Are you not he
That frights the maidens of the villagery,
Skim milk, and sometimes labour in the quern,
And bootless make the breathless housewife churn,
And sometime make the drink to bear no barm,
Mislead night-wanderers, laughing at their harm?
Those that Hobgoblin call you and sweet Puck,
You do their work, and they shall have good luck:
Are not you he?
– William Shakespeare
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 2, Scene 1. The fairy recognizes the infamous Puck as the spirit that continually uses his supernatural powers to cause trouble. He is well known for playing pranks on unsuspecting villagers. He skims the fat off milk, inteferes with the butter churning, stops the beer from frothing and leads people astray at night. The fairy is not criticizing Puck, but is speaking in awe as a fan who admires Puck’s mischievousness.