Obe. Silence, a while. - Robin, take off this head. Titania, musick call; and strike more dead Than common sleep, of all these five the sense. Tita. Musick, ho! musick; such as charmeth sleep. Puck. Now, when thou wak'st, with thine own fool's eyes peep. Obe. Sound, musick. [Still musick.] Come, my queen, take hands with me, And rock the ground whereon these sleepers be. And will, to-morrow midnight, solemnly, Puck. Fairy king, attend, and mark; Obe. Then, my queen, in silence sad, Swifter than the wand'ring moon. Tita. Come, my lord; and in our flight, Tell me how it came this night, That I sleeping here was found, With these mortals, on the ground. [Exeunt. [Horns sound within. Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, EGEUS, and train. The. Go, one of you, find out the forester; For now our observation is perform'd6; + "prosperity:"] - MALONE. 6 our observation is perform'd:] The honours due to the morning of May. I know not why Shakspeare calls this play A Midsummer Night's Dream, when he so carefully informs us that it happened on the night preceding May day. JOHNSON. The title of this play seems no more intended to denote the precise time of the action, than that of The Winter's Tale; which we find, was at the season of sheep-shearing. FARMER. ORE. SOUND. MUSIC COME.MY QUEEN. TAKE HANDS WITH ME AND ROCK THE GROUND WHEREON THESE SLEEPERS EE. London. Published by F. C & J. Rivington and Partners Feb 1823 And since we have the vaward of the day", Uncouple in the western valley; go:- We will, fair queen, up to the mountain's top, Of hounds and echo in conjunction. Hip. I was with Hercules, and Cadmus, once, The. My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind, Judge, when you hear. - But, soft; what nymphs are these? Ege. My lord, this is my daughter here asleep; I imagine that the title of this play was suggested by the time it was first introduced on the stage, which was probably at Midsum. mer. " A Dream for the entertainment of a Midsummer-night." Twelfth-Night and The Winter's Tale had probably their titles from a similar circumstance. MALONE. 7 the vaward of the day, Vaward is compounded of van and ward, the forepart. 8 - such gallant chiding;] Chiding in this instance means only sound. 9 So flew'd,] Sir T. Hanmer justly remarks, that flews are the large chaps of a deep-mouth'd hound. 1 - so sanded; -] Of a sandy colour, which is one of the true denotements of a blood-hound. And this, Lysander; this Demetrius is; I wonder of their being here together. The. No doubt, they rose up early, to observe The rite of May2; and, hearing our intent, Came here in grace of our solemnity. But, speak, Egeus; is not this the day That Hermia should give answer of her choice? Ege. It is, my lord. The. Go, bid the huntsmen wake them with their horns. Horns, and shout within. DEMETRIUS, LYSANDER, HERMIA, and HELENA, wake and start up. The. Good-morrow, friends. Saint Valentine is past3; Begin these wood-birds but to couple now? Lys. Pardon, my lord. The. [He and the rest kneel to THESEUS. I pray you all, stand up. I know, you are two rival enemies; Lys. My lord, I shall reply amazedly, Ege. Enough, enough, my lord; you have enough: I beg the law, the law upon his head. The rite of May;] The rite of this month was once so universally observed, that even authors thought their works would obtain a more favourable reception, if published on May-Day. 3 Saint Valentine is past;) Alluding to the old saying, that birds begin to couple on St. Valentine's day. |