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A MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S

DRE A M.*

* A MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM.] This play was entered at Stationers' Hall, Oct. 8, 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 Thefeus, entered at Stationers Hall, in 1608; but Shakspeare has taken no hints from it. Titania is alfo the name of the Queen of the Fairies in Decker's Whore of Babylon, 1607. STEEVENS.

The Midfummer-Night's Dream I fuppofe to have been written in 1592. See An attempt in afcertain the order of Shakspeare's Plays, Vol. I. MALONE.

Thefeus, Duke of Athens.

Egeus, Father to Hermia.

Lyfander,

Demetrius,

} in love with Hermia.

Philoftrate, Mafter of the Revels to Thefeus.

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 Thefeus.

Hermia, Daughter to Egeus, in love with Lyfander. Helena, in love with Demetrius.

Oberon, King of the Fairies.

Titania, Queen of the Fairies.

Puck, or Robin-goodfellow, a Fairy.

Peafebloffom,

Cobweb,

Fairies.

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Characters in the Interlude
performed by the Clowns.

Lion,

Other Fairies attending their King and Queen.
Attendants on Thefeus and Hippolyta.

SCENE, Athens, and a Wood not far from it.

* The enumeration of perfons was firft made by Mr. Rowe.

STEEVENS.

DRE A

M.

ACT I. SCENE I.

Athens. A Room in the Palace of Thefeus.

Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, and
Attendants.

THE. Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour
Draws on apace; four happy days bring in
Another moon: but, oh, methinks, how flow
This old moon wanes! the lingers my defires,
Like to a step-dame, or a dowager,
Long withering out a young man's revenue.'

HIP. Four days will quickly steep themselves in nights;

Four nights will quickly dream away the time;
And then the moon, like to a filver bow

Like to a fep-dame, or a dowager,

Long withering out a young man's revenue.] The authenticity of this reading having been queftioned by Dr. Warburton, I fhall exemplify it from Chapman's Translation of the 4th Book of Homer; "there the goodly plant lies withering out his grace."

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Pupillis, quos dura premit cuftodia matrum,

STEEVENS.

"Sic mihi tarda fluunt ingrataque tempora." HoR.

MALONE.

3fteep themselves in nights;] So, in Cymbeline, A&t V. fc. iv.

66

neither deferve,

“And yet are steep'd in favours." STEEVENS,

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