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Enter Pucke.

Puck Now the hungry Lyons rores,
And the Wolfe beholds the Moone:
Whilest the heavy ploughman snores,
All with weary taske fore-done.1
Now the wasted brands doe glow,
Whil'st the scritch-owle, scritching loud,
Puts the wretch that lies in woe,
In remembrance of a shrowd.
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 runne,
By the triple Hecates teame,
From the presence of the Sunne,
Following darkenesse like a dreame,
Now are frollicke; not a Mouse
Shall disturbe this hallowed house.

I am sent with broome before,

Το sweep the dust behinde the doore.

1 tired out

370

380

Enter King and Queene of Fairies, with their traine.

Ob. Through the house give glimmering light,

By the dead and drowsie fier,

Everie Elfe and Fairie spright,

Hop as light as bird from brier,

And this Ditty after me, sing and dance it trippinglie. Tita. First rehearse this song by roate,

To each word a warbling note.

364. Lyons: lion-Rowe.

389. 2 rhymed 11.-2RowE.

390

365. bebolds: behowls-THEOBALD.

390. this: your-1Q.

Hand in hand, with Fairie grace,
Will we sing and blesse this place.

The Song [and dance].

Now untill the breake of day,
Through this house each Fairy stray.
To the best Bride-bed will we,
Which by us shall blessed be:
And the issue there create,
Ever shall be fortunate:
So shall all the couples three,
Ever true in loving be:

And the blots of Natures hand,
Shall not in their issue stand.
Never mole, barelip, nor scarre,
Nor marke prodigious, such as are
Despised in Nativitie,

Shall upon their children be.
With this field dew consecrate,

Every Fairy take his gate,

And each severall chamber blesse,

Through this Pallace with sweet peace,

Ever shall in safety rest,

And the owner of it blest.

Trip away, make no stay;

Meet me all by breake of day.

400

410

[Exeunt Oberon, Titania, and train.]

Robin. If we shadowes have offended, Thinke but this (and all is mended) That you have but slumbred heere, While these visions did appeare.

413. shift to after 414-STAUNTON.

420

And this weake and idle theame,
No more yeelding but a dreame,
Centles, doe not reprehend.
If you pardon, we will mend.
And as I am an honest Pucke,
If we have unearned lucke,

Now to scape the Serpents tongue,
We will make amends ere long:
Else the Pucke a lyar call.

So good night unto you all.

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

423. Centles: Gentles-Q0.2-4F.

430

[Exit.]

FINIS.

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

First printed in two Quartos, 1600

The First Folio, 1623, follows the
Second Quarto, supplying the
acts, but making few other
variations

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