The Eumatic the love and the post. Are of imogenaton all compact.

ports eye. in fine frenzy, costing Both glanse from heaven to conth From earth to heaven,

And as imagination bodies forth The form of things winkinower The post's feen turns then to shapes And gives to airy nothing Aboah habitatiomanda marie, Mission Sgress pa Stratford. 1656.

Theseus speaking of the strange conduct of lovers, delivers this great bit of philosophy:

"More strange than true, I never may believe
These antique fables, nor these fairy toys.
Lovers and madmen have such seething brains—
Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend
More than cool reason ever comprehends.
The lunatic, the lover and the poet,
Are of imagination all compact;

One sees more devils than vast hell can hold;
That is the madman; the lover all as frantic,
Sees Helen's beauty in a brow of Egypt;
The poet's eye, in a fine frenzy rolling,

Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven,

And as imagination bodies forth

The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen Turns them to shapes, and gives to airy nothing A local habitation and a name!"

The play of Pyramus and Thisby is then introduced to the palace audience, when Bottom and his Athenian mechanics amuse Theseus and Hippolyta with their crude, rustic conception of love-making. As the play proceeds Hippolyta remarks:

"This is the silliest stuff that I ever heard.”

And Theseus says:

"The best in this kind are but shadows;

And the worst are no worse, if imagination amend them!"

Pyramus appeals to the moon thus:

"Sweet moon, I thank thee for thy sunny beams, I thank thee, moon, for shining now so bright, I trust to taste of truest Thisby's sight!"

Pyramus and Thisby commit suicide, for disappointment in love, in the climax scene, and waking again Bottom wishes to know if the Duke wants any more of the burlesque play.

Theseus replies:

"Your play needs no excuse; for when the players are all dead,

There need none to be blamed!

The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve.
Lovers to bed; 'tis almost fairy time,

I fear we shall outsleep the coming morn,
As much as we this night have overwatched.
This palpable, gross play hath well beguiled
The heavy gait of night-sweet friends, to bed;
A fortnight hold we this solemnity

In nightly revels and new jollity!”

The forest scene is filled with fairies, led by Puck, Oberon and Titania, all fantastically dressed, rehearsing and singing in their mystic revels.

Puck leading, says:

"Now the hungry lion roars,
And the wolf beholds the moon.

Whilst the heavy ploughman snores
All with weary task foredone;
And we fairies, that do run
By the triple of Hecate's team,
From the presence of the sun
Following darkness like a dream."

Oberon orders:

"Through this house give glimmering light,
By the dead and drowsy fire;

Every elf and fairy sprite

Hop as light as bird from brier;
And his ditty, after me,
Sing and dance it trippingly."

Titania speaks:

"First rehearse this song by rote;
To each word a warbling note,
Hand in hand with fairy grace
Will we sing and bless this place."

Then all the fairies, joining hands at the command of Oberon, dance and sing:

"Every fairy take his gait,

And each several chamber bless;

Through this palace with sweet peace,

All shall here in safety rest

And the owner of it blest,
Trip away, make no stay;
Meet me all by break of day!"

Then mischievous little Puck flies to the front, makes his final bow and speech, concluding the play of "Midsummer Night's Dream":

"If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended-
That you have but slumbered here,
While these visions did appear;
And this weak and idle theme
No more yielding but a dream;
Gentles, do not reprehend;
If you pardon we will mend.
And, as I am honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck,
How to escape the serpent's tongue,
We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call,

So good night unto you all,

Give me your hands if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends!”

Unanimous cheers rang through Windsor forest at the conclusion of this mystic play, and Queen Elizabeth called up Theseus (William), Hippolyta, Oberon, Titania and Puck, presenting to each a five-carat solitaire diamond-a slight token of Her Majesty's appreciation of dramatic genius.

It was after two o'clock in the morning when a thousand sky rockets filled the heavens with variegated colors, indicating for fifty miles around, that "Midsummer Night's Dream" had been successfully launched on the ocean of dramatic imagination!