Miko: annotations

in this matter

Control, situate. At that time the phrase did not mean to throw something away.

The source texts do not actually have an explicit stage direction here.

The Folios and Quartos have this word as “Now”. Some modern editions keep the word as “Now”, others change it to “New”.

prolongs

The Folios have a slightly different wording for this stage direction: “Enter Pease‑blossome, Cobweb, Moth, Mustard‑ seede, and foure Fairies”. Editors have assumed that the “and” wasn't intended and that there are only four fairies.

Bottom may be attempting to say “merci”, the French word for “thank you”.

Most modern editions separate this line into several lines, assigning each to different fairies. However, the Folios and the First Quarto only have one line assigned to “Fai.” or “Fairies.”

The First Folio spells this word “maruailous”, the Second Folio “marvailous”. The First Quarto spells it “maruailes”. Modern editions make various choices about this word, choosing “marvels”, “marvail's”, or “marvelous”.

over eating