And suddenly unties the poke, Which out of it sent such a smoke, As ready was them all to choke, So grievous was the pother; So that the knights each other lost, And stood as still as any post; Tom Thumb nor Tomalin could boast Themselves of any other. But when the mist 'gan somewhat cease Proserpina commandeth peace; And that a while they should release Each other of their peril; "Which here," quoth she, "I do proclaim To all in dreadful Pluto's name, That as ye will eschew his blame, You let me hear the quarrel: "But here yourselves you must engage (Somewhat to cool your spleenish rage. Your grievous thirst and to assuage) That first you drink this liquor, Which shall your understanding clear, As plainly shall to you appear; Those things from me that you shall hear, Conceiving much the quicker." This Lethe water, you must know, The memory destroyeth so, That of our weal, or of our woe, Is all remembrance blotted; Of it nor can you ever think; For they no sooner took this drink, But naught into their brains could sink Of what had them besotted. King Oberon forgotten had That he for jealousy ran mad, But of his Queen was wondrous glad, And asked how they came thither: Pigwiggen likewise doth forget That he Queen Mab had ever met, Or that they were so hard beset, When they were found together. Nor neither of them both had thought That e'er they had each other sought, Much less that they a combat fought, But such a dream were loathing: Tom Thumb had got a little sup, And Tomalin scarce kissed the cup, Yet had their brains so sure locked up, That they remembered nothing. Queen Mab and her light maids, the while, Amongst themselves do closely smile, To see the King caught with this wile, With one another jesting: And to the Fairy Court they went With mickle joy and merriment, Which thing was done with good intent: And thus I left them feasting. * * * * * NOTES ON TEXTS _The Legend of Pyramus and Thisbe._ See p. 31. [1] P. 73, l. 12. _let_, hinder, prevent. [2] P. 74, l. 18. _vouching safe_, vouchsafing. [3] P. 75, l. 4. _parget_, plaster, roughcast. [4] P. 78, l. 10. _stound_, position. [5] P. 79, l. 1. _meint_, mixed. [6] P. 79, l. 19. _belyve_, immediately. [7] P. 80, l. 5. _sicker_, sure, certain. [8] P. 80, l. 11. _bespect_, speckled. * * * * _Robin Good-fellow._