[v. 1. 390]–411. This speech, which in the Folios is made ‘The Song,’ was restored by Johnson to Oberon, following the Quartos. He adds, ‘But where then is the song?—I am afraid it 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 his fairies to a song, which song is apparently wanting 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.’
Note XIII.
[v. 1. 408], 409. The difficulty in these two lines is at once removed by transposing them, as was suggested by C. R. W. a correspondent in the Illustrated London News. Mr Staunton was at one time inclined to think that ‘Ever shall’ was a corruption of ‘Every hall,’ but he now adheres to the solution above given. Malone incorrectly attributes to Pope the reading which he himself adopts, ‘E’er shall it in safety rest,’ Pope’s reading being ‘Ever shall in safety rest’ as in Rowe’s second edition.
Linenotes-A Midsummer Night’s Dream
A Midsummer-Night’s Dream, I, 1.
[ Sc. i. Enter...] Enter Theseus, Hippolita, with others. Qq Ff.
[ 4]: wanes] waues Q1.
[ 6]: withering out] wintering on Warburton. lithering out Becket conj.
[ 7]: night] Q1. nights Q2 Ff.
[ 8]: nights] Q1 Ff. daies Q2.