The Apprentice Muse and Shakespeare
A short story by M. Bradley McCauley
©2009-2014 All Rights Reserved
A frightening experience happened early in my apprenticeship learning to be a Muse. I was alone in the crystal library studying when The Master of Muses instantly appeared. I had never seen him in the realm of Muses, but I knew instantly he was The Master.
"Taylo," he spoke softly, looking at me with kindly eyes. "I have need of your services as a Muse on planet Earth."
I trembled at the thought. There was no way I was prepared to be a Muse to anyone. I was a young apprentice. I had never been to Earth, nor ever witnessed a Muse at work. I was unsure what a Muse was supposed to do. My teacher informed me a Muse guides artists, musicians, inventors, writers, and all who are blessed with a creative nature by implanting in them how to excel at their craft. I had not reached the learning level of implanting anything in anyone. I had only been studying the various arts and what they entailed. My fear and uncertainty made me hesitant to reply to the Master.
"You must leave post haste!" He addressed me firmly and began to disappear.
"But Master," I frantically called out, "I know not how to be a Muse. I am a new apprentice and have no experience."
The Master instantly reappeared in my vision. This time his voice was not soft as before, but strong, strident. Looking at me with a firm and direct gaze he said, "a Muse is required on Earth. None but you are available. You will go and do your best." In a flash he was gone, disappeared in front of my eyes as I remained alone and trembling.
"Sir, I pray thee, please, I am most unsuitable. Perhaps in a short while a qualified Muse will be available to serve you." I stammered, fear quaking my very being.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Melatio, director of transporting Muses approaching me rapidly.
"The current to take you to Earth is ready Taylo. You must leave immediately."
"I cannot go. Please, Melatio, tell the Master I am unprepared."
"Fear not little friend. The journey will give you time to study the book of Muses. You will learn the fundamentals as you are transported and from there you shall use your instinct." He motioned me to follow, rushing faster than I could keep up. I tried asking questions, to no avail. He ignored me.
"How will I know whom I am to help? Will it be a musician? Perhaps an artist! Oh please, surely not a writer. I know very little of writing."
Stopping suddenly, he turned and I bumped into him. We were nose to nose. He quickly stepped back, gently reached his hand down to touch my quivering shoulder. "Be not afraid Taylo. You are an apprentice Muse because you have been blessed with inborn talents. Whichever talent is required; you shall know what you are to do. It is instinctive in all Muses. Now hurry, the current will not wait."
I trembled even more than when the Master appeared before me. I feared the task ahead, and I feared the current. I didn't even know what the current was, why did I fear it? What if I failed? Ahh, I thought, the true source of my fear is to fail. If I failed, how would I face the other Muses, my teachers, The Master?
"Here we are!" Melatio again stopped abruptly. He pointed to an accumulation of misty matter. "This is the current that will transport you to Earth. All that you need is provided within the energy field. Think a thought, and you will have a response. Ask a question, and you will have an answer. The atmosphere of intelligence will guide you. Now go. Hurry! The current will not wait."
Melatio pushed me toward the swirling mass which appeared to be surrounded by a dense mist. As I stumbled and hesitated, I was again pushed. Entering the mist I was propelled into an engulfing energy. A torrent of penetrating energy felt like coils infusing my very being. It was as if I had connected to the field of all knowing, all wisdom, and all eternal knowledge. I looked around and wondered about the sudden awareness. Immediately the responding thought came like a current.
"You have entered the realm of wisdom united with the creative force of all that is. It will give you what you need to perform your task. Whenever required, go into yourself for the guidance to be what you are to be."
Concentrating, I thought, I'm not sure what I am supposed to be.
A Muse! Came the responding thought, A Guide! An inspiration! The Spark of an Idea! The Generator of Creativity! The response was didactic, like a cadence of exasperated expression. A hint of frustration, then a softer but still determined thought; you can be an ember that ignites a flame of creative genius.
