1<?xml version="1.0"?> 2<!DOCTYPE PLAY SYSTEM "play.dtd"> 3 4<PLAY> 5<TITLE>A Midsummer Night's Dream</TITLE> 6 7<FM> 8<P>Text placed in the public domain by Moby Lexical Tools, 1992.</P> 9<P>SGML markup by Jon Bosak, 1992-1994.</P> 10<P>XML version by Jon Bosak, 1996-1998.</P> 11<P>This work may be freely copied and distributed worldwide.</P> 12</FM> 13 14 15<PERSONAE> 16<TITLE>Dramatis Personae</TITLE> 17 18<PERSONA>THESEUS, Duke of Athens.</PERSONA> 19<PERSONA>EGEUS, father to Hermia.</PERSONA> 20 21<PGROUP> 22<PERSONA>LYSANDER</PERSONA> 23<PERSONA>DEMETRIUS</PERSONA> 24<GRPDESCR>in love with Hermia.</GRPDESCR> 25</PGROUP> 26 27<PERSONA>PHILOSTRATE, master of the revels to Theseus.</PERSONA> 28<PERSONA>QUINCE, a carpenter.</PERSONA> 29<PERSONA>SNUG, a joiner.</PERSONA> 30<PERSONA>BOTTOM, a weaver.</PERSONA> 31<PERSONA>FLUTE, a bellows-mender.</PERSONA> 32<PERSONA>SNOUT, a tinker.</PERSONA> 33<PERSONA>STARVELING, a tailor.</PERSONA> 34<PERSONA>HIPPOLYTA, queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus.</PERSONA> 35<PERSONA>HERMIA, daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander.</PERSONA> 36<PERSONA>HELENA, in love with Demetrius.</PERSONA> 37<PERSONA>OBERON, king of the fairies.</PERSONA> 38<PERSONA>TITANIA, queen of the fairies.</PERSONA> 39<PERSONA>PUCK, or Robin Goodfellow.</PERSONA> 40 41<PGROUP> 42<PERSONA>PEASEBLOSSOM</PERSONA> 43<PERSONA>COBWEB</PERSONA> 44<PERSONA>MOTH</PERSONA> 45<PERSONA>MUSTARDSEED</PERSONA> 46<GRPDESCR>fairies.</GRPDESCR> 47</PGROUP> 48 49<PERSONA>Other fairies attending their King and Queen.</PERSONA> 50<PERSONA>Attendants on Theseus and Hippolyta.</PERSONA> 51</PERSONAE> 52 53<SCNDESCR>SCENE Athens, and a wood near it.</SCNDESCR> 54 55<PLAYSUBT>A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM</PLAYSUBT> 56 57<ACT><TITLE>ACT I</TITLE> 58 59<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE I. Athens. The palace of THESEUS.</TITLE> 60<STAGEDIR>Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, and 61Attendants</STAGEDIR> 62 63<SPEECH> 64<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 65<LINE>Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour</LINE> 66<LINE>Draws on apace; four happy days bring in</LINE> 67<LINE>Another moon: but, O, methinks, how slow</LINE> 68<LINE>This old moon wanes! she lingers my desires,</LINE> 69<LINE>Like to a step-dame or a dowager</LINE> 70<LINE>Long withering out a young man revenue.</LINE> 71</SPEECH> 72 73<SPEECH> 74<SPEAKER>HIPPOLYTA</SPEAKER> 75<LINE>Four days will quickly steep themselves in night;</LINE> 76<LINE>Four nights will quickly dream away the time;</LINE> 77<LINE>And then the moon, like to a silver bow</LINE> 78<LINE>New-bent in heaven, shall behold the night</LINE> 79<LINE>Of our solemnities.</LINE> 80</SPEECH> 81 82<SPEECH> 83<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 84<LINE>Go, Philostrate,</LINE> 85<LINE>Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments;</LINE> 86<LINE>Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth;</LINE> 87<LINE>Turn melancholy forth to funerals;</LINE> 88<LINE>The pale companion is not for our pomp.</LINE> 89<STAGEDIR>Exit PHILOSTRATE</STAGEDIR> 90<LINE>Hippolyta, I woo'd thee with my sword,</LINE> 91<LINE>And won thy love, doing thee injuries;</LINE> 92<LINE>But I will wed thee in another key,</LINE> 93<LINE>With pomp, with triumph and with revelling.</LINE> 94</SPEECH> 95 96 97<STAGEDIR>Enter EGEUS, HERMIA, LYSANDER, and DEMETRIUS</STAGEDIR> 98 99<SPEECH> 100<SPEAKER>EGEUS</SPEAKER> 101<LINE>Happy be Theseus, our renowned duke!</LINE> 102</SPEECH> 103 104<SPEECH> 105<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 106<LINE>Thanks, good Egeus: what's the news with thee?</LINE> 107</SPEECH> 108 109<SPEECH> 110<SPEAKER>EGEUS</SPEAKER> 111<LINE>Full of vexation come I, with complaint</LINE> 112<LINE>Against my child, my daughter Hermia.</LINE> 113<LINE>Stand forth, Demetrius. My noble lord,</LINE> 114<LINE>This man hath my consent to marry her.</LINE> 115<LINE>Stand forth, Lysander: and my gracious duke,</LINE> 116<LINE>This man hath bewitch'd the bosom of my child;</LINE> 117<LINE>Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes,</LINE> 118<LINE>And interchanged love-tokens with my child:</LINE> 119<LINE>Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung,</LINE> 120<LINE>With feigning voice verses of feigning love,</LINE> 121<LINE>And stolen the impression of her fantasy</LINE> 122<LINE>With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gawds, conceits,</LINE> 123<LINE>Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweetmeats, messengers</LINE> 124<LINE>Of strong prevailment in unharden'd youth:</LINE> 125<LINE>With cunning hast thou filch'd my daughter's heart,</LINE> 126<LINE>Turn'd her obedience, which is due to me,</LINE> 127<LINE>To stubborn harshness: and, my gracious duke,</LINE> 128<LINE>Be it so she; will not here before your grace</LINE> 129<LINE>Consent to marry with Demetrius,</LINE> 130<LINE>I beg the ancient privilege of Athens,</LINE> 131<LINE>As she is mine, I may dispose of her:</LINE> 132<LINE>Which shall be either to this gentleman</LINE> 133<LINE>Or to her death, according to our law</LINE> 134<LINE>Immediately provided in that case.</LINE> 135</SPEECH> 136 137<SPEECH> 138<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 139<LINE>What say you, Hermia? be advised fair maid:</LINE> 140<LINE>To you your father should be as a god;</LINE> 141<LINE>One that composed your beauties, yea, and one</LINE> 142<LINE>To whom you are but as a form in wax</LINE> 143<LINE>By him imprinted and within his power</LINE> 144<LINE>To leave the figure or disfigure it.</LINE> 145<LINE>Demetrius is a worthy gentleman.</LINE> 146</SPEECH> 147 148<SPEECH> 149<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 150<LINE>So is Lysander.</LINE> 151</SPEECH> 152 153<SPEECH> 154<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 155<LINE>In himself he is;</LINE> 156<LINE>But in this kind, wanting your father's voice,</LINE> 157<LINE>The other must be held the worthier.</LINE> 158</SPEECH> 159 160<SPEECH> 161<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 162<LINE>I would my father look'd but with my eyes.</LINE> 163</SPEECH> 164 165<SPEECH> 166<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 167<LINE>Rather your eyes must with his judgment look.</LINE> 168</SPEECH> 169 170<SPEECH> 171<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 172<LINE>I do entreat your grace to pardon me.</LINE> 173<LINE>I know not by what power I am made bold,</LINE> 174<LINE>Nor how it may concern my modesty,</LINE> 175<LINE>In such a presence here to plead my thoughts;</LINE> 176<LINE>But I beseech your grace that I may know</LINE> 177<LINE>The worst that may befall me in this case,</LINE> 178<LINE>If I refuse to wed Demetrius.</LINE> 179</SPEECH> 180 181<SPEECH> 182<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 183<LINE>Either to die the death or to abjure</LINE> 184<LINE>For ever the society of men.</LINE> 185<LINE>Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires;</LINE> 186<LINE>Know of your youth, examine well your blood,</LINE> 187<LINE>Whether, if you yield not to your father's choice,</LINE> 188<LINE>You can endure the livery of a nun,</LINE> 189<LINE>For aye to be in shady cloister mew'd,</LINE> 190<LINE>To live a barren sister all your life,</LINE> 191<LINE>Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon.</LINE> 192<LINE>Thrice-blessed they that master so their blood,</LINE> 193<LINE>To undergo such maiden pilgrimage;</LINE> 194<LINE>But earthlier happy is the rose distill'd,</LINE> 195<LINE>Than that which withering on the virgin thorn</LINE> 196<LINE>Grows, lives and dies in single blessedness.</LINE> 197</SPEECH> 198 199<SPEECH> 200<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 201<LINE>So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord,</LINE> 202<LINE>Ere I will my virgin patent up</LINE> 203<LINE>Unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke</LINE> 204<LINE>My soul consents not to give sovereignty.</LINE> 205</SPEECH> 206 207<SPEECH> 208<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 209<LINE>Take time to pause; and, by the nest new moon--</LINE> 210<LINE>The sealing-day betwixt my love and me,</LINE> 211<LINE>For everlasting bond of fellowship--</LINE> 212<LINE>Upon that day either prepare to die</LINE> 213<LINE>For disobedience to your father's will,</LINE> 214<LINE>Or else to wed Demetrius, as he would;</LINE> 215<LINE>Or on Diana's altar to protest</LINE> 216<LINE>For aye austerity and single life.</LINE> 217</SPEECH> 218 219<SPEECH> 220<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 221<LINE>Relent, sweet Hermia: and, Lysander, yield</LINE> 222<LINE>Thy crazed title to my certain right.</LINE> 223</SPEECH> 224 225<SPEECH> 226<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 227<LINE>You have her father's love, Demetrius;</LINE> 228<LINE>Let me have Hermia's: do you marry him.</LINE> 229</SPEECH> 230 231<SPEECH> 232<SPEAKER>EGEUS</SPEAKER> 233<LINE>Scornful Lysander! true, he hath my love,</LINE> 234<LINE>And what is mine my love shall render him.</LINE> 235<LINE>And she is mine, and all my right of her</LINE> 236<LINE>I do estate unto Demetrius.</LINE> 237</SPEECH> 238 239<SPEECH> 240<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 241<LINE>I am, my lord, as well derived as he,</LINE> 242<LINE>As well possess'd; my love is more than his;</LINE> 243<LINE>My fortunes every way as fairly rank'd,</LINE> 244<LINE>If not with vantage, as Demetrius';</LINE> 245<LINE>And, which is more than all these boasts can be,</LINE> 246<LINE>I am beloved of beauteous Hermia:</LINE> 247<LINE>Why should not I then prosecute my right?</LINE> 248<LINE>Demetrius, I'll avouch it to his head,</LINE> 249<LINE>Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena,</LINE> 250<LINE>And won her soul; and she, sweet lady, dotes,</LINE> 251<LINE>Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry,</LINE> 252<LINE>Upon this spotted and inconstant man.</LINE> 253</SPEECH> 254 255<SPEECH> 256<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 257<LINE>I must confess that I have heard so much,</LINE> 258<LINE>And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof;</LINE> 259<LINE>But, being over-full of self-affairs,</LINE> 260<LINE>My mind did lose it. But, Demetrius, come;</LINE> 261<LINE>And come, Egeus; you shall go with me,</LINE> 262<LINE>I have some private schooling for you both.</LINE> 263<LINE>For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself</LINE> 264<LINE>To fit your fancies to your father's will;</LINE> 265<LINE>Or else the law of Athens yields you up--</LINE> 266<LINE>Which by no means we may extenuate--</LINE> 267<LINE>To death, or to a vow of single life.</LINE> 268<LINE>Come, my Hippolyta: what cheer, my love?</LINE> 269<LINE>Demetrius and Egeus, go along:</LINE> 270<LINE>I must employ you in some business</LINE> 271<LINE>Against our nuptial and confer with you</LINE> 272<LINE>Of something nearly that concerns yourselves.</LINE> 273</SPEECH> 274 275<SPEECH> 276<SPEAKER>EGEUS</SPEAKER> 277<LINE>With duty and desire we follow you.</LINE> 278</SPEECH> 279 280 281<STAGEDIR>Exeunt all but LYSANDER and HERMIA</STAGEDIR> 282 283<SPEECH> 284<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 285<LINE>How now, my love! why is your cheek so pale?</LINE> 286<LINE>How chance the roses there do fade so fast?</LINE> 287</SPEECH> 288 289<SPEECH> 290<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 291<LINE>Belike for want of rain, which I could well</LINE> 292<LINE>Beteem them from the tempest of my eyes.</LINE> 293</SPEECH> 294 295<SPEECH> 296<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 297<LINE>Ay me! for aught that I could ever read,</LINE> 298<LINE>Could ever hear by tale or history,</LINE> 299<LINE>The course of true love never did run smooth;</LINE> 300<LINE>But, either it was different in blood,--</LINE> 301</SPEECH> 302 303<SPEECH> 304<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 305<LINE>O cross! too high to be enthrall'd to low.</LINE> 306</SPEECH> 307 308<SPEECH> 309<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 310<LINE>Or else misgraffed in respect of years,--</LINE> 311</SPEECH> 312 313<SPEECH> 314<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 315<LINE>O spite! too old to be engaged to young.</LINE> 316</SPEECH> 317 318<SPEECH> 319<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 320<LINE>Or else it stood upon the choice of friends,--</LINE> 321</SPEECH> 322 323<SPEECH> 324<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 325<LINE>O hell! to choose love by another's eyes.</LINE> 326</SPEECH> 327 328<SPEECH> 329<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 330<LINE>Or, if there were a sympathy in choice,</LINE> 331<LINE>War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it,</LINE> 332<LINE>Making it momentany as a sound,</LINE> 333<LINE>Swift as a shadow, short as any dream;</LINE> 334<LINE>Brief as the lightning in the collied night,</LINE> 335<LINE>That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth,</LINE> 336<LINE>And ere a man hath power to say 'Behold!'</LINE> 337<LINE>The jaws of darkness do devour it up:</LINE> 338<LINE>So quick bright things come to confusion.</LINE> 339</SPEECH> 340 341<SPEECH> 342<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 343<LINE>If then true lovers have been ever cross'd,</LINE> 344<LINE>It stands as an edict in destiny:</LINE> 345<LINE>Then let us teach our trial patience,</LINE> 346<LINE>Because it is a customary cross,</LINE> 347<LINE>As due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs,</LINE> 348<LINE>Wishes and tears, poor fancy's followers.</LINE> 349</SPEECH> 350 351<SPEECH> 352<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 353<LINE>A good persuasion: therefore, hear me, Hermia.</LINE> 354<LINE>I have a widow aunt, a dowager</LINE> 355<LINE>Of great revenue, and she hath no child:</LINE> 356<LINE>From Athens is her house remote seven leagues;</LINE> 357<LINE>And she respects me as her only son.</LINE> 358<LINE>There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee;</LINE> 359<LINE>And to that place the sharp Athenian law</LINE> 360<LINE>Cannot pursue us. If thou lovest me then,</LINE> 361<LINE>Steal forth thy father's house to-morrow night;</LINE> 362<LINE>And in the wood, a league without the town,</LINE> 363<LINE>Where I did meet thee once with Helena,</LINE> 364<LINE>To do observance to a morn of May,</LINE> 365<LINE>There will I stay for thee.</LINE> 366</SPEECH> 367 368<SPEECH> 369<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 370<LINE>My good Lysander!</LINE> 371<LINE>I swear to thee, by Cupid's strongest bow,</LINE> 372<LINE>By his best arrow with the golden head,</LINE> 373<LINE>By the simplicity of Venus' doves,</LINE> 374<LINE>By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves,</LINE> 375<LINE>And by that fire which burn'd the Carthage queen,</LINE> 376<LINE>When the false Troyan under sail was seen,</LINE> 377<LINE>By all the vows that ever men have broke,</LINE> 378<LINE>In number more than ever women spoke,</LINE> 379<LINE>In that same place thou hast appointed me,</LINE> 380<LINE>To-morrow truly will I meet with thee.</LINE> 381</SPEECH> 382 383<SPEECH> 384<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 385<LINE>Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena.</LINE> 386</SPEECH> 387 388 389<STAGEDIR>Enter HELENA</STAGEDIR> 390 391<SPEECH> 392<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 393<LINE>God speed fair Helena! whither away?</LINE> 394</SPEECH> 395 396<SPEECH> 397<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 398<LINE>Call you me fair? that fair again unsay.</LINE> 399<LINE>Demetrius loves your fair: O happy fair!</LINE> 400<LINE>Your eyes are lode-stars; and your tongue's sweet air</LINE> 401<LINE>More tuneable than lark to shepherd's ear,</LINE> 402<LINE>When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear.</LINE> 403<LINE>Sickness is catching: O, were favour so,</LINE> 404<LINE>Yours would I catch, fair Hermia, ere I go;</LINE> 405<LINE>My ear should catch your voice, my eye your eye,</LINE> 406<LINE>My tongue should catch your tongue's sweet melody.</LINE> 407<LINE>Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated,</LINE> 408<LINE>The rest I'd give to be to you translated.</LINE> 409<LINE>O, teach me how you look, and with what art</LINE> 410<LINE>You sway the motion of Demetrius' heart.