An aged princess; many days shall see her, And yet no day without a deed to crown it. 'Would I had known no more! but she must die, She must, the saints must have her; yet a virgin, A most unspotted lily shall she pass To the ground, and all the world shall mourn ber. K. Hen. O lord archbishop, Thou hast made me now a man; never, before Maker. She will be sick else. This day, no man think He has business at his house; for all shall stay, This little one shall make it holiday. [Exeunt, EPILOGUE.. 'Tis ten to one, this play can never please All that are here: Some come to take their ease, And sleep an act or two; but those, we fear, We have frighted with our trumpets; so, 'tis clear They'll say, 'tis naught: others, to hear the Abus'd extremely, and to cry,-that's witty! city Which we have not done neither that, I fear, It is supposed that the epilogue and prologie to this play were both written by Ben Jonson. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE. THE title of this play was probably suggested (like Twelfth Night, and The Winter's Tale,) by the time at which it was first performed; viz. at Midsummer thus it would be announced as "A Dream for the Entertainment of a Midsummer Night." No other ground can be assigned for the name which our auther has given to it; since the action is distinctly pointed out as occurring on the night preceding May-day. The piece was written in 1592; and, according to Stevens, might have been suggested by the Knight's Tale in Chancer, or, as Capell supposes, Shakspeare may have taken the idea of his fairies from Drayton's fantastical poèm, called Nymphidia, or, The Court of Fairy. Mason, however, denies that our peet made use of the materials which Shakspeare had rendered so popular; and asserts (in opposition to Johnson) that there is no analogy or resemblance between the fairies of the one, and the fairies of the other. The same critics are also at issue upon the general merits of this singular play. Johnson declares that all the parts, in their various modes, are well written." Malone, that the principal personages are insignificant---the fable meagre and uninteresting. Hippolyta, the Amazon, is undistinguished from any other female; and the solicitudes of Hermia and Demetrius, of Lysander and Helena, are childish and frivolous. Theseus, the companion of Hercules, is not engaged in any adventure worthy his rank and reputation: "he goes out a Maying; meets the lovers in perplexity, and makes no effort to promote their happiness; but when supernatural events have reconciled them, he joins their company, and concludes the entertainment by uttering some miserable puns, at an interlude represented by clowns." These faults are, however, almost wholly redeemed, by the glowing fervour, and varied imagination, which Shakspeare has displayed in the poetry; by the rich characteristic humour (free from the taint of grossness) which enlivens the blunt-witted devices of his theatrical tailors and cobblers; and by the admirable satire which he has passed on those self-conceited actors, who (not unlike some modern “* stars”) would monopolize the favours of the public, trample upon every competitor, and “bear the palm alone." Bottom was perhaps the leading tragedian of some rival house, and on that account is honoured with sa ass's head. Turn melancholy forth to funerals, and with revel duke, This hath bewitch'd the bosom of my child: Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes, And interchang'd love-tokens with my child: Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweetmeats; messengers Of strong prevailment in unharden'd youth: With cunning hast thou filch'd my daughter's heart; Turn'd her obedience, which is due to me, Be it so she will not here before your grace I beg the ancient privilege of Athens; The. What say you, Hermia? be advis'd, fair maid : To you your father should be as a god; one To whom you are but as a form in wax, The. In himself he is: ness. Her. So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord, Ere I will yield my virgin patent up (The sealing-day betwixt my love and me, Dem. Releut, sweet Hermia ;-And, Lysander, yield Thy crazed title to my certain right. Lys. You have her father's love, Demetrius; Let me have Hermia's: do you marry him. love; And what is mine my love shall render him; Lys. I am, my lord, as well deriv'd as he, I am belov'd of beauteous Hermia: Upon this spotted and inconstant man. The. I must confess, that I have heard so much, And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof; and But, being over-full of self-affairs, But, in this kind, wanting your father's voice, The other must be held the worthier. Her. I would, my father look'd but with my eyes. Her. I do entreat your grace to pardon me. I know not by what power I am made bold; Nor how it may concern my modesty, In such a presence here, to plead my thoughts: The. Either to die the death, or to abjure Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires, Know of your youth, examine well your blood, Whether, if you yield not to your father's choice, You can endure the livery of a nun; moon. Thrice blessed they, that master so their blood, To undergo such maiden pilgrimage: My mind did lose it.-But, Demetrius, come; I have some private schooling for you both.- I must employ you in some business [Exeunt THES. HIP. EGE. DEM. and train. Lys. How now, my love? Why is your cheek so pale? How chance the roses there do fade so fast? Her. Belike for want of rain; which I could well Beteem them from the tempest of mine eyes. Lys. Ah! me, for aught that ever I could read, Could ever bear by tale or history, The course of true love never did run smooth: But, either it was different in blood; Her. O cross! too high to be enthrall'd to low! |