What if I fail? Then you shall be an ash blown away by the wind. I sensed it was a snide thought, prompted by my lack of confidence.
As the current moved me through realms of existence, I felt various responses to my thoughts, my questions and my concerns. It was as if a different energetic entity fielded the variant thoughts cascading through my mind.
How will I know the one whom I am to guide? I pondered
The response came quickly. You will have two opportunities to choose which entity you are to mentor. If the first one selected does not respond well to your influence, you will have one chance to choose or be directed to another.
I immediately felt a gravitational pull. I was forced to adapt my breathing as a new atmosphere seeped into the current. The confidence I had begun to acquire after hearing the responses to my thoughts began to ebb.
Be not afraid Taylo. All that you need is within you. Only one thing can stop your progress. The one whom you connect with may refuse your guidance. If the second chosen refuses, you will be forced to remain on Earth until you are called home, where you will be relegated to the hall of disappointment. There you will be assigned to another apprenticeship within a different hierarchy.
As the atmosphere disintegrated around me, I felt a new strength forge into my thoughts. I will not fail! I will not fail. I shall be the greatest Muse of all Earthly time--- I hope, I added.
Two
Everything around me that transported me faded into oblivion. I felt myself seated on what I knew from previous Earth studies was soil, a rich, dark, slightly damp field of dirt. In the distance I saw a thick forest and heard the rush of water. Perhaps a river, I thought as I shakily stood, getting my balance.
Wondering if I should go toward the forest or head to the river, I looked behind and saw the spires of a church and roofs of buildings. I knew it was a village. Somehow I knew more than I had learned in the great halls of learning. It was the all-knowing wisdom I received in the atmosphere of intelligence giving me this awareness.
As I moved toward the village I could see the river flowing and knew its name, as well as the name of the village. It was Stratford and the river was Avon. Crossing the bridge leading to the market square, I approached the church I had seen from the field. Nearing the limestone edifice, I heard a loud voice and stopped to listen. It was only one voice with no a replying sound of another person. Someone was speaking loudly, perhaps to the lime trees surrounding the building, or speaking to one who did not respond. I approached the area so as not to disturb whomever was speaking so eloquently.
"Let not thy faith be tainted, nor thy belief be defiled, be thee of courage and..."
A female calling from the front of the church stilled the voice.
"Will, where art thou? Come, William, tis time for our midday meal."
The young man shrugged his shoulders muttering words I could not hear as he marched towards the sound of the voice, nearly walking through me. I jumped back, then realized he could not see me. I was invisible. What fun. I can come and go as I please, I thought. I can follow the striding young man, or set my sites on finding someone else. It could be my choice, could it not? I had a lot to learn about being an Earthly Muse.
How will I know what type of Muse I need to be? I asked myself.
"Listen to the speech and you will know," an immediate replying thought came into my mind.
Shrugging my shoulders, if I had shoulders since I was invisible I didn't know if I had shoulders or a body. I know I felt like I had a body, but since even I couldn't see myself, I could only surmise that I had one.
"Will," spoke the young woman, "Father will be most upset with thee to not be about the work he gave thee."
The young man did not respond. I didn't know if it was he or the young woman I was to inspire.
"Do thee not hear my words?"
They walked quickly. He remained mute. Suddenly she stopped and turned to him, pulling him closer to her.
"Please Will, deny not the wishes of our father, dearest brother. It is his command ye marry Anne Hathaway post haste. Would thee deny the child she bears a rightful father?"
Pulling himself from her grasp, Will stomped towards a thatched roof dwelling. She stood still, hands on hips, watching him move forward.
"Answer me brother."
Standing steadfast to the spot, his neck reddened, his fists clenched at his sides. Speaking with distinctly dramatic tones as she stares at his back. "My deepest desire is to be an actor, dear sister. My intent is to portray a character upon a stage. It is my desire to move those watching to tears or laughter beyond their control. Our father denies me to be that which I am to be?" He breathes deeply, turns and faces her as I watch her demeanor turn from accuser to a defender.
