Solace

mythology: a body of myths (stories about superhuman beings taken as a true in ancient cultures) fairy-tale(adj) : extremely happy or fortunate weired: very strange and unusual rippling: making a sound of water flowing quietly floppy: soft and not able to maintain a firm shape or position. dangle: to hang loosely, or to hold something so that it hangs loosely cravat: a wide straight piece of material worn loosely tied in the open neck of a shirt. lilting: gentle and pleasant. waggle: to (cause to) move quickly up and down or from side to side. fiesta: a public celebration in Spain or Latin America, especially one on a religious holiday, with entertainments and activities. pantomime: an amusing musical play based on traditional children‘s stories performed especially at Christmas. whirl : (to cause something to) spin around. sprightly: energetic and in good health. warble: to sing, especially in a high voice. lumber: to move slowly and awkwardly. regal :

Mercy The quality of mercy is not strain'd. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes. 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown. His scepter shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this sceptered sway; It is enthroned in the heart of kings; It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God's When mercy seasons justice. Strain’d : forced Droppeth: drops; descends Mightiest in the mightiest: mercy is more powerful than the most powerful kings  Become:  to suit, to enhance the appearance of someone Crown: symbolizes the supreme power of the king Sceptre:   the royal wand; authority Enthroned (adj.):   seated (in the hearts of kings) Attribute (n): quality temporal not lasting  Enthrone

The Brook I come from haunts of coot and hern; I make a sudden sally And sparkle out among the fern, To bicker down a valley. By thirty hills I hurry down, Or slip between the ridges, By twenty thorpes, a little town, And half a hundred bridges. Till last by Philip's farm, I flow To join the brimming river, For men may come and men may go, But I go on forever. I chatter over stony ways, In little sharps and trebles, I bubble into eddying bays, I babble on the pebbles. With many a curve my banks I fret By many a field and fallow, And many a fairy foreland set With willow-weed and mallow. I chatter, chatter, as I flow To join the brimming river, For men may come and men may go, But I go on forever. I wind about, and in and out, With here a blossom sailing, And here and there a lusty trout, And here and there a grayling, And here and there a foamy flake

Summary: Rabindranath Tagore talks of spiritual strength and richness. He does not talk of any material poverty. He doesn’t want any spiritual weakness in his heart. He prays to God to drive away all spiritual weakness from his soul. He wants it to be removed from the very root of his heart. There should be no room for it in his life whatsoever. He wants such spiritual strength that will enable him to bear his joys and sorrows without any sort of complaining. That is why he wants God to strike at the root of penury in his heart. He prays for strength to bear his joys and sorrows easily, with equanimity. Rabindranath Tagore wants to serve the people. He wants to serve the poor. He wants to be one with the poor. He does not want to disown them. He does not want to bow to the insolent behaviour of the rich. He does not want to bow to their strength. He does not want to be disturbed by the daily trifles of life. He wants to raise his mind above them. The poet wants to surrender himse