</LINE> 411</SPEECH> 412 413<SPEECH> 414<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 415<LINE>I frown upon him, yet he loves me still.</LINE> 416</SPEECH> 417 418<SPEECH> 419<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 420<LINE>O that your frowns would teach my smiles such skill!</LINE> 421</SPEECH> 422 423<SPEECH> 424<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 425<LINE>I give him curses, yet he gives me love.</LINE> 426</SPEECH> 427 428<SPEECH> 429<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 430<LINE>O that my prayers could such affection move!</LINE> 431</SPEECH> 432 433<SPEECH> 434<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 435<LINE>The more I hate, the more he follows me.</LINE> 436</SPEECH> 437 438<SPEECH> 439<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 440<LINE>The more I love, the more he hateth me.</LINE> 441</SPEECH> 442 443<SPEECH> 444<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 445<LINE>His folly, Helena, is no fault of mine.</LINE> 446</SPEECH> 447 448<SPEECH> 449<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 450<LINE>None, but your beauty: would that fault were mine!</LINE> 451</SPEECH> 452 453<SPEECH> 454<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 455<LINE>Take comfort: he no more shall see my face;</LINE> 456<LINE>Lysander and myself will fly this place.</LINE> 457<LINE>Before the time I did Lysander see,</LINE> 458<LINE>Seem'd Athens as a paradise to me:</LINE> 459<LINE>O, then, what graces in my love do dwell,</LINE> 460<LINE>That he hath turn'd a heaven unto a hell!</LINE> 461</SPEECH> 462 463<SPEECH> 464<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 465<LINE>Helen, to you our minds we will unfold:</LINE> 466<LINE>To-morrow night, when Phoebe doth behold</LINE> 467<LINE>Her silver visage in the watery glass,</LINE> 468<LINE>Decking with liquid pearl the bladed grass,</LINE> 469<LINE>A time that lovers' flights doth still conceal,</LINE> 470<LINE>Through Athens' gates have we devised to steal.</LINE> 471</SPEECH> 472 473<SPEECH> 474<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 475<LINE>And in the wood, where often you and I</LINE> 476<LINE>Upon faint primrose-beds were wont to lie,</LINE> 477<LINE>Emptying our bosoms of their counsel sweet,</LINE> 478<LINE>There my Lysander and myself shall meet;</LINE> 479<LINE>And thence from Athens turn away our eyes,</LINE> 480<LINE>To seek new friends and stranger companies.</LINE> 481<LINE>Farewell, sweet playfellow: pray thou for us;</LINE> 482<LINE>And good luck grant thee thy Demetrius!</LINE> 483<LINE>Keep word, Lysander: we must starve our sight</LINE> 484<LINE>From lovers' food till morrow deep midnight.</LINE> 485</SPEECH> 486 487<SPEECH> 488<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 489<LINE>I will, my Hermia.</LINE> 490<STAGEDIR>Exit HERMIA</STAGEDIR> 491<LINE>Helena, adieu:</LINE> 492<LINE>As you on him, Demetrius dote on you!</LINE> 493</SPEECH> 494 495 496<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 497 498<SPEECH> 499<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 500<LINE>How happy some o'er other some can be!</LINE> 501<LINE>Through Athens I am thought as fair as she.</LINE> 502<LINE>But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so;</LINE> 503<LINE>He will not know what all but he do know:</LINE> 504<LINE>And as he errs, doting on Hermia's eyes,</LINE> 505<LINE>So I, admiring of his qualities:</LINE> 506<LINE>Things base and vile, folding no quantity,</LINE> 507<LINE>Love can transpose to form and dignity:</LINE> 508<LINE>Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind;</LINE> 509<LINE>And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind:</LINE> 510<LINE>Nor hath Love's mind of any judgement taste;</LINE> 511<LINE>Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste:</LINE> 512<LINE>And therefore is Love said to be a child,</LINE> 513<LINE>Because in choice he is so oft beguiled.</LINE> 514<LINE>As waggish boys in game themselves forswear,</LINE> 515<LINE>So the boy Love is perjured every where:</LINE> 516<LINE>For ere Demetrius look'd on Hermia's eyne,</LINE> 517<LINE>He hail'd down oaths that he was only mine;</LINE> 518<LINE>And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt,</LINE> 519<LINE>So he dissolved, and showers of oaths did melt.</LINE> 520<LINE>I will go tell him of fair Hermia's flight:</LINE> 521<LINE>Then to the wood will he to-morrow night</LINE> 522<LINE>Pursue her; and for this intelligence</LINE> 523<LINE>If I have thanks, it is a dear expense:</LINE> 524<LINE>But herein mean I to enrich my pain,</LINE> 525<LINE>To have his sight thither and back again.</LINE> 526</SPEECH> 527 528 529<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 530</SCENE> 531 532<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE II. Athens. QUINCE'S house.</TITLE> 533<STAGEDIR>Enter QUINCE, SNUG, BOTTOM, FLUTE, SNOUT, and 534STARVELING</STAGEDIR> 535 536<SPEECH> 537<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 538<LINE>Is all our company here?</LINE> 539</SPEECH> 540 541<SPEECH> 542<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 543<LINE>You were best to call them generally, man by man,</LINE> 544<LINE>according to the scrip.</LINE> 545</SPEECH> 546 547<SPEECH> 548<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 549<LINE>Here is the scroll of every man's name, which is</LINE> 550<LINE>thought fit, through all Athens, to play in our</LINE> 551<LINE>interlude before the duke and the duchess, on his</LINE> 552<LINE>wedding-day at night.</LINE> 553</SPEECH> 554 555<SPEECH> 556<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 557<LINE>First, good Peter Quince, say what the play treats</LINE> 558<LINE>on, then read the names of the actors, and so grow</LINE> 559<LINE>to a point.</LINE> 560</SPEECH> 561 562<SPEECH> 563<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 564<LINE>Marry, our play is, The most lamentable comedy, and</LINE> 565<LINE>most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisby.</LINE> 566</SPEECH> 567 568<SPEECH> 569<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 570<LINE>A very good piece of work, I assure you, and a</LINE> 571<LINE>merry. Now, good Peter Quince, call forth your</LINE> 572<LINE>actors by the scroll. Masters, spread yourselves.</LINE> 573</SPEECH> 574 575<SPEECH> 576<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 577<LINE>Answer as I call you. Nick Bottom, the weaver.</LINE> 578</SPEECH> 579 580<SPEECH> 581<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 582<LINE>Ready. Name what part I am for, and proceed.</LINE> 583</SPEECH> 584 585<SPEECH> 586<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 587<LINE>You, Nick Bottom, are set down for Pyramus.</LINE> 588</SPEECH> 589 590<SPEECH> 591<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 592<LINE>What is Pyramus? a lover, or a tyrant?</LINE> 593</SPEECH> 594 595<SPEECH> 596<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 597<LINE>A lover, that kills himself most gallant for love.</LINE> 598</SPEECH> 599 600<SPEECH> 601<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 602<LINE>That will ask some tears in the true performing of</LINE> 603<LINE>it: if I do it, let the audience look to their</LINE> 604<LINE>eyes; I will move storms, I will condole in some</LINE> 605<LINE>measure. To the rest: yet my chief humour is for a</LINE> 606<LINE>tyrant: I could play Ercles rarely, or a part to</LINE> 607<LINE>tear a cat in, to make all split.</LINE> 608<LINE>The raging rocks</LINE> 609<LINE>And shivering shocks</LINE> 610<LINE>Shall break the locks</LINE> 611<LINE>Of prison gates;</LINE> 612<LINE>And Phibbus' car</LINE> 613<LINE>Shall shine from far</LINE> 614<LINE>And make and mar</LINE> 615<LINE>The foolish Fates.</LINE> 616<LINE>This was lofty! Now name the rest of the players.</LINE> 617<LINE>This is Ercles' vein, a tyrant's vein; a lover is</LINE> 618<LINE>more condoling.</LINE> 619</SPEECH> 620 621<SPEECH> 622<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 623<LINE>Francis Flute, the bellows-mender.</LINE> 624</SPEECH> 625 626<SPEECH> 627<SPEAKER>FLUTE</SPEAKER> 628<LINE>Here, Peter Quince.</LINE> 629</SPEECH> 630 631<SPEECH> 632<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 633<LINE>Flute, you must take Thisby on you.</LINE> 634</SPEECH> 635 636<SPEECH> 637<SPEAKER>FLUTE</SPEAKER> 638<LINE>What is Thisby? a wandering knight?</LINE> 639</SPEECH> 640 641<SPEECH> 642<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 643<LINE>It is the lady that Pyramus must love.</LINE> 644</SPEECH> 645 646<SPEECH> 647<SPEAKER>FLUTE</SPEAKER> 648<LINE>Nay, faith, let me not play a woman; I have a beard coming.</LINE> 649</SPEECH> 650 651<SPEECH> 652<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 653<LINE>That's all one: you shall play it in a mask, and</LINE> 654<LINE>you may speak as small as you will.</LINE> 655</SPEECH> 656 657<SPEECH> 658<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 659<LINE>An I may hide my face, let me play Thisby too, I'll</LINE> 660<LINE>speak in a monstrous little voice. 'Thisne,</LINE> 661<LINE>Thisne;' 'Ah, Pyramus, lover dear! thy Thisby dear,</LINE> 662<LINE>and lady dear!'</LINE> 663</SPEECH> 664 665<SPEECH> 666<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 667<LINE>No, no; you must play Pyramus: and, Flute, you Thisby.</LINE> 668</SPEECH> 669 670<SPEECH> 671<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 672<LINE>Well, proceed.</LINE> 673</SPEECH> 674 675<SPEECH> 676<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 677<LINE>Robin Starveling, the tailor.</LINE> 678</SPEECH> 679 680<SPEECH> 681<SPEAKER>STARVELING</SPEAKER> 682<LINE>Here, Peter Quince.</LINE> 683</SPEECH> 684 685<SPEECH> 686<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 687<LINE>Robin Starveling, you must play Thisby's mother.</LINE> 688<LINE>Tom Snout, the tinker.</LINE> 689</SPEECH> 690 691<SPEECH> 692<SPEAKER>SNOUT</SPEAKER> 693<LINE>Here, Peter Quince.</LINE> 694</SPEECH> 695 696<SPEECH> 697<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 698<LINE>You, Pyramus' father: myself, Thisby's father:</LINE> 699<LINE>Snug, the joiner; you, the lion's part: and, I</LINE> 700<LINE>hope, here is a play fitted.</LINE> 701</SPEECH> 702 703<SPEECH> 704<SPEAKER>SNUG</SPEAKER> 705<LINE>Have you the lion's part written? pray you, if it</LINE> 706<LINE>be, give it me, for I am slow of study.</LINE> 707</SPEECH> 708 709<SPEECH> 710<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 711<LINE>You may do it extempore, for it is nothing but roaring.</LINE> 712</SPEECH> 713 714<SPEECH> 715<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 716<LINE>Let me play the lion too: I will roar, that I will</LINE> 717<LINE>do any man's heart good to hear me; I will roar,</LINE> 718<LINE>that I will make the duke say 'Let him roar again,</LINE> 719<LINE>let him roar again.'</LINE> 720</SPEECH> 721 722<SPEECH> 723<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 724<LINE>An you should do it too terribly, you would fright</LINE> 725<LINE>the duchess and the ladies, that they would shriek;</LINE> 726<LINE>and that were enough to hang us all.</LINE> 727</SPEECH> 728 729<SPEECH> 730<SPEAKER>ALL</SPEAKER> 731<LINE>That would hang us, every mother's son.</LINE> 732</SPEECH> 733 734<SPEECH> 735<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 736<LINE>I grant you, friends, if that you should fright the</LINE> 737<LINE>ladies out of their wits, they would have no more</LINE> 738<LINE>discretion but to hang us: but I will aggravate my</LINE> 739<LINE>voice so that I will roar you as gently as any</LINE> 740<LINE>sucking dove; I will roar you an 'twere any</LINE> 741<LINE>nightingale.</LINE> 742</SPEECH> 743 744<SPEECH> 745<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 746<LINE>You can play no part but Pyramus; for Pyramus is a</LINE> 747<LINE>sweet-faced man; a proper man, as one shall see in a</LINE> 748<LINE>summer's day; a most lovely gentleman-like man:</LINE> 749<LINE>therefore you must needs play Pyramus.</LINE> 750</SPEECH> 751 752<SPEECH> 753<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 754<LINE>Well, I will undertake it. What beard were I best</LINE> 755<LINE>to play it in?</LINE> 756</SPEECH> 757 758<SPEECH> 759<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 760<LINE>Why, what you will.</LINE> 761</SPEECH> 762 763<SPEECH> 764<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 765<LINE>I will discharge it in either your straw-colour</LINE> 766<LINE>beard, your orange-tawny beard, your purple-in-grain</LINE> 767<LINE>beard, or your French-crown-colour beard, your</LINE> 768<LINE>perfect yellow.</LINE> 769</SPEECH> 770 771<SPEECH> 772<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 773<LINE>Some of your French crowns have no hair at all, and</LINE> 774<LINE>then you will play bare-faced. But, masters, here</LINE> 775<LINE>are your parts: and I am to entreat you, request</LINE> 776<LINE>you and desire you, to con them by to-morrow night;</LINE> 777<LINE>and meet me in the palace wood, a mile without the</LINE> 778<LINE>town, by moonlight; there will we rehearse, for if</LINE> 779<LINE>we meet in the city, we shall be dogged with</LINE> 780<LINE>company, and our devices known. In the meantime I</LINE> 781<LINE>will draw a bill of properties, such as our play</LINE> 782<LINE>wants. I pray you, fail me not.</LINE> 783</SPEECH> 784 785<SPEECH> 786<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 787<LINE>We will meet; and there we may rehearse most</LINE> 788<LINE>obscenely and courageously. Take pains; be perfect: adieu.</LINE> 789</SPEECH> 790 791<SPEECH> 792<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 793<LINE>At the duke's oak we meet.</LINE> 794</SPEECH> 795 796<SPEECH> 797<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 798<LINE>Enough; hold or cut bow-strings.</LINE> 799</SPEECH> 800 801 802<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 803</SCENE> 804 805</ACT> 806 807<ACT><TITLE>ACT II</TITLE> 808 809<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE I. A wood near Athens.</TITLE> 810<STAGEDIR>Enter, from opposite sides, a Fairy, and PUCK</STAGEDIR> 811 812<SPEECH> 813<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 814<LINE>How now, spirit! whither wander you?</LINE> 815</SPEECH> 816 817<SPEECH> 818<SPEAKER>Fairy</SPEAKER> 819<LINE>Over hill, over dale,</LINE> 820<LINE>Thorough bush, thorough brier,</LINE> 821<LINE>Over park, over pale,</LINE> 822<LINE>Thorough flood, thorough fire,</LINE> 823<LINE>I do wander everywhere,</LINE> 824<LINE>Swifter than the moon's sphere;</LINE> 825<LINE>And I serve the fairy queen,</LINE> 826<LINE>To dew her orbs upon the green.</LINE> 827<LINE>The cowslips tall her pensioners be:</LINE> 828<LINE>In their gold coats spots you see;</LINE> 829<LINE>Those be rubies, fairy favours,</LINE> 830<LINE>In those freckles live their savours:</LINE> 831<LINE>I must go seek some dewdrops here</LINE> 832<LINE>And hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear.</LINE> 833<LINE>Farewell, thou lob of spirits; I'll be gone:</LINE> 834<LINE>Our queen and all our elves come here anon.</LINE> 835</SPEECH> 836 837<SPEECH> 838<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 839<LINE>The king doth keep his revels here to-night:</LINE> 840<LINE>Take heed the queen come not within his sight;</LINE> 841<LINE>For Oberon is passing fell and wrath,</LINE> 842<LINE>Because that she as her attendant hath</LINE> 843<LINE>A lovely boy, stolen from an Indian king;</LINE> 844<LINE>She never had so sweet a changeling;</LINE> 845<LINE>And jealous Oberon would have the child</LINE> 846<LINE>Knight of his train, to trace the forests wild;</LINE> 847<LINE>But she perforce withholds the loved boy,</LINE> 848<LINE>Crowns him with flowers and makes him all her joy:</LINE> 849<LINE>And now they never meet in grove or green,</LINE> 850<LINE>By fountain clear, or spangled starlight sheen,</LINE> 851<LINE>But, they do square, that all their elves for fear</LINE> 852<LINE>Creep into acorn-cups and hide them there.</LINE> 853</SPEECH> 854 855<SPEECH> 856<SPEAKER>Fairy</SPEAKER> 857<LINE>Either I mistake your shape and making quite,</LINE> 858<LINE>Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite</LINE> 859<LINE>Call'd Robin Goodfellow: are not you he</LINE> 860<LINE>That frights the maidens of the villagery;</LINE> 861<LINE>Skim milk, and sometimes labour in the quern</LINE> 862<LINE>And bootless make the breathless housewife churn;</LINE> 863<LINE>And sometime make the drink to bear no barm;</LINE> 864<LINE>Mislead night-wanderers, laughing at their harm?