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of a youthful and lively imagination, the many ſcenes that it contains of almoſt continual rhyme[1], the poverty of the fale, and want of diſcrimination among the higher perſonages, diſpoſe me to believe that it was one of our author’s earlieſt attempts in comedy.
It ſeems to have been written, while the ridiculous competitions, prevalent among the hiſtrionick tribe, were ſtrongly impreſſed by novelty on his mind. He would naturally copy thoſe manners firſt, with which he was firſt acquainted. The ambition of a theatrical candidate for applauſe he has happily ridiculed in Bottom the weaver. But among the more dignified perſons of the drama we look in vain for any traits of character. The manners of Hippolita, the Amazon, are undiſtinguiſhed from thoſe of other females. Theſeus, the aſſociate of Hercules, is not engaged in any adventure, worthy of his rank or reputation, nor is he in reality an agent throughout the play. Like K. Henry VIII. he goes out a Maying. He meets the lovers in perplexity, and makes no effort to promote their happineſs; but when ſupernatural accidents have reconciled them, he joins their company, and concludes his day’s entertainment by uttering ſome miſerable puns at an interlude repreſented by a troop of clowns. Over the fairy part of the drama he cannot be ſuppoſed to have any influence. This part of the fable, indeed, (at leaſt as much of it as relates to the quarrels of Oberon and Titania) was not of our author’s invention[2].—Through the
- ↑ Ante p. 282.
- ↑ The learned editor of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, printed in 1775, obſerves in his introductory diſcourſe (vol. IV. p. 161.) that Pluto and Proſerpine in the Merchant’s Tale, appear to have been “ the true progenitors of Shakſpeare’s Oberon and Titania.” In a tract already quoted, Greene’s Groatſworth of Witte, 1592, a player is introduced, who boaſts of having performed the part of the King of Fairies with applauſe. Greene himſelf wrote a play, entitled The Scottiſhe Story of James the Fourthe, ſaine at Floddon, intermixed with a pleaſant Comedie preſented by Oberon King of the Fairies; which was entered at Stationers’ hall in 1S94, and printed in 1599. Shakſpeare, however, does not appear to have been indebted to this piece. The plan of it is ſhortly this. Bohan, a Scot, in conſequence of being diſguſted with the world, having retired to a tomb where he has fixed his dwelling, is met by Aſter Oberon, king of the fairies, who entertains him with an antick or dance by his ſubjects. Theſe two perſonages, after ſome
