[13] This opening, derived from Statius (see note, p. 13), serves merely to
introduce the main story, much in the same way as the Theseus story in _A
Midsummer-Night's Dream_ is simply the "enveloping action" of the play.

[14] W.W. Greg's edition, i 19-20, ii. 168. Henslowe's dates for the
performances are 17 September, 16 and 27 October, and November, 1594.
Against the first entry are the much-discussed letters "ne," which appear
to mark a new play. It will be seen that according to the theory that _A
Midsummer-Night's Dream_ belongs to the winter of 1594-5, this Palamon and
Arcite play was performed immediately before.

[15] Professor Gollancz considers that Shakespeare had no hand in the play.

[16] Cf. I. i. 167 and IV. i. 129-30.

[17] It is perhaps fantastic to interpret too literally Arcite's song to
May--"I hope that I som grene gete may"--but, however little of their
primitive significance now remains, celebration of the rites of May is by
no means extinct. See E.K. Chambers, _The Mediaeval Stage_, I. 117: "their
object is to secure the beneficent influence of the fertilization spirit by
bringing the persons or places to be benefited into direct contact with the
physical embodiment of that spirit."

Shakespeare's apparent confusion of a May-day with a Mid-summer-night may
seem pardonable to the folk-lorist in the light of the fact that various
folk-festivals appear to take place indiscriminately on May-day or
Midsummer-day. See Chambers, _op. cit._ i. 114, 118, 126.

[18] Cf. III. ii. 331 and 401, _etc_.