OBERON With this field-dew consecrate,
Every fairy take his gate
And each several chamber bless
Through this palace with sweet peace;
And the owner of it blest
Ever shall in safety rest.
Trip away, make no stay.
Meet me all, by break of day. (Exeunt [all but PUCK.]) (5.1.405-412)
The final blessing of this house is ancient—residually Catholic (a marriage bed would be sprinkled with holy water)—but also pure fairy: with this field-dew consecrate, these blessed, sacred dew-drops, sparkling, scattering; sequins and glitter for everyone!—every fairy take his gate—everyone follow a different route—and each several chamber bless through this palace with sweet peace. (It can be imagined as a blessing of the theatre and its audience too.) We need to cover the whole house, bless every room with our fairy magic, our sacred dew; you all know the plan: ready? And the owner of it blest ever shall in safety rest. Theseus in particular, he’ll be kept safe; I’ll see to that. (A little doubling nod again?) Trip away—do your fairy thing! light, airy, speedy, otherworldly in your movement—make no stay; no delay. Meet me all, by break of day. We’ve got to be done by sunrise, when we’ll rendezvous again.
And now only Puck is left. Nearly there.
