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- Scene V] Notes 20 1
such as Merlin's, and others of his stamp, holding place in popular
superstition, who were believed to have been born without father "
(Clarke). Cf. 2 Hen. IV. iv. 4. 122: "Unfather'd heirs, and
loathly births of nature." Warburton asks " Why orphan heirs ?
Destiny, to whom they succeeded, was in being." White replies :
"The fairies, however, were not Destiny's heirs or children, but
the inheritors of a fixed destiny. Freed from human vicissitudes
and deprived of human aspirations, a fixed destiny was the estate to
which they were heirs, not the being to whom they succeeded."
Either this explanation or Clarke's (which is perhaps to be pre-
ferred, on account of the parallel passage in 2 Hen. IV.) amply
justifies the retention of the folio reading, which others than
Warburton have questioned.
42. Quality. Profession; as in Hen. V. iii. 6. 146: "What is
thy name ? I know thy quality," etc.
43. Hobgoblin. The Puck of the M. N. D. Cf. that play, ii. i.
40: "Those that Hobgoblin call you or sweet Puck," etc. Oyes —
oyez (hear), the beginning of the crier's proclamation, used at the
opening of courts, etc.
44. Toys ! Trifles. Cf. M. N. D. v. i. 3, A. Y. L. iii. 3. 77,
W. T. iii. 3. 39, etc.
46. Unrak'd. That is, not properly raked up, or put in order
for the night.
47. Bilberry. The whortleberry ; mentioned by S. only here.
48. On the fairy hatred of sluttery, cf. M. N. D.s. I. 396 : —
" I am sent with broom before
To sweep the dust behind the door "
(that is, where the careless maids neglect to sweep). Cf. also
Browne, Brit. Pastorals : —
" where oft the fairy queen
At twilight sat and did command her elves
To pinch those maids that had not swept their shelves ; "
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