Since you have shore (Dies. Thes. Moonshine and Lion are left to bury the dead. Dem. Ay, and Wall too. Bot. No, I assure you, the wall is down that parted their fathers. Will it please you to see the epilogue, or to hear a bergomask dance, between two of our company? Thef. No epilogue, I pray you; for your play needs no excuse. Never excuse ; for when the players are all dead, there need.none to be blam'd. Marry. if he, that writ it, had play'd Pyramus, and hung himself in Thisbe's garter it would have been a fine tragedy: and so it is, truly, and very notably discharg'd. But come, your bergomask ; let your Epilogue alone. [Here a dance of clowns. The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve. Lovers, to bed ; 'tis almost Fairy time. I fear, we shall out-Neep the coming morn, As much as we this night have over-watch'd. This palpable gross Play hath well beguild The heavy gate of night. Sweet friends, to bed. . A fortnight hold we this solemnity, !n nightly revel and new jollity. [Exeuni. .. SCENE SC EN E III. Enter Puck. " And the wolf behowls the moon : “ Whilst the heavy plowman snoars, " All with weary task fore-done. " Now the wasted brands do glow, " Whilst the scritch-owl, fcritching loud, 6. Puts the wretch, that lies in woe, " In remembrance of a shroud. ". « Now it is the time of night, “ That the graves, all gaping wide, “ Every one lets forth his spright, « In the church-way paths to glide; " And we Fairies, that do run “ By the triple Hecate's team, 6 From the presence of the sun, « Following darkness like a dream, 5 Now the hungry lion roars, And the wolf B E HOLDS the moon : All with weary task fore-done.] It being the design of these words to characterize the several animals, as they present themselves at the hour of midnight; and the wolf not being juftly characterized by saying he beholds the moon, which all other beasts of prey then awake do likewise, I make no question but the poet wrote And the wolf BEHOW LS the moon. which is his characteristic property. And further to support this emendation we may observe, that the rounds these animals emit, at this season, are plainly intended to be represented. Enter Enter King and Queen of Fairies, with their train. Ob. Through this house give glimmering light, By the dead and drowsie fire, Hop as light as bird from brier ; Queen. First rehearse this song by roat, The SONG. Now until the break of day, And the issue, there create, Puck. Puck. If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended ; That you have but Numbred here, While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theam 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 Now to 'scape 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. (Exeunt onines, |