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All Site ContentMidsummer Night's DreamAct 5Scene 1
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"garter"
Proverb
Act 5,
Scene 1
Lines 347-361

An explanation of Theseus’ reference to a “garter” in Act 5, Scnee 1 of myShakespeare’s  A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Theseus

No epilogue, I pray you; for your play needs no
excuse. Never excuse, for when the players are all dead
there needs none to be blamed. Marry, if he that writ it
had played Pyramus and hanged himself in Thisbe's
garter, it would have been a fine tragedy; and so it is,
truly and very notably discharged. But come, your
bergamask. Let your epilogue alone.
[Bottom and Flute dance a bergamask, then exit]
The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve.
Lovers, to bed; 'tis almost fairy time.
I fear we shall outsleep the coming morn
As much as we this night have overwatched.
This palpable-gross play hath well beguiled
The heavy gait of night. Sweet friends, to bed.
A fortnight hold we this solemnity
In nightly revels and new jollity.

A garter, or garter belt, is a band which holds up a stocking (including men’s stockings back then). In Shakespeare’s day, the phrase "he hung himself in his own garters" was similar to our "he tied his own noose."