Thy mantle good, What, stain'd with blood? O fates! come, come; Quail, crush, conclude, and quell! THE. This passion, and the death of a dear friend, would go near to make a man look sad.(5) HIP. Beshrew my heart, but I pity the man. PYR. O, wherefore, nature, didst thou lions frame? Out, sword, and wound Ay, that left pap Thus die I, thus, thus, thus. Now am I dead, Now am I fled, My soul is in the sky: Tongue, lose thy light.! Moon, take thy flight! Now, die, die, die, die, die. [Dies.-Exit MOONSHINE. Dead, dead? A tomb Must cover thy sweet eyes. These lily lips, This cherry nose, These yellow cowslip cheeks, Come, come to me, Since you have shore Come, blade, my breast imbrue; [Dies. THE. Moonshine and Lion are left to bury the dead. DEM. Ay, and Wall too. Bor. No, I assure you; the wall is down that parted their fathers. Will it please you to see the epilogue, or to hear a Bergomask dance, between two of our company? THE. No epilogue, I pray you; for your play needs no excuse. players are all dead, there need none to be blamed. Never excuse; for when the hanged himself in Thisbe's garter, it would have Marry, if he that writ it had played Pyramus, and been a fine tragedy: and so it is, truly; and very notably discharged. But come, your Bergomask : let your epilogue alone. [Here a dance of Clowns. The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve:— Lovers to bed: 't is almost fairy time. I fear we shall outsleep the coming morn, SCENE II. Enter PUCK. PUCK. Now the hungry lion roars, And the wolf behowls* the moon; [Exeunt. & He for a man, God warn'd us; she for a woman, God bless us.] We should probably read, "God ward us.". The meaning appears to be, "From such a man God defend us; from such a woman God save us." The passage is altogether omitted in the folio, on account of the statute, 3 Jac. ch. 21, against the profane using of the sacred name. b And thus she moans,-] The old copies have means. The change was made by Theobald; but, perhaps, without necessity, as means appears formerly to have sometimes borne the same signification. Thus, in "The Two Gentlemen of Verona," Act V. Sc. 4 (*) Old copies, beholds. "The more degenerate and base art thou, To make such means for her as thou hast done." CA Bergomask dance,-] This is supposed to have been a dance in the manner of the rustics of Bergomasco, a province of Italy. d Here a dance of Clowns.] This stage direction was introduced by Malone. Whilst the heavy ploughman snores, Whilst the scritch-owl, scritching loud, That the graves, all gaping wide, Every one lets forth his sprite, In the church-way paths to glide. And we fairies, that do run By the triple Hecate's team, Following darkness like a dream, sweep the dust behind the door. To the best bride-bed will we, Shall upon their children be. And each several chamber bless, Through this palace with sweet peace, Ever shall in safety rest." Trip away; Meet me all by break of day. [Exeunt OBERON, TITANIA, and Train. Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue, Else the Puck a liar call. So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends, [Exit. I, at one time, thought "Ever shall" a misprint for “Every hall;" and proposed to read, "Every hall in safety rest, And the owner of it blest;" but it has since been suggested to me by Mr. Singer, and by an anonymous correspondent, that the difficulty in the passage arose from the printer's having transposed the two last lines. ILLUSTRATIVE COMMENTS. ACT I. (1) SCENE I.-Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth.] The very peculiar use of the adjective pert in this line, shows that in the sixteenth century it was not always understood with the ordinary meaning of saucy or talkative, but that it was also employed to express, quick, lively, subtle. Hence Skinner, in 1671, derived it through the French appert, from the Latin ad peritus, skilful, expert, prompt, &c. He also cites Dr. Davies as stating that in the Cambro-British the word signified elegant, or beautiful, as it occurs in the English poetical version of the Romance of Sir Launfal, in the description of Dame Tryainous :— "Sche was as whyt as lylye in May, Or snow that sneweth yn wynterys day; KEIGHTLEY'S Fairy Mythology, Ed. 1850, p. 36. (2) SCENE I. Brief as the lightning in the collied night, "The word spleen is laid under suspicion by Warburton, and is not justified by the later commentators. Nares says, 'We do not find it so used by other writers.' This is a mistake and it will be seen that a happier choice could not have been made than the poet has made of this word: 'Like winter fires that with disdainful heat So, in Lithgow's 'Nineteen Years' Travels,' quarto, 1632, p. 61-All things below and above being cunningly perfected, and every one ranked in order with his harquebuse and pike, to stand in the centinel of his own defence, we recommend ourselves in the hands of the Almighty, and, in the meanwhile, attended their fiery salutations. In a furious spleen, the first holla of their courtesies was the progress of a martial conflict, thundering forth a terrible noise of gally-roaring pieces,""&c. HUNTER'S New Illustrations of Shakespeare, I. 289. (3) SCENE I. In the wood a league without the town, The principal ceremonies with which young persons of both sexes were formerly accustomed to honour the mornings of May, were the Maying, which belonged especially to the first day; and the collecting of May-dew, which appears to have been practised at any part of the month. On the Calends, or the first day of May," says Bourne, "commonly called