Note 386:1 — OF SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS.
Reading edition
If "the rite of May" (act iv, sc. 1) is to be strictly limited to May-Day, the title of a "Midsummer Night's Dream" does not apply. The difficulty can only be met by supposing the scene to be laid at any night in May, even in the last night, which would coincide with our 12th of June.