The Sources and Analogues of 'A Midsummer-night's Dream'

fairy-tales; its merits as a popular delineation of the fairy-world are proved by the fact that it has obtained the sanction and approval of tradition, passing almost at on

delicate and graceful fancy that has held the popular imagination ever since. Thanks to him, the modern English conception

enient to deal first with

e German Nibelungenlied and other works. Etymologically Alberich is composed of alb = elf and rich = king. The name Oberon appears first in English literature in Lord Berners' translation of Huon o

Shakespeare appears to have taken the name Titania from Ovid,[31] who uses it as an epithet of Diana, as being the sister of Sol or Helios, the Sun-god, a Titan. Scot, in his Discovery of Witchcraft,[32] gives Diana as

led Queen Mab;[33] this is said to be of Celtic derivation. Mercutio's catalogue of Mab'

nglish Dictionary which contain notes for the article 'Puck' to be inspected; his treatment of the word will be awaited with much interest. The earliest and most important reference is to Prof. A.S. Napier's Old English Glosses (1900), 191, where in a list of glosses of the eleventh century to Aldhelm's Aenigmata occurs "larbula [i. e. larvula], puca." Prof. Napier notes that O.E. pūca, "a goblin," whence N.E. Puck, is a well authenticated word. Dr. Bradley suggests that the

llad of Tam Lin[38] refers to them as "gude neighbours"; the Gaels[39] term a fairy "a woman of peace"; and Professor Child points out the same fact in relation to the neo-Greek nereids.[40] Hence al

the fairies themselves. Shakespeare was doubtless also familiar with the treatment accorded to the fairy-world by Chaucer[42] and Spenser[43] and with the many tales of supernatural beings in romances like Huon of Bordeaux and others of the Arthurian cycle. There is also a black-letter tract concerning Robin Goodfel

assumed date of the play; but these, again, add nothing which Shakespeare could not have learned just as wel

largely theoretical. But it teaches its students continually to look further afield, and to compare the tales, ballads, superstitions, rites, and mythologies of one country with those of another. The surprising results thus obtained must not make us think that one country has borrowed from another; we must throw our minds back to a common ancestry and common creeds. "The attempt to discrimin

gs common to all the European branches of the Aryan peoples, Greek, Roman, Celt or Teuton. When Thomas Nashe wrote in 1594 of "the Robbin-good-fellowes, Elfes, Fairies, Hobgoblin

also used as an equivalent for "enchantment." It was originally, therefore, incorrect to speak of "a fairy";[49] the singular term is "a fay," as opposed to "th

cae, were three in number, and were variously conceived as goddesses of birth or of death; the elements of the primitive idea are, at least, com

in the tenth century, amongst the Eddic Lay

house when the Fates came to forecast the hero's life. They said that he should be called the most famous of kin

fth century Saxo Grammaticus,[51] who calls them "three maidens"; their caprices are shown when two of them bestow g

s point of the story-the bestowal of gifts at birth-survives in the chanson de geste of Ogi

ed years of age, Morgan caused him to be wrecked near Avalon. In his wanderings he comes to an orchard, where he eats an apple. A beautiful lady approaches whom he mistakes for the Virgin; but she tells him she is Morgan le Fay. She puts a ring on his finger and he becom

gifts at birth has obtained a very wide vogue. But Ogier's story also exhibits another very popular piece of superstition-that of a journe

of Erceldoune, Launfal, and Orfeo. The first and last of these are also known in the form of ballads; whether these ballads derive directly from the romances, or may be supposed to have existe

hom he paid a visit to her realm. The first "fytte" is occupied in narrating his sojourn;[57] while the other two set forth the predictions with which the queen supplied him. The romance is probably of Scottish origin, as the prophecies treat mainly of Scottish history; but the first "fyt

acter. He lived, as is proved by contemporary documents, in the thirteenth century, at Ercildoune (Earlstoun on the banks of the Leader in

ne, whether Thomas or another; he was a prophet, and prophets needed explanation. His journal to fairy-land

gatory, and hell, besides the fair castle of Elf-land. The ballad is content with three roads, to heaven, hell, and Elf-land. (ii) Both in the ro

nues in the third person to the end, with a single and sudden change to the first in line 208. I do not know whether any assumption as to t

n fact it is chiefly a translation from Marie de France's lay of Lanval, dating from the middle of the thirteenth century. The translator, Thomas Chestre, ha

culation at least until 1575,[63] but no complete copy is now known. A single MS. version of 1650 survives, however, in the Percy F

nevere, who gave him no gift at her wedding; so he asked leave of the King to go home and bury his father. He went to Caerleon, with two knights given him by Arthur, and sojourned

utifully attired and bearing a gold basin and a silk towel, approached him, and bade him come speak with their lady, Dame Triam

he wished for her in a secret place; but he was never to boast of her love. Her pres

ing he loved a fairer woman; this of course lost him Triamour. Guinevere (by a trick common in romances) accused Launfal to

ch are to be assigned to the fifteenth century at latest. As in the case of Launfal, it is doubtless a translation from the French; but as there is no extant original, this can only

is told

ore her clothes, and disfigured herself with her nails. They sought assistance and put her to bed in her chamber, whither the king came to visit her, and ask her what might help her. She told him how in her sleep she had been bidden by a knight to come and speak with his lord the king; she refused, but the king cam

e tree; but in vain, she was away with the fairy, and they knew not whither. King Orfeo in grief called together his barons and knights and squire

, till his frame shrank and his beard grew long; and ever and anon, when the day was fair, he would pla

h; and looking on the face of one of the ladies, he recognised Meroudys. They gazed at each other speechless, and tears ran from her eyes; but the other ladies bore her away. The king followed them to a fair country where there was neither hill nor dale, and into a castle, gaining entrance as a minstrel. Then he s

harp ten winters ago, by the side of a man eaten by lions. This evil news caused the steward to swoon, whereupon King Orfeo revealed himself, and sent for dame Meroudys. She came

n well wote; Good is the

nd, and it is incomplete in verse-form, though the reciter remembered the gist of the story. This version of the ballad is further complicated

ballad; English versions may have been current in his time. But even so, the ballad would add nothing to

r present theme. They may be best studied in Child's collection, Nos. 35-41, where under Tam Lin he has put toget

us visitors. Tam Lin in the ballad was taken by the fairies while sleeping under an apple tree. Malory[69] tells us that Lancelot went to sleep about noon (traditionally the dangerous hour) beneath an appl

ally preferring one who is fair and of good flesh and blood. Hence in Thomas of Erceldoune,[70] the elf queen

tithe of produce, agricultural or domes

ems, the elf-queen's palfrey being a dapple-grey. It is curious to learn that this superstition still survives. "At that time there was a gentleman who had be

ench original is presumed; indeed, there are references in early "lais" to a "Lai d'Orphey," indicating the existence of a poem which was probably the original of our King Orfeo. This original is p

find it; and the classical story of Orpheus and Eurydice would appeal strongly to Celts, who have always been famous for harping. But why should these early Celtic singers have made such changes in the story, unless they had a sim

name as Mider, and challenged Eochaid to a game of chess for a wager. Many were the games they played, and at first Eochaid won, and bade Mider carry out certain tasks. But at last Eochaid was defeated, and Mider for his reward asked to be allowed to hold Etain in his arms and kiss her. E

There is no "mine" or "thine" there; white are teeth, and black are eyebrows, and cheeks are the hue of the foxglove, and eyes the hue of blackbirds' eggs....