</LINE> 865<LINE>Those that Hobgoblin call you and sweet Puck,</LINE> 866<LINE>You do their work, and they shall have good luck:</LINE> 867<LINE>Are not you he?</LINE> 868</SPEECH> 869 870<SPEECH> 871<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 872<LINE>Thou speak'st aright;</LINE> 873<LINE>I am that merry wanderer of the night.</LINE> 874<LINE>I jest to Oberon and make him smile</LINE> 875<LINE>When I a fat and bean-fed horse beguile,</LINE> 876<LINE>Neighing in likeness of a filly foal:</LINE> 877<LINE>And sometime lurk I in a gossip's bowl,</LINE> 878<LINE>In very likeness of a roasted crab,</LINE> 879<LINE>And when she drinks, against her lips I bob</LINE> 880<LINE>And on her wither'd dewlap pour the ale.</LINE> 881<LINE>The wisest aunt, telling the saddest tale,</LINE> 882<LINE>Sometime for three-foot stool mistaketh me;</LINE> 883<LINE>Then slip I from her bum, down topples she,</LINE> 884<LINE>And 'tailor' cries, and falls into a cough;</LINE> 885<LINE>And then the whole quire hold their hips and laugh,</LINE> 886<LINE>And waxen in their mirth and neeze and swear</LINE> 887<LINE>A merrier hour was never wasted there.</LINE> 888<LINE>But, room, fairy! here comes Oberon.</LINE> 889</SPEECH> 890 891<SPEECH> 892<SPEAKER>Fairy</SPEAKER> 893<LINE>And here my mistress. Would that he were gone!</LINE> 894</SPEECH> 895 896 897<STAGEDIR>Enter, from one side, OBERON, with his train; 898from the other, TITANIA, with hers</STAGEDIR> 899 900<SPEECH> 901<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 902<LINE>Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania.</LINE> 903</SPEECH> 904 905<SPEECH> 906<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 907<LINE>What, jealous Oberon! Fairies, skip hence:</LINE> 908<LINE>I have forsworn his bed and company.</LINE> 909</SPEECH> 910 911<SPEECH> 912<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 913<LINE>Tarry, rash wanton: am not I thy lord?</LINE> 914</SPEECH> 915 916<SPEECH> 917<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 918<LINE>Then I must be thy lady: but I know</LINE> 919<LINE>When thou hast stolen away from fairy land,</LINE> 920<LINE>And in the shape of Corin sat all day,</LINE> 921<LINE>Playing on pipes of corn and versing love</LINE> 922<LINE>To amorous Phillida. Why art thou here,</LINE> 923<LINE>Come from the farthest Steppe of India?</LINE> 924<LINE>But that, forsooth, the bouncing Amazon,</LINE> 925<LINE>Your buskin'd mistress and your warrior love,</LINE> 926<LINE>To Theseus must be wedded, and you come</LINE> 927<LINE>To give their bed joy and prosperity.</LINE> 928</SPEECH> 929 930<SPEECH> 931<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 932<LINE>How canst thou thus for shame, Titania,</LINE> 933<LINE>Glance at my credit with Hippolyta,</LINE> 934<LINE>Knowing I know thy love to Theseus?</LINE> 935<LINE>Didst thou not lead him through the glimmering night</LINE> 936<LINE>From Perigenia, whom he ravished?</LINE> 937<LINE>And make him with fair AEgle break his faith,</LINE> 938<LINE>With Ariadne and Antiopa?</LINE> 939</SPEECH> 940 941<SPEECH> 942<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 943<LINE>These are the forgeries of jealousy:</LINE> 944<LINE>And never, since the middle summer's spring,</LINE> 945<LINE>Met we on hill, in dale, forest or mead,</LINE> 946<LINE>By paved fountain or by rushy brook,</LINE> 947<LINE>Or in the beached margent of the sea,</LINE> 948<LINE>To dance our ringlets to the whistling wind,</LINE> 949<LINE>But with thy brawls thou hast disturb'd our sport.</LINE> 950<LINE>Therefore the winds, piping to us in vain,</LINE> 951<LINE>As in revenge, have suck'd up from the sea</LINE> 952<LINE>Contagious fogs; which falling in the land</LINE> 953<LINE>Have every pelting river made so proud</LINE> 954<LINE>That they have overborne their continents:</LINE> 955<LINE>The ox hath therefore stretch'd his yoke in vain,</LINE> 956<LINE>The ploughman lost his sweat, and the green corn</LINE> 957<LINE>Hath rotted ere his youth attain'd a beard;</LINE> 958<LINE>The fold stands empty in the drowned field,</LINE> 959<LINE>And crows are fatted with the murrion flock;</LINE> 960<LINE>The nine men's morris is fill'd up with mud,</LINE> 961<LINE>And the quaint mazes in the wanton green</LINE> 962<LINE>For lack of tread are undistinguishable:</LINE> 963<LINE>The human mortals want their winter here;</LINE> 964<LINE>No night is now with hymn or carol blest:</LINE> 965<LINE>Therefore the moon, the governess of floods,</LINE> 966<LINE>Pale in her anger, washes all the air,</LINE> 967<LINE>That rheumatic diseases do abound:</LINE> 968<LINE>And thorough this distemperature we see</LINE> 969<LINE>The seasons alter: hoary-headed frosts</LINE> 970<LINE>Far in the fresh lap of the crimson rose,</LINE> 971<LINE>And on old Hiems' thin and icy crown</LINE> 972<LINE>An odorous chaplet of sweet summer buds</LINE> 973<LINE>Is, as in mockery, set: the spring, the summer,</LINE> 974<LINE>The childing autumn, angry winter, change</LINE> 975<LINE>Their wonted liveries, and the mazed world,</LINE> 976<LINE>By their increase, now knows not which is which:</LINE> 977<LINE>And this same progeny of evils comes</LINE> 978<LINE>From our debate, from our dissension;</LINE> 979<LINE>We are their parents and original.</LINE> 980</SPEECH> 981 982<SPEECH> 983<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 984<LINE>Do you amend it then; it lies in you:</LINE> 985<LINE>Why should Titania cross her Oberon?</LINE> 986<LINE>I do but beg a little changeling boy,</LINE> 987<LINE>To be my henchman.</LINE> 988</SPEECH> 989 990<SPEECH> 991<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 992<LINE>Set your heart at rest:</LINE> 993<LINE>The fairy land buys not the child of me.</LINE> 994<LINE>His mother was a votaress of my order:</LINE> 995<LINE>And, in the spiced Indian air, by night,</LINE> 996<LINE>Full often hath she gossip'd by my side,</LINE> 997<LINE>And sat with me on Neptune's yellow sands,</LINE> 998<LINE>Marking the embarked traders on the flood,</LINE> 999<LINE>When we have laugh'd to see the sails conceive</LINE> 1000<LINE>And grow big-bellied with the wanton wind;</LINE> 1001<LINE>Which she, with pretty and with swimming gait</LINE> 1002<LINE>Following,--her womb then rich with my young squire,--</LINE> 1003<LINE>Would imitate, and sail upon the land,</LINE> 1004<LINE>To fetch me trifles, and return again,</LINE> 1005<LINE>As from a voyage, rich with merchandise.</LINE> 1006<LINE>But she, being mortal, of that boy did die;</LINE> 1007<LINE>And for her sake do I rear up her boy,</LINE> 1008<LINE>And for her sake I will not part with him.</LINE> 1009</SPEECH> 1010 1011<SPEECH> 1012<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 1013<LINE>How long within this wood intend you stay?</LINE> 1014</SPEECH> 1015 1016<SPEECH> 1017<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 1018<LINE>Perchance till after Theseus' wedding-day.</LINE> 1019<LINE>If you will patiently dance in our round</LINE> 1020<LINE>And see our moonlight revels, go with us;</LINE> 1021<LINE>If not, shun me, and I will spare your haunts.</LINE> 1022</SPEECH> 1023 1024<SPEECH> 1025<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 1026<LINE>Give me that boy, and I will go with thee.</LINE> 1027</SPEECH> 1028 1029<SPEECH> 1030<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 1031<LINE>Not for thy fairy kingdom. Fairies, away!</LINE> 1032<LINE>We shall chide downright, if I longer stay.</LINE> 1033</SPEECH> 1034 1035 1036<STAGEDIR>Exit TITANIA with her train</STAGEDIR> 1037 1038<SPEECH> 1039<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 1040<LINE>Well, go thy way: thou shalt not from this grove</LINE> 1041<LINE>Till I torment thee for this injury.</LINE> 1042<LINE>My gentle Puck, come hither. Thou rememberest</LINE> 1043<LINE>Since once I sat upon a promontory,</LINE> 1044<LINE>And heard a mermaid on a dolphin's back</LINE> 1045<LINE>Uttering such dulcet and harmonious breath</LINE> 1046<LINE>That the rude sea grew civil at her song</LINE> 1047<LINE>And certain stars shot madly from their spheres,</LINE> 1048<LINE>To hear the sea-maid's music.</LINE> 1049</SPEECH> 1050 1051<SPEECH> 1052<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 1053<LINE>I remember.</LINE> 1054</SPEECH> 1055 1056<SPEECH> 1057<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 1058<LINE>That very time I saw, but thou couldst not,</LINE> 1059<LINE>Flying between the cold moon and the earth,</LINE> 1060<LINE>Cupid all arm'd: a certain aim he took</LINE> 1061<LINE>At a fair vestal throned by the west,</LINE> 1062<LINE>And loosed his love-shaft smartly from his bow,</LINE> 1063<LINE>As it should pierce a hundred thousand hearts;</LINE> 1064<LINE>But I might see young Cupid's fiery shaft</LINE> 1065<LINE>Quench'd in the chaste beams of the watery moon,</LINE> 1066<LINE>And the imperial votaress passed on,</LINE> 1067<LINE>In maiden meditation, fancy-free.</LINE> 1068<LINE>Yet mark'd I where the bolt of Cupid fell:</LINE> 1069<LINE>It fell upon a little western flower,</LINE> 1070<LINE>Before milk-white, now purple with love's wound,</LINE> 1071<LINE>And maidens call it love-in-idleness.</LINE> 1072<LINE>Fetch me that flower; the herb I shew'd thee once:</LINE> 1073<LINE>The juice of it on sleeping eye-lids laid</LINE> 1074<LINE>Will make or man or woman madly dote</LINE> 1075<LINE>Upon the next live creature that it sees.</LINE> 1076<LINE>Fetch me this herb; and be thou here again</LINE> 1077<LINE>Ere the leviathan can swim a league.</LINE> 1078</SPEECH> 1079 1080<SPEECH> 1081<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 1082<LINE>I'll put a girdle round about the earth</LINE> 1083<LINE>In forty minutes.</LINE> 1084</SPEECH> 1085 1086 1087<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 1088 1089<SPEECH> 1090<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 1091<LINE>Having once this juice,</LINE> 1092<LINE>I'll watch Titania when she is asleep,</LINE> 1093<LINE>And drop the liquor of it in her eyes.</LINE> 1094<LINE>The next thing then she waking looks upon,</LINE> 1095<LINE>Be it on lion, bear, or wolf, or bull,</LINE> 1096<LINE>On meddling monkey, or on busy ape,</LINE> 1097<LINE>She shall pursue it with the soul of love:</LINE> 1098<LINE>And ere I take this charm from off her sight,</LINE> 1099<LINE>As I can take it with another herb,</LINE> 1100<LINE>I'll make her render up her page to me.</LINE> 1101<LINE>But who comes here? I am invisible;</LINE> 1102<LINE>And I will overhear their conference.</LINE> 1103</SPEECH> 1104 1105 1106<STAGEDIR>Enter DEMETRIUS, HELENA, following him</STAGEDIR> 1107 1108<SPEECH> 1109<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 1110<LINE>I love thee not, therefore pursue me not.</LINE> 1111<LINE>Where is Lysander and fair Hermia?</LINE> 1112<LINE>The one I'll slay, the other slayeth me.</LINE> 1113<LINE>Thou told'st me they were stolen unto this wood;</LINE> 1114<LINE>And here am I, and wode within this wood,</LINE> 1115<LINE>Because I cannot meet my Hermia.</LINE> 1116<LINE>Hence, get thee gone, and follow me no more.</LINE> 1117</SPEECH> 1118 1119<SPEECH> 1120<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1121<LINE>You draw me, you hard-hearted adamant;</LINE> 1122<LINE>But yet you draw not iron, for my heart</LINE> 1123<LINE>Is true as steel: leave you your power to draw,</LINE> 1124<LINE>And I shall have no power to follow you.</LINE> 1125</SPEECH> 1126 1127<SPEECH> 1128<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 1129<LINE>Do I entice you? do I speak you fair?</LINE> 1130<LINE>Or, rather, do I not in plainest truth</LINE> 1131<LINE>Tell you, I do not, nor I cannot love you?</LINE> 1132</SPEECH> 1133 1134<SPEECH> 1135<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1136<LINE>And even for that do I love you the more.</LINE> 1137<LINE>I am your spaniel; and, Demetrius,</LINE> 1138<LINE>The more you beat me, I will fawn on you:</LINE> 1139<LINE>Use me but as your spaniel, spurn me, strike me,</LINE> 1140<LINE>Neglect me, lose me; only give me leave,</LINE> 1141<LINE>Unworthy as I am, to follow you.</LINE> 1142<LINE>What worser place can I beg in your love,--</LINE> 1143<LINE>And yet a place of high respect with me,--</LINE> 1144<LINE>Than to be used as you use your dog?</LINE> 1145</SPEECH> 1146 1147<SPEECH> 1148<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 1149<LINE>Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit;</LINE> 1150<LINE>For I am sick when I do look on thee.</LINE> 1151</SPEECH> 1152 1153<SPEECH> 1154<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1155<LINE>And I am sick when I look not on you.</LINE> 1156</SPEECH> 1157 1158<SPEECH> 1159<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 1160<LINE>You do impeach your modesty too much,</LINE> 1161<LINE>To leave the city and commit yourself</LINE> 1162<LINE>Into the hands of one that loves you not;</LINE> 1163<LINE>To trust the opportunity of night</LINE> 1164<LINE>And the ill counsel of a desert place</LINE> 1165<LINE>With the rich worth of your virginity.</LINE> 1166</SPEECH> 1167 1168<SPEECH> 1169<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1170<LINE>Your virtue is my privilege: for that</LINE> 1171<LINE>It is not night when I do see your face,</LINE> 1172<LINE>Therefore I think I am not in the night;</LINE> 1173<LINE>Nor doth this wood lack worlds of company,</LINE> 1174<LINE>For you in my respect are all the world:</LINE> 1175<LINE>Then how can it be said I am alone,</LINE> 1176<LINE>When all the world is here to look on me?</LINE> 1177</SPEECH> 1178 1179<SPEECH> 1180<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 1181<LINE>I'll run from thee and hide me in the brakes,</LINE> 1182<LINE>And leave thee to the mercy of wild beasts.</LINE> 1183</SPEECH> 1184 1185<SPEECH> 1186<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1187<LINE>The wildest hath not such a heart as you.</LINE> 1188<LINE>Run when you will, the story shall be changed:</LINE> 1189<LINE>Apollo flies, and Daphne holds the chase;</LINE> 1190<LINE>The dove pursues the griffin; the mild hind</LINE> 1191<LINE>Makes speed to catch the tiger; bootless speed,</LINE> 1192<LINE>When cowardice pursues and valour flies.</LINE> 1193</SPEECH> 1194 1195<SPEECH> 1196<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 1197<LINE>I will not stay thy questions; let me go:</LINE> 1198<LINE>Or, if thou follow me, do not believe</LINE> 1199<LINE>But I shall do thee mischief in the wood.</LINE> 1200</SPEECH> 1201 1202<SPEECH> 1203<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1204<LINE>Ay, in the temple, in the town, the field,</LINE> 1205<LINE>You do me mischief. Fie, Demetrius!</LINE> 1206<LINE>Your wrongs do set a scandal on my sex:</LINE> 1207<LINE>We cannot fight for love, as men may do;</LINE> 1208<LINE>We should be wood and were not made to woo.</LINE> 1209<STAGEDIR>Exit DEMETRIUS</STAGEDIR> 1210<LINE>I'll follow thee and make a heaven of hell,</LINE> 1211<LINE>To die upon the hand I love so well.</LINE> 1212</SPEECH> 1213 1214 1215<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 1216 1217<SPEECH> 1218<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 1219<LINE>Fare thee well, nymph: ere he do leave this grove,</LINE> 1220<LINE>Thou shalt fly him and he shall seek thy love.</LINE> 1221<STAGEDIR>Re-enter PUCK</STAGEDIR> 1222<LINE>Hast thou the flower there? Welcome, wanderer.</LINE> 1223</SPEECH> 1224 1225<SPEECH> 1226<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 1227<LINE>Ay, there it is.</LINE> 1228</SPEECH> 1229 1230<SPEECH> 1231<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 1232<LINE>I pray thee, give it me.</LINE> 1233<LINE>I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,</LINE> 1234<LINE>Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,</LINE> 1235<LINE>Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,</LINE> 1236<LINE>With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine:</LINE> 1237<LINE>There sleeps Titania sometime of the night,</LINE> 1238<LINE>Lull'd in these flowers with dances and delight;</LINE> 1239<LINE>And there the snake throws her enamell'd skin,</LINE> 1240<LINE>Weed wide enough to wrap a fairy in:</LINE> 1241<LINE>And with the juice of this I'll streak her eyes,</LINE> 1242<LINE>And make her full of hateful fantasies.