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All Site ContentMidsummer Night's DreamAct 3Scene 2
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“night’s swift dragons” and “Aurora’s harbinger”
Imagery
Act 3,
Scene 2
Lines 376-383

An explanation of the mythological imagery in Act 3, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 

Oberon

I'll to my queen and beg her Indian boy,
And then I will her charmèd eye release
From monster's view, and all things shall be peace.

Robin (Puck)

My fairy lord, this must be done with haste,
For night's swift dragons cut the clouds full fast,
And yonder shines Aurora's harbinger,
At whose approach ghosts, wandering here and there,
Troop home to churchyards. Damnèd spirits all,

The moon goddess Diana is fast completing her transit across the night sky in her chariot drawn by a team of dragons, while in the east faint rays of light are messengers signaling the arrival of Aurora, the goddess of dawn.

The Gates of Dawn, Herbert James Draper, c. 1900