezes the flower on Titania's eyelids. What thou seest when thou dost wake, Do it for thy true-love take, Love and languish for his sake: Be it ounce, or cat, or bear, Wake when some vile thing is near. Exit. III. BOTTOM AND TITANIA AWAKE Enter Titania, Bottom (with the head of an ass), and the fairies. Titania. Bottom. And stick musk-roses in thy sleek smooth head, Peaseblossom. Ready. Bottom. Scratch my head, Peaseblossom. Where's Mounsieur Cobweb? Bottom. A Midsummer-Night's Dream 221 Mounsieur Cobweb, good mounsieur, get you your weapons in your hand, and kill me a red-hipped humble-bee on the top of a thistle; and, good Mounsieur, bring me the honey-bag. Do not fret yourself too much in the action, mounsieur; and, good mounsieur, have a care the honey-bag break not; I would be loath to have you overflown with a honey-bag, signior. Where's Mounsieur Mustardseed? Mustardseed. Ready Bottom. Mustardseed. Bottom. Titania. Bottom. Titania. Bottom. Titania. Give me your neaf, Mounsieur Mustard seed. Pray Nothing, good mounsieur, but to help Cavalery What, wilt thou hear some music, my sweet love? I have a reasonable good ear in music. Let's have the tongs and the bones. Or say, sweet love, what thou desirest to eat. Truly, a peck of provender: I could munch your good dry oats. Methinks I have a great desire to a bottle of hay: good hay, sweet hay, hath no fellow. I have a venturous fairy that shall seek the squirrel's hoard, and fetch thee new nuts, |