</LINE> 1243<LINE>Take thou some of it, and seek through this grove:</LINE> 1244<LINE>A sweet Athenian lady is in love</LINE> 1245<LINE>With a disdainful youth: anoint his eyes;</LINE> 1246<LINE>But do it when the next thing he espies</LINE> 1247<LINE>May be the lady: thou shalt know the man</LINE> 1248<LINE>By the Athenian garments he hath on.</LINE> 1249<LINE>Effect it with some care, that he may prove</LINE> 1250<LINE>More fond on her than she upon her love:</LINE> 1251<LINE>And look thou meet me ere the first cock crow.</LINE> 1252</SPEECH> 1253 1254<SPEECH> 1255<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 1256<LINE>Fear not, my lord, your servant shall do so.</LINE> 1257</SPEECH> 1258 1259 1260<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 1261</SCENE> 1262 1263<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE II. Another part of the wood.</TITLE> 1264<STAGEDIR>Enter TITANIA, with her train</STAGEDIR> 1265 1266<SPEECH> 1267<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 1268<LINE>Come, now a roundel and a fairy song;</LINE> 1269<LINE>Then, for the third part of a minute, hence;</LINE> 1270<LINE>Some to kill cankers in the musk-rose buds,</LINE> 1271<LINE>Some war with rere-mice for their leathern wings,</LINE> 1272<LINE>To make my small elves coats, and some keep back</LINE> 1273<LINE>The clamorous owl that nightly hoots and wonders</LINE> 1274<LINE>At our quaint spirits. Sing me now asleep;</LINE> 1275<LINE>Then to your offices and let me rest.</LINE> 1276<STAGEDIR>The Fairies sing</STAGEDIR> 1277<LINE>You spotted snakes with double tongue,</LINE> 1278<LINE>Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen;</LINE> 1279<LINE>Newts and blind-worms, do no wrong,</LINE> 1280<LINE>Come not near our fairy queen.</LINE> 1281<LINE>Philomel, with melody</LINE> 1282<LINE>Sing in our sweet lullaby;</LINE> 1283<LINE>Lulla, lulla, lullaby, lulla, lulla, lullaby:</LINE> 1284<LINE>Never harm,</LINE> 1285<LINE>Nor spell nor charm,</LINE> 1286<LINE>Come our lovely lady nigh;</LINE> 1287<LINE>So, good night, with lullaby.</LINE> 1288<LINE>Weaving spiders, come not here;</LINE> 1289<LINE>Hence, you long-legg'd spinners, hence!</LINE> 1290<LINE>Beetles black, approach not near;</LINE> 1291<LINE>Worm nor snail, do no offence.</LINE> 1292<LINE>Philomel, with melody, &c.</LINE> 1293</SPEECH> 1294 1295<SPEECH> 1296<SPEAKER>Fairy</SPEAKER> 1297<LINE>Hence, away! now all is well:</LINE> 1298<LINE>One aloof stand sentinel.</LINE> 1299</SPEECH> 1300 1301<STAGEDIR>Exeunt Fairies. TITANIA sleeps</STAGEDIR> 1302<STAGEDIR>Enter OBERON and squeezes the flower on TITANIA's eyelids</STAGEDIR> 1303 1304<SPEECH> 1305<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 1306<LINE>What thou seest when thou dost wake,</LINE> 1307<LINE>Do it for thy true-love take,</LINE> 1308<LINE>Love and languish for his sake:</LINE> 1309<LINE>Be it ounce, or cat, or bear,</LINE> 1310<LINE>Pard, or boar with bristled hair,</LINE> 1311<LINE>In thy eye that shall appear</LINE> 1312<LINE>When thou wakest, it is thy dear:</LINE> 1313<LINE>Wake when some vile thing is near.</LINE> 1314</SPEECH> 1315 1316<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 1317<STAGEDIR>Enter LYSANDER and HERMIA</STAGEDIR> 1318 1319<SPEECH> 1320<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 1321<LINE>Fair love, you faint with wandering in the wood;</LINE> 1322<LINE>And to speak troth, I have forgot our way:</LINE> 1323<LINE>We'll rest us, Hermia, if you think it good,</LINE> 1324<LINE>And tarry for the comfort of the day.</LINE> 1325</SPEECH> 1326 1327<SPEECH> 1328<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 1329<LINE>Be it so, Lysander: find you out a bed;</LINE> 1330<LINE>For I upon this bank will rest my head.</LINE> 1331</SPEECH> 1332 1333<SPEECH> 1334<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 1335<LINE>One turf shall serve as pillow for us both;</LINE> 1336<LINE>One heart, one bed, two bosoms and one troth.</LINE> 1337</SPEECH> 1338 1339<SPEECH> 1340<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 1341<LINE>Nay, good Lysander; for my sake, my dear,</LINE> 1342<LINE>Lie further off yet, do not lie so near.</LINE> 1343</SPEECH> 1344 1345<SPEECH> 1346<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 1347<LINE>O, take the sense, sweet, of my innocence!</LINE> 1348<LINE>Love takes the meaning in love's conference.</LINE> 1349<LINE>I mean, that my heart unto yours is knit</LINE> 1350<LINE>So that but one heart we can make of it;</LINE> 1351<LINE>Two bosoms interchained with an oath;</LINE> 1352<LINE>So then two bosoms and a single troth.</LINE> 1353<LINE>Then by your side no bed-room me deny;</LINE> 1354<LINE>For lying so, Hermia, I do not lie.</LINE> 1355</SPEECH> 1356 1357<SPEECH> 1358<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 1359<LINE>Lysander riddles very prettily:</LINE> 1360<LINE>Now much beshrew my manners and my pride,</LINE> 1361<LINE>If Hermia meant to say Lysander lied.</LINE> 1362<LINE>But, gentle friend, for love and courtesy</LINE> 1363<LINE>Lie further off; in human modesty,</LINE> 1364<LINE>Such separation as may well be said</LINE> 1365<LINE>Becomes a virtuous bachelor and a maid,</LINE> 1366<LINE>So far be distant; and, good night, sweet friend:</LINE> 1367<LINE>Thy love ne'er alter till thy sweet life end!</LINE> 1368</SPEECH> 1369 1370<SPEECH> 1371<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 1372<LINE>Amen, amen, to that fair prayer, say I;</LINE> 1373<LINE>And then end life when I end loyalty!</LINE> 1374<LINE>Here is my bed: sleep give thee all his rest!</LINE> 1375</SPEECH> 1376 1377<SPEECH> 1378<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 1379<LINE>With half that wish the wisher's eyes be press'd!</LINE> 1380</SPEECH> 1381 1382<STAGEDIR>They sleep</STAGEDIR> 1383<STAGEDIR>Enter PUCK</STAGEDIR> 1384 1385<SPEECH> 1386<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 1387<LINE>Through the forest have I gone.</LINE> 1388<LINE>But Athenian found I none,</LINE> 1389<LINE>On whose eyes I might approve</LINE> 1390<LINE>This flower's force in stirring love.</LINE> 1391<LINE>Night and silence.--Who is here?</LINE> 1392<LINE>Weeds of Athens he doth wear:</LINE> 1393<LINE>This is he, my master said,</LINE> 1394<LINE>Despised the Athenian maid;</LINE> 1395<LINE>And here the maiden, sleeping sound,</LINE> 1396<LINE>On the dank and dirty ground.</LINE> 1397<LINE>Pretty soul! she durst not lie</LINE> 1398<LINE>Near this lack-love, this kill-courtesy.</LINE> 1399<LINE>Churl, upon thy eyes I throw</LINE> 1400<LINE>All the power this charm doth owe.</LINE> 1401<LINE>When thou wakest, let love forbid</LINE> 1402<LINE>Sleep his seat on thy eyelid:</LINE> 1403<LINE>So awake when I am gone;</LINE> 1404<LINE>For I must now to Oberon.</LINE> 1405</SPEECH> 1406 1407<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 1408<STAGEDIR>Enter DEMETRIUS and HELENA, running</STAGEDIR> 1409 1410<SPEECH> 1411<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1412<LINE>Stay, though thou kill me, sweet Demetrius.</LINE> 1413</SPEECH> 1414 1415<SPEECH> 1416<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 1417<LINE>I charge thee, hence, and do not haunt me thus.</LINE> 1418</SPEECH> 1419 1420<SPEECH> 1421<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1422<LINE>O, wilt thou darkling leave me? do not so.</LINE> 1423</SPEECH> 1424 1425<SPEECH> 1426<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 1427<LINE>Stay, on thy peril: I alone will go.</LINE> 1428</SPEECH> 1429 1430 1431<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 1432 1433<SPEECH> 1434<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1435<LINE>O, I am out of breath in this fond chase!</LINE> 1436<LINE>The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace.</LINE> 1437<LINE>Happy is Hermia, wheresoe'er she lies;</LINE> 1438<LINE>For she hath blessed and attractive eyes.</LINE> 1439<LINE>How came her eyes so bright? Not with salt tears:</LINE> 1440<LINE>If so, my eyes are oftener wash'd than hers.</LINE> 1441<LINE>No, no, I am as ugly as a bear;</LINE> 1442<LINE>For beasts that meet me run away for fear:</LINE> 1443<LINE>Therefore no marvel though Demetrius</LINE> 1444<LINE>Do, as a monster fly my presence thus.</LINE> 1445<LINE>What wicked and dissembling glass of mine</LINE> 1446<LINE>Made me compare with Hermia's sphery eyne?</LINE> 1447<LINE>But who is here? Lysander! on the ground!</LINE> 1448<LINE>Dead? or asleep? I see no blood, no wound.</LINE> 1449<LINE>Lysander if you live, good sir, awake.</LINE> 1450</SPEECH> 1451 1452<SPEECH> 1453<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 1454<LINE><STAGEDIR>Awaking</STAGEDIR> And run through fire I will for thy sweet sake.</LINE> 1455<LINE>Transparent Helena! Nature shows art,</LINE> 1456<LINE>That through thy bosom makes me see thy heart.</LINE> 1457<LINE>Where is Demetrius? O, how fit a word</LINE> 1458<LINE>Is that vile name to perish on my sword!</LINE> 1459</SPEECH> 1460 1461<SPEECH> 1462<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1463<LINE>Do not say so, Lysander; say not so</LINE> 1464<LINE>What though he love your Hermia? Lord, what though?</LINE> 1465<LINE>Yet Hermia still loves you: then be content.</LINE> 1466</SPEECH> 1467 1468<SPEECH> 1469<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 1470<LINE>Content with Hermia! No; I do repent</LINE> 1471<LINE>The tedious minutes I with her have spent.</LINE> 1472<LINE>Not Hermia but Helena I love:</LINE> 1473<LINE>Who will not change a raven for a dove?</LINE> 1474<LINE>The will of man is by his reason sway'd;</LINE> 1475<LINE>And reason says you are the worthier maid.</LINE> 1476<LINE>Things growing are not ripe until their season</LINE> 1477<LINE>So I, being young, till now ripe not to reason;</LINE> 1478<LINE>And touching now the point of human skill,</LINE> 1479<LINE>Reason becomes the marshal to my will</LINE> 1480<LINE>And leads me to your eyes, where I o'erlook</LINE> 1481<LINE>Love's stories written in love's richest book.</LINE> 1482</SPEECH> 1483 1484<SPEECH> 1485<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1486<LINE>Wherefore was I to this keen mockery born?</LINE> 1487<LINE>When at your hands did I deserve this scorn?</LINE> 1488<LINE>Is't not enough, is't not enough, young man,</LINE> 1489<LINE>That I did never, no, nor never can,</LINE> 1490<LINE>Deserve a sweet look from Demetrius' eye,</LINE> 1491<LINE>But you must flout my insufficiency?</LINE> 1492<LINE>Good troth, you do me wrong, good sooth, you do,</LINE> 1493<LINE>In such disdainful manner me to woo.</LINE> 1494<LINE>But fare you well: perforce I must confess</LINE> 1495<LINE>I thought you lord of more true gentleness.</LINE> 1496<LINE>O, that a lady, of one man refused.</LINE> 1497<LINE>Should of another therefore be abused!</LINE> 1498</SPEECH> 1499 1500 1501<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 1502 1503<SPEECH> 1504<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 1505<LINE>She sees not Hermia. Hermia, sleep thou there:</LINE> 1506<LINE>And never mayst thou come Lysander near!</LINE> 1507<LINE>For as a surfeit of the sweetest things</LINE> 1508<LINE>The deepest loathing to the stomach brings,</LINE> 1509<LINE>Or as tie heresies that men do leave</LINE> 1510<LINE>Are hated most of those they did deceive,</LINE> 1511<LINE>So thou, my surfeit and my heresy,</LINE> 1512<LINE>Of all be hated, but the most of me!</LINE> 1513<LINE>And, all my powers, address your love and might</LINE> 1514<LINE>To honour Helen and to be her knight!</LINE> 1515</SPEECH> 1516 1517 1518<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 1519 1520<SPEECH> 1521<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 1522<LINE><STAGEDIR>Awaking</STAGEDIR> Help me, Lysander, help me! do thy best</LINE> 1523<LINE>To pluck this crawling serpent from my breast!</LINE> 1524<LINE>Ay me, for pity! what a dream was here!</LINE> 1525<LINE>Lysander, look how I do quake with fear:</LINE> 1526<LINE>Methought a serpent eat my heart away,</LINE> 1527<LINE>And you sat smiling at his cruel pray.</LINE> 1528<LINE>Lysander! what, removed? Lysander! lord!</LINE> 1529<LINE>What, out of hearing? gone? no sound, no word?</LINE> 1530<LINE>Alack, where are you speak, an if you hear;</LINE> 1531<LINE>Speak, of all loves! I swoon almost with fear.</LINE> 1532<LINE>No? then I well perceive you all not nigh</LINE> 1533<LINE>Either death or you I'll find immediately.</LINE> 1534</SPEECH> 1535 1536 1537<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 1538</SCENE> 1539 1540</ACT> 1541 1542<ACT><TITLE>ACT III</TITLE> 1543 1544<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE I. The wood. TITANIA lying asleep.</TITLE> 1545<STAGEDIR>Enter QUINCE, SNUG, BOTTOM, FLUTE, SNOUT, and 1546STARVELING</STAGEDIR> 1547 1548<SPEECH> 1549<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 1550<LINE>Are we all met?</LINE> 1551</SPEECH> 1552 1553<SPEECH> 1554<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 1555<LINE>Pat, pat; and here's a marvellous convenient place</LINE> 1556<LINE>for our rehearsal. This green plot shall be our</LINE> 1557<LINE>stage, this hawthorn-brake our tiring-house; and we</LINE> 1558<LINE>will do it in action as we will do it before the duke.</LINE> 1559</SPEECH> 1560 1561<SPEECH> 1562<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 1563<LINE>Peter Quince,--</LINE> 1564</SPEECH> 1565 1566<SPEECH> 1567<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 1568<LINE>What sayest thou, bully Bottom?</LINE> 1569</SPEECH> 1570 1571<SPEECH> 1572<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 1573<LINE>There are things in this comedy of Pyramus and</LINE> 1574<LINE>Thisby that will never please. First, Pyramus must</LINE> 1575<LINE>draw a sword to kill himself; which the ladies</LINE> 1576<LINE>cannot abide. How answer you that?</LINE> 1577</SPEECH> 1578 1579<SPEECH> 1580<SPEAKER>SNOUT</SPEAKER> 1581<LINE>By'r lakin, a parlous fear.</LINE> 1582</SPEECH> 1583 1584<SPEECH> 1585<SPEAKER>STARVELING</SPEAKER> 1586<LINE>I believe we must leave the killing out, when all is done.</LINE> 1587</SPEECH> 1588 1589<SPEECH> 1590<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 1591<LINE>Not a whit: I have a device to make all well.</LINE> 1592<LINE>Write me a prologue; and let the prologue seem to</LINE> 1593<LINE>say, we will do no harm with our swords, and that</LINE> 1594<LINE>Pyramus is not killed indeed; and, for the more</LINE> 1595<LINE>better assurance, tell them that I, Pyramus, am not</LINE> 1596<LINE>Pyramus, but Bottom the weaver: this will put them</LINE> 1597<LINE>out of fear.</LINE> 1598</SPEECH> 1599 1600<SPEECH> 1601<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 1602<LINE>Well, we will have such a prologue; and it shall be</LINE> 1603<LINE>written in eight and six.</LINE> 1604</SPEECH> 1605 1606<SPEECH> 1607<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 1608<LINE>No, make it two more; let it be written in eight and eight.</LINE> 1609</SPEECH> 1610 1611<SPEECH> 1612<SPEAKER>SNOUT</SPEAKER> 1613<LINE>Will not the ladies be afeard of the lion?</LINE> 1614</SPEECH> 1615 1616<SPEECH> 1617<SPEAKER>STARVELING</SPEAKER> 1618<LINE>I fear it, I promise you.</LINE> 1619</SPEECH> 1620 1621<SPEECH> 1622<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 1623<LINE>Masters, you ought to consider with yourselves: to</LINE> 1624<LINE>bring in--God shield us!--a lion among ladies, is a</LINE> 1625<LINE>most dreadful thing; for there is not a more fearful</LINE> 1626<LINE>wild-fowl than your lion living; and we ought to</LINE> 1627<LINE>look to 't.</LINE> 1628</SPEECH> 1629 1630<SPEECH> 1631<SPEAKER>SNOUT</SPEAKER> 1632<LINE>Therefore another prologue must tell he is not a lion.</LINE> 1633</SPEECH> 1634 1635<SPEECH> 1636<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 1637<LINE>Nay, you must name his name, and half his face must</LINE> 1638<LINE>be seen through the lion's neck: and he himself</LINE> 1639<LINE>must speak through, saying thus, or to the same</LINE> 1640<LINE>defect,--'Ladies,'--or 'Fair-ladies--I would wish</LINE> 1641<LINE>You,'--or 'I would request you,'--or 'I would</LINE> 1642<LINE>entreat you,--not to fear, not to tremble: my life</LINE> 1643<LINE>for yours. If you think I come hither as a lion, it</LINE> 1644<LINE>were pity of my life: no I am no such thing; I am a</LINE> 1645<LINE>man as other men are;' and there indeed let him name</LINE> 1646<LINE>his name, and tell them plainly he is Snug the joiner.</LINE> 1647</SPEECH> 1648 1649<SPEECH> 1650<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 1651<LINE>Well it shall be so. But there is two hard things;</LINE> 1652<LINE>that is, to bring the moonlight into a chamber; for,</LINE> 1653<LINE>you know, Pyramus and Thisby meet by moonlight.