QUOTES FROM THE BARD

PLAY: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
ACT/SCENE: 5.1
SPEAKER: Puck
CONTEXT:
PUCK
Now the hungry lion roars
And the wolf behowls the moon,
Whilst the heavy ploughman snores,
All with weary task fordone.
Now the wasted brands do glow,
Whilst the screech-owl, screeching loud,
Puts the wretch that lies in woe
In remembrance of a shroud.
Now it is the time of night
That the graves all gaping wide,
Every one lets forth his sprite,
In the churchway paths to glide.
And we fairies, that do run
By the triple Hecate’s team
From the presence of the sun,
Following darkness like a dream,
Now are frolic. Not a mouse
Shall disturb this hallowed house.
I am sent with broom before
To sweep the dust behind the door.

DUTCH:
Niet een muis
Store dit gewijde huis;
‘k Veeg het met den bezem schoon,
Dat geen smetjen zich vertoon’!

MORE:
Proverb: The dog (wolf) barks in vain at the moon

Triple Hecate=Greek goddess of moon and light with the realms of heaven, hell and earth. Sometimes with three faces
Behowls=Howls at
Fordone=Exhausted
Wasted brands=Burned logs
Frolic=Merry
Broom=One of Puck’s emblems as he was said to help good housekeepers
Compleat:
Fore-do=Benaadeelen
Howl=Huylen, gieren
Wasted=Verwoest, verquist, verteerd
Brand=Brand-hout
Frolick=Vrolyk

Topics: proverbs and idioms, nature, preparation