Final answer:
The lament "When I am laid in earth" is a ground bass aria from Henry Purcell's opera, Dido and Aeneas, making option (c) the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lament "When I am laid in earth" is actually a ground bass aria from Henry Purcell's opera, Dido and Aeneas. This poignant aria is sung by the character Dido, the Queen of Carthage, as she mourns the departure of her beloved Aeneas and foresees her impending death. The opera itself is a Baroque masterpiece that tells the story of the tragic love between Dido and Aeneas. The aria, often referred to as Dido's Lament, is one of the most famous and expressive pieces in vocal music history, featuring a repetitive bass line over which the lamenting melody is sung.
The correct answer to the student's question is c. Purcell's Dido and Aeneas.