before him. Mider took his weapons into his left hand, and Etain with his right, and bore her away through the skylight. The guard

on Mider sent to the side of the palace sixty women, all exactly like Etain. And first the king carried away the wrong wo

of Eochaid and Etain, and grafted the one on the other. Hades became Bri Leith, or the vaguely-defined beautiful unknown country; but the clas

en of ki

oder of k

e have already seen, even Chaucer called th

lore of the fairies and the fairy-world with the Arthurian cycle of romance;[74] King Arthur's sister was Morgan le Fay, whose son by Ogier was Merlin; and the romance of Huon of Bordeaux, which relates these

daiès of the

Bretons speken

land fulfild

n with hir

ofte in many

olde opinio

enturies; for there are Welsh versions independent of the Breton forms, though closely akin. Students of early Celtic literature have not as yet agreed about the historical relations between Welsh and Ir

extends over a thousand years. From manuscripts which are attributed to the twelfth century (and even so contain matter rightly belonging to the ninth or tenth), we can trace the development of a creed concerning supernatural beings through the succeeding centuries, down to a time at which the written account

h the Tuatha Dé Danann; and before the twelfth century the Sidhe were not associated with the Celtic belief in "a beautiful country beyond the sea," a happy land called by various names-Tir-nan-Og (the land of youth), Tir Tairngire (the land of promise)-which has no

Danish historian in the twelfth, and a series of romances, running through Celtic-Breton-French-English languages from the twelfth to fifteenth centuries-all combine to alter or add to the popular conception of fairies. Celtic Mider is of human stature, beautiful, powerful, dwelling beneath the earth; he attempts to carry off a mortal bride. Teu

en year Caesar passed by the sea as he went into Thessaly whereas he fought with Pompey; in his way he passed by Chifalonny, where my mother fetched him,

dded that he should be "the fairest creature that nature ever formed." Another fairy endowed him with the power of seeing into the minds of all men; and a third enabled him to go whither he would at a wis

, "made by four ladies of the fairy," who endowed it with four gifts; it cured all diseases by its blast, it banished

e; dwarfs, trolls, kobolds, pixies, and so forth. Teutonic witches are called horn-blowers. Again, the fairy-train or fairy-hunt is suppos

mal in stature, any more than Mider. Shakespeare's Oberon and Mider are invisible

in all European countries and elsewhere-we have just given a list of names which can easily be extended-are above all things small; they also are earth-dwellers, living in hills or underground chambers, and originally, perhaps,

is however essentially mischievous. In a

with any hurtful influence, as Hob Thrust, Robin Goodfellow, and suchlike spirits, as they te

e" [in origin], and so forth-simply described by Shakespeare as a "shrewd and knavish sprite." The forms of mischief in which he delights are described in A Midsummer-Night's Dream, II. i. 33-57, and all these

were melted together in the popular pre-Shakespearean mind, and that Shakespeare himself, making a new division of the

hakespeare's fairies, then, m

f dancing and singing; they are invisible and immortal; they prefer night, and midnight is their favourite hour; they fall in love with mortals, steal babies

t subject to passion and jealousy, and had a

t their exiguity, their relations in love with mortals, and their hymeneal functions. His conception of their size as infinitesimal at le

th the modern Irish-Catholic the

all the angels that belonged to him. While He was 'chucking them out,' an archangel asked Him to spare some of them,

N'S V

ons how and where to find the magic herb that works the transformations of love in the rest of the play, appears to contain a reference to Elizabeth as "a fair vestal throned by the west" and "the imperial votaress." So much may be reasonably granted; but Warburton in his edi

mermaid, uttering dulcet and harmonious breath, so that the rude sea grows civil, and the stars that shot from their spheres, are explained, by parallel passages from contemporary accounts, as parts of the pageant or "Princely Pleasures" which formed

Elizabeth; but the Virgin Queen's maidenhood was so unassailable th

tions the Queen only in order t

is likely that Shakespeare intended a compliment to his queen; it is possible that the "mermaid on a dolphin's back" was a reminiscence

nably guess that he had read somewhere one of the many popular legends that explain why the violet is purple, why the rose is red, etc.; there are some in Ovid's Metamorphoses[93] which Shakespeare read in Golding's translation.

call it lov

ame for the

THE INT

's edition (modern spelling) in the "King'

was

re

ca

were

besi

he's reference to the name in Have with

madness, and slew his son Learchus. His wife Ino threw herself, with his other son Melicertes, into the sea, and both were changed into sea-deities, Ino becomi

's The Knight

lit

slain at the siege of Thebes, who complain that the tyrant Creon will not permit their husbands' bodies to be either burned or bur

uction to his translatio

to introduce the main story, much in the same way as the Theseus story in

594. Against the first entry are the much-discussed letters "ne," which appear to mark a new play. It will be seen that according to t

onsiders that Shakespeare

i. 167 and I

cance now remains, celebration of the rites of May is by no means extinct. See E.K. Chambers, The Mediaeval Stage, I. 117: "their object is to secure the bene

to the folk-lorist in the light of the fact that various folk-festivals appear to take p

I. ii. 331

IV. i.

In V.

ed in this b

ucius the Ass, a similar t

ed in this b

, Met. iv

See p

. MS. 152

ueen, II. i.

English Dramatic Lite

ntes Tale, 983

s edition of Camp

Pyrrha (i. 395), and Circe (xiv. 382, 438). The fact that Golding gives "Phebe" as the translation of "Titani

lson, p. 32. Book III,

nd Juliet, I

than "Hobgoblin"; so also in l. 148 of the same scene. In

II. i

. i. 4

otland, Ireland, Derby, Worcester, Shropshire, Gloucester, S

n Child's Bal

of the West Highlands (1890),

ds, I. 314

I. i. 40. (See

e's Tale, at the beg

ous list of the generations of fairies; the first "Elfe" was the image made by Prometheus, to a

d in this boo

lton's News out of Purgatory (1590) (see p. 63), (ii) Churchyard's Handfull of

years, and the science is very little older; it was vague

of Shakespeare (1900), p. 24. This l

rks, ed. R.B. M

s early as the fourteenth centu

lated by Vigfusson and York Powell in Corpus Poeticum Boreale (

O. Elton's translation (1894), pp. 84, 93, 22

es by night to the new-born child ... e. His return to earth after death or disappearance ... Mark that Holgi is the true old form ... Th

f the story which survives in the Ogier of the Chansons de Geste, wherein Eadgar (Otkerus or Otgeru

ild's Balla

to Oberon's death-bed; Arthur introduces him as his n

in every land and every mythology. Human aetiological tendencies supply explanations of any cavern or natural chasm-even a volcano must be the mouth of the entrance to hell or purgatory-from Taenarus, where Pluto carried off Proserpine, and the Sibyl's cavern, whence Aeneas sought the lower regions, to the famous Lough Dearg in Donegal, t

llads,

e I will be found in t

e romance, Thomas of Erceldoune (E.E.T.S., 1875), where Prof. J.A.H

ofessor Kittredge in Child's Ballads, iii. 504. In Huon of Bordeau

The Popular Ballad

the Bodleian, MS. Rawlinson C. 86, and a Scottish ve

1558. See Arber, Stationers' Registers, i. 79. Two fragments are in the Bodleia

amongst Captain Cox's books, in Laneham's famous

see Hales and Furnivall, Bishop

es' Library, Edinburgh), printed by D. Laing in Ancient Popular Poetry of Scotland, iii; and Ashmolean 61 (Bodleian Library, Oxford), printed by Hal

ruit tree; here

ull analysis of the romance, and in the present editor's

s and Corrections" in the later volumes, and s.v. El

thur (ed. Somm

e below

nds (1907), p. 48, and A. Nutt, Fa

ynge, op.

