Abstract

Lovers and madmen have such seething brains, Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend More than cool reason ever comprehends. ... The poet's eye, in a fine frenzy rolling, Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven; And as imagination bodies forth The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen Turns them to shapes, and gives to airy nothing A local habitation and a name. Such tricks hath strong imnagination That, if it would but apprehend some joy, It comprehe7nds some bringer of that joy.... (Midsummer Night's Dream V, i, 4-20)