After a prologue begins "Actus Primus and ultimus"; there are only five
scenes in all, and the whole is quite short. The characters consist of
Iphidius, father of Pyramus; Labetrus, father of Thisbe; their children,
the protagonists; their respective servants, Straton and Clitipho; and
Casina, "ancilla" or handmaid to Thisbe. There is also "a raging liones
from ye woods." The moral of the play, as stated by Iphidius, is that

"the erraticall motions in children's actions
Must to a regular form by parents be reduc'd."

These lines, and others in the play, would gain by being "reduc'd to a
regular form."

* * * * *

§ 3. THE FAIRY PLOT

Siècles charmants de féerie,
Vous avez pour moi mille attraits,
Que de fois dans le rêverie,
Mon coeur vous donne de regrets.
Tout ne fut alors que mensonge aimable;
Tout n'est plus que réalité;
Rien n'est si jolie que la fable,
Si triste que la verité!

* * * *

III