_"Now the hungry lion roars, And the wolf beholds the moon. Whilst the heavy ploughman snores All with weary task foredone; And we fairies, that do run By the triple of Hecate's team, From the presence of the sun Following darkness like a dream."_ Oberon orders: _"Through this house give glimmering light, By the dead and drowsy fire; Every elf and fairy sprite Hop as light as bird from brier; And his ditty, after me, Sing and dance it trippingly."_ Titania speaks: _"First rehearse this song by rote; To each word a warbling note, Hand in hand with fairy grace Will we sing and bless this place."_ Then all the fairies, joining hands at the command of Oberon, dance and sing: _"Every fairy take his gait, And each several chamber bless; Through this palace with sweet peace, All shall here in safety rest And the owner of it blest, Trip away, make no stay; Meet me all by break of day!"_ Then mischievous little Puck flies to the front, makes his final bow and speech, concluding the play of "Midsummer Night's Dream": _"If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended-- That you have but slumbered here, While these visions did appear; And this weak and idle theme No more yielding but a dream; Gentles, do not reprehend; If you pardon we will mend. And, as I am honest Puck, If we have unearned luck, How to escape the serpent's tongue, We will make amends ere long; Else the Puck a liar call, So good night unto you all, Give me your hands if we be friends, And Robin shall restore amends!"_ Unanimous cheers rang through Windsor forest at the conclusion of this mystic play, and Queen Elizabeth called up Theseus (William), Hippolyta, Oberon, Titania and Puck, presenting to each a five-carat solitaire diamond--a slight token of Her Majesty's appreciation of dramatic genius. It was after two o'clock in the morning when a thousand sky rockets filled the heavens with variegated colors, indicating for fifty miles around, that "Midsummer Night's Dream" had been successfully launched on the ocean of dramatic imagination! CHAPTER XV. THE JEW. SHYLOCK. "MERCHANT OF VENICE." _"O, it is excellent To have a giant's strength, but it is tyrannous To use it like a giant."_ _"Had I power, I should Pour the sweet milk of concord into hell, Uproar the universal peace, confound All Unity on earth."_ In my peregrinations and bohemian investigations I have met on several occasions, and in strange lands, Mr. Ahasuerus, the Jerusalem shoemaker, who is reported to have jeered and scoffed at Christ as he passed his shop, bearing the heavy cross up the rugged heights of Calvary.