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1. 
   kplhardison Student
   Graduate School

   eNotes Editor

   Francis T. Palgrave, ed. (1824–1897). The Golden Treasury.  1875.

   William Shakespeare

   VII. "Under the greenwood tree"

   UNDER the greenwood tree    
   Who loves to lie with me,    
   And tune his merry note    
   Unto the sweet bird's throat—    
   Come hither, come hither, come hither!             5
   Here shall he see    
   No enemy    
   But winter and rough weather.    
   
   Who doth ambition shun    
   And loves to live i' the sun,      10
   Seeking the food he eats    
   And pleased with what he gets—    
   Come hither, come hither, come hither!    
   Here shall he see    
   No enemy      15
   But winter and rough weather.

   /p>

   PARAPHRASE OF UNDER THE GREENWOOD TREE by kplhardison

   Underneath the summery tree
   If you love to lie with me,
   And tune your singing note
   To the sweet song bird's throat---
   Come here, come here, come here!
   Here you will see
   No enemy
   Except winter and rough weather.
   
   If you have no goals to keep
   And love to lie in summer sun,
   Searching out the foods you eat
   And being pleased with what you get---
   Come here, come here, come here!
   Here you will see
   No enemy
   Except winter and rough weather.
   

   
   

   Explication:

   This is an ironical poem by William Shakespeare because, of course, in summer with birds singing, trees in full leaf, sunshine to bask in and food abounding for the taking, there is no winter nor rough weather! Therefore--there will be no enemy!

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/english-poetry-sixteenth-century-sa...

   http://www.enotes.com/explicating-poetry-salem/explicatin...

   http://www.enotes.com/william-shakespeare-poet-salem/will...

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   Posted by kplhardison on Tuesday October 27, 2009 at 10:50 AM