EPILOGUE. Να OW my charms are all o'er-thrown, Muft fill, or else my project fails, As you from crimes would pardon'd be (35) And my ending is Defpair,] The allufion is very well kept up in this Epilogue. And the actor here is not only applying to the audience for favour, in behalf of the Author; but Profpero fpeaks in the character of a Magician; and fo (as Mr. Warburton hinted to me) alludes to the old ftories told of the Necromancers' defpair in their daft moments, and the prayers of their friends for them. Dramatis Perfonæ. THESEUS, Duke of Athens. Lyfander, in love with Hermia, Demetrius, in love with Hermia. Philoftrate, Mafter of the Sports to the Duke. Quince, the Carpenter. Snug, the Joiner. Bottom, the Weaver. Starveling, the Taylor. Hippolita, Princefs of the Amazons, betroth'd to Thefeus. Hermia, Daughter to Egeus, in love with Lylander. Helena, in love with Demetrius. Attendants. Oberon, King of the Fairies. Titania, Queen of the Fairies. Puck, or Robin-goodfellow, a Fairy. Peafebloffom, Cobweb, Fairies. Characters in the Interlude perform'd by the Clowns. Other Fairies attending on the King and Queen. SCENE, Athens; and a Wood not far from it. Α A MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DRE A M. based en A, C T I. SCENE, the Duke's Palace in Athens. Enter Thefeus, Hippolita, Philoftrate, with Attendants. N THESE US. OW, fair Hippolita, our nuptial hour Draws on apace; four happy days bring in This old moon wanes ! fhe lingers my defires, Long withering out a young man's revenue. Hip.Four days will quickly fteep them felves in night; 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 Go, Philofirate, Stir up th' Athenian youth to merriments, The pale companion is not for our pomp. E 4 [Exit Phi. Hippolita, |