tship of Etain may be seen in English, translated from the two versions in Egerton MS. 1782. and the "Le

ry Mythology of S

f Bathe's

; and various authorities given by G.

onounce

n agricultural-sacrificial kind, in the aspect they have assumed-"fairies"-to the modern Irish peasant. The Sidhe have fallen

, 72). Oberon recites his history

(E.E.T.S. editi

f-Knight), 41 (Hina Etin), and perhaps 35 (Allison Gross), with his note on th

e above

e p. 12

published by Robin Goodfellow (1590)

e above

covery of Witchcraft and the Robin Go

iet, I. iv. 33-94.

onnaire des Sciences Occultes (in Migne, tome 48, vol. i., p. 475), it might be that it would prove of great interest.

ull analysis with references, Warwick

ee II.

f enchantments and nocturnal incantations, often also identified with Proserpina. Titania is a votaress of the moon; we have seen that fairies are intimately concerned with mortal babies, and that there is a fairy-hunt (see the quotation from James I's Demonology, p. 37 above); and we have also noted the confusion of Proserpina with the fairy

nge, Aran Is

sqq.; although there are others in the same book. See also the

RATIVE

E

OF PYRAMUS

GOOD-F

F ERCELD

OVERY OF WI

E FARLI

RY PRANKS O

N MA

IES' FAR

IRY QU

HIDI

OF PYRAMU

ation of Ovid's Metamorphose

hose huge walls so mo

Semiramis for ma

two young folk, in h

roof well nigh both

s Pyramus, and Thi

all the East was

maid, nor wife in

cquaintance first, this n

s neighbourhood first

o that to which it

d taken place they h

s went about to let[1]

r both their hearts wi

heir thoughts. And fo

uséd signs: the clo

e fiercer still it r

house from house had

g of the wall: this f

ars before (what d

of all found out, a

ecretly, and throu

rings very light an

e Pyramus, and Th

ne of them the pleasa

d they) why dost tho

it if that thou p

to embrace? or if t

mightest thou at lea

t find us churls: we

of courtesy, in vou

friendly ears thus

ey stood in vain com

they bade adieu, and

on their side the w

cheerful light had d

burning beams the d

ir wonted place by

mplaint and moan th

watchéd them, and

ir fathers' house a

in the fields they st

Ninus' tomb to mee

th a tree that by

gh mulberry with fr

ckling spring. This ba

ch to their thought

to rest, and night f

once was come, strai

out of doors, that n

uffling her with clo

iscern her face, to

set her down there

see the chance, there co

a lioness all foa

made of kine to stau

resaid spring. Whom

thereupon with fe

irksome cave did h

ay for haste she l

she left behind not

lioness her thirst

d she found the sle

ith bloody teeth in

at further spent ere

subtle sand the p

. But when that he

e night (he said) sha

deservèd she of all

this mischance the

he death of thee, whic

e night to come, and

wretched guts with c

ions all that in

ish for death. The s

es, and straight doth

d erst the place o

pt and kissed the ga

d too (quoth he), an

among his guts he t

e bleeding wound, b

on his back. The bl

ipe is cracked, the

great way off, and p

upon the tree bespr

The root also, be

colour, straight up

of her fear with wh

ointing him comes T

looks about, rej

scaped that night th

t well the place and

o late before) even

erries turned, she

which they both agre

stound[4] she stood,

ed in his blood he

is dying limbs; at w

ny box; a shuddering

ch suddenly with whis

blast of wind it is

g nearer him she kn

she shriekéd out, she

n her arms did wash h

ing with his blood, a

s cold as ice) she

my Pyramus hath p

Pyramus: it is t

most heartily that

hy heavy head. He, h

es, and, having seen

r mantle there, and

Unhappy man, thy lo

th made thee slay thys

do the like. My lo

to work my wound. I

an as I am, it sh

death I was the on

anion eke and pa

ly could, alas! as

issever us but w

of us both, most w

t I shall make in bo

t that we, whom chas

ath joined in one, ma

ogether laid. And

he corse of one, and

me slaughter hold the

of thy fruit and m

r of us twain may

e sword, yet warm with

th her breast did to

gods and with their

s throughly ripe, th

to a black. And th

in one tomb as

W; HIS MAD PRANK

ropping into an alehouse; there found I, first a kind welcome, next good liquor, then kind strangers (which made good company), then an honest host, whose love to good liquor was written in red characters both in his nose, cheeks and forehead: an hostess I found there

hat the people of that country were called Long-tails[1]. The host said, all the reason that ever he could hear was, because the people of that country formerly did use to go in side-skirted coats. "There is," said an old man that sat by, "a

ord for their liberty and safe return, if they would come unarmed and speak with him. This they seemed to grant unto, but for their more security (knowing how little he esteemed oaths or promises) they went every one of them armed with a short sword, hanging just behind under their garments, so that the Saxons thought not of any weapons they had: but it proved otherwis

d that their country's honour bound them

withal, and make ourselves merry." "Now, good hostess," said I, "let me entreat from you one of those tales." "You shall," sai

E OF THE BIRTH OF

many harmless spirits called fairies, dancing in brave order in fairy rings on green hills with sweet music (sometime invisible) in divers shapes: many mad pranks would they play, as pinching of sluts black and blue, and misplacing things in ill-ord

r every night would he with other fairies come to the house, and there dance in her chamber; and oftentimes she was forced to dance with him, and at his departure would he leave her silver and jewels, to express his love un

his father's heart, that every night his mother was supplied with necessary things that are befitting a woman in child-birth, so that in no mean manner neither; for there had she rich embroidered cushions, stools, carpets, coverlets, delicate linen: then for meat she had capons, chickens, mutton, lamb, pheasant, snite[2], woodcock, partridge, quail. The gossips liked this fare so wel

good cheer was doubled, which made most of the women so wise, that they forgot to make themselves unready, and so lay in their clothes; and none of them next

LLOW'S BEHAVIOUR

oever she went or rode. But this helped little or nothing, for if he rode before her, then would he make mouths and ill-favoured faces at those he met; if he rode behind her, then would he clap his hand on his tail; so that his mother was weary of the many complaints that came against him, yet

D-FELLOW DWEL

ng to a tailor's house, he asked something for God's sake. The tailor gave him meat, and understanding th

the morning that his master came down: his master seeing him stand in that fashion asked him what he did? "Why," quoth he, "as you bid me, whip on the sleeves." "Thou rogue," said his master, "I did mean that thou shouldst have set them on quickly and slightly." "I would you had said so," said Robin, "for then had I not lost all this sleep." To be short, his master was fain to do the work, but ere he had made an end of it, the woman came for it, and with a loud voice cha

N GOOD-FELLOW AFTER H

r personages in antic measures tripping about him, and withal he heard such music as he thought that Orpheus, that famous Greek fiddler (had he been alive), compared to one of these, had been as infamous as a Welsh harper that plays for cheese

only son

e take tho

hou hast cu

ncrease with

u wilt, thou

vex both fo

power to cha

o hog, to d

d thus, by

harm'st but kn

ou those th

them in n

all the wor

of Robin

name thou ca

last po

serve my j

u shalt see

give: who te

t hear them sh

his liked him well, and because he was weary, he wished himself a horse: no sooner was his wish ended, but he was transformed, and seemed a horse of twenty pound price, and leaped and curveted as nimble as if he had been in s

