Enter Oberon and Titania, with their Train. Obe. Through this house give glimmering light, By the dead and drowsy fire: Every elf, and fairy sprite, Hop as light as bird from brier; And this ditty, after me, Sing and dance it trippingly. Tita. First rehearse this song by rote: SONG, AND DANCE. Obe. Now, until the break of day, And the blots of nature's hand Never mole, hare-lip, nor scar, Shall upon their children be.- With this field-dew consecrate, Every fairy take his gait;2 And each several chamber bless, Through this palace with sweet peace : And the owner of it blest. Trip away; Meet me all by break of day. [Exeunt Oberon, Titania, and Tr Puck. If we shadows have offended, Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue, So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends, [E Wild and fantastical as this play is, all the pa in their various modes are well written, and g the kind of pleasure which the author design Fairies in his time were much in fashion; comm tradition had made them familiar, and Spenc poem had made them great. JOHNSO PERSONS REPRESENTED. Ferdinand, king of Navarre. Biron, Longaville, lords, attending on the king. Boyet, lords, attending on the princess France. Don Adriano de Armado, a fantastical Spania Holofernes, a schoolmaster. Costard, a clown. Moth, page to Armado. A Forester. Princess of France. Rosaline, Maria, Katharine, ladies, attending on the princess. Jaquenetta, a country wench. Officers and others, attendants on the king a princess. Scene, Navarre. LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST. ACT I. SCENE I-Navarre. A park, with a palace Enter the King, Biron, Longaville, and in it. Dumain. LET King. fame, that all hunt after in their lives, Live register'd upon our brazen tombs, And then grace us in the disgrace of death; When, spite of cormorant devouring time, The endeavour of this present breath may buy That honour, which shall bate his scythe's keen edge, And make us heirs of all eternity. Therefore, brave conquerors!-for so you are, Your oaths are past, and now subscribe your names; If you are arm'd to do, as sworn to do, Subscribe to your deep oath, and keep it too. |