"Alas dearest brother, I know thy pain, but thou must not retreat from thy duty. Tis true, Madam Hathaway be older by far than thee. I lament that thy love is not for her. Dear Will, thy duty must prevail. It has been ruled thou art the father of the babe she bears. Can thee deny thy fatherhood?"
"Yes dear sister, I bed her and I shall wed her, but I shall not be denied my future, for it hath been foretold by a gypsy at King's Cross. Tis in London I shall find my fame and fortune. The theatre shall be my destiny."
"Oh Will," the young woman began walking forward, "thou art a dreamer of fantasy. Thou shalt remain here and be a glover and money lender just as our father hath been to feed and clothe us. Shake these silly notions from thy mind, and accept what is meant to be.
They entered a dwelling, which I assumed was their home. I
remained outside, perplexed, worried about why I had landed there. I was quite confused. How does one be a Muse to a glover or money lender? When I was in the crystal study chamber reading about authors, artists and musicians, I never read anything about glovers, whatever that might be, or money lenders. Oh dear. I must have landed in the wrong Earth zone. What was I to do? Without warning, and actually giving me a fright, Melatio appeared. "Little friend, why do you look so confused?"
"Whom am I to inspire? The young man is getting married and going to be a glover, whatever that is, and I don't think it is his sister I am to inspire. I am unsure."
"Have you searched your inner knowing which you received upon your travels here to Earth?"
"Not really." I was ashamed to reply.
"Go within. You will find the answer to many questions."
He was gone. Poof, just like that. There was I, unsure, afraid of failure, and he tells me to go within. Easy for him to say, he's not an apprentice Muse who doesn't know the first thing about being a Muse. What else could I do? I didn't know how to get home. How was I going to get home if I somehow did what I was sent to do and was done? On my, oh my, so many questions to ask whatever it is within that holds the answers.
Three
"Go within! Go within! The answers are within!" Melatio's words stirred my mind.
How do I go within? I wondered and was instantaneously transported back to the churchyard where I'd first heard young Will speaking to no one. Lime trees lined the road leading to the entrance. I found a spot beneath one and began my inward thought process. I wasn't very good at it. I kept looking around when I heard a rustle in the bushes or birds swooshing overhead. Earth is a lovely place. The church was most imposing. Built of limestone in the shape of a cross, I was impressed with the massive doors to the entrance and steeples reaching towards the skies. Wondering if I could go within the church to find a way to go within my thoughts, I was again startled.
"Good tidings, my friend." It was one of the Senior Muses from the Mystic Halls of Learning.
I was beside myself with joy. He was here. Perhaps I could leave. Or perhaps he was here to teach me, to show me how to be a Muse. Before I could ask, he began a discourse.
"The Master awakened me from my long rest after being the Muse of Geoffrey Chaucer. It was a most daunting task and I required a long respite." He paused for a moment, but before I could tell him how overjoyed I was that he had come to relieve me, he continued.
"Ah yes, a daunting task. He paused a moment, his eyes reflecting deep thought. "You see, Chaucer had been a most busy public servant. Inspiring him to write was always trying and tiring. As a member of the royal court of Edward, he traveled extensively and wrote sporadically which was most frustrating to a Muse of my experience.
I found this dialog becoming trying and tiring. It would be impolite for me to interrupt and ask him how soon I could leave and how I could go back.
"Ah yes, the travels were exciting and a learning experience for both of us. We were introduced to the writings of Skeat, Boitani, and Rowland. Do you know of them, little friend?"
I shrugged; at least I think I shrugged. I still wasn't sure if I had a body.
He continued without waiting for my reply. "They had surely been inspired by great Master Muses before our time. When I was sent to be a Muse to Chaucer, I thought I was a well-learned Muse. I might even admit I was quite haughty, that is until I read the works of those men who created a world of literature quite beyond my expertise. I'd even heard it said those Muses had inspired some of the writings of the Bible. How could I ever compete with that?"