</LINE> 1654</SPEECH> 1655 1656<SPEECH> 1657<SPEAKER>SNOUT</SPEAKER> 1658<LINE>Doth the moon shine that night we play our play?</LINE> 1659</SPEECH> 1660 1661<SPEECH> 1662<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 1663<LINE>A calendar, a calendar! look in the almanac; find</LINE> 1664<LINE>out moonshine, find out moonshine.</LINE> 1665</SPEECH> 1666 1667<SPEECH> 1668<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 1669<LINE>Yes, it doth shine that night.</LINE> 1670</SPEECH> 1671 1672<SPEECH> 1673<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 1674<LINE>Why, then may you leave a casement of the great</LINE> 1675<LINE>chamber window, where we play, open, and the moon</LINE> 1676<LINE>may shine in at the casement.</LINE> 1677</SPEECH> 1678 1679<SPEECH> 1680<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 1681<LINE>Ay; or else one must come in with a bush of thorns</LINE> 1682<LINE>and a lanthorn, and say he comes to disfigure, or to</LINE> 1683<LINE>present, the person of Moonshine. Then, there is</LINE> 1684<LINE>another thing: we must have a wall in the great</LINE> 1685<LINE>chamber; for Pyramus and Thisby says the story, did</LINE> 1686<LINE>talk through the chink of a wall.</LINE> 1687</SPEECH> 1688 1689<SPEECH> 1690<SPEAKER>SNOUT</SPEAKER> 1691<LINE>You can never bring in a wall. What say you, Bottom?</LINE> 1692</SPEECH> 1693 1694<SPEECH> 1695<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 1696<LINE>Some man or other must present Wall: and let him</LINE> 1697<LINE>have some plaster, or some loam, or some rough-cast</LINE> 1698<LINE>about him, to signify wall; and let him hold his</LINE> 1699<LINE>fingers thus, and through that cranny shall Pyramus</LINE> 1700<LINE>and Thisby whisper.</LINE> 1701</SPEECH> 1702 1703<SPEECH> 1704<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 1705<LINE>If that may be, then all is well. Come, sit down,</LINE> 1706<LINE>every mother's son, and rehearse your parts.</LINE> 1707<LINE>Pyramus, you begin: when you have spoken your</LINE> 1708<LINE>speech, enter into that brake: and so every one</LINE> 1709<LINE>according to his cue.</LINE> 1710</SPEECH> 1711 1712 1713<STAGEDIR>Enter PUCK behind</STAGEDIR> 1714 1715<SPEECH> 1716<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 1717<LINE>What hempen home-spuns have we swaggering here,</LINE> 1718<LINE>So near the cradle of the fairy queen?</LINE> 1719<LINE>What, a play toward! I'll be an auditor;</LINE> 1720<LINE>An actor too, perhaps, if I see cause.</LINE> 1721</SPEECH> 1722 1723<SPEECH> 1724<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 1725<LINE>Speak, Pyramus. Thisby, stand forth.</LINE> 1726</SPEECH> 1727 1728<SPEECH> 1729<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 1730<LINE>Thisby, the flowers of odious savours sweet,--</LINE> 1731</SPEECH> 1732 1733<SPEECH> 1734<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 1735<LINE>Odours, odours.</LINE> 1736</SPEECH> 1737 1738<SPEECH> 1739<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 1740<LINE>--odours savours sweet:</LINE> 1741<LINE>So hath thy breath, my dearest Thisby dear.</LINE> 1742<LINE>But hark, a voice! stay thou but here awhile,</LINE> 1743<LINE>And by and by I will to thee appear.</LINE> 1744</SPEECH> 1745 1746 1747<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 1748 1749<SPEECH> 1750<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 1751<LINE>A stranger Pyramus than e'er played here.</LINE> 1752</SPEECH> 1753 1754 1755<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 1756 1757<SPEECH> 1758<SPEAKER>FLUTE</SPEAKER> 1759<LINE>Must I speak now?</LINE> 1760</SPEECH> 1761 1762<SPEECH> 1763<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 1764<LINE>Ay, marry, must you; for you must understand he goes</LINE> 1765<LINE>but to see a noise that he heard, and is to come again.</LINE> 1766</SPEECH> 1767 1768<SPEECH> 1769<SPEAKER>FLUTE</SPEAKER> 1770<LINE>Most radiant Pyramus, most lily-white of hue,</LINE> 1771<LINE>Of colour like the red rose on triumphant brier,</LINE> 1772<LINE>Most brisky juvenal and eke most lovely Jew,</LINE> 1773<LINE>As true as truest horse that yet would never tire,</LINE> 1774<LINE>I'll meet thee, Pyramus, at Ninny's tomb.</LINE> 1775</SPEECH> 1776 1777<SPEECH> 1778<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 1779<LINE>'Ninus' tomb,' man: why, you must not speak that</LINE> 1780<LINE>yet; that you answer to Pyramus: you speak all your</LINE> 1781<LINE>part at once, cues and all Pyramus enter: your cue</LINE> 1782<LINE>is past; it is, 'never tire.'</LINE> 1783</SPEECH> 1784 1785<SPEECH> 1786<SPEAKER>FLUTE</SPEAKER> 1787<LINE>O,--As true as truest horse, that yet would</LINE> 1788<LINE>never tire.</LINE> 1789</SPEECH> 1790 1791 1792<STAGEDIR>Re-enter PUCK, and BOTTOM with an ass's head</STAGEDIR> 1793 1794<SPEECH> 1795<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 1796<LINE>If I were fair, Thisby, I were only thine.</LINE> 1797</SPEECH> 1798 1799<SPEECH> 1800<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 1801<LINE>O monstrous! O strange! we are haunted. Pray,</LINE> 1802<LINE>masters! fly, masters! Help!</LINE> 1803</SPEECH> 1804 1805 1806<STAGEDIR>Exeunt QUINCE, SNUG, FLUTE, SNOUT, and STARVELING</STAGEDIR> 1807 1808<SPEECH> 1809<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 1810<LINE>I'll follow you, I'll lead you about a round,</LINE> 1811<LINE>Through bog, through bush, through brake, through brier:</LINE> 1812<LINE>Sometime a horse I'll be, sometime a hound,</LINE> 1813<LINE>A hog, a headless bear, sometime a fire;</LINE> 1814<LINE>And neigh, and bark, and grunt, and roar, and burn,</LINE> 1815<LINE>Like horse, hound, hog, bear, fire, at every turn.</LINE> 1816</SPEECH> 1817 1818 1819<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 1820 1821<SPEECH> 1822<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 1823<LINE>Why do they run away? this is a knavery of them to</LINE> 1824<LINE>make me afeard.</LINE> 1825</SPEECH> 1826 1827 1828<STAGEDIR>Re-enter SNOUT</STAGEDIR> 1829 1830<SPEECH> 1831<SPEAKER>SNOUT</SPEAKER> 1832<LINE>O Bottom, thou art changed! what do I see on thee?</LINE> 1833</SPEECH> 1834 1835<SPEECH> 1836<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 1837<LINE>What do you see? you see an asshead of your own, do</LINE> 1838<LINE>you?</LINE> 1839</SPEECH> 1840 1841<STAGEDIR>Exit SNOUT</STAGEDIR> 1842<STAGEDIR>Re-enter QUINCE</STAGEDIR> 1843 1844<SPEECH> 1845<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 1846<LINE>Bless thee, Bottom! bless thee! thou art</LINE> 1847<LINE>translated.</LINE> 1848</SPEECH> 1849 1850 1851<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 1852 1853<SPEECH> 1854<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 1855<LINE>I see their knavery: this is to make an ass of me;</LINE> 1856<LINE>to fright me, if they could. But I will not stir</LINE> 1857<LINE>from this place, do what they can: I will walk up</LINE> 1858<LINE>and down here, and I will sing, that they shall hear</LINE> 1859<LINE>I am not afraid.</LINE> 1860<STAGEDIR>Sings</STAGEDIR> 1861<LINE>The ousel cock so black of hue,</LINE> 1862<LINE>With orange-tawny bill,</LINE> 1863<LINE>The throstle with his note so true,</LINE> 1864<LINE>The wren with little quill,--</LINE> 1865</SPEECH> 1866 1867<SPEECH> 1868<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 1869<LINE><STAGEDIR>Awaking</STAGEDIR> What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?</LINE> 1870</SPEECH> 1871 1872<SPEECH> 1873<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 1874<LINE><STAGEDIR>Sings</STAGEDIR></LINE> 1875<LINE>The finch, the sparrow and the lark,</LINE> 1876<LINE>The plain-song cuckoo gray,</LINE> 1877<LINE>Whose note full many a man doth mark,</LINE> 1878<LINE>And dares not answer nay;--</LINE> 1879<LINE>for, indeed, who would set his wit to so foolish</LINE> 1880<LINE>a bird? who would give a bird the lie, though he cry</LINE> 1881<LINE>'cuckoo' never so?</LINE> 1882</SPEECH> 1883 1884<SPEECH> 1885<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 1886<LINE>I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing again:</LINE> 1887<LINE>Mine ear is much enamour'd of thy note;</LINE> 1888<LINE>So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape;</LINE> 1889<LINE>And thy fair virtue's force perforce doth move me</LINE> 1890<LINE>On the first view to say, to swear, I love thee.</LINE> 1891</SPEECH> 1892 1893<SPEECH> 1894<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 1895<LINE>Methinks, mistress, you should have little reason</LINE> 1896<LINE>for that: and yet, to say the truth, reason and</LINE> 1897<LINE>love keep little company together now-a-days; the</LINE> 1898<LINE>more the pity that some honest neighbours will not</LINE> 1899<LINE>make them friends. Nay, I can gleek upon occasion.</LINE> 1900</SPEECH> 1901 1902<SPEECH> 1903<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 1904<LINE>Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful.</LINE> 1905</SPEECH> 1906 1907<SPEECH> 1908<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 1909<LINE>Not so, neither: but if I had wit enough to get out</LINE> 1910<LINE>of this wood, I have enough to serve mine own turn.</LINE> 1911</SPEECH> 1912 1913<SPEECH> 1914<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 1915<LINE>Out of this wood do not desire to go:</LINE> 1916<LINE>Thou shalt remain here, whether thou wilt or no.</LINE> 1917<LINE>I am a spirit of no common rate;</LINE> 1918<LINE>The summer still doth tend upon my state;</LINE> 1919<LINE>And I do love thee: therefore, go with me;</LINE> 1920<LINE>I'll give thee fairies to attend on thee,</LINE> 1921<LINE>And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep,</LINE> 1922<LINE>And sing while thou on pressed flowers dost sleep;</LINE> 1923<LINE>And I will purge thy mortal grossness so</LINE> 1924<LINE>That thou shalt like an airy spirit go.</LINE> 1925<LINE>Peaseblossom! Cobweb! Moth! and Mustardseed!</LINE> 1926</SPEECH> 1927 1928 1929<STAGEDIR>Enter PEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB, MOTH, and MUSTARDSEED</STAGEDIR> 1930 1931<SPEECH> 1932<SPEAKER>PEASEBLOSSOM</SPEAKER> 1933<LINE>Ready.</LINE> 1934</SPEECH> 1935 1936<SPEECH> 1937<SPEAKER>COBWEB</SPEAKER> 1938<LINE>And I.</LINE> 1939</SPEECH> 1940 1941<SPEECH> 1942<SPEAKER>MOTH</SPEAKER> 1943<LINE>And I.</LINE> 1944</SPEECH> 1945 1946<SPEECH> 1947<SPEAKER>MUSTARDSEED</SPEAKER> 1948<LINE>And I.</LINE> 1949</SPEECH> 1950 1951<SPEECH> 1952<SPEAKER>ALL</SPEAKER> 1953<LINE>Where shall we go?</LINE> 1954</SPEECH> 1955 1956<SPEECH> 1957<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 1958<LINE>Be kind and courteous to this gentleman;</LINE> 1959<LINE>Hop in his walks and gambol in his eyes;</LINE> 1960<LINE>Feed him with apricocks and dewberries,</LINE> 1961<LINE>With purple grapes, green figs, and mulberries;</LINE> 1962<LINE>The honey-bags steal from the humble-bees,</LINE> 1963<LINE>And for night-tapers crop their waxen thighs</LINE> 1964<LINE>And light them at the fiery glow-worm's eyes,</LINE> 1965<LINE>To have my love to bed and to arise;</LINE> 1966<LINE>And pluck the wings from Painted butterflies</LINE> 1967<LINE>To fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes:</LINE> 1968<LINE>Nod to him, elves, and do him courtesies.</LINE> 1969</SPEECH> 1970 1971<SPEECH> 1972<SPEAKER>PEASEBLOSSOM</SPEAKER> 1973<LINE>Hail, mortal!</LINE> 1974</SPEECH> 1975 1976<SPEECH> 1977<SPEAKER>COBWEB</SPEAKER> 1978<LINE>Hail!</LINE> 1979</SPEECH> 1980 1981<SPEECH> 1982<SPEAKER>MOTH</SPEAKER> 1983<LINE>Hail!</LINE> 1984</SPEECH> 1985 1986<SPEECH> 1987<SPEAKER>MUSTARDSEED</SPEAKER> 1988<LINE>Hail!</LINE> 1989</SPEECH> 1990 1991<SPEECH> 1992<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 1993<LINE>I cry your worship's mercy, heartily: I beseech your</LINE> 1994<LINE>worship's name.</LINE> 1995</SPEECH> 1996 1997<SPEECH> 1998<SPEAKER>COBWEB</SPEAKER> 1999<LINE>Cobweb.</LINE> 2000</SPEECH> 2001 2002<SPEECH> 2003<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 2004<LINE>I shall desire you of more acquaintance, good Master</LINE> 2005<LINE>Cobweb: if I cut my finger, I shall make bold with</LINE> 2006<LINE>you. Your name, honest gentleman?</LINE> 2007</SPEECH> 2008 2009<SPEECH> 2010<SPEAKER>PEASEBLOSSOM</SPEAKER> 2011<LINE>Peaseblossom.</LINE> 2012</SPEECH> 2013 2014<SPEECH> 2015<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 2016<LINE>I pray you, commend me to Mistress Squash, your</LINE> 2017<LINE>mother, and to Master Peascod, your father. Good</LINE> 2018<LINE>Master Peaseblossom, I shall desire you of more</LINE> 2019<LINE>acquaintance too. Your name, I beseech you, sir?</LINE> 2020</SPEECH> 2021 2022<SPEECH> 2023<SPEAKER>MUSTARDSEED</SPEAKER> 2024<LINE>Mustardseed.</LINE> 2025</SPEECH> 2026 2027<SPEECH> 2028<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 2029<LINE>Good Master Mustardseed, I know your patience well:</LINE> 2030<LINE>that same cowardly, giant-like ox-beef hath</LINE> 2031<LINE>devoured many a gentleman of your house: I promise</LINE> 2032<LINE>you your kindred had made my eyes water ere now. I</LINE> 2033<LINE>desire your more acquaintance, good Master</LINE> 2034<LINE>Mustardseed.</LINE> 2035</SPEECH> 2036 2037<SPEECH> 2038<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 2039<LINE>Come, wait upon him; lead him to my bower.</LINE> 2040<LINE>The moon methinks looks with a watery eye;</LINE> 2041<LINE>And when she weeps, weeps every little flower,</LINE> 2042<LINE>Lamenting some enforced chastity.</LINE> 2043<LINE>Tie up my love's tongue bring him silently.</LINE> 2044</SPEECH> 2045 2046 2047<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 2048</SCENE> 2049 2050<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE II. Another part of the wood.</TITLE> 2051<STAGEDIR>Enter OBERON</STAGEDIR> 2052 2053<SPEECH> 2054<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 2055<LINE>I wonder if Titania be awaked;</LINE> 2056<LINE>Then, what it was that next came in her eye,</LINE> 2057<LINE>Which she must dote on in extremity.</LINE> 2058<STAGEDIR>Enter PUCK</STAGEDIR> 2059<LINE>Here comes my messenger.</LINE> 2060<LINE>How now, mad spirit!</LINE> 2061<LINE>What night-rule now about this haunted grove?</LINE> 2062</SPEECH> 2063 2064<SPEECH> 2065<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 2066<LINE>My mistress with a monster is in love.</LINE> 2067<LINE>Near to her close and consecrated bower,</LINE> 2068<LINE>While she was in her dull and sleeping hour,</LINE> 2069<LINE>A crew of patches, rude mechanicals,</LINE> 2070<LINE>That work for bread upon Athenian stalls,</LINE> 2071<LINE>Were met together to rehearse a play</LINE> 2072<LINE>Intended for great Theseus' nuptial-day.</LINE> 2073<LINE>The shallowest thick-skin of that barren sort,</LINE> 2074<LINE>Who Pyramus presented, in their sport</LINE> 2075<LINE>Forsook his scene and enter'd in a brake</LINE> 2076<LINE>When I did him at this advantage take,</LINE> 2077<LINE>An ass's nole I fixed on his head:</LINE> 2078<LINE>Anon his Thisbe must be answered,</LINE> 2079<LINE>And forth my mimic comes. When they him spy,</LINE> 2080<LINE>As wild geese that the creeping fowler eye,</LINE> 2081<LINE>Or russet-pated choughs, many in sort,</LINE> 2082<LINE>Rising and cawing at the gun's report,</LINE> 2083<LINE>Sever themselves and madly sweep the sky,</LINE> 2084<LINE>So, at his sight, away his fellows fly;</LINE> 2085<LINE>And, at our stamp, here o'er and o'er one falls;</LINE> 2086<LINE>He murder cries and help from Athens calls.</LINE> 2087<LINE>Their sense thus weak, lost with their fears</LINE> 2088<LINE>thus strong,</LINE> 2089<LINE>Made senseless things begin to do them wrong;</LINE> 2090<LINE>For briers and thorns at their apparel snatch;</LINE> 2091<LINE>Some sleeves, some hats, from yielders all</LINE> 2092<LINE>things catch.</LINE> 2093<LINE>I led them on in this distracted fear,</LINE> 2094<LINE>And left sweet Pyramus translated there:</LINE> 2095<LINE>When in that moment, so it came to pass,</LINE> 2096<LINE>Titania waked and straightway loved an ass.</LINE> 2097</SPEECH> 2098 2099<SPEECH> 2100<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 2101<LINE>This falls out better than I could devise.</LINE> 2102<LINE>But hast thou yet latch'd the Athenian's eyes</LINE> 2103<LINE>With the love-juice, as I did bid thee do?