listening to the musical murmurings of fantastic fairies and echoing hounds
in forest glens.

Theseus was the first and greatest Grecian in strength of body, second only
to his cousin Hercules, each reveling in the god-like antics of seduction,
incest, rape, robbery and murder!

The Persian, Egyptian, Grecian and Roman gods commingled with the heroes
and heroines of mankind and committed unheard of crimes with impunity, the
most outrageous villain seeming to be honored as the greatest god!

The amphitheater grove in front of Windsor Castle, overlooking the Thames,
was the place selected for the exhibition of the "Dream." Natural circular
terraces for the spectators.

The Virgin Queen had sent out five thousand invitations to her wealthy and
intellectual subjects to attend the new and romantic play of Shakspere,
"Midsummer Night's Dream," on the 4th of July, 1599.

Everything had been prepared in the way of natural and artificial scenery
by the direction of William, while the Queen sat on a sylvan throne,
embowered in vines and roses, surrounded by all her courtiers, ladies and
lords, in grand, golden array.

The night was calm, bright and warm, while the young moon and twinkling
stars, shining over Windsor, lent a celestial radiance to the scene, where
lovers and fairies mingled in the meshes of affection. Candles, torches,
chimes, lanterns and stationary fire balloons were interspersed through the
royal domain in brilliant profusion.

Essex and Southampton were, unfortunately, absent in Ireland putting down a
rebellion.

William took the part of Theseus, Field played Hippolyta, Burbage played
Puck, Heminge represented Lysander, and Condell Demetrius, while Phillips
and Cooke played respectively Hermia and Helen, Jo Taylor played Oberon and
Robert Benfield acted Titania, the fairy queen.

The characters Pyramus and Thisbe were played by Peele and Crosse.

The play opens with a grand scene in the palace of Theseus, who thus
addresses the Amazonian Queen Hippolyta:

_"Now, fair Hippolyta, our mutual hour
Draws on apace, four happy days bring in,
Another moon; but, O, methinks, how slow
This old moon wanes! She lingers my desires,
Like to a step-dame, or a dowager,
Long withering out a young man's revenue!"_

Hippolyta:

_"Four days will quickly steep themselves in nights;
And then, the moon shall behold the night
Of our solemnities."_

Egeus, a wealthy Athenian comp