Miko: annotations

ranting and raving

Hercules. The role of Hercules was notorious for loud, ranting speeches.

main preference

lament

require

The First Quarto says “gallant”. The First Folio says “gallantly”.

The First Quarto reads “grow to a point”. The First, Second and Third Folios read “grow on to a point”, and the Fourth Folio reads “grow on to appoint”.

Both the First Quarto and the First Folio indent “Stand forth, Demetrius” and “Stand forth, Lysander” as if they were stage directions, not words spoken by Egeus. However, modern texts format them as part of the spoken lines. Without those words being spoken, the remaining words do not work as iambic pentameter, whereas the meter is correct with them spoken. However, some modern productions still treat those phrases as directions instead of spoken words.

Pronounced with one syllable, like “whe'er”, to fit iambic pentameter.

There is no standard “eight and eight” meter. It may be that Bottom, who always wants things bigger and better, feels like “eight and eight” is better because it has more syllables.