FELLOW SERVED A

e clown, "that shows the time of the day." "Why then," said Robin Good-fellow, "be thou a clock, and tell me what time of the day it is." "I owe thee not so mu

ow, so that in himself he vowed to be rev

catch a horse that was at grass. The horse being wild ran over dyke and hedge, and the fellow after; but to little purpose, f

im and got on his back, but long had he not rid, but with a stumble he hurled this churlish clown to the ground, that he almost broke his neck

o sooner was he in the midst of it, but Robin Good-fellow left him with nothing but a pack-saddle betwixt his legs, and

HELPED TWO LOVERS AN

rk night and day, that I have not so much time as to drink or speak with this young man, whom I love above all men living." "If your work be all that hindereth you," said Robin, "I will see that done: ask me not how, nor make any doubt of the performance; I will do it. Go you with your love: for twenty-four hours I will free you. In that time marry or do what you will. If you refuse my proffered kindness never look to enjoy your wished-for happiness. I love true lovers, honest men, good fellows, good housewives, good meat, good drink, and all things tha

to do, which he did in half the time that another could do it in. The old man, seeing the speed he made, thought that she had some meeting that night (for he took Robin Good-fellow for h

nt well, and that ere night he would bring them ten pounds of her uncle's to begin the world with. They both thank

and did dream that I consented to that which you have so often desired of me (you know what it is I mean), and methought you gave me as a reward ten pounds, with your consent to marry that young man that I have loved so long." "Didst thou dream so? thy dream I will make good, for under my handwriting I give my free consent

ok him up in his arms and carried him forth; first drew him through a pond to cool his hot blood, then did he carry him where the young married couple we

imself duly punished, and turned his hatred into love, and thought afterward as well of them as if she had been his own. The second part shall show

BIN GOOD-FELLOW, COMM

-FELLOW HELPED

to a farmer's house, where there was a good handsome maid: this maid having much work to do, Robin one night did help her, and in six hours did bolt more than she could have done in twelve hours. The maid wondered t

hysician make

magician a f

germander an

sweet

bon-

rawber

colu

, in and out,

thither, as st

ermander and

sweet

bon-

rawber

colu

d live, there

he beggar with

ermander and

sweet

bon-

rawber

colu

t night provided him a waistcoat. Robin, coming the next night to wor

ay'st me, himp

ther bolt

ur garments

loves: I fe

ft me milk

ave had a pl

left no dr

er more w

ved and discontented at his anger: for ever after she was fai

LED A COMPANY OF FEL

it, met them, and to make some pastime, he led them up and down the heath a whole night, so that they could not get out of it; for he went before them

ome, you

mammies an

ose that n

aw a walk

hat do smi

all me W

you but

ort alon

to your

laughing h

for they were all in a great fear that

ELLOW SERVED A L

cry for help. Robin Good-fellow, seeing of this, turned himself into the shape of a hare, and so ran between the lustful gallant's legs. This gallant, thinking to have taken him, he presently turned himself into a horse, and so perforce carried away this gallant on his back. The gentleman cried out for help, for he thought that the devil had been come to

URNED A MISERABLE USURE

lack-pudding, for he found it more profitable to sit by other men's. His apparel was of the fashion that none did wear; for it was such as did hang at a broker's stall, till it was as weather-beaten as an old sign. This man for

he should have presently died for fear. This was but a preparation to what he did intend; for presently after he appeared before him at his bed's feet, in the shape of a ghost, with a

t stir out

to strike

e to do

its and star

hich thou u

body makes

h money whi

t long on ea

say, or d

us will the

words, and

bad I li

f mind; and for fear of being frighted again with this ghost, he turned

A WEAVER'S WIFE, AND HOW THE

. Robin liked her so well, that for her sake he became servant to her husband, and did daily work at the loom; but all the kindness that he showed was but lost, for his mistress

ld my lo

wavering, fi

ht can sh

anted what

ee, as nat

her work

l, wives, w

to worse

rees, roots

and growth a

ngs have t

signs move

ty in wom

her for

s are ill, li

e in them'

thought

'er the lau

, women'

houghts should

yena-like

they wou

hem doth lu

s me thus

s delight,

, game, ple

ith me sh

trust but w

re false, for

hood made

ew from th

by sin

weaver one day coming in, found them a-kissing: at this he said [nothing] but vowed in himself to be revenged of his man that night following. Night being come, the weaver went to Robin's bed, and took him out of it (as he then thought) and ran apace to the river side to hurl Robin in; but the weaver was deceived, for Robin, instead of himself,

kindness, mast

lf; I'll stay

him in, and went laug

SHAPE OF A FIDDLER TO A WEDDING,

ed himself like unto a fiddler, and with his crowd under his arm went amongst them, and was a very welcome man. There played he whilst they danced, and t

E

a cou

ons strang

to a vault

mblers u

his sport

it he'd

o him stil

thine own

d his gol

were bot

night with

ass in m

hey then

he knew

words, and e

his own s

e they n

nocked at

p, rise, an

both knav

g sore

did light

then could

is own sw

der step

if he c

at did him

e with

beheld,

own swe

oubt, if e

be in

the ba

ened t

cretion clo

ice hates

ed up th

nning in

search at

and his s

ng wit

em both

hear them s

, with t

they lov

they sho

hem to new

your own

it was

they had

hat they did

he needs

he thumpe

ing in

he trade of

ng his s

he still

uld get

e fashions I'

forth liv

where I

nk by m

more into

ing my s

rk, he struck the men good boxes on the ears: they, thinking it had been those that did sit next them, fell a-fighting one with the other; so that there was not one of them but had either a broken head or a bloody nose. At this Robin laughed heart

a bear: both men and women (seeing a bear amongst them) ran away, and left the whole posset to Robin Good-fellow. He quickly made an end of it, and went away without his money; for the sport he had was

OW SERVED A TAPSTER

ts he would never leave, yet divers times he had been under the hand of authority, but what money soever he had [to pay] for his abuses, he woul

ing it had been his brewer, paid him the money, which money Robin gave to the poor of that parish before the tapster's face. The tapster praised

nce from him to show. Hereat the brewer did wonder, and desired to see the quittance. The tapster fetched him a writing, wh

y pounds, which money I have bestowed (to the tapster's content) among the poor of the parish, out of whose pockets this aforesaid tapst

wilt go ha

thy apro

ood when suc

e gallo

OBIN GOO

; but for all his swearing, the brew

2] CALLED ROBIN G

any honest and merry tricks, called him one n

on, come qu

then yawn, an

st go with

d taste of

ome, my w

our sports w

k Robin by the hand and led him a dance: their musician was little Tom Thumb; for he had an excellent bag-pipe made of a wren's quill, and the skin of a Greenland louse: this pipe was so shrill, and so s

ou hear my

ed see tha

you must w

circles rou

, son, and

hee to Fa

alt see what

thee King

to the Fairy Land: there did King Obreon show Robin Good-

LLOW WAS WONT TO

ng as his manner was. Sometimes would he knock at men's doors, and when the servants came, he would blow out the candle, if they were men; but if they were women, he would not only put out their light, but kiss them full sweetly, and then go away as his fashion was, ho, ho, hoh! Oftentimes would he sing at a door

