[iv. 1. 8], &c. We have retained throughout this scene the spelling of the old copies ‘Mounsieur,’ as representing a pronunciation more appropriate to Bottom, like ‘Cavalery’ a few lines lower down. We are aware, however, that the word was generally so spelt.
Note VIII.
[v. 1.] In the Folios the stage direction is ‘Enter Theseus, Hippolita, Egeus and his Lords,’ and the speeches which properly belong to Philostrate as master of the revels are assigned to Egeus, with the exception of that beginning ‘No, my noble lord, &c.’ In line 38 the Quartos correctly read ‘Philostrate’ where the Folios have ‘Egeus.’ The confusion may have arisen, as Mr Grant White suggests, from the two parts having been originally played by the same actor.
Note IX.
[v. 1. 44]–60. We have followed the Quartos in assigning this speech to Theseus alone. In the Folios Lysander is represented as reading the ‘brief’ and Theseus as commenting upon it. Theobald first restored the arrangement of the Quartos.
Note X.
[v. 1. 125.] The stage direction of the Folios is ‘Tawyer with a trumpet before them,’ Tawyer being generally understood to be the name of the trumpeter; but Mr Collier, on the strength of a note in the corrected Folio ‘Enter Presenter,’ interprets ‘Tawyer’ as the name of the actor who filled the part of Presenter and introduced the characters of the play.
Note XI.
[v. 1. 160.] In the Variorum edition of 1821 ‘lime’ is given as the reading of the Folios, and ‘lome’ of the Quartos, the fact being that F1 F2 read ‘loame,’ and F3 F4 ‘loam.’