This has been covered before, see:
http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg22831.html
G.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter Jones-RR" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 10:01 AM
Subject: [LUTE] Forlorn Hope
Dear Luters,
I played a concert with a singer on Saturday and was chatting to a
member of the audience afterwards who had an interest in military
history. He was interested in title of the Forlorn Hope Fancy by Dowland
and told me something I didn't know about it. Apparently, the Forlorn
Hope was a term for the front guard of foot soldiers used as storming
troops (essentially cannon fodder). Young and ambitious officers were
often keen to lead the Forlorn Hope because if they survived they were
guaranteed promotion. I've copied below the OED entry.
Does this lend a programmatic streak to the famous Dowland work? Is the
sudden whirling fast passage at the end a battaglia-style depiction of
the Forlorn Hope being massacred? Who knows...
OED:
[ad. Du. verloren hoop (in Kilian 1598), lit. 'lost troop' (hoop = HEAP,
Ger. haufen). Cf. Fr. enfants perdus. (Among sailors mispronounced
flowing hope.)]
1. In early use, a picked body of men, detached to the front to begin
the attack; a body of skirmishers. Now usually, a storming party.
In the 17th c. sometimes applied to the rear-guard.
1579 DIGGES Stratiot. 102 He must also so order the Forlorn hope in ye
front of hys Battayle with new supplies. 1581 STYWARD Mart. Discipl. II.
136 The which the Germaine calls, their Forlorne hoope. 1600 J. DYMMOK
Ireland (1841) 32 Before the vantguarde marched the forlorn hope. 1642
True State Ireland 5 Likewise for the forlorn hope of the Rear, Captain
Pate commanded 40 Dragooners. 1678 tr. Gaya's Art of War II. 74 Called
the Forlorn Hope, because they..fall on first, and make a Passage for
the rest. 1799 WELLINGTON in Gurw. Desp. I. 31 The forlorn hope of each
attack consisted of a sergeant and twelve Europeans. 1874 L. STEPHEN
Hours Libr. (1892) I. vii. 245 Compelled to lead a forlorn hope up the
scaling ladders.
b. transf. and fig., chiefly of persons in a desperate condition.
c1572 GASCOIGNE Fruits Warre (1831) 211 The forlorne hope which haue set
vp their rest By rash expense, and knowe not howe to liue. 1572 J. JONES
Bathes of Bath Pref. 3 A booteless matter to perswade the forlorn hope,
suche as have decreed to caste awaye them selves. a1661 FULLER Worthies
(1840) II. 11 [Object of Christ's descent into hell] To preach, useless
where his auditory was all the forlorn hope. 1698 FRYER Acc. E. India &
P. 128 The busy apes, the Forlorn hope of these declining Woods, deeming
no place safe where they beheld us.
c. pl. The men composing such a body; hence, reckless bravos.
1539 TONSTALL Serm. Palm Sund. (1823) 67 To make this realme a praye to
al..spoylers, all snaphanses, all forlornehopes, all cormerauntes. c1645
TULLIE Siege of Carlisle (1840) 31 Toppam had ye honour of ye forlorn
hopes, and gave them a gallant charge. 1867 SMYTH Sailor's Word-bk.,
Forlorn-hopes was a term formerly applied to the videttes of the army.
d. A perilous or desperate enterprise.
1768 J. BYRON Narr. Wager (1778) 89 We saw them a little after, setting
out upon their forlorn hope, and helping one another over..rocks. 1771
Junius Lett. lix. 311 The wary..never went upon a forlorn hope.
2. slang. a. The losers at a gaming-table. b. (See quot. 1785.)
1608 DEKKER Lanthorne & Candle-light Dij, They that sit downe to play,
are at first called Leaders. They that loose, are the Forlorne Hope.
a1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Forlorn Hope, losing Gamesters. 1785 GROSE
Dict. Vulg. Tongue, Forlorn hope, a gamester's last stake.
3. With word-play or misapprehension of the etymology: A faint hope, a
'hope against hope'; an enterprise which has little chance of success.
1641 J. SHUTE Sarah & Hagar (1649) 108 If we sin, upon a presumption
that we shall conceal either our actions or persons from God, it is a
forlorn hope; our iniquities will finde us out. 1806-7 J. BERESFORD
Miseries Hum. Life (1826) II. xxi, In hopes of making your hearer think
that you had been only singing all the while. A forlorn hope indeed.
1885 Harper's Mag. Mar. 594/1 She had had a forlorn hope of a letter,
but it had died away.
Peter Jones | Room 23 | BBC Maida Vale | 0207 765 2207 |
[EMAIL PROTECTED] |
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