May-day, the juvenile part of both sexes were wont to rise a little after midnight, and walk to some neighbouring wood, accompany'd with music, and the blowing of horns, where they break down branches from the trees, and adorn them with nosegays and crowns of flowers. When this is done they return with their booty The homewards about the rising of the sun, and make their doors and windows to triumph in the flowery spoil. after part of the day is chiefly spent in dancing round a tall pole, which is called a May Pole; which being placed in a convenient part of the village, stands there, as it were, consecrated to the Goddess of Flowers, without the least violence offered it, in the whole circle of the year." The general popularity of this custom of early rising "to go a Maying," may be inferred from a passage in 'Henry VIII." Act V. Sc. 3, where the Porter's man exclaims of the crowd: The dew-bespangling herbe and tree : Each flower has wept, and bow'd toward the east, Above an houre since;-it is sin, Nay, profanation to keep in; Whenas a thousand virgins on this day, Spring sooner than the lark, to fetch in May! Made up of white-thorn neatly interwove.— There's not a budding boy, or girle, this day, And some have wept, and woo'd and plighted troth, The most direct and charming illustration of the homage paid to the month of love and flowers is, however, contained in two exquisite pictures from the Knightes Tale of Chaucer: This passeth yere by yere, and day by day, And fresher than the May with flowrès newe, And, "The busy larke, messager of day, Saleweth in hir song the morwe gray, All the ceremonial observed by Emelie is to walk in her garden at the sun-rising; and this primitively was perhaps the simple method of collecting the May-dew-receiving it on the face and hands before it had evaporated. In the seventeenth century, however, the dew, held sovereign as a cosmetic by the damsels of old, was evidently gathered in phials; for, in 1667, Mrs. Turner had taught Mrs. Pepys to collect the May-dew, as being "the only thing in the world to wash her face with." (5) SCENE II.-Enter Quince, Bottom, Flute, Snug, Snout, and Starveling.] The old editions add the several occupations of these individuals after their names, when they make their first appearance. It is possible that in the rude dramatic performance of these handicraftsmen of Athens, Shakespeare was referring to the plays and pageants exhibited by the trading companies of Coventry, which were celebrated down to his own time, and which he might very probably have witnessed. The last of those performances recorded in the list which the late Mr. Thomas Sharpe published from the City Leet-books, took place in 1591; when it was agreed by the whole consent of the council, "that the Destrucyon of Jerusalem, the Conquest of the Danes, or the Historie of King Edward (the Confessor), should be plaied on the pagens on Midsomer daye and St. Peter's daye next, in this cittie, and none other playes." In 1656, Dugdale states that he had been told "by some old people, who, in their younger years were eye-witnesses of these pageants, that the yearly confluence of people to see that shew, was extraordinary great, and yielded no small advantage to this city." For the support therefore of the expenses of these profitable entertainments, the several municipal trading companies of Coventry were charged either to contribute in association to the exhibition of a joint performance; or else to furnish a pageant of their own. These theatrical unions were ordered by the Leet or Common Council; and the combination of trades which played together was often remarkably like that of the operatives of Athens in this drama : "A crew of patches, rude mechanicals, That work for bread upon Athenian stalls, (Who) met together to rehearse a play."--Act III. Sc. 2. In 1434 it was ordered "that the Sadelers and the Peyntours, be fro this tyme contrebetory unto the pajont of the Cardemakers." In 1435 the council "will that the Carpenters be associate unto the Tilers and Pinners, to maynten ther pagent." In 1492 "it is ordeyned that the Chaundelers and Cookes of this Cite shall be contributory to the Smythes of this Cite;" and in subsequent years Bakers were added to the Smiths, the Barbers to the Girdlers, and the Shoemakers to the Tanners. So late as 1533 it was "enacted that such persons as are not associate or assistant to any craft which is charged with a pageant, such as Fishmongers, Bowyers, Fletchers, and others, shall now be associate or assistant to such crafts as the Mayor shall assign." As most of the performances of these companies were Religious Mysteries taken from the Scriptures, there appears to have been a priest attached to each society, who directed the exhibition probably and played the most important part, as well as taught the other actors. (6) SCENE II.