Puck. I remember. Ob. That very time I faw, but thou cou'dit not, Flying between the cold moon and the earth, Cupid alarm'd a certain aim he took 3 At a fair Veftal, throned by the weft, And loos'd his love-fhaft fmartly from his bow, In maiden meditation, fancy-free. Yet mark'd I where the bolt of Cupid fell, Before milk-white, now purple with love's wound 3 5 And maidens call it Love in idleness. On the whole, it is the nobleft and jufteft allegory that was ever written. The laying it in fairy land, and out of nature, is in the character of the fpeaker. And on these occafions Shakespear always excels himself. He is born away by the magic of his enthusiasm, and hurries his reader along with him into these ancient regions of poetry, by that power of Verfe, which we may well fancy to be like what, Olim Fauni Vatefque canebant. 3 Cupid ALL ARM'D:] Surely this prefents us with a very unclaffical Image. In ancient books and monuments we never fee Cupid armed with more than his bow and arrows; and with these we find him furnished in all humours. Thefe too are the only arms he had occafion for in the prefent action; a more illuftrious one than any his friends, the claffic poets, ever employed him in. I would read therefore Cupid ALARM'D. The change, I make, is fo fmall, and the beauty it gives the thought, fo great, that, I think, we are not to hefitate upon it. For how great an addicion is it to the compliment on this virgin Queen's celibacy, that it alarmed the power of love. As if his empire was in danger, when the Imperial Votrefs had declared herself for a fingle life: So great an influence would her example have amongft her fex. Queen Elizabeth could not but be pleased with the delicacy of this compliment. 4 A compliment to Queen Elizabeth. Mr. Pope. 5 And maidens call it Love in idleness.] This is as fine a metamorphofis as any in Ovid: With a much better moral, intimating that irregular love has only power when people are idle, or not well employed. VOL. I. I 2 Fetch Fetch me that flow'r; the herb I fhew'd thee once; Puck. I'll put a girdle round about the earth Ob. Having once this juice, I'll watch Titania when fhe is asleep, The next thing which fhe waking looks upon, [Exit. Enter Demetrius, Helena following him. Dem. I love thee not, therefore pursue me not. Where is Lyfander, and fair Hermia? The one I'll flay; the other (a) flayeth me. 6 Thou told'ft me, they were ftoll'n into this wood; Hence, get thee gone, and follow me no more. Mr. Pope. 6 Wood, or mad, wild, raving. Dem. Dem. Do I entice you? do I fpeak you fair? Hel. And ev'n for that do I love thee the more; I am your spaniel; and, Demetrius, The more you beat me, I will fawn on you: What worfer place can I beg in your love, Dem. Tempt not too much the hatred of my fpirit; For I am fick, when I do look on thee. Hel. And I am fick, when I look not on your Dem. You do impeach your modefty too much, To leave the city, and commit your felf Into the hands of one that loves you not; To truft the opportunity of night, And the ill counfel of a defart place, With the rich worth of your virginity, Hel. 'Your virtue is my privilege; for that, It is not night when I do fee your face, Therefore, I think, I am not in the night. Nor doth this wood lack worlds of company; nud Dem. I'll run from thee and hide me in the brakes, And leave thee to the mercy of wild Beafts. Hel, The wildeft hath not fuch a heart as you; Dem. I will not ftay thy questions; let me go: Or if thou follow me, do not believe, But I fhall do thee mifchief in the wood. Hel. Ay, in the temple, in the town, the field, You do me mifchief. Fie, Demetrius, Your wrongs do fet a scandal on my fex: SCENE [Exeunt. I.V.! Ob. Fare thee well, nymph; ere he doth leave this grove, Thou fhalt fly him, and he shall seek thy love. Puck. Ay, there it is. Ob. I pray thee, give it me; I know a bank whereon the wild thyme blows, And make her full of hateful fantafies. Take thou fome of it, and feek through this grove; A fweet Athenian lady is in love With a disdainful youth; anoint his eyes; Effect Effect it with fome care, that he may prove S. CE NE V. Enter Queen of Fairies, with her train. Queen. Come, now a roundel, and a Fairy fong: 7 Then, for the third part of the midnight, hence; Some to kill cankers in the musk-rose buds, Some war with rear-mice for their leathern wings, 8 Then to your Offices, and let me rest. Fairies fing. You spotted fnakes with double tongue, Philomel, with melody, Sing in your fweet lullaby; Lulla, lulla, lullaby; lulla, lulla, lullaby: Come our lovely lady nigh; So good night with lullaby. 7 Then, for the third part of A MINUTE, hence ;] We fhould read third part of THE MIDNIGHT. The common reading is nonsense. Poffibly Shakespear might have used the French word Minuit. 8- our queint SPIRITS.-] We should read s PORTS. |