</LINE> 2104</SPEECH> 2105 2106<SPEECH> 2107<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 2108<LINE>I took him sleeping,--that is finish'd too,--</LINE> 2109<LINE>And the Athenian woman by his side:</LINE> 2110<LINE>That, when he waked, of force she must be eyed.</LINE> 2111</SPEECH> 2112 2113 2114<STAGEDIR>Enter HERMIA and DEMETRIUS</STAGEDIR> 2115 2116<SPEECH> 2117<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 2118<LINE>Stand close: this is the same Athenian.</LINE> 2119</SPEECH> 2120 2121<SPEECH> 2122<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 2123<LINE>This is the woman, but not this the man.</LINE> 2124</SPEECH> 2125 2126<SPEECH> 2127<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 2128<LINE>O, why rebuke you him that loves you so?</LINE> 2129<LINE>Lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe.</LINE> 2130</SPEECH> 2131 2132<SPEECH> 2133<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 2134<LINE>Now I but chide; but I should use thee worse,</LINE> 2135<LINE>For thou, I fear, hast given me cause to curse,</LINE> 2136<LINE>If thou hast slain Lysander in his sleep,</LINE> 2137<LINE>Being o'er shoes in blood, plunge in the deep,</LINE> 2138<LINE>And kill me too.</LINE> 2139<LINE>The sun was not so true unto the day</LINE> 2140<LINE>As he to me: would he have stolen away</LINE> 2141<LINE>From sleeping Hermia? I'll believe as soon</LINE> 2142<LINE>This whole earth may be bored and that the moon</LINE> 2143<LINE>May through the centre creep and so displease</LINE> 2144<LINE>Her brother's noontide with Antipodes.</LINE> 2145<LINE>It cannot be but thou hast murder'd him;</LINE> 2146<LINE>So should a murderer look, so dead, so grim.</LINE> 2147</SPEECH> 2148 2149<SPEECH> 2150<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 2151<LINE>So should the murder'd look, and so should I,</LINE> 2152<LINE>Pierced through the heart with your stern cruelty:</LINE> 2153<LINE>Yet you, the murderer, look as bright, as clear,</LINE> 2154<LINE>As yonder Venus in her glimmering sphere.</LINE> 2155</SPEECH> 2156 2157<SPEECH> 2158<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 2159<LINE>What's this to my Lysander? where is he?</LINE> 2160<LINE>Ah, good Demetrius, wilt thou give him me?</LINE> 2161</SPEECH> 2162 2163<SPEECH> 2164<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 2165<LINE>I had rather give his carcass to my hounds.</LINE> 2166</SPEECH> 2167 2168<SPEECH> 2169<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 2170<LINE>Out, dog! out, cur! thou drivest me past the bounds</LINE> 2171<LINE>Of maiden's patience. Hast thou slain him, then?</LINE> 2172<LINE>Henceforth be never number'd among men!</LINE> 2173<LINE>O, once tell true, tell true, even for my sake!</LINE> 2174<LINE>Durst thou have look'd upon him being awake,</LINE> 2175<LINE>And hast thou kill'd him sleeping? O brave touch!</LINE> 2176<LINE>Could not a worm, an adder, do so much?</LINE> 2177<LINE>An adder did it; for with doubler tongue</LINE> 2178<LINE>Than thine, thou serpent, never adder stung.</LINE> 2179</SPEECH> 2180 2181<SPEECH> 2182<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 2183<LINE>You spend your passion on a misprised mood:</LINE> 2184<LINE>I am not guilty of Lysander's blood;</LINE> 2185<LINE>Nor is he dead, for aught that I can tell.</LINE> 2186</SPEECH> 2187 2188<SPEECH> 2189<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 2190<LINE>I pray thee, tell me then that he is well.</LINE> 2191</SPEECH> 2192 2193<SPEECH> 2194<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 2195<LINE>An if I could, what should I get therefore?</LINE> 2196</SPEECH> 2197 2198<SPEECH> 2199<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 2200<LINE>A privilege never to see me more.</LINE> 2201<LINE>And from thy hated presence part I so:</LINE> 2202<LINE>See me no more, whether he be dead or no.</LINE> 2203</SPEECH> 2204 2205 2206<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 2207 2208<SPEECH> 2209<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 2210<LINE>There is no following her in this fierce vein:</LINE> 2211<LINE>Here therefore for a while I will remain.</LINE> 2212<LINE>So sorrow's heaviness doth heavier grow</LINE> 2213<LINE>For debt that bankrupt sleep doth sorrow owe:</LINE> 2214<LINE>Which now in some slight measure it will pay,</LINE> 2215<LINE>If for his tender here I make some stay.</LINE> 2216</SPEECH> 2217 2218 2219<STAGEDIR>Lies down and sleeps</STAGEDIR> 2220 2221<SPEECH> 2222<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 2223<LINE>What hast thou done? thou hast mistaken quite</LINE> 2224<LINE>And laid the love-juice on some true-love's sight:</LINE> 2225<LINE>Of thy misprision must perforce ensue</LINE> 2226<LINE>Some true love turn'd and not a false turn'd true.</LINE> 2227</SPEECH> 2228 2229<SPEECH> 2230<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 2231<LINE>Then fate o'er-rules, that, one man holding troth,</LINE> 2232<LINE>A million fail, confounding oath on oath.</LINE> 2233</SPEECH> 2234 2235<SPEECH> 2236<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 2237<LINE>About the wood go swifter than the wind,</LINE> 2238<LINE>And Helena of Athens look thou find:</LINE> 2239<LINE>All fancy-sick she is and pale of cheer,</LINE> 2240<LINE>With sighs of love, that costs the fresh blood dear:</LINE> 2241<LINE>By some illusion see thou bring her here:</LINE> 2242<LINE>I'll charm his eyes against she do appear.</LINE> 2243</SPEECH> 2244 2245<SPEECH> 2246<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 2247<LINE>I go, I go; look how I go,</LINE> 2248<LINE>Swifter than arrow from the Tartar's bow.</LINE> 2249</SPEECH> 2250 2251 2252<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 2253 2254<SPEECH> 2255<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 2256<LINE>Flower of this purple dye,</LINE> 2257<LINE>Hit with Cupid's archery,</LINE> 2258<LINE>Sink in apple of his eye.</LINE> 2259<LINE>When his love he doth espy,</LINE> 2260<LINE>Let her shine as gloriously</LINE> 2261<LINE>As the Venus of the sky.</LINE> 2262<LINE>When thou wakest, if she be by,</LINE> 2263<LINE>Beg of her for remedy.</LINE> 2264</SPEECH> 2265 2266 2267<STAGEDIR>Re-enter PUCK</STAGEDIR> 2268 2269<SPEECH> 2270<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 2271<LINE>Captain of our fairy band,</LINE> 2272<LINE>Helena is here at hand;</LINE> 2273<LINE>And the youth, mistook by me,</LINE> 2274<LINE>Pleading for a lover's fee.</LINE> 2275<LINE>Shall we their fond pageant see?</LINE> 2276<LINE>Lord, what fools these mortals be!</LINE> 2277</SPEECH> 2278 2279<SPEECH> 2280<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 2281<LINE>Stand aside: the noise they make</LINE> 2282<LINE>Will cause Demetrius to awake.</LINE> 2283</SPEECH> 2284 2285<SPEECH> 2286<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 2287<LINE>Then will two at once woo one;</LINE> 2288<LINE>That must needs be sport alone;</LINE> 2289<LINE>And those things do best please me</LINE> 2290<LINE>That befal preposterously.</LINE> 2291</SPEECH> 2292 2293 2294<STAGEDIR>Enter LYSANDER and HELENA</STAGEDIR> 2295 2296<SPEECH> 2297<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 2298<LINE>Why should you think that I should woo in scorn?</LINE> 2299<LINE>Scorn and derision never come in tears:</LINE> 2300<LINE>Look, when I vow, I weep; and vows so born,</LINE> 2301<LINE>In their nativity all truth appears.</LINE> 2302<LINE>How can these things in me seem scorn to you,</LINE> 2303<LINE>Bearing the badge of faith, to prove them true?</LINE> 2304</SPEECH> 2305 2306<SPEECH> 2307<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2308<LINE>You do advance your cunning more and more.</LINE> 2309<LINE>When truth kills truth, O devilish-holy fray!</LINE> 2310<LINE>These vows are Hermia's: will you give her o'er?</LINE> 2311<LINE>Weigh oath with oath, and you will nothing weigh:</LINE> 2312<LINE>Your vows to her and me, put in two scales,</LINE> 2313<LINE>Will even weigh, and both as light as tales.</LINE> 2314</SPEECH> 2315 2316<SPEECH> 2317<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 2318<LINE>I had no judgment when to her I swore.</LINE> 2319</SPEECH> 2320 2321<SPEECH> 2322<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2323<LINE>Nor none, in my mind, now you give her o'er.</LINE> 2324</SPEECH> 2325 2326<SPEECH> 2327<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 2328<LINE>Demetrius loves her, and he loves not you.</LINE> 2329</SPEECH> 2330 2331<SPEECH> 2332<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 2333<LINE><STAGEDIR>Awaking</STAGEDIR> O Helena, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine!</LINE> 2334<LINE>To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne?</LINE> 2335<LINE>Crystal is muddy. O, how ripe in show</LINE> 2336<LINE>Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow!</LINE> 2337<LINE>That pure congealed white, high Taurus snow,</LINE> 2338<LINE>Fann'd with the eastern wind, turns to a crow</LINE> 2339<LINE>When thou hold'st up thy hand: O, let me kiss</LINE> 2340<LINE>This princess of pure white, this seal of bliss!</LINE> 2341</SPEECH> 2342 2343<SPEECH> 2344<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2345<LINE>O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent</LINE> 2346<LINE>To set against me for your merriment:</LINE> 2347<LINE>If you we re civil and knew courtesy,</LINE> 2348<LINE>You would not do me thus much injury.</LINE> 2349<LINE>Can you not hate me, as I know you do,</LINE> 2350<LINE>But you must join in souls to mock me too?</LINE> 2351<LINE>If you were men, as men you are in show,</LINE> 2352<LINE>You would not use a gentle lady so;</LINE> 2353<LINE>To vow, and swear, and superpraise my parts,</LINE> 2354<LINE>When I am sure you hate me with your hearts.</LINE> 2355<LINE>You both are rivals, and love Hermia;</LINE> 2356<LINE>And now both rivals, to mock Helena:</LINE> 2357<LINE>A trim exploit, a manly enterprise,</LINE> 2358<LINE>To conjure tears up in a poor maid's eyes</LINE> 2359<LINE>With your derision! none of noble sort</LINE> 2360<LINE>Would so offend a virgin, and extort</LINE> 2361<LINE>A poor soul's patience, all to make you sport.</LINE> 2362</SPEECH> 2363 2364<SPEECH> 2365<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 2366<LINE>You are unkind, Demetrius; be not so;</LINE> 2367<LINE>For you love Hermia; this you know I know:</LINE> 2368<LINE>And here, with all good will, with all my heart,</LINE> 2369<LINE>In Hermia's love I yield you up my part;</LINE> 2370<LINE>And yours of Helena to me bequeath,</LINE> 2371<LINE>Whom I do love and will do till my death.</LINE> 2372</SPEECH> 2373 2374<SPEECH> 2375<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2376<LINE>Never did mockers waste more idle breath.</LINE> 2377</SPEECH> 2378 2379<SPEECH> 2380<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 2381<LINE>Lysander, keep thy Hermia; I will none:</LINE> 2382<LINE>If e'er I loved her, all that love is gone.</LINE> 2383<LINE>My heart to her but as guest-wise sojourn'd,</LINE> 2384<LINE>And now to Helen is it home return'd,</LINE> 2385<LINE>There to remain.</LINE> 2386</SPEECH> 2387 2388<SPEECH> 2389<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 2390<LINE>Helen, it is not so.</LINE> 2391</SPEECH> 2392 2393<SPEECH> 2394<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 2395<LINE>Disparage not the faith thou dost not know,</LINE> 2396<LINE>Lest, to thy peril, thou aby it dear.</LINE> 2397<LINE>Look, where thy love comes; yonder is thy dear.</LINE> 2398</SPEECH> 2399 2400 2401<STAGEDIR>Re-enter HERMIA</STAGEDIR> 2402 2403<SPEECH> 2404<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 2405<LINE>Dark night, that from the eye his function takes,</LINE> 2406<LINE>The ear more quick of apprehension makes;</LINE> 2407<LINE>Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense,</LINE> 2408<LINE>It pays the hearing double recompense.</LINE> 2409<LINE>Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander, found;</LINE> 2410<LINE>Mine ear, I thank it, brought me to thy sound</LINE> 2411<LINE>But why unkindly didst thou leave me so?</LINE> 2412</SPEECH> 2413 2414<SPEECH> 2415<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 2416<LINE>Why should he stay, whom love doth press to go?</LINE> 2417</SPEECH> 2418 2419<SPEECH> 2420<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 2421<LINE>What love could press Lysander from my side?</LINE> 2422</SPEECH> 2423 2424<SPEECH> 2425<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 2426<LINE>Lysander's love, that would not let him bide,</LINE> 2427<LINE>Fair Helena, who more engilds the night</LINE> 2428<LINE>Than all you fiery oes and eyes of light.</LINE> 2429<LINE>Why seek'st thou me? could not this make thee know,</LINE> 2430<LINE>The hate I bear thee made me leave thee so?</LINE> 2431</SPEECH> 2432 2433<SPEECH> 2434<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 2435<LINE>You speak not as you think: it cannot be.</LINE> 2436</SPEECH> 2437 2438<SPEECH> 2439<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2440<LINE>Lo, she is one of this confederacy!</LINE> 2441<LINE>Now I perceive they have conjoin'd all three</LINE> 2442<LINE>To fashion this false sport, in spite of me.</LINE> 2443<LINE>Injurious Hermia! most ungrateful maid!</LINE> 2444<LINE>Have you conspired, have you with these contrived</LINE> 2445<LINE>To bait me with this foul derision?</LINE> 2446<LINE>Is all the counsel that we two have shared,</LINE> 2447<LINE>The sisters' vows, the hours that we have spent,</LINE> 2448<LINE>When we have chid the hasty-footed time</LINE> 2449<LINE>For parting us,--O, is it all forgot?</LINE> 2450<LINE>All school-days' friendship, childhood innocence?</LINE> 2451<LINE>We, Hermia, like two artificial gods,</LINE> 2452<LINE>Have with our needles created both one flower,</LINE> 2453<LINE>Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,</LINE> 2454<LINE>Both warbling of one song, both in one key,</LINE> 2455<LINE>As if our hands, our sides, voices and minds,</LINE> 2456<LINE>Had been incorporate. So we grow together,</LINE> 2457<LINE>Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,</LINE> 2458<LINE>But yet an union in partition;</LINE> 2459<LINE>Two lovely berries moulded on one stem;</LINE> 2460<LINE>So, with two seeming bodies, but one heart;</LINE> 2461<LINE>Two of the first, like coats in heraldry,</LINE> 2462<LINE>Due but to one and crowned with one crest.</LINE> 2463<LINE>And will you rent our ancient love asunder,</LINE> 2464<LINE>To join with men in scorning your poor friend?</LINE> 2465<LINE>It is not friendly, 'tis not maidenly:</LINE> 2466<LINE>Our sex, as well as I, may chide you for it,</LINE> 2467<LINE>Though I alone do feel the injury.</LINE> 2468</SPEECH> 2469 2470<SPEECH> 2471<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 2472<LINE>I am amazed at your passionate words.</LINE> 2473<LINE>I scorn you not: it seems that you scorn me.</LINE> 2474</SPEECH> 2475 2476<SPEECH> 2477<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2478<LINE>Have you not set Lysander, as in scorn,</LINE> 2479<LINE>To follow me and praise my eyes and face?</LINE> 2480<LINE>And made your other love, Demetrius,</LINE> 2481<LINE>Who even but now did spurn me with his foot,</LINE> 2482<LINE>To call me goddess, nymph, divine and rare,</LINE> 2483<LINE>Precious, celestial? Wherefore speaks he this</LINE> 2484<LINE>To her he hates? and wherefore doth Lysander</LINE> 2485<LINE>Deny your love, so rich within his soul,</LINE> 2486<LINE>And tender me, forsooth, affection,</LINE> 2487<LINE>But by your setting on, by your consent?</LINE> 2488<LINE>What thought I be not so in grace as you,</LINE> 2489<LINE>So hung upon with love, so fortunate,</LINE> 2490<LINE>But miserable most, to love unloved?</LINE> 2491<LINE>This you should pity rather than despise.</LINE> 2492</SPEECH> 2493 2494<SPEECH> 2495<SPEAKER>HERNIA</SPEAKER> 2496<LINE>I understand not what you mean by this.</LINE> 2497</SPEECH> 2498 2499<SPEECH> 2500<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2501<LINE>Ay, do, persever, counterfeit sad looks,</LINE> 2502<LINE>Make mouths upon me when I turn my back;</LINE> 2503<LINE>Wink each at other; hold the sweet jest up:</LINE> 2504<LINE>This sport, well carried, shall be chronicled.</LINE> 2505<LINE>If you have any pity, grace, or manners,</LINE> 2506<LINE>You would not make me such an argument.</LINE> 2507<LINE>But fare ye well: 'tis partly my own fault;</LINE> 2508<LINE>Which death or absence soon shall remedy.</LINE> 2509</SPEECH> 2510 2511<SPEECH> 2512<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 2513<LINE>Stay, gentle Helena; hear my excuse:</LINE> 2514<LINE>My love, my life my soul, fair Helena!