m from he

h come by c

s, come and

ur chimneys n

store, but al

ornament

horns to

require

way, you wa

r pleasures a

d woman I'l

she think

sing this following, to the tune o

cker than

ou wilt ma

n a cambr

int and fl

arrier bri

down your

n a broke

sell her m

Spaniard, p

e first cut,

talian com

enchman pic

ades with Du

d the Ger

ets the th

end's an

tune of The Sp

e was a co

skill to se

with a car

t rack an

er pipe, she

ne'er out

ied a to

ger, a

p shop in

flies did

rance, some

n by scur

is honey p

were forcé

ers, to

the tune of

in at the

goodly s

t midnig

ere drinking

his knee, that

a half of

ped and

ed and th

was count

chief servant

s leather poc

some pound

was suffere

eetheart, and w

and lick'

r, and he

her, and h

did nothin

, he would change his shape, and go laughing ho, ho, hoh! For his humo

le of thi

poor be

ood, and giv

ger may

ith fire a

and lands

d child I

am I d

r some bread, ch

hemp, o

g bring, or

oth make

common

skilled i

all see a we

s in me ar

ot if you

I pray and

ng joy, and

more pos

or some bread,

hemp

g bring, or

doth mak

ughing, ho, ho, hoh! Then would he shape himself like to a singing man; and at men's windows

lead a blest

cribe the

shun all cause o

lusts contin

unto Go

fort 'twi

p thee fro

t in God,

ev

ev

this thou

ay appeareth

to him, and

e thou shalt b

halt thou f

ience tha

or doth

d of mor

er doth

ev

t

word of Go

when thou dra

shall much m

ul, thy true an

ll find a wi

that ca

h it li

n it do

essed jo

ev

ev

nothing can

ys which then th

ongue can t

s, compared wit

mote to the

not that

t enjoy

py is th

to thi

t e

t e

and is en

! Sometimes would he go like a bellman in the night, and with many pretty verses

n your

l to you

ur tin

ls and yo

s and yo

ws and

are of

bellman

r fire and

all not yo

eam of you

eps see ple

all, both o

now hath d

s would he continually practise himself in honest mirth, n

LLOW TO DANCE WITH THEM, AND HOW THE

g to the command of King Obreon) went towards them. They, for joy that he was come, did circle him in, and in a ring did dance round

E

ittle ones, qu

el about, run,

lovingly: well

an in health li

goblins all, a

ack, and pinch ma

he grass with yo

nd I'll sing for

Patch, Gul

u tog

n change y

o the

ib, Lick

have tri

m Thumb t

o betwi

kle up t

hey be

augh, ho

ke me

ing on t

r quick

play, I

your p

hines fair

e owl

ow take t

heir p

s abroad

e nigh

th use f

Death's

mice pee

cats t

ung wench

r dreams

ing on t

r quick

play, I

your p

n Good-fellow's kindness, they promised to tell to him all the exploits that they were accustomed

F THE FAIRY

ant that left them so, I do so nip him or her, that with my pinches their bodies are as many colours as a mackerel's back. Then take I them, and lay I them in the door, naked or unnaked

y dog's kennel; in one corner bones, in another egg-shells, behind the door a heap of dust, the dishes under feet, and the cat in the cupboard: all these sluttish tricks I do reward with blue legs, and blue arms. I find some slovens too, as well as sluts: they pay for their beastliness too, as well as the

e good I

hem and kee

slovens

m in their b

practice, a

e I clea

F THE FAIRY

with their heads nitty and scabby, for want of combing, I am their barbers, and cut their hair as close as an ape's tail; or else clap so much pitch on it, that they must cut it off themselves to their great shame. Slovens also that neglect their masters' business, they do not escape. Some I find tha

tricks I P

good I ne

hate and w

m ill themsel

good I'll

ood from me

OF THE FAIR

hs, that I cause there great pain, for which they call me by the name of Hag, or Nightmare. 'Tis I that do steal children, and in the place of them leave changelings. Sometimes I also steal milk and cream, and then with my brothers

an do, I ha

erior un

Robin, tho

thee will

eater thing

and, and o

OF THE FAIR

hen they are in the midst of all their good cheer, I come in, in some fearful shape, and affright them, and then carry away their good cheer, and eat it with my fellow fairies. 'Tis I that do, like a screech-owl cry at sick men's w

business

se tricks I

burn both b

l say, Here'

than these

d Robin, Ho

THE WOMEN FAIR

n water in their houses, we wash our children in their pottage, milk, or beer, or whate'er we find: for the sluts that leave not such things fitting, we wash their faces and hands with a gilded child's clout, or else carry them to some river, and duck them over head and ears. We

the chie

l things d

ok and dre

all things

se and tend

s doth dress

fellow, call

bigger th

porter t

h let all

s merry wit

y we spend

umb stood up on tip-toe a

l in volumes

which will ne

at to do for the present time. The fairies seeing Tom Thumb in such a fear, punished the shepherd with his pipes' loss, so that the shepherd's pipe presently brake i

worser spent. I, seeing her dry, called for two pots: she emptied one of them at a draught, and never breathed for

OF THOMAS

TT

nt this en

n mind maki

ry morni

banks mys

jay and the

aned[2] her

le berèd[3

he wood ab

onging thu

th a see

here a

ng over a

ld sit to

ue to wrable

ly that

he describ

was a dapp

e ne saw I

e sun on s

ady herself

t was of roe

was that s

t with pre

all with c

Orient gre

bout her h

over that

blew, anot

of noble si

s were of

s were of c

h pearl ove

l[10] was o

r was of o

r gold her

ide hang be

e grew-hound

ches[12] by

horn about h

belt full ma

y and saw

th a see

is Mary most

at child tha

speak with yo

art will bre

I go with

eet at Eildo

hely[18] u

over that m

as the st

et at Ei

down upon

that gree

ovely lady,

aven, as th

hat lady mil

let such

eaven ne a

never so

of anothe

arelled mo

r these wil

runnès at

'parelled mo

des thus in

ady, as th

e leave to

ou man, that

Thomas, tho

thee full

ll fordo al

ely lady,

vermore with

h I will pli

wilt in hea

uld, thou

shalt have

ll, thou 'chiev

beauty wilt

light that

that gree

story tell

mes by h

an, thee li

in bower may

t me all th

e, Thomas,

d up in tha

held that

hang all o

e out, that

rich cloth

ore saw in

k black, her

r body lik

Thomas "

s is a dulef

faded thus

0

fore as the s

as, take leave

leaf that gr

h shalt thou wi

th[26] shalt t

0

down upon

that gree

vely lady[27

heaven, as t

said, "and

1

eeds will w

su, beteach

er my bones

im in at

h a dernè

1

s dark as m

e water til

ance[30] of

swoughing o

he said "Ful

2

ie for fau

intill a fai

was growing

le, both rip

and also t

2

d also the

s bigging[32]

