Act 3. MID SUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.

Sul

MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM.*

VOL. II.

BB

* A MIDSUMMER-Night's Dream.] This play was entered at Stationers' Hall, Oct. , 1600, by Thomas Fisher. It is probable that the hint for it was received from Chaucer's Knight's Tale.

There is an old black letter pamphlet by W. Bettie, called Titana and Theseus, entered at Stationers' Hall, in 1008; but Shakspeare has taken no hints from it. Titunia is also the name of the Queen of the Fairies in Decker's Whore of Babylon, 1607.

STEEVENS. The Midsummer-Night's Dream I suppose to have been written in 1592. MALONE.

Philostrate, Master of the Revels to Theseus.
Quince, the Carpenter.
Snug, the Joiner.
Bottom, the Weaver.
Flute, the Bellows-mender...
Snout, the Tinker.
Starveling, the Tailor.

Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to

Theseus. Hermia, Daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander, Helena, in love with Demetrius.

Oberon, King of the Fairies.
Titania, Queen of the Fairies.
Puck, or Robin-goodfellow, a Fairy:
Peas-blossom,
Cobweb, Fairies.
Moth,
Mustard-seed, )
Pyramus,
Thisbe,

Characters in the Interlude perWall,

formed by the Clowns. Moonshine, Lion,

Other Fairies attending their King and Queen.

Attendants on Theseus and Hippolyta. SCENE, Athens, and a Wood not far from it. * The enumeration of persons was first made by Mr. Rowe.

STEEVENS.