His question didn't seem to require an answer, so I remained mute.
"But I did my best along with my charge, Chaucer. We learned together. When I combined that which I had learned in the Crystal Library I was able to inspire most of the Canterbury Tales. It was a truly awesome task. Truly Awesome."
I was stunned in disbelief. He inspired 'The Canterbury Tales'? I was in the presence of one of the highest acclaimed Muses of all time. Should I bow? Go down on one knee? Did I have a knee? How could I show my absolute honor of being in his presence?
"Enough! Enough! My friend. We must be about our work. I have been given some down time since our young William Shakespeare shall not remove himself to London for a few years. It will give me time to eradicate from his mind the notion of becoming an actor. He is to write plays, not act in them. Actors are of a low class position, as well as not paid very highly. No, I shall remain here in this peaceful village and take my time preparing the young man for his future."
"And of me?" I ventured the question. "Shall I return to the Mystic Hall of Learning."
"Nay my friend. There is work for you here on Earth. I've been told you will precede me to London and there you will be the Muse of a fledgling writer. There is some hope for him, and the Master feels it will be an education for you. In turn, you will learn to inspire and guide him. Now, be gone with you whilst I attend to my charge."
"How am I to be gone?"
"Just go within and ask where you are to go. Farewell my friend. Some day we shall meet again."
He was gone before I could thank him. How am I to go to London? Before I quite finished asking how I was to get there, I found myself in the midst of a busy road. Carriages were bustling about on cobbled roads. Houses were jammed close to each other with slim alleys between. Traders were yelling their wares, and I was most stressed.
"Where am I to go?" I asked myself. Immediately I was in a stately carriage with an elaborately dressed gentleman. He was reading a newspaper, a cigar held between two fingers. His attention was halted. Banging the ceiling of the carriage, he called out the window to the driver.
"Alas, Henry! We must change plans. Take me to the Globe Theatre immediately. I have news of a most disturbing kind in today's Herald."
"Yes, Sire. We shall be there in moments."
And we were. I was jostled when the coach stopped suddenly. The passenger threw the newspaper to the floor and alighted.
Quite suddenly, I was in a theatre hurrying behind the one called Sir Francis Bacon. Something stirrede within me and I felt instantly I was on my way to becoming what I was meant to be, a great writer's Muse.
I knew as I watched people in the theatre scattering about, it would be quite an awesome task, perhaps even as daunting as was the one for the Muse of Chaucer, who became the Muse of William Shakespeare.
Epilogue
I was with Sir Francis for six Earthly years. I learned from observing his thoughts and how he transposed them to the written word. I was fascinated by his knowledge of the law and determination to bring practical knowledge to all, not just to those of privilege. He was what we now call a 'mover and shaker'. Unfortunately he was indicted on charges of bribery when he was Lord Chancellor. While it was an embarrassment, it afforded him the opportunity to retire to his estate and continue his literary, scientific, and philosophical work with fervor.
It is to him I give credit for my education. I learned as he studied and wrote. I, not so much inspired him as he inspired me. It was an amazing education. I did see my fellow Muse and his charge Shakespeare before I left that sojourn on Earth. Our paths crossed several times over the years. We even served as Muses together in a place called Concord. Perhaps you have heard of the gentlemen we later served, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.
We often speak of our times in London and in Concord. It was the worst of times; it was the best of times. Oh wait a minute; I think that was done by one of my former charges when I was a Muse again in London. Have you read Charles Dickens? Oh now that was a challenge. Fortunately I was prepared as an advanced Muse having learned from great authors.
One last thing before I end this tale. Have you heard about the Algonquin Round Table in NY City with some of the writers of that time? They were George S. Kaufman, Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley, as well as other famous writers. Now there's another story to be told. Were they reincarnations of Emerson, Thoreau, Alcott, Hawthorne and the rest of the Concord gang? Shall I tell you about the affair between, no, I best not. Better to finish this tale and write,
The End.
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