Whilst the heavy ploughman snores, Whilst the screech-owl, screeching loud, That the graves, all gaping wide, By the triple Hecate's team, Following darkness like a dream, Enter OBERON and TITANIA, with all their Train. Obe. Through the house give glimmering light, Every elf, and fairy sprite, Hop as light as bird from brier; And this ditty after me Sing, and dance it trippingly. Tita. First, rehearse your song by rote', To each word a warbling note: Hand in hand with fairy grace Will we sing, and bless this place. To sweep the dust behind the door.] As has been remarked in the "Introduction," on the title-page of "Robin Goodfellow, his Mad Pranks and Merry Jests," 4to, 1628 (reprinted for the Percy Society), Fuck is represented in a wood-cut with a broom over his shoulder. 7 First, rehearse YOUR song by rote,] The folio, adopting the reading of Roberts's 4to, has this for "your." Titania is, however, referring to the “ditty" assigned by Oberon. THE SONG 8. Obe. Now, until the break of day, So shall all the couples three And the blots of nature's hand Shall upon their children be. With this field-dew consecrate, Every fairy take his gait, And each several chamber bless, And the owner of it blest. Trip away; make no stay; Meet me all by break of day. [Exeunt OBERON, TITANIA, and Train. Puck. If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, No more yielding but a dream, The Song.] In the folio, but not in either of the 4to. editions, Oberon's speech is printed in italic, as if it were "the song;" but it seems in fact to be wanting: in old plays songs, though mentioned, were often omitted. In obedience to the injunction of Oberon, the Fairies must have "danced it trippingly," while the song was sung. The 4to. editions do not lead us to suppose that any song was given, excepting that it was spoken of by Oberon and Titania. The words, "the song," are from the folio, and are to be taken as a stage-direction. Gentles, do not reprehend: Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue, So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends, [Exit. 9 And, as I'm AN HONEST PUCK,] "Puck," or Pouke, meant the devil; and, as Tyrwhitt remarks, it is used in that sense in "Pierce Ploughman's Vision," and elsewhere. It was therefore necessary for Shakespeare's fairy messenger to assert his honesty, and to clear himself from any connexion with the "helle Pouke." "The excellent History of the Merchant of Venice. With the extreme cruelty of Shylocke the Iew towards the saide Merchant, in cutting a iust pound of his flesh. And the obtaining of Portia, by the choyse of three caskets. Written by W. Shakespeare. Printed by J. Roberts, 1600." 4to, 40 leaves. "The most excellent Historie of the Merchant of Venice. With the extreame crueltie of Shylocke the lewe towards the sayd Merchant, in cutting a iust pound of his flesh: and the obtayning of Portia by the choyse of three chests. As it hath beene diuers times acted by the Lord Chamberlaine his Seruants. Written by William Shakespeare. At London, Printed by I. R., for Thomas Heyes, and are to be sold in Paules Church-yard, at the signe of the Greene Dragon, 1600." 4to, 38 leaves. It is also printed in the folio, 1623, where it occupies 22 pages, viz., from p. 163 to p. 184, inclusive, in the division of "Comedies." Besides its appearance in the later folios, the Merchant of Venice was republished in 4to, in 1637 and 1652. |