SONG," AND DANCE,
Ob. Now, until the break 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 nature's hand
Shall not their issue stand;
Never mole, bare-lip, nor scar,
Nor mark prodigious, such as are
Despised in nativity,
Shall upon their children be.-
With this field-dew consecrate,
Every fairy take his gait :6
And each several chamber bless,"
Through this palace with sweet peace :
E’er shall it in safety rest,
And the owner of it blest.

[3] I am afraid this song is gone after many other things of greater value. The truth is that two songs are lost. The series of the scene is this ; after the speech of Puck, Oberon enters, and calls bis fairies to a song, which song is apparently wantiog in all the copies. Next Titania leads another song, which is indeed lost like the former, though the editors have endeavoured to find it. Then Oberon dismisses his fairies to the despatch of the ceremonies.

The songs, I suppose were lost, because they were not inserted in the players' parts, from which the drama was printed. JOHNSON.

[4] This defect in children seems to have been so much dreaded, that numerous were the charms applied for its prevention. The following might be as efficacious as any of the rest. “If a woman with chylde have her smocke slyt at the deather ende or skyrt tbereof, kc. the same chylde that she then goeth withall, shall be safe from having a cloven or hare lippe." Thomas Lupton's Fourth Book of Notable Thinges, 4to. bl. ). STEEVENS.

[5] Prodigious has here its primitive signification of portentous. STEEVENS. (6) i e. take his way, or direct bis sleps. STEEVENS. Gait, for a path or road, is commonly used at present in the northern counties.

HARRIS. [7] The same superstitious kind of benediction occurs in Chaucer's Miller's Falé, v. 3479, Tyrwhitt's edition :

“I crouche thee from elves, and from wightes.
“ Therwith the night spel said he anon rightes
* On four halves of tbe hous aboute,
" And on the threswold of the dore withoute.
* Jesu Crist, and Seint Benedight,
" Blisse this hous from every wicked wight,
“ Fro tbe nightes mare, the wite Paternoster," &c. STEEVENS.

Trip away;

Make no stay ;
Meet me all by break of day.

[Exe. OBER. TITA. and Train.

Puck. If we shadows have offended,

Think but this, (and all is mended)
That
you

have but slumber'd here,
While these visions did

appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend;
If you pardon, we will mend.
And as I'm an honest Puck,
If we have unearned lucks
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.

[Exit.

[8] i. e. if we have better fortune than we have deserved. STEEVENS.
191 That is, if we be dismissed without hisses. JOHNSON.
11) That is, Clap your hands. Give us your applause. JOHNSON.