[33] fast ab

sang, would

pull fruit w

3

ood that was

as, thou let t

fiend thee w

pluck, soot

es to the f

3

ever out o

n pain aye

thly, I the

y head down

lt see the f

4

aw man of t

ght[36] as s

nee his he

ay[37] he wa

hat lady t

4

38] now yon

over yon hi

way to he

souls are pa

u now yon

5

ow beneath y

way, thee s

joy of

yet yon t

under yon g

5

y, with teen

soulès suff

hou now yon

over yon

e way, so

6

urning fir

yet yon f

th over yon

tower it bea

s none lik

6

Thomas, yon

ng's of th

ever[42] be h

he wist th

om'st to yo

7

e courteou

any man t

answer n

servèd at

knightès f

7

sitting at

speech beyo

ll as ston

held that

gain as fa

8

rich on h

ds fillèd wi

coupled,

horn with mai

stle she to

8

all soothl

llowèd at

came, both f

sy to her k

thel both t

9

also the s

ib[49] both

anner of

vel that Tho

e stood upo

9

artès in we

thè great an

lapping i

e with dre

[52] them as t

0

g them was

nced by thr

evel, gamen

dies, fai

nd sang on

0

elled in

I you sa

day, so ha

lady said

Thomas; thee

1

ay here no

st with mig

bring till

then with he

ady, now

1

lady, I ha

he space of

Thomas, as

n here three

re thou may n

2

I shall thee t

of hell the

folk will f

mickle man

well he woul

2

gold that

60] unto the

never betra

h me I rede[6

him again to

3

that gree

banks is

sing both nig

Thomas, I w

3] over the b

3

fytte; more

omas of E

NALD

OF WITCHCR

o the R

ur predecessors to believe, that Robin Goodfellow, that great and ancient bull-beggar, had been but a cozening mercha

actions are imputed to witches by

in attributes of Shakespeare's

minds to inordinate love or hate.... Ovid affirmeth that they can raise and suppress lighting and thunder, rain and hail, clouds and winds, tempests and earthq

II, ch

vert them into horses, as the story goes.... Such jocund and facetious spirits are said to sport themselves in the night by tumbling and fooling with servants and shepherds in country houses, pinching them black and blue, and leaving bread, butter, and cheese sometimes with them, which, if they refuse to eat, some mischief shall undoubtedly befall them

II, ch

t-times they ride abroad with Diana, the goddess of the Pagans, or else with Herodias, with an innumerable multitude, upon certai

IV, c

ight; and you have also heard that he would chafe exceedingly, if the maid or goodwife of the house, having compassion of his nakedness, laid any clothes for him, besid

nd returned again into a man, by one of Bodin's wi

way out of the city, and not far from the sea-side, to see whether she had any eggs to sell. Who, perceiving him to be a lusty young fellow, a stranger, and far from his country (so as, upon the loss of him, there would be the less miss or enquiry), she considered with herself how to destroy him; and willed him to stay there awhile, whilst she went to

I should term him-being many times repelled, and understanding their words that called him ass, considering that he could speak never a word and yet could understand everybody, he thought that he was bewitched by the woman at whose house he was. And therefore, when by no means he could get into the boat, but was driven to tarry and see her departure, being also beaten from place to place as an ass, he remembered th

ees of his hinder legs, and did lift his forefeet over his head, as the priest doth hold the sacrament at the elevation. Which prodigious sight when certain merchants of Genoa espied, and with wonder beheld, anon cometh the witch with a cudgel in her hand, beating forth the ass. And because, as it hath been said, such kinds of witchcrafts are very usual in those parts, the merchants aforesaid made such means

II, ch

lainly perceived, as the illusion and knavery of Robin Goodfellow. And in truth, they that maintain walking spirits with their transformation, &c, have no reason to deny Robin Goodfellow, upon whom there hath gone as many and as cr

II, ch

h bull-beggars, spirits, witches, urchins, elves, hags, fairies, satyrs, pans, fauns, sylens, Kit with the canstick[2], tritons, centaurs, dwarfs, giants, imps, calkers, conjurors, nymphs, changelings, Incubus,

orse's or an ass's head on a man's

will be the less effectual), and make an earthen vessel of fit capacity to contain the same, and let it be filled with the oil and fat thereof, cover it close, and daub it over with loam; let it boil over a soft fire three days contin

Devils and Sp

rits and devils on the Friday; and being prevented with the evening of the Sabbath, finished them not, but left them unperfect; and that therefore, that ever since they use to fl

e, &c.,

in the morning, sweep the house, grind mustard and malt, draw water, &c.; these also rumble in houses, draw latches, go up and do

GE FA

rlies[1] f

and hags

Circes, whe

ll of sor

ld thin-f

ted crabs

monsters i

prove sha

what Me

and times

fire doth m

ine ear

r kind

s a tune m

g noise of

my countena

obgoblin

like ghost

hat would no

of bugs a

the fai

on Bedna

familiars

with me

n moonshi

thing draw

mb shows an

réd[2] e

dgéd in

good cheer

uld come and

h up all

foul sluts

to sit

t scour the

ame a m

hen or

here sprit

nt dish and

the grea

r sport

to spoil

Goodfello

the milk-

the cream

poor milk-

such mad gu

le soundl

.

but fabl

true sto

days are m

y tale

S CHU

l of Gladsome

PRANKS OF RO

Tune of

on, in fa

ghosts and s

I, at hi

iew the nigh

revel

ept

corner wh

ll o

merr

d sport, wit

than lightn

s airy we

minute's s

hat's done b

's no

st sha

e Goblins!

Ro

eats wi

m home, with

uch wander

night-sports t

rfeiting vo

em on, with

ods, thr

gs, thro

nseen, wit

n the

y some

it, with

meet them

n ox, somet

horse I t

trot about

f, to

k they

than wind

dge and

ools an

laughing h

and lasses

s and with

f all th

cakes and si

o make

f and

e candles

aids

riek-Wh

ought but

then, the ma

I card up

y sleep and t

threads thei

nd at

malt u

r hemp, I sp

ny w

uld me

laughing

hearth doth

maidens bl

hes from the

em naked a

sleep a

them

ey-cold floo

t the

forth

laugh out

eed to bor

m what they

use demand

s all we

to

do

ngst them

ight b

m aff

s, dreams, an

ueans have

how to c

bate and m

e another

their

t dis

m they have

I hav

t me

em scolding,

traps and

s, where the

ir folds and

d geese, and l

y th

ente

a vermin

en the

ach m

laughing

rills, in m

dance our

fairy kin

moon-light

rks 'gi

we

ew-born ste

elf

ave i

laughing,

ed Merlin's

y revell'd

pranks me

f Robin Go

hosts, an

nt the

nd goblins

eldam

ts hav

Vale; h

er broadside

EN

a

b, the mis

nightly ro

t or help t

se without

.

inches cou

not clean th

harper nai

ake not up

hey chance

she drop

.

that empti

hildren, pu

midwives in t

e the holes

ds them from

ponds and w

.

