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All Site ContentMidsummer Night's DreamAct 4Scene 1
Back to the Play
"after the night's shade"
Cultural Context
Act 4,
Scene 1
Lines 93-98

An explanation of the fairies traveling at night in Act 4, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Robin

Fairy King, attend and mark.
I do hear the morning lark.

Oberon

Then, my queen, in silence sad
Trip we after the night's shade.
We the globe can compass soon,
Swifter than the wand’ring moon.

According to tradition, fairies prefer the nighttime over the day, and since Oberon and Titania can fly faster than the earth turns, they’re able always to be where it's dark.