"A Midsummer-Night's Dream (Act IV, Scene I)"

This illustration from Rackham appears to be an advanced preparatory illustration for consideration towards the published suite in the

1908 Edition of "A Midsummer-Night's Dream".

It bears similarities to the 36th colour illustration published in that Edition, but places the central characters in a more expansive environment.

Like that published illustration, it is appropriately identified with the following comment from Oberon in Act IV, Scene I of Shakespeare's

classic work:

Welcome, good Robin.

See'st thou this sweet sight?

Her dotage now I do begin to pity:

For, meeting her of late behind the wood,

Seeking sweet favours from this fateful fool,

I did upbraid her and fall out with her;

For she his hairy temples then had rounded

With a coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers;

And that same dew, which sometimes on the buds

Was wont to swell like round and orient pearls,

Stood now within the pretty flowerets' eyes

Like tears that did their own disgrace bewail.

When I had at my pleasure taunted her

And she in mild terms begg'd may patience,

I then did ask of her her changeling child;

Which straight she gave me, and her fairy sent

To bear him to my bower in fairyland.

And now I have the boy, I will undo

This fateful imperfection of her eyes:

and, gentle Puck, take this transformed scalp

From off the head of this Athenian swain;

That, he awaking when the other do,

May all to Athens back again repair

And think no more of this night's accidents

But as the fierce vexation of a dream.

But first I will release the fairy queen.

Be as thou wast wont to be;

See as thou wast wont to see:

Dian's bud o'er Cupid's flower

Hath such force and blessed power.

Now, my Titania; wake you, my sweet queen.