our franklin

with shrieks

eet St. A

with a pro

bands, some

mpty dream

masque of A

ew Ballad,

AREWELL: OR GO

f the Meadow Brow by the learned; by

rewards a

ives, now y

oul sluts

as well

y sweep their

s were wo

late for

pence in

lament o

ies' los

change prie

ave change

children spru

grown

changeling

of your

and at ev

y were a

care of sl

etty lad

ame home f

to milki

merrily went

y went th

se rings an

, which y

d in Queen

a gras

of late

r James

danced on

the time

we note t

he old pr

gs were A

ces were

as! they al

beyond t

r for rel

hey take

le in the

er could

kept not

h, was pun

ust and Ch

such blac

mmon-wealth

stices

ave left o

ster t

h to their

th wise

of their

hat I co

store; con t

am for t

*

Churne of S

d and pr

eal can men

s both ol

m all giv

ye for hi

he fairie

, if it w

ORBET (15

ica Strom

AIRY

llow, fo

y elves

rcle on

low me y

nd let's d

lace is fa

tals are

ing in th

d and

eyholes w

, stools, a

with our

he house

er, dish

we nimb

the slu

ch their arm

pes nor n

he house

unclean

the hous

ely she

use, bef

tester i

mushroo

le we d

of rye

et which

ops of de

ps filled t

ns of ni

uous dew

wo nutshe

hat's eas

eards of

east of won

of dew

ly do w

g and te

ds when w

morning m

night befor

sshoppe

r our mi

d, we dan

he time

moon doth h

m lights us

ysteries o

(1658); wi

dward] P[

PHI

URT OF

r doth of

ais of Pa

third of

poor trifl

like have l

thing and s

f they kno

they must

rt there b

of the Fa

an they hav

ere wedde

hem their thi

ight therei

ge thing they

the way

o Muse hath

later, o

sh secrets

from other

use to ligh

f that prou

here of th

per my pr

Nymphidia,

ting me up

ts didst to

w I am i

light, fant

voke thee

peak what th

s smoothl

e standeth

ancy plac

tempests ne

soe'er i

southward tow

a way up t

the Fairy

he earth

f spiders'

sed and fi

master of

usly tha

s of the e

roof, inst

with the sk

hine that

on him spo

when weary

ut only fa

h for his

s merry Que

ng folks that

mes, the mar

es them out

ws, seeming

risking elv

make their w

pastime h

hink on the h

well-near c

hays[2] by t

eir fancy

r girls their

them both bl

penny in

for cleanl

courses mak

and in ma

called the

hey have t

a child hap

er proves

erceive it

therein

doating br

ands things

Fairy left

away th

, and I sh

n Fairy th

nly may plea

nd arms d

that jea

his own

feared, his Q

but ill r

] was this

s gracious

n Mab, which

ously o

King Ober

took too g

ess and of

ve wished hi

gladly wou

to Queen

and him aug

hy of her

this lover

made of e

ought that sh

er state

Queen a let

ost curiou

her by all

she would

her true se

without susp

to one an

eir poor he

ht the app

Queen a fi

s that fair

hill tha

train ther

went to

h made it,

t there th

m Thumb, a

, and doth

e of a mi

etly to

e Queen her ma

hem to be

o see her s

d no lon

ready stra

therein is

nothing migh

must be h

gnats the

nesses of

ion her

coach-box

of a snail's

the colour

een Mab bec

y was th

e soft wool

, gallant

f a pied b

was simpl

mposed of cri

ly made fo

rattling o

le-down th

maidens mu

had chan

ueen should ha

not have

er chariot w

he stay for

aids that w

n her wer

erself aw

ey heard, the

d after t

ad been

p and Drop

ip and Ski

ir sovereig

al maids

ib and Pi

uick and J

it and Wa

that wai

asshopper

ith amble a

r ditch they

her they

ver them t

e wind if it

they wisely

should

leave Queen

a gate, o'er

d gotten by

Pigwiggen

ow Oberon

as mad as

ought each pl

his Queen

Pluto he d

clothes and

runneth he

cup he

he taketh b

head he le

e any crea

on all he

n poet do

Paladin of

ore ancient

s in h

rs Ajax

time there h

m as our

I dare

ncount'ring

rms the fly

breath he fo

Pigwigge

wife, thou ro

, she is c

, or thou d

e poor Was

ron, great

e, I am no

p, behold

the Fairy

away the W

was never

s wings were

they so we

on a Glow-

ppose it now

er hinder pa

to be

usly doth

ng fire in

r rough coat

ing feare

e Glow-worm, "

nt King of

trokes who m

of life d

hen hersel

ng down in

as black

xt away

e he ran i

bees he le

ir combs beg

y to have

eir wax his f

ir honey dau

ave made a

ow he wa

enture hi

nt, which h

hereon awa

his haste d

ull over o

o threw the

no means co

him dot

in this pi

slurried he

n this wild-

nd there

against a

mountain

e was out

e top he

gotten t

mself he cou

th' other si

foot came

grubs, there

ch turmoil

ly they had

l was the

ng down i

p to the ne

omewhat it

eth for

ay some rec

s club he m

oaken cup

as in

the advent

ott, and of

h he armed o

a Pancha

a man tel

is frantic

n lofty nu

s wits mig

n shore, but

uck, which m

and on hi

from fren

uoth Hob, "God

ee in this p

spoiled my so

s neck wer

ems but a dr

ng like a r

t of a bus

se to de

us makes u

s nights, ou

stick in m

ith laught

quoth he, "my

ou lov'st

hing but t

ance and p

to me aliv

8] thief Pigw

n hath defi

s folly d

My liege, I'l

thorough th

ength I br

lord, ne'

rake, thor

muck, tho

ater, thor

goes Puck

Nymphidia

s mad King

ng of a gr

his busines

the air aw

n arrow fr

sovereign

l was app

d with Love's p

Pigwiggen

ids that tho

room wer

, their mins

hautboy;

