times repelled, and understanding their words that called him ass, considering that he could speak never a word, and yet could understand every body; he thought that he was bewitched by the woman, at whose house he was. And therefore, when by no means he could get into the boat, but was driven to tarry and see her departure, being also beaten from place to place as an ass, he remembered the witch's words, and the words of his own fellows that called him ass, and returned to the witch's house, in whose service he remained by the space of three years, doing nothing with his hands all that while, but carried such burdens as she laid on his back; having only this comfort, that although he were reputed an ass among strangers and beasts, yet that both this witch, and all other witches knew him to be a man. After three years were passed over, in a morning betimes he went to town before his dame, who upon some occasion (of like to make water) stayed a little behind. In the mean time being near to a church, he heard a little sacring bell ring to the elevation of a morrow mass, and not daring to go into the church, lest he should have been beaten and driven out with cudgels, in great devotion he fell down in the churchyard upon the knees of his hinder legs, and did lift his forefeet over his head, as the priest doth hold the sacrament at the elevation. Which prodigious sight when certain merchants of Genoa espied and with wonder beheld, anon cometh the witch with a cudgel in her hand, beating forth the ass. And because (as it hath been said) such kinds of witchcrafts are very usual in those parts, the merchants aforesaid made such means, as both the ass and the witch were attached by the judge. And she being examined and set upon the rack, confessed the whole matter, and promised, that if she might have liberty to go home, she would restore him to his old shape: and being dismissed, she did accordingly. So as notwithstanding, they apprehended again, and burned her: and the young man returned into his country with a joyful and merry heart. REGINALD SCOT, The Discoverie of Witchcraft 1584 §4. Fairy-land But we are spirits of another sort. A Midsummer Night's Dream, III. ii. 388 Either I mistake your shape and making quite [The little book from which the following extracts are taken, has been described as the most valuable and important contemporary illustration of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Though the first edition extant is dated 1628, it was probably written far earlier, and Shakespeare's masterpiece may owe something to it.] How King Oberon called Robin Good-fellow to dance King Oberon, seeing Robin Good-fellow do so many honest and merry tricks, called him one night out of his bed with these words, saying: Robin, my son, come quickly rise: First stretch, then yawn, and rub your eyes; To see, and taste of my delight. Quickly come, my wanton son; "Twere time our sports were now begun. Robin, hearing this, rose and went to him. There were with King Oberon a many fairies, all attired in green silk: all these, with King Oberon, did welcome Robin Good-fellow into their company. Oberon took Robin by the hand and led him a dance. Their musician was little Tom Thumb, for he had an excellent bag-pipe made of a wren's quill and the skin of a Greenland louse. This pipe was so shrill, and so sweet, that a Scottish pipe, compared to it, it would no more come near it, than a Jew's-trump doth to an Irish harp. After they had danced, King Oberon spake to his son, Robin Good-fellow, in this manner: Whene'er thou hear my piper blow, Where thou shalt see what no man knows: So marched they in good manner, with their piper before, to the Fairy Land: there did King Oberon shew Robin Good-fellow many secrets, which he never did open to the world. How the fairies called Robin Good-fellow to dance with them, and how they shewed to him their several conditions Come unto these yellow sands, And then take hands: Curtsied when you have, and kiss'd,— The wild waves whist, Foot it featly here and there; And, sweet sprites, the burden bear. The Tempest, 1. ii. 375-380 Robin Good-fellow, being walking one night, heard the excellent music of Tom Thumb's brave bag-pipe: he, remembering the sound, according to the command of King Oberon went toward them. They, for joy that he was come, did circle him in, and in a ring did dance round about him. Robin Good-fellow, seeing their love to him, danced in the midst of them, and sung them this song to the tune of To him Bun. Round about, little ones, quick, quick and nimble, Pinch and Patch, Gull and Grim, For you can change your shapes Sib and Tib, Lick and Lull, The moon shines fair and bright, Upon their pillows: The bats abroad likewise, And the night raven, Now the mice peep abroad, Make a ring on the grass With your quick measures: Thus danced they a good space. At last they left and sat down upon the grass, and to requite Robin Good-fellow's kindness, they promised to tell to him all the exploits that they were accustomed to do: Robin thanked them and listened to them, and one begun to tell his tricks in this manner. The tricks of the fairy called Pinch Pinch him, fairies, mutually; Pinch him for his villany; Pinch him, and burn him and turn him about, The Merry Wives of Windsor, v. V. 105-108 I am sent with broom before, To sweep the dust behind the door. A Midsummer Night's Dream, v. ii. 19—20 After that we have danced in this manner as you have beheld, I, that am called Pinch, do go about from house to house. Sometimes I find the doors of the house open. That negligent servant that left them so, I do so nip him or her, that with my pinches their bodies are as many colours as a mackerel's back. Then take I them, and lay them in the door, naked or unnaked I care not whether: there they lie, many times till broad day, ere they waken; and many times, against their wills, they shew some parts about them, that they would not have openly seen. Sometimes I find a slut sleeping in the chimney corner, when she should be washing of her dishes, or doing something else which she hath left undone: her I pinch about the arms, for not laying her arms to her labour. Some I find in their bed snorting and sleeping, and their houses lying as clean as a nasty dog's kennel; in one corner bones, in another egg-shells, behind the door a heap of dust, the dishes under feet, and the cat in the cupboard: all these sluttish tricks I do reward with blue legs, and blue arms. I find some slovens too, as well as sluts : they pay for their beastliness too, as well as the women-kind; for if they uncase a sloven and not untie their points, I so pay their arms that they cannot sometimes untie them, if they would. Those that leave foul shoes, or go into their beds with their stockings on, I use them as I did the former, and never leave them till they have left their beastliness. But to the good I do no harm, But cover them, and keep them warm: And make them in their beds to wince. This is my practice, and my trade. Many have I cleanly made. |