Shakspeare and His Times [Vol. 2 of 2] Including the Biography of the Poet; criticisms on his genius and writings; a new chronology of his plays; a disquisition on the on the object of his sonnets; and a history of the manners, customs, and amusements, superstitions, poetry, and elegant literature of his age

Act v. scene 5., i. 82. ii. 340. 341. 343. 347.

Chapter 46197 wordsPublic domain

_Metrical Romances_, origin of, i. 522, 523.

_Michael_ (St.) _and All Angels_, festival of, i. 334. Superstitious doctrine of the ministry of angels, 334-340. Michaelmas-geese, 340, 341.

_Middleton_ (Christopher), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 693.

_Middleton_ (Thomas), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 693. Wrote several pieces for the stage, in conjunction with other dramatic poets, ii. 565. Estimate of his merits as a dramatist, 565, 566. Illustrations of his "Fair Quarrel," i. 224. And "No Wit, No Help like a Woman's," i. 226.

_Midsummer-Eve_, superstitious observances on, i. 328. Midsummer-Eve fire, of Pagan origin, _ibid._ 329. Fern-seed only visible on that eve, 329. Spirits visible of persons, who are to die in the following year, 330, 331. Recent observance of Midsummer-Eve in Cornwall, 331. Visionary appearance of future husbands and wives supposed to take place on this Eve, 332, 333. Plays and masques performed then, 333, 334.

_Midsummer-Night's Dream_, composed for Midsummer-Eve, i. 333, 334. Its probable date, ii. 298, 299. One of Shakspeare's earlier pieces, 299. Critical remarks on some of its characters, 300-302. And on the fairy mythology of this play, 302. 337-355. (_See also the article "Fairies," in this Index._)

_Passages of this drama illustrated in this work._