</LINE> 2515</SPEECH> 2516 2517<SPEECH> 2518<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2519<LINE>O excellent!</LINE> 2520</SPEECH> 2521 2522<SPEECH> 2523<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 2524<LINE>Sweet, do not scorn her so.</LINE> 2525</SPEECH> 2526 2527<SPEECH> 2528<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 2529<LINE>If she cannot entreat, I can compel.</LINE> 2530</SPEECH> 2531 2532<SPEECH> 2533<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 2534<LINE>Thou canst compel no more than she entreat:</LINE> 2535<LINE>Thy threats have no more strength than her weak prayers.</LINE> 2536<LINE>Helen, I love thee; by my life, I do:</LINE> 2537<LINE>I swear by that which I will lose for thee,</LINE> 2538<LINE>To prove him false that says I love thee not.</LINE> 2539</SPEECH> 2540 2541<SPEECH> 2542<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 2543<LINE>I say I love thee more than he can do.</LINE> 2544</SPEECH> 2545 2546<SPEECH> 2547<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 2548<LINE>If thou say so, withdraw, and prove it too.</LINE> 2549</SPEECH> 2550 2551<SPEECH> 2552<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 2553<LINE>Quick, come!</LINE> 2554</SPEECH> 2555 2556<SPEECH> 2557<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 2558<LINE>Lysander, whereto tends all this?</LINE> 2559</SPEECH> 2560 2561<SPEECH> 2562<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 2563<LINE>Away, you Ethiope!</LINE> 2564</SPEECH> 2565 2566<SPEECH> 2567<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 2568<LINE>No, no; he'll</LINE> 2569<LINE>Seem to break loose; take on as you would follow,</LINE> 2570<LINE>But yet come not: you are a tame man, go!</LINE> 2571</SPEECH> 2572 2573<SPEECH> 2574<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 2575<LINE>Hang off, thou cat, thou burr! vile thing, let loose,</LINE> 2576<LINE>Or I will shake thee from me like a serpent!</LINE> 2577</SPEECH> 2578 2579<SPEECH> 2580<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 2581<LINE>Why are you grown so rude? what change is this?</LINE> 2582<LINE>Sweet love,--</LINE> 2583</SPEECH> 2584 2585<SPEECH> 2586<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 2587<LINE>Thy love! out, tawny Tartar, out!</LINE> 2588<LINE>Out, loathed medicine! hated potion, hence!</LINE> 2589</SPEECH> 2590 2591<SPEECH> 2592<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 2593<LINE>Do you not jest?</LINE> 2594</SPEECH> 2595 2596<SPEECH> 2597<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2598<LINE>Yes, sooth; and so do you.</LINE> 2599</SPEECH> 2600 2601<SPEECH> 2602<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 2603<LINE>Demetrius, I will keep my word with thee.</LINE> 2604</SPEECH> 2605 2606<SPEECH> 2607<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 2608<LINE>I would I had your bond, for I perceive</LINE> 2609<LINE>A weak bond holds you: I'll not trust your word.</LINE> 2610</SPEECH> 2611 2612<SPEECH> 2613<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 2614<LINE>What, should I hurt her, strike her, kill her dead?</LINE> 2615<LINE>Although I hate her, I'll not harm her so.</LINE> 2616</SPEECH> 2617 2618<SPEECH> 2619<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 2620<LINE>What, can you do me greater harm than hate?</LINE> 2621<LINE>Hate me! wherefore? O me! what news, my love!</LINE> 2622<LINE>Am not I Hermia? are not you Lysander?</LINE> 2623<LINE>I am as fair now as I was erewhile.</LINE> 2624<LINE>Since night you loved me; yet since night you left</LINE> 2625<LINE>me:</LINE> 2626<LINE>Why, then you left me--O, the gods forbid!--</LINE> 2627<LINE>In earnest, shall I say?</LINE> 2628</SPEECH> 2629 2630<SPEECH> 2631<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 2632<LINE>Ay, by my life;</LINE> 2633<LINE>And never did desire to see thee more.</LINE> 2634<LINE>Therefore be out of hope, of question, of doubt;</LINE> 2635<LINE>Be certain, nothing truer; 'tis no jest</LINE> 2636<LINE>That I do hate thee and love Helena.</LINE> 2637</SPEECH> 2638 2639<SPEECH> 2640<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 2641<LINE>O me! you juggler! you canker-blossom!</LINE> 2642<LINE>You thief of love! what, have you come by night</LINE> 2643<LINE>And stolen my love's heart from him?</LINE> 2644</SPEECH> 2645 2646<SPEECH> 2647<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2648<LINE>Fine, i'faith!</LINE> 2649<LINE>Have you no modesty, no maiden shame,</LINE> 2650<LINE>No touch of bashfulness? What, will you tear</LINE> 2651<LINE>Impatient answers from my gentle tongue?</LINE> 2652<LINE>Fie, fie! you counterfeit, you puppet, you!</LINE> 2653</SPEECH> 2654 2655<SPEECH> 2656<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 2657<LINE>Puppet? why so? ay, that way goes the game.</LINE> 2658<LINE>Now I perceive that she hath made compare</LINE> 2659<LINE>Between our statures; she hath urged her height;</LINE> 2660<LINE>And with her personage, her tall personage,</LINE> 2661<LINE>Her height, forsooth, she hath prevail'd with him.</LINE> 2662<LINE>And are you grown so high in his esteem;</LINE> 2663<LINE>Because I am so dwarfish and so low?</LINE> 2664<LINE>How low am I, thou painted maypole? speak;</LINE> 2665<LINE>How low am I? I am not yet so low</LINE> 2666<LINE>But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes.</LINE> 2667</SPEECH> 2668 2669<SPEECH> 2670<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2671<LINE>I pray you, though you mock me, gentlemen,</LINE> 2672<LINE>Let her not hurt me: I was never curst;</LINE> 2673<LINE>I have no gift at all in shrewishness;</LINE> 2674<LINE>I am a right maid for my cowardice:</LINE> 2675<LINE>Let her not strike me. You perhaps may think,</LINE> 2676<LINE>Because she is something lower than myself,</LINE> 2677<LINE>That I can match her.</LINE> 2678</SPEECH> 2679 2680<SPEECH> 2681<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 2682<LINE>Lower! hark, again.</LINE> 2683</SPEECH> 2684 2685<SPEECH> 2686<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2687<LINE>Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me.</LINE> 2688<LINE>I evermore did love you, Hermia,</LINE> 2689<LINE>Did ever keep your counsels, never wrong'd you;</LINE> 2690<LINE>Save that, in love unto Demetrius,</LINE> 2691<LINE>I told him of your stealth unto this wood.</LINE> 2692<LINE>He follow'd you; for love I follow'd him;</LINE> 2693<LINE>But he hath chid me hence and threaten'd me</LINE> 2694<LINE>To strike me, spurn me, nay, to kill me too:</LINE> 2695<LINE>And now, so you will let me quiet go,</LINE> 2696<LINE>To Athens will I bear my folly back</LINE> 2697<LINE>And follow you no further: let me go:</LINE> 2698<LINE>You see how simple and how fond I am.</LINE> 2699</SPEECH> 2700 2701<SPEECH> 2702<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 2703<LINE>Why, get you gone: who is't that hinders you?</LINE> 2704</SPEECH> 2705 2706<SPEECH> 2707<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2708<LINE>A foolish heart, that I leave here behind.</LINE> 2709</SPEECH> 2710 2711<SPEECH> 2712<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 2713<LINE>What, with Lysander?</LINE> 2714</SPEECH> 2715 2716<SPEECH> 2717<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2718<LINE>With Demetrius.</LINE> 2719</SPEECH> 2720 2721<SPEECH> 2722<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 2723<LINE>Be not afraid; she shall not harm thee, Helena.</LINE> 2724</SPEECH> 2725 2726<SPEECH> 2727<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 2728<LINE>No, sir, she shall not, though you take her part.</LINE> 2729</SPEECH> 2730 2731<SPEECH> 2732<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2733<LINE>O, when she's angry, she is keen and shrewd!</LINE> 2734<LINE>She was a vixen when she went to school;</LINE> 2735<LINE>And though she be but little, she is fierce.</LINE> 2736</SPEECH> 2737 2738<SPEECH> 2739<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 2740<LINE>'Little' again! nothing but 'low' and 'little'!</LINE> 2741<LINE>Why will you suffer her to flout me thus?</LINE> 2742<LINE>Let me come to her.</LINE> 2743</SPEECH> 2744 2745<SPEECH> 2746<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 2747<LINE>Get you gone, you dwarf;</LINE> 2748<LINE>You minimus, of hindering knot-grass made;</LINE> 2749<LINE>You bead, you acorn.</LINE> 2750</SPEECH> 2751 2752<SPEECH> 2753<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 2754<LINE>You are too officious</LINE> 2755<LINE>In her behalf that scorns your services.</LINE> 2756<LINE>Let her alone: speak not of Helena;</LINE> 2757<LINE>Take not her part; for, if thou dost intend</LINE> 2758<LINE>Never so little show of love to her,</LINE> 2759<LINE>Thou shalt aby it.</LINE> 2760</SPEECH> 2761 2762<SPEECH> 2763<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 2764<LINE>Now she holds me not;</LINE> 2765<LINE>Now follow, if thou darest, to try whose right,</LINE> 2766<LINE>Of thine or mine, is most in Helena.</LINE> 2767</SPEECH> 2768 2769<SPEECH> 2770<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 2771<LINE>Follow! nay, I'll go with thee, cheek by jole.</LINE> 2772</SPEECH> 2773 2774 2775<STAGEDIR>Exeunt LYSANDER and DEMETRIUS</STAGEDIR> 2776 2777<SPEECH> 2778<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 2779<LINE>You, mistress, all this coil is 'long of you:</LINE> 2780<LINE>Nay, go not back.</LINE> 2781</SPEECH> 2782 2783<SPEECH> 2784<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2785<LINE>I will not trust you, I,</LINE> 2786<LINE>Nor longer stay in your curst company.</LINE> 2787<LINE>Your hands than mine are quicker for a fray,</LINE> 2788<LINE>My legs are longer though, to run away.</LINE> 2789</SPEECH> 2790 2791 2792<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 2793 2794<SPEECH> 2795<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 2796<LINE>I am amazed, and know not what to say.</LINE> 2797</SPEECH> 2798 2799 2800<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 2801 2802<SPEECH> 2803<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 2804<LINE>This is thy negligence: still thou mistakest,</LINE> 2805<LINE>Or else committ'st thy knaveries wilfully.</LINE> 2806</SPEECH> 2807 2808<SPEECH> 2809<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 2810<LINE>Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook.</LINE> 2811<LINE>Did not you tell me I should know the man</LINE> 2812<LINE>By the Athenian garment be had on?</LINE> 2813<LINE>And so far blameless proves my enterprise,</LINE> 2814<LINE>That I have 'nointed an Athenian's eyes;</LINE> 2815<LINE>And so far am I glad it so did sort</LINE> 2816<LINE>As this their jangling I esteem a sport.</LINE> 2817</SPEECH> 2818 2819<SPEECH> 2820<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 2821<LINE>Thou see'st these lovers seek a place to fight:</LINE> 2822<LINE>Hie therefore, Robin, overcast the night;</LINE> 2823<LINE>The starry welkin cover thou anon</LINE> 2824<LINE>With drooping fog as black as Acheron,</LINE> 2825<LINE>And lead these testy rivals so astray</LINE> 2826<LINE>As one come not within another's way.</LINE> 2827<LINE>Like to Lysander sometime frame thy tongue,</LINE> 2828<LINE>Then stir Demetrius up with bitter wrong;</LINE> 2829<LINE>And sometime rail thou like Demetrius;</LINE> 2830<LINE>And from each other look thou lead them thus,</LINE> 2831<LINE>Till o'er their brows death-counterfeiting sleep</LINE> 2832<LINE>With leaden legs and batty wings doth creep:</LINE> 2833<LINE>Then crush this herb into Lysander's eye;</LINE> 2834<LINE>Whose liquor hath this virtuous property,</LINE> 2835<LINE>To take from thence all error with his might,</LINE> 2836<LINE>And make his eyeballs roll with wonted sight.</LINE> 2837<LINE>When they next wake, all this derision</LINE> 2838<LINE>Shall seem a dream and fruitless vision,</LINE> 2839<LINE>And back to Athens shall the lovers wend,</LINE> 2840<LINE>With league whose date till death shall never end.</LINE> 2841<LINE>Whiles I in this affair do thee employ,</LINE> 2842<LINE>I'll to my queen and beg her Indian boy;</LINE> 2843<LINE>And then I will her charmed eye release</LINE> 2844<LINE>From monster's view, and all things shall be peace.</LINE> 2845</SPEECH> 2846 2847<SPEECH> 2848<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 2849<LINE>My fairy lord, this must be done with haste,</LINE> 2850<LINE>For night's swift dragons cut the clouds full fast,</LINE> 2851<LINE>And yonder shines Aurora's harbinger;</LINE> 2852<LINE>At whose approach, ghosts, wandering here and there,</LINE> 2853<LINE>Troop home to churchyards: damned spirits all,</LINE> 2854<LINE>That in crossways and floods have burial,</LINE> 2855<LINE>Already to their wormy beds are gone;</LINE> 2856<LINE>For fear lest day should look their shames upon,</LINE> 2857<LINE>They willfully themselves exile from light</LINE> 2858<LINE>And must for aye consort with black-brow'd night.</LINE> 2859</SPEECH> 2860 2861<SPEECH> 2862<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 2863<LINE>But we are spirits of another sort:</LINE> 2864<LINE>I with the morning's love have oft made sport,</LINE> 2865<LINE>And, like a forester, the groves may tread,</LINE> 2866<LINE>Even till the eastern gate, all fiery-red,</LINE> 2867<LINE>Opening on Neptune with fair blessed beams,</LINE> 2868<LINE>Turns into yellow gold his salt green streams.</LINE> 2869<LINE>But, notwithstanding, haste; make no delay:</LINE> 2870<LINE>We may effect this business yet ere day.</LINE> 2871</SPEECH> 2872 2873 2874<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 2875 2876<SPEECH> 2877<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 2878<LINE>Up and down, up and down,</LINE> 2879<LINE>I will lead them up and down:</LINE> 2880<LINE>I am fear'd in field and town:</LINE> 2881<LINE>Goblin, lead them up and down.</LINE> 2882<LINE>Here comes one.</LINE> 2883</SPEECH> 2884 2885 2886<STAGEDIR>Re-enter LYSANDER</STAGEDIR> 2887 2888<SPEECH> 2889<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 2890<LINE>Where art thou, proud Demetrius? speak thou now.</LINE> 2891</SPEECH> 2892 2893<SPEECH> 2894<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 2895<LINE>Here, villain; drawn and ready. Where art thou?</LINE> 2896</SPEECH> 2897 2898<SPEECH> 2899<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 2900<LINE>I will be with thee straight.</LINE> 2901</SPEECH> 2902 2903<SPEECH> 2904<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 2905<LINE>Follow me, then,</LINE> 2906<LINE>To plainer ground.</LINE> 2907</SPEECH> 2908 2909<STAGEDIR>Exit LYSANDER, as following the voice</STAGEDIR> 2910<STAGEDIR>Re-enter DEMETRIUS</STAGEDIR> 2911 2912<SPEECH> 2913<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 2914<LINE>Lysander! speak again:</LINE> 2915<LINE>Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled?</LINE> 2916<LINE>Speak! In some bush? Where dost thou hide thy head?</LINE> 2917</SPEECH> 2918 2919<SPEECH> 2920<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 2921<LINE>Thou coward, art thou bragging to the stars,</LINE> 2922<LINE>Telling the bushes that thou look'st for wars,</LINE> 2923<LINE>And wilt not come? Come, recreant; come, thou child;</LINE> 2924<LINE>I'll whip thee with a rod: he is defiled</LINE> 2925<LINE>That draws a sword on thee.</LINE> 2926</SPEECH> 2927 2928<SPEECH> 2929<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 2930<LINE>Yea, art thou there?</LINE> 2931</SPEECH> 2932 2933<SPEECH> 2934<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 2935<LINE>Follow my voice: we'll try no manhood here.</LINE> 2936</SPEECH> 2937 2938<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 2939<STAGEDIR>Re-enter LYSANDER</STAGEDIR> 2940 2941<SPEECH> 2942<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 2943<LINE>He goes before me and still dares me on:</LINE> 2944<LINE>When I come where he calls, then he is gone.</LINE> 2945<LINE>The villain is much lighter-heel'd than I:</LINE> 2946<LINE>I follow'd fast, but faster he did fly;</LINE> 2947<LINE>That fallen am I in dark uneven way,</LINE> 2948<LINE>And here will rest me.</LINE> 2949<STAGEDIR>Lies down</STAGEDIR> 2950<LINE>Come, thou gentle day!</LINE> 2951<LINE>For if but once thou show me thy grey light,</LINE> 2952<LINE>I'll find Demetrius and revenge this spite.</LINE> 2953</SPEECH> 2954 2955<STAGEDIR>Sleeps</STAGEDIR> 2956<STAGEDIR>Re-enter PUCK and DEMETRIUS</STAGEDIR> 2957 2958<SPEECH> 2959<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 2960<LINE>Ho, ho, ho! Coward, why comest thou not?