-QUIN. Marry, our play is-The most lamentable comedy and most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisbe.] In the title of this interlude Shakespeare doubtless intended a burlesque on the old play by Thomas Preston, entitled, "A lamentable tragedie mixed full of pleasant mirth containing the life of Cambises king of Persia." The sad tale of Pyramus and Thisbe is told in the fourth book of Ovid's Metamorphoses; and if we may judge by the number of versions put forth in the sixteenth century, the story must have been very popular with our forefathers. The book of "Perymus and Thesbye" was entered on the Stationers' registers in 1562-3. Arthur Golding's translation of Ovid was first published in 1567; and went through several editions. Another translation of the tale of the lovers appeared in the "Gorgious Gallery of Gallant Inventions," 1578; and a "new sonet of Pyramus and Thisbie" in "The Handefull of Pleasant Delites," 1584. Of course, the incidents are the same in all; but Shakespeare appears to have had recourse to Golding's version, some extracts from which are here given :— "Within the towne (of whose huge walles so monstrous high and thicke The fame is giuen Semyramis for making them of bricke) Dwelt hard toogither twoo yoong folke in houses ioynde so nere That vnder all one roofe well nie both twaine conueyed were. The name of him was Pyramus and Thisbe cald was shee. * * Of many hundred yeeres before (what doth not loue espie?) # She meynt hir weepying with his bloud, and kissing all his face Is strong enough to doe the like. My loue no lesse than thine (7) SCENE II.--Hold, or cut bow-strings.] Capell's explication of this disputed saying is no doubt the true one. "When a party was made at butts, assurance of meeting was given in the words of that phrase: the sense of the person using them being, that he would hold,' or keep promise, or they might cut his bowstrings,' demolish him for an archer." There is another proverbial expression of the same character, which none of the commentators, that I am aware of, has mentioned:-" Hold, or cut cod-piece point." (1) SCENE I. Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite, Called Robin Goodfellow.] ACT II. The frolics Shakespeare attributes to Puck, or, as he was usually called, Robin Goodfellow, correspond in every particular with the popular characteristics of this "shrewd and meddling elf." According to the rare tract entitled "The Mad Pranks and Merry Jests of Robin Goodfellow," reprinted by Mr. Collier from the original in Lord Francis Egerton's library, Robin Goodfellow was the son of Oberon, or Obreon, his mother being "a proper young wench Robin's whom the fayry king was in the habit of visiting. knavish propensities as he grew up became so troublesome, that to avoid the punishment they entailed, he ran away from his mother and was engaged to a tailor. After a short time he leaves his master, and the tract relates "WHAT HAPNED TO ROBIN GOODFELLOW AFTER HE WENT FROM THE TAYLOR. After Robin had travailed a good dayes journy from his masters house hee sate downe, and beeing weary hee fell a sleepe. No sooner had slumber tooken full possession of him, and closed his long opened eye-lids, but hee thought he saw many goodly proper personages in anticke measures tripping about him, and withall hee heard such musicke, as he thought that Orpheus, that famous Greeke fidler (had hee beene alive), compared to one of these had beene as infamous as a Welchharper that playes for cheese and onions. As delights commonly last not long, so did those end sooner than hee would willingly they should have done; and for very griefe he awaked, and found by him lying a scroule, wherein was written these lines following in golden letters. Robin, my only sonne and heire, By nature thou hast cunning shifts, Which Ile increase with other gifts. Wish what thou wilt, thou shalt it have; And for to vex both foole and knave, Thou hast the power to change thy shape, To horse, to hog, to dog, to ape. Transformed thus, by any meanes See none thou harm'st but knaves and queanes; But love thou those that honest be, And help them in necessity. Do thus, and all the world shall know If thou observe my just command, This more I give: who tels thy prankes From those that heare them shall have thankes. Robin having read this was very joyfull, yet longed he to know whether he had this power or not, and to try it hee wished for some meate: presently it was before him. Then wished hee for beere and wine: he straightway had it. This liked him well, and because he was weary, he wished himselfe a horse: no sooner was his wish ended, but he was transformed, and seemed a horse of twenty pound price, and leaped and curveted as nimble as if he had beene in stable at racke and manger a full moneth. Then wished he himselfe a dog, and was so: then a tree, and was so: so from one thing to another, till he was certaine and well assured that hee could change himselfe to any thing whatsoever.' Though the edition from which Mr. Collier made his reprint is dated 1628, there is little doubt that the tract, as he remarks, was published at least forty years earlier, and was evidently known to Shakespeare. The following account, "How ROBIN GOOD-FELLOW LED A COMPANY OF FELLOWES OUT OF THEIR WAY," is a good illustration of the passage,— "Mislead night-wanderers, laughing at their harm." "A company of young men having beene making merry with their sweet hearts, were at their comming home to come over a heath. Robin Good-fellow, knowing of it, met them, and to make some pastime, hee led them up and downe the heath a whole night, so that they could not get out of it: for hee went before them in the shape of a walking fire, which they all saw and followed till the day did appeare: then Robin left them, and at his departure spake these words : Get you home, you merry lads: If that you but weary be, It is sport alone for me. Away: unto your houses goe And I'll goe laughing ho, ho, hoh! The fellowes were glad that he was gone, for they were all in a great feare that hee would have done them some mischiefe." The line which we have italicized will recal the same expression used by Puck in the play : "Then will two at once woo one; That must needs be sport alone."-Act III. 8c. 2. |