OBSERVATIONS. THIS play was entered at Stationers' Hall, Oct. 8, 1600, by Thomas Fither. 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 also 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. MALONE. HIPPOLYTA, Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Thefeus. HERMIA, Daughter to Egeus, in love with Lyfander. Other Fairies attending their King and Queen. Attendants on Thefeus and Hippolyta. SCENE, Athens, and a Wood not far from it. MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM. ACT I. SCENE I. Athens. A Room in the Palace of Thefeus. Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, and Attendants. Thefeus. W, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour Now, Draws on apace; four happy days bring in Another moon: but, oh, methinks, how flow This old moon wanes! the lingers my desires, Like to a step-dame, or a dowager, Long withering out a young man's revenue. Hip. Four days will quickly fteep themselves in nights; Four nights will quickly dream away the time; And then the moon, like to a filver bow New bent in heaven, fhall behold the night The. Stir Go, Philoftrate, up the Athenian youth to merriments; [Exit PHILOSTRATE. Hippolyta, I woo'd thee with my sword, But But I will wed thee in another key, With pomp, with triumph, and with revelling. Enter EGEUS, HERMIA, LYSANDER, and DEMETRIUS, Ege. Happy be Thefeus, our renowned duke! The. Thanks, good Egeus: What's the news with thee? To stubborn harshness :-And, my gracious duke, I beg the ancient privilege of Athens ; The. What fay you, Hermia? be advis'd, fair maid: To you your father should be as a god; One that compos'd your beauties; yea, and one Та |