A Midsummer Night's Dream (Quarto 1, 1600)
Not Peer Reviewed
A Midsommer nightes dreame.
¶Duke. No Epilogue, I pray you. For your Play needs no
2140there neede none to be blamed. Mary, if hee that writ it,
¶ter, it would haue beene a fine tragedy: and so it is truely,
¶let your Epilogue alone.
2145The iron tongue of midnight hath tolde twelue.
¶Louers to bed, tis almost Fairy time.
¶As much as wee this night haue ouerwatcht.
2150The heauie gate of night. Sweete friends, to bed.
¶A fortnight holde we this solemnitie,
¶In nightly Reuels, and new iollity.
Exeunt.
¶
Enter Pucke.
¶Puck. Now the hungry Lyons roares.
2155And the wolfe beholds the Moone;
¶All with weary taske foredoone.
¶Now the wasted brands doe glowe,
2160Puts the wretch, that lyes in woe,
¶In remembrance of a shrowde.
¶Now it is the time of night,
¶That the graues, all gaping wide,
¶Euery one lets forth his spright,
2165In the Churchway paths to glide.
¶And wee Fairies, that doe runne,
¶By the triple Hecates teame,
¶From the presence of the Sunne,
2170Now are frollick: not a mouse
¶I am sent, with broome, before,
To
