Word: saxonism
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Dates: during 1920-1929
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...Saxon Dawn...
...dawn of Saxon history, with heroic ideals looming in twilit feudal minds. Aethelwold, the king's foster-brother, prepares to ride into the dawn for the king's bride-a flax-haired Lancelot for a bucolic Arthur. They pledge their fraternity over staked swords. . . . Later, in a druidic Devon wood, Aelfrida's beauty twists this pledge. It is too early in history for a Lancelot to live with his own deceit. He buries his dagger in his own chest for brother-love, which is yet held above love for woman. Hasty critics have objected that such...
They were to find a "native" theme. Indians? Witchcraft? Skyscrapers? No, the most native to U. S. spirit, decided Miss Millay, is the old Saxon legend. The Saxon is nearer than the redman; the turbulent warrior dearer than the Puritan, to our age. Theirs was a forthright, swaggering, romantic spirit. Mr. Taylor would write his music true to the hunt, the forest, the clash of sword, the misty superstitions, the feudal ideals of loyalty...
...scene disclosed King Eadgar's (Lawrence Tibbett's) banquet hall, its rough-hewn table boards, trophies of woodland kills, crude spears, armor: discloses also the royal widower's conceit to take a second wife. Aelfrida, daughter of the Thane of Devon, famed for beauty, is in his mind. With Saxon stolidity, however, he withholds decision until assured that the lady, whom he has never personally inspected, merits her reputation. On the errand of verification and summons (if justified), he despatches his loyal foster-brother, Aethelwold (Edward Johnson), whose attitude toward ladies is thus described: "Should a wench but breathe upon...
...glory, wearing a golden robe, splendid in her favorite gems. The betrayer is betrayed. He plunges his dagger into his heart. He commits suicide in a "nice" way, explains Miss Millay. No fuss, tenor solo, orchestral pomposity; no sentimental worblings of lost love and noble remorse. Like a true Saxon, he quietly takes his life, "for himself," not glory or revenge. Aelfrida weeps but Eadgar says to her: "Thou hast not tears enough in thy narrow