is Revels

ipe neatl

mphidia, an

gn, for you

s danger bu

to fore

th sent Hob

all the fi

r safety y

once dis

an uproar

everything

ruff, and

ne anothe

ut like chaff

e left their

t stay their

r was such

they, by a

ke that ne

y doubted th

ould hap to

arp and pie

him the day

e were resol

his place

e chanced to

of which a

upon a h

ttered by

the kernel

s Fay, "Dear Q

n be ne'e

you safe

to this nut,

ly in; be r

ay here a

ye need n

e be toget

ne therein

own they so

as in a

hat this whi

Puck the Quee

uld be her

he well be

t be some po

ainst him th

he would d

hly he had

g if she aug

ht hinder, o

still the co

re had des

tance and ha

hereby to

e with them

r charms s

fern-seed[10

l of the

there as Pu

or to aff

de straws to

er vervain

h witches of

se to de

es she the j

th underne

ops of the m

ry[11] di

s brain mixed

same the pi

othing short

y was so

under a bria

th ends was

three time

c much a

roserpina

n her spel

to you repe

ne tittl

roaking o

owling o

rying of

the stor

ening cur

leful dyi

s my dire

er thy su

drake's dre

rican's[12

se of dead

l-houses

ssing of

g of the fi

e thou this

en Mab be

rlwind's ho

der's dread

spirits u

thee not

ech-owl's d

k night-rav

e, Hob, to t

, if thou c

us spoke, sh

ink herself

eof what wo

oth only

ntly she P

marked his

every leaf

still to

he circle

o work do st

caught as

e thus w

n his head-

stubbed tr

poor Hobgo

s brain

upon his f

umes, Hobgo

ain he fo

the bushes

h trip him

poor Hob up

tably tor

e briars a

on Queen Mab

maids where

he devil

her so p

ling at a p

nto a dit

he very ch

er to b

han e'er he

h yell, poor

ueen Mab, wh

n had been

hidia told

done, what

well-near cra

extreme

we Hob to

nd all her

again to

ron yet

gwiggen now

troubled in

ong the Quee

the fields

uns he stil

eron, I

ee here in

ear lady

e is a Quee

ence I'll sh

ou in this

this sland

arms him f

ckle-shell

uld very br

it not b

nt[14] both st

ar of two i

of a horse-

pness noug

im on a co

of a fis

s foe should

hould be p

was a hor

ery danger

hanced to h

be long i

was a bee

ble and fu

as to strik

t well be

plume a ho

g tossed wi

strike his

his weapo

e on an e

e on his bac

high he d

mself cou

turn, and st

and to trot

uld stand on

o full o

he met wit

valiant kni

ing Ober

"Thou ma

on I come

m stand upo

s baseness s

be ne'er

im thus,

ers and h

a morta

cly proc

t if I had

ot wear the

engeance sho

ing should

lin could

s sovereig

Fairy Cou

iously he

thing Pigw

to the cro

t arms he

imself h

d foot, from p

arming of

ece how nea

lin coul

sat, how s

courser

, and how w

hich liste

Go, Tomalin

arms, provi

ing that I

I will b

count call t

be wanting

ing see th

y foe's p

s news throug

Queen Mab t

that was

hose men

tly she be

that all

occasion f

affairs s

ttended wit

nd mists, and d

ne the Quee

at it would

nto her han

ove and frien

hereof an

ch care wou

ere let we

we to Kin

o meet his f

Pigwigge

the Fairy K

well his jo

rrived at

sant foe

in came wit

oth on Pigw

ct were in

fights b

e they thems

m exercise

and comely

he other

rms these ch

ad been a

man would

er had be

s steeds beg

ere heard a

upon their re

they flew

nds minist

ndifferent

r knightly f

c them

em that they

work each o

ith simple

heir caus

furiously

ground came

t of their h

ere their

ey to the ear

they regaine

eness was

two gallan

second cou

came with m

ad better o

s could no

s were into

from their h

end them n

ons would no

m their stave

swords they

they the f

y stroke

Proserpin

them the g

they too muc

rously her

infernal S

fogs from th

ag doth th

she had th

r then to L

nd thereof

e meant to w

ly she i

pine with

place whe

Pigwiggen,

e slain w

mselves they

y would not

pine meant

er very

nly untie

f it sent s

as them al

us was th

knights each

as still a

or Tomalin

es of an

mist 'gan s

a command

hile they sh

er of th

quoth she, "

dreadful P

will eschew

e hear th

urselves you

cool your s

s thirst and

you drink t

your underst

shall to

from me that

g much th

water, yo

ry destr

r weal, or

membrance

can you

sooner too

to their brai

had them

ron forg

or jealou

Queen was w

how they c

likewise d

een Mab ha

ey were so

were found

of them both

ey had each

at they a co

dream wer

had got a

scarce kis

brains so su

remember

her light ma

selves do cl

ing caught w

another

Fairy Cou

e joy and

was done wit

left them

S ON

of Pyramus

p.

12. let, hin

8. vouching saf

4. parget, pla

l. 10. stou

l. 1. mei

. 19. belyve

5. sicker, s

. 11. bespec

Good-f

tract, there described as being "in the library of Lord Francis Egerton, M.P.," is still in that collection, which is now known as the Bridgewater House Library.

abuse both him and his associates, opprobriously tying fish-tails to their backsides; in revenge whereof an impudent author relateth ... how such appendants grew to the hind-part

l. 22. sn

23. presentl

is Robin's traditional laugh. Cf.

bolt, sift, pass

en. Cf. "Hemton hamton" in Sc

ht-raven, proverbiall

led, stiffened. A dial

spools or "bottoms" on whi

f Watton Town's End. See Chap

8. bombasting, pu

name in the ordinary way, but it may be noted that the

eon in fa

at care I how fair she be? This is

wasting i

se a woma

l's Popular

The Spanish Pavin. (Pavin = Pav

ne of The Jovial Tinker. S

"ax" was in use till the end of the six

om. See Chappell, op. cit., 458; bu

of Thomas of

tte

Dr. J.A.H. Murray's parallel texts (see note on p. 46) have been consulted, but mainly I have followed the oldest of them-that of the

1. endr

. meaned

ded. The woodwale is

? wriggle and twist, i.e. in

17. See

wilk,

lace in early poetry, as the mate

crapotee,

overbegon

poitrail, breast-leathe

arè = orferrie,

38. rach

39. hals

40. flan

See pp. 46

5. But-if

the circumstances concerning the Eildon tree

9. rathel

. fee, bea

1. sekerl

79. ware

86. byrd

89. stea

8. dulefu

gone = go (ol

Earth, the middle region i

mas is here addr

eteach, entrus

14. dernè

7. mounten

21. herbe

6. bigging

apejoys, popin

e danger of eating fa

37. hight

hight (MS. hy

143. pay

5 et sqq.

ir, pronounced

ise, brushwood

en and tray, pa

me were lever

r that, ere th

175. des

ain and mood,

eeland = kneeli

189. fan

0. sawtery

. ribib, re

91. ganga

6. store,

tened = brittled,

ary change to the first person is f

buse-it behoves

3. cheer,

tt's introduction to the ballad of The Young Ta

20. skill

To-morn, in

. hend, nob

hen = hence. Cf.

228. red

r lines of the M

buse. See n

y concerned with the prophecies, and hav

covery of

) Hemton hamton. Cf. "himpen hampen"

istopher-with-the-candlestick is another name for Jack-o'-lantern.

e usually spelled Hodeken, the German familiar fairy. C

ge Fa

first cited by E.K. Chambers in his edi

lies, m

réd, fr

Pranks of Robi

pys, I. 80; also in the Bagford); the text here given is Percy's collation (as printed in his Reliques) of

ries' F

[need]. Poetica S

airy

h Museum Catalogue attributes these initials to Edward Phillips, the nephew of John Milton. But Rimbault pointed out that this song occurs in a tract of 163

phi

and perhaps owes a little of its charm to Shakespeare's play, th

ack. This is the older meaning, wh

ces. Cf. heyd

f. "ouphs," Merry Wi

dialect term, meaning a little white pig, used

starved, i

et, Ariosto; the frantic

" See note (p. 189)

an old for

lin,

tion, which still survives, is that the seeds

ral plants, here probably moonwor

ame of an Irish pigmy sprite

iery dragon. The wor

8. bent, g

N

eus

les

hra

rich

men

onid

and Ar

opa,

eius

te,

adn

totl

King, 44

an cycl

ero

lon

Tam Lin

the Rhy

Orf

ccio,

in,

om,

n lay

E.K., 9,

acte

nd Hippol

ysander, Demetrius, H

d his com

on,

nia,

k,

10, 12-14,

rius,

nolo

na,

tchcraft, 29-30

c la

des,

us,

: see Fa

Emilia),

us, 19

aid,

in,

ice,

Queen

35, 41,

nder King

d, 35, 46

sleeping und

d's tith

hors

ns,

nt

es,

y,

er, Jo

ng, A

cz, Pr

Robin, 37-

Robin, tract

, Joh

Robert

Rev. N

ena

e's Dia

ules

mia

odam

lyta,

eaux, 35-6,

es

s IV

airies, 3

dge, P

Tale, 1

lysis

fal,

Good Wom

e, 19,

Labour'

der,

idi

n, 37, 64

Malefi

de Fra

er, Phi

servanc

t of Ve

rphose

er,

ight's Drea

cter,

mponent

imental) p

ot and inter

plot

le Fay,

Thomas,

ns,

utarch's Life o

Alfr

dia, 1

on,

ision

the Da

eo,

eus,

, 31

mon,

and Arci

dis T

ops

ault

trate,

thou

the

rch,

to,

erpi

37-4

29, 31-

airies, 36

: Thomas of Erceldo

unfal,

g) Orphe

rammat

inald, 29

, Edmun

us, 1

nean des

tion (mo

pes

ide,

bai

eus,

29, 31

rceldoune,

ani

and Cris

é Danann

lemen of

e Kinsme

che

ons, Limited, Lo