V. i. 11. Shakespeare, and the Elizabethans generally, admired women with fair hair and complexion. V. i. 32. masques. The masque at this time was little more than a dance in costume. See Introduction, p. 3. V. i. 34. after-supper. Dessert, usually served in another room. V. i. 38. The Folios read Egeus for Philostrate throughout this scene, doubtless because both parts were played by the same actor. V. i. 44-60. The Folios give the lines describing the sports to Lysander in each case, the comment only being reserved to Theseus. The speech is printed here as it is given in the quartos. V. i. 44. Hercules had a fight with the Centaurs during the pursuit of the Erymanthian boar, in addition to the more famous conflict in which Theseus took a leading part on the side of the Lapitha. The latter is described in Ovid, Metamorphoses, XII. North's Plutarch speaks of Hercules and Theseus as near kinsmen, being cousins removed by the mother's side." 66 V. i. 49. the Thracian singer. Orpheus. The story is told in Ovid, Metamorphoses, XII. V. i. 52-53. See Introduction. V. i. 56-57. In I. ii. 11–13 the title of the play is said to be, The most lamentable comedy, and most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisby. An allusion has been discerned to Preston's "lamentable tragedy, mixed full of pleasant mirth, containing the life of Cambyses" (see M. P. Tilley, Shakespeare and his Ridicule of Cambyses, Modern Language Notes, December, 1909, pp. 244-247); but in spite of some remarkable parallels, it seems likely that Shakespeare was ridiculing the fantastic titles of our early dramas in general rather than any one in particular. V. i. 105. to my capacity. As I understand the matter. V. i. 108-117. This device of confused punctuation had been used for comic effect in Ralph Roister Doister, our first English comedy. V. i. 127. Enter, etc. The Folios have the stage directions, Tawyer with a Trumpet before them, and Halliwell has shown that Tawyer was the name of an actor in Shakespeare's company; this is one of the indications that Fi was printed from a playhouse copy. V. i. 147-148. The excessive alliteration and other characteristics of the interlude have been found in Edwards' Damon and Pythias, acted at Whitehall in 1564, but here again the satire is probably general rather than particular. Edwards was a court dramatist much esteemed in his own time. V. i. 198. Limander. For Leander. V. i. 199. Helen. For Hero. V. i. 200. Shafalus to Procrus. Cephalus to Procris. V. i. 204, 268. Ninny's tomb. Quince had corrected this mistake at the rehearsal (III. i. 99-100); but to an Elizabethan audience, proud of its classical culture, it was a jest that would bear repetition. It should be noted, however, that Shakespeare does not repeat the lines already quoted at the rehearsal, but weaves a new tissue of absurdities. V. i. 208. moon used. The Folios read, morall downe, and Pope's emendation, mural down, has been accepted by many editors. V. i. 227. A lion fell. Barron Field proposed to reduce this line to sense by reading A lion-fell, i.e. a lion's skin, and only in that sense a producer of lions; but the negative may apply to the first clause as well as the second; and in any case, if the clowns were made to talk rationally, the interlude would lose its effect. V. i. 243. Lantern. Spelt Lanthorne in F. Perhaps a pun was intended in "horned." V. i. 254. in snuff. In a passion. A favorite quibble. See 1 Henry IV, I. iii. 41, and Love's Labour's Lost, V. ii. 22. V. i. 261-264. The man in the moon was supposed to be the one guilty of gathering sticks on the Sabbath in Numbers xv. 32-36. V. i. 325-327. he for a man...God bless us. Omitted from the Folios, doubtless in obedience to the act of 1605 forbidding profanity. 66 V. i. 360. Bergomask. A rustic dance as performed by the peasants of Bergomasco, a Venetian province, whose clownish manners were imitated by all the Italian buffoons." Nares. V. i. 391. triple Hecate. Luna or Cynthia in heaven, Diana on earth, and Hecate in hell were three forms of the same goddess. See Introduction. V. i. 403, 407, Two songs appear to be lost here, one led by Oberon, the other by Titania. V. i. 440. the serpent's tongue. The hissing by which an English audience still indicates its disapproval of a play. Tertual Dariants The text in the present edition is based upon the first Quarto (Fisher's), and the following list records the more important variations from that version. I. i. 10. New-bent] Rowe; Now bent Qq. 24. Stand forth, Demetrius] Rowe; as st. dir. in Qq Ff. 26. Stand forth, Lysander] Rowe; as st. dir. in Qq Ff. 136. low] Theobald; loue Qq. 139. friends] Qq; merit Ff. 143. momentany] Qq; momentarie Ff. 187. Yours would] Hanmer; Your words Qq Ff. 200. no fault] Q1; none Q2 Ff. 216. sweet] Theobald; sweld Qq Ff. 219. stranger companies] Theobald; strange companions Qq Ff. II. i. 69. steep] Q2 Ff; steppe Q1. 101. cheer] Theobald conj.; here Q1. 109. thin] Tyrwhitt; chinne Qq Ff. 247. Re-enter ] enter Pucke (after 247) Qq Ff. ii. 48. we can] Qq; can you Ff. 49. interchained] Qq; interchanged Ff. 77. kill-courtesy] Johnson; this kill curstesie Qq Ff. III. i. 85. Odorous, odorous] Collier conj.; Odours, odorous Qq; Odours, odours Ff. 90. Robin] Quin. Qq; Puck. Ff. 104 འ ii. 48. knee-deep] Coleridge(?); the deep Qq Ff. 57. dread] Pope; dead Qq Ff. 80. so] Pope; Qq Ff omit. 213. first, like] Folks; first life Qq Ff. 215. rend] Rowe; rent Qq Ff. 220. passionate] Ff; Qq omit. 250. prayers] Theobald; praise Qq Ff. 257. he'll [but] Nicholson; he'll Qq; Sir Ff. 279. doubt] Pope; of doubt Qq Ff. IV. i. 52. favours] QF4; savors Q2 F1-3. 85. five] Thirlby, Theobald; fine Qq F1-2. 156. might] Q1; might be Q2 Ff. 197. Are . . . awake] Qq; Ff omit. 224. at her] Qq Ff; after Theobald. V. i. 38. Philostrate] Qq. In Ff Egeus takes the place of Philostrate in this scene. 44, 45, 48, 49, 52, 53, 56, 57. In Ff these lines are given to Lysander. 127. Enter... them] Tawyer omit. ... them Ff; Qq 193. up in thee] Ff; now againe Qq. 208. moon used] Qq; morall downe Ff. 279. gleams] Knight conj.; beames Qq Fi; streames F2. 325-327. he for . . . us] Qq; Ff omit. 330. moans] Theobald; meanes Qq Ff. |