</LINE> 2961</SPEECH> 2962 2963<SPEECH> 2964<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 2965<LINE>Abide me, if thou darest; for well I wot</LINE> 2966<LINE>Thou runn'st before me, shifting every place,</LINE> 2967<LINE>And darest not stand, nor look me in the face.</LINE> 2968<LINE>Where art thou now?</LINE> 2969</SPEECH> 2970 2971<SPEECH> 2972<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 2973<LINE>Come hither: I am here.</LINE> 2974</SPEECH> 2975 2976<SPEECH> 2977<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 2978<LINE>Nay, then, thou mock'st me. Thou shalt buy this dear,</LINE> 2979<LINE>If ever I thy face by daylight see:</LINE> 2980<LINE>Now, go thy way. Faintness constraineth me</LINE> 2981<LINE>To measure out my length on this cold bed.</LINE> 2982<LINE>By day's approach look to be visited.</LINE> 2983</SPEECH> 2984 2985<STAGEDIR>Lies down and sleeps</STAGEDIR> 2986<STAGEDIR>Re-enter HELENA</STAGEDIR> 2987 2988<SPEECH> 2989<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2990<LINE>O weary night, O long and tedious night,</LINE> 2991<LINE>Abate thy hour! Shine comforts from the east,</LINE> 2992<LINE>That I may back to Athens by daylight,</LINE> 2993<LINE>From these that my poor company detest:</LINE> 2994<LINE>And sleep, that sometimes shuts up sorrow's eye,</LINE> 2995<LINE>Steal me awhile from mine own company.</LINE> 2996</SPEECH> 2997 2998 2999<STAGEDIR>Lies down and sleeps</STAGEDIR> 3000 3001<SPEECH> 3002<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 3003<LINE>Yet but three? Come one more;</LINE> 3004<LINE>Two of both kinds make up four.</LINE> 3005<LINE>Here she comes, curst and sad:</LINE> 3006<LINE>Cupid is a knavish lad,</LINE> 3007<LINE>Thus to make poor females mad.</LINE> 3008</SPEECH> 3009 3010 3011<STAGEDIR>Re-enter HERMIA</STAGEDIR> 3012 3013<SPEECH> 3014<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 3015<LINE>Never so weary, never so in woe,</LINE> 3016<LINE>Bedabbled with the dew and torn with briers,</LINE> 3017<LINE>I can no further crawl, no further go;</LINE> 3018<LINE>My legs can keep no pace with my desires.</LINE> 3019<LINE>Here will I rest me till the break of day.</LINE> 3020<LINE>Heavens shield Lysander, if they mean a fray!</LINE> 3021</SPEECH> 3022 3023 3024<STAGEDIR>Lies down and sleeps</STAGEDIR> 3025 3026<SPEECH> 3027<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 3028<LINE>On the ground</LINE> 3029<LINE>Sleep sound:</LINE> 3030<LINE>I'll apply</LINE> 3031<LINE>To your eye,</LINE> 3032<LINE>Gentle lover, remedy.</LINE> 3033<STAGEDIR>Squeezing the juice on LYSANDER's eyes</STAGEDIR> 3034<LINE>When thou wakest,</LINE> 3035<LINE>Thou takest</LINE> 3036<LINE>True delight</LINE> 3037<LINE>In the sight</LINE> 3038<LINE>Of thy former lady's eye:</LINE> 3039<LINE>And the country proverb known,</LINE> 3040<LINE>That every man should take his own,</LINE> 3041<LINE>In your waking shall be shown:</LINE> 3042<LINE>Jack shall have Jill;</LINE> 3043<LINE>Nought shall go ill;</LINE> 3044<LINE>The man shall have his mare again, and all shall be well.</LINE> 3045</SPEECH> 3046 3047 3048<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 3049</SCENE> 3050 3051</ACT> 3052 3053<ACT><TITLE>ACT IV</TITLE> 3054 3055<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE I. The same. LYSANDER, DEMETRIUS, HELENA, and HERMIA lying asleep.</TITLE> 3056<STAGEDIR>Enter TITANIA and BOTTOM; PEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB, MOTH, 3057MUSTARDSEED, and other Fairies attending; OBERON 3058behind unseen</STAGEDIR> 3059 3060<SPEECH> 3061<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 3062<LINE>Come, sit thee down upon this flowery bed,</LINE> 3063<LINE>While I thy amiable cheeks do coy,</LINE> 3064<LINE>And stick musk-roses in thy sleek smooth head,</LINE> 3065<LINE>And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy.</LINE> 3066</SPEECH> 3067 3068<SPEECH> 3069<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 3070<LINE>Where's Peaseblossom?</LINE> 3071</SPEECH> 3072 3073<SPEECH> 3074<SPEAKER>PEASEBLOSSOM</SPEAKER> 3075<LINE>Ready.</LINE> 3076</SPEECH> 3077 3078<SPEECH> 3079<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 3080<LINE>Scratch my head Peaseblossom. Where's Mounsieur Cobweb?</LINE> 3081</SPEECH> 3082 3083<SPEECH> 3084<SPEAKER>COBWEB</SPEAKER> 3085<LINE>Ready.</LINE> 3086</SPEECH> 3087 3088<SPEECH> 3089<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 3090<LINE>Mounsieur Cobweb, good mounsieur, get you your</LINE> 3091<LINE>weapons in your hand, and kill me a red-hipped</LINE> 3092<LINE>humble-bee on the top of a thistle; and, good</LINE> 3093<LINE>mounsieur, bring me the honey-bag. Do not fret</LINE> 3094<LINE>yourself too much in the action, mounsieur; and,</LINE> 3095<LINE>good mounsieur, have a care the honey-bag break not;</LINE> 3096<LINE>I would be loath to have you overflown with a</LINE> 3097<LINE>honey-bag, signior. Where's Mounsieur Mustardseed?</LINE> 3098</SPEECH> 3099 3100<SPEECH> 3101<SPEAKER>MUSTARDSEED</SPEAKER> 3102<LINE>Ready.</LINE> 3103</SPEECH> 3104 3105<SPEECH> 3106<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 3107<LINE>Give me your neaf, Mounsieur Mustardseed. Pray you,</LINE> 3108<LINE>leave your courtesy, good mounsieur.</LINE> 3109</SPEECH> 3110 3111<SPEECH> 3112<SPEAKER>MUSTARDSEED</SPEAKER> 3113<LINE>What's your Will?</LINE> 3114</SPEECH> 3115 3116<SPEECH> 3117<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 3118<LINE>Nothing, good mounsieur, but to help Cavalery Cobweb</LINE> 3119<LINE>to scratch. I must to the barber's, monsieur; for</LINE> 3120<LINE>methinks I am marvellous hairy about the face; and I</LINE> 3121<LINE>am such a tender ass, if my hair do but tickle me,</LINE> 3122<LINE>I must scratch.</LINE> 3123</SPEECH> 3124 3125<SPEECH> 3126<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 3127<LINE>What, wilt thou hear some music,</LINE> 3128<LINE>my sweet love?</LINE> 3129</SPEECH> 3130 3131<SPEECH> 3132<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 3133<LINE>I have a reasonable good ear in music. Let's have</LINE> 3134<LINE>the tongs and the bones.</LINE> 3135</SPEECH> 3136 3137<SPEECH> 3138<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 3139<LINE>Or say, sweet love, what thou desirest to eat.</LINE> 3140</SPEECH> 3141 3142<SPEECH> 3143<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 3144<LINE>Truly, a peck of provender: I could munch your good</LINE> 3145<LINE>dry oats. Methinks I have a great desire to a bottle</LINE> 3146<LINE>of hay: good hay, sweet hay, hath no fellow.</LINE> 3147</SPEECH> 3148 3149<SPEECH> 3150<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 3151<LINE>I have a venturous fairy that shall seek</LINE> 3152<LINE>The squirrel's hoard, and fetch thee new nuts.</LINE> 3153</SPEECH> 3154 3155<SPEECH> 3156<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 3157<LINE>I had rather have a handful or two of dried peas.</LINE> 3158<LINE>But, I pray you, let none of your people stir me: I</LINE> 3159<LINE>have an exposition of sleep come upon me.</LINE> 3160</SPEECH> 3161 3162<SPEECH> 3163<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 3164<LINE>Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms.</LINE> 3165<LINE>Fairies, begone, and be all ways away.</LINE> 3166<STAGEDIR>Exeunt fairies</STAGEDIR> 3167<LINE>So doth the woodbine the sweet honeysuckle</LINE> 3168<LINE>Gently entwist; the female ivy so</LINE> 3169<LINE>Enrings the barky fingers of the elm.</LINE> 3170<LINE>O, how I love thee! how I dote on thee!</LINE> 3171</SPEECH> 3172 3173<STAGEDIR>They sleep</STAGEDIR> 3174<STAGEDIR>Enter PUCK</STAGEDIR> 3175 3176<SPEECH> 3177<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 3178<LINE><STAGEDIR>Advancing</STAGEDIR> Welcome, good Robin.</LINE> 3179<LINE>See'st thou this sweet sight?</LINE> 3180<LINE>Her dotage now I do begin to pity:</LINE> 3181<LINE>For, meeting her of late behind the wood,</LINE> 3182<LINE>Seeking sweet favours from this hateful fool,</LINE> 3183<LINE>I did upbraid her and fall out with her;</LINE> 3184<LINE>For she his hairy temples then had rounded</LINE> 3185<LINE>With a coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers;</LINE> 3186<LINE>And that same dew, which sometime on the buds</LINE> 3187<LINE>Was wont to swell like round and orient pearls,</LINE> 3188<LINE>Stood now within the pretty flowerets' eyes</LINE> 3189<LINE>Like tears that did their own disgrace bewail.</LINE> 3190<LINE>When I had at my pleasure taunted her</LINE> 3191<LINE>And she in mild terms begg'd my patience,</LINE> 3192<LINE>I then did ask of her her changeling child;</LINE> 3193<LINE>Which straight she gave me, and her fairy sent</LINE> 3194<LINE>To bear him to my bower in fairy land.</LINE> 3195<LINE>And now I have the boy, I will undo</LINE> 3196<LINE>This hateful imperfection of her eyes:</LINE> 3197<LINE>And, gentle Puck, take this transformed scalp</LINE> 3198<LINE>From off the head of this Athenian swain;</LINE> 3199<LINE>That, he awaking when the other do,</LINE> 3200<LINE>May all to Athens back again repair</LINE> 3201<LINE>And think no more of this night's accidents</LINE> 3202<LINE>But as the fierce vexation of a dream.</LINE> 3203<LINE>But first I will release the fairy queen.</LINE> 3204<LINE>Be as thou wast wont to be;</LINE> 3205<LINE>See as thou wast wont to see:</LINE> 3206<LINE>Dian's bud o'er Cupid's flower</LINE> 3207<LINE>Hath such force and blessed power.</LINE> 3208<LINE>Now, my Titania; wake you, my sweet queen.</LINE> 3209</SPEECH> 3210 3211<SPEECH> 3212<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 3213<LINE>My Oberon! what visions have I seen!</LINE> 3214<LINE>Methought I was enamour'd of an ass.</LINE> 3215</SPEECH> 3216 3217<SPEECH> 3218<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 3219<LINE>There lies your love.</LINE> 3220</SPEECH> 3221 3222<SPEECH> 3223<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 3224<LINE>How came these things to pass?</LINE> 3225<LINE>O, how mine eyes do loathe his visage now!</LINE> 3226</SPEECH> 3227 3228<SPEECH> 3229<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 3230<LINE>Silence awhile. Robin, take off this head.</LINE> 3231<LINE>Titania, music call; and strike more dead</LINE> 3232<LINE>Than common sleep of all these five the sense.</LINE> 3233</SPEECH> 3234 3235<SPEECH> 3236<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 3237<LINE>Music, ho! music, such as charmeth sleep!</LINE> 3238</SPEECH> 3239 3240 3241<STAGEDIR>Music, still</STAGEDIR> 3242 3243<SPEECH> 3244<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 3245<LINE>Now, when thou wakest, with thine</LINE> 3246<LINE>own fool's eyes peep.</LINE> 3247</SPEECH> 3248 3249<SPEECH> 3250<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 3251<LINE>Sound, music! Come, my queen, take hands with me,</LINE> 3252<LINE>And rock the ground whereon these sleepers be.</LINE> 3253<LINE>Now thou and I are new in amity,</LINE> 3254<LINE>And will to-morrow midnight solemnly</LINE> 3255<LINE>Dance in Duke Theseus' house triumphantly,</LINE> 3256<LINE>And bless it to all fair prosperity:</LINE> 3257<LINE>There shall the pairs of faithful lovers be</LINE> 3258<LINE>Wedded, with Theseus, all in jollity.</LINE> 3259</SPEECH> 3260 3261<SPEECH> 3262<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 3263<LINE>Fairy king, attend, and mark:</LINE> 3264<LINE>I do hear the morning lark.</LINE> 3265</SPEECH> 3266 3267<SPEECH> 3268<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 3269<LINE>Then, my queen, in silence sad,</LINE> 3270<LINE>Trip we after the night's shade:</LINE> 3271<LINE>We the globe can compass soon,</LINE> 3272<LINE>Swifter than the wandering moon.</LINE> 3273</SPEECH> 3274 3275<SPEECH> 3276<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 3277<LINE>Come, my lord, and in our flight</LINE> 3278<LINE>Tell me how it came this night</LINE> 3279<LINE>That I sleeping here was found</LINE> 3280<LINE>With these mortals on the ground.</LINE> 3281<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 3282</SPEECH> 3283 3284<STAGEDIR>Horns winded within</STAGEDIR> 3285<STAGEDIR>Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, EGEUS, and train</STAGEDIR> 3286 3287<SPEECH> 3288<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3289<LINE>Go, one of you, find out the forester;</LINE> 3290<LINE>For now our observation is perform'd;</LINE> 3291<LINE>And since we have the vaward of the day,</LINE> 3292<LINE>My love shall hear the music of my hounds.</LINE> 3293<LINE>Uncouple in the western valley; let them go:</LINE> 3294<LINE>Dispatch, I say, and find the forester.</LINE> 3295<STAGEDIR>Exit an Attendant</STAGEDIR> 3296<LINE>We will, fair queen, up to the mountain's top,</LINE> 3297<LINE>And mark the musical confusion</LINE> 3298<LINE>Of hounds and echo in conjunction.</LINE> 3299</SPEECH> 3300 3301<SPEECH> 3302<SPEAKER>HIPPOLYTA</SPEAKER> 3303<LINE>I was with Hercules and Cadmus once,</LINE> 3304<LINE>When in a wood of Crete they bay'd the bear</LINE> 3305<LINE>With hounds of Sparta: never did I hear</LINE> 3306<LINE>Such gallant chiding: for, besides the groves,</LINE> 3307<LINE>The skies, the fountains, every region near</LINE> 3308<LINE>Seem'd all one mutual cry: I never heard</LINE> 3309<LINE>So musical a discord, such sweet thunder.</LINE> 3310</SPEECH> 3311 3312<SPEECH> 3313<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3314<LINE>My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind,</LINE> 3315<LINE>So flew'd, so sanded, and their heads are hung</LINE> 3316<LINE>With ears that sweep away the morning dew;</LINE> 3317<LINE>Crook-knee'd, and dew-lapp'd like Thessalian bulls;</LINE> 3318<LINE>Slow in pursuit, but match'd in mouth like bells,</LINE> 3319<LINE>Each under each. A cry more tuneable</LINE> 3320<LINE>Was never holla'd to, nor cheer'd with horn,</LINE> 3321<LINE>In Crete, in Sparta, nor in Thessaly:</LINE> 3322<LINE>Judge when you hear. But, soft! what nymphs are these?</LINE> 3323</SPEECH> 3324 3325<SPEECH> 3326<SPEAKER>EGEUS</SPEAKER> 3327<LINE>My lord, this is my daughter here asleep;</LINE> 3328<LINE>And this, Lysander; this Demetrius is;</LINE> 3329<LINE>This Helena, old Nedar's Helena:</LINE> 3330<LINE>I wonder of their being here together.</LINE> 3331</SPEECH> 3332 3333<SPEECH> 3334<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3335<LINE>No doubt they rose up early to observe</LINE> 3336<LINE>The rite of May, and hearing our intent,</LINE> 3337<LINE>Came here in grace our solemnity.</LINE> 3338<LINE>But speak, Egeus; is not this the day</LINE> 3339<LINE>That Hermia should give answer of her choice?</LINE> 3340</SPEECH> 3341 3342<SPEECH> 3343<SPEAKER>EGEUS</SPEAKER> 3344<LINE>It is, my lord.</LINE> 3345</SPEECH> 3346 3347<SPEECH> 3348<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3349<LINE>Go, bid the huntsmen wake them with their horns.</LINE> 3350<STAGEDIR>Horns and shout within. LYSANDER, DEMETRIUS, 3351HELENA, and HERMIA wake and start up</STAGEDIR> 3352<LINE>Good morrow, friends. Saint Valentine is past:</LINE> 3353<LINE>Begin these wood-birds but to couple now?</LINE> 3354</SPEECH> 3355 3356<SPEECH> 3357<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 3358<LINE>Pardon, my lord.</LINE> 3359</SPEECH> 3360 3361<SPEECH> 3362<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3363<LINE>I pray you all, stand up.</LINE> 3364<LINE>I know you two are rival enemies:</LINE> 3365<LINE>How comes this gentle concord in the world,</LINE> 3366<LINE>That hatred is so far from jealousy,</LINE> 3367<LINE>To sleep by hate, and fear no enmity?</LINE> 3368</SPEECH> 3369 3370<SPEECH> 3371<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 3372<LINE>My lord, I shall reply amazedly,</LINE> 3373<LINE>Half sleep, half waking: but as yet, I swear,</LINE> 3374<LINE>I cannot truly say how I came here;</LINE> 3375<LINE>But, as I think,--for truly would I speak,</LINE> 3376<LINE>And now do I bethink me, so it is,--</LINE> 3377<LINE>I came with Hermia hither: our intent</LINE> 3378<LINE>Was to be gone from Athens, where we might,</LINE> 3379<LINE>Without the peril of the Athenian law.</LINE> 3380</SPEECH> 3381 3382<SPEECH> 3383<SPEAKER>EGEUS</SPEAKER> 3384<LINE>Enough, enough, my lord; you have enough:</LINE> 3385<LINE>I beg the law, the law, upon his head.</LINE> 3386<LINE>They would have stolen away; they would, Demetrius,</LINE> 3387<LINE>Thereby to have defeated you and me,</LINE> 3388<LINE>You of your wife and me of my consent,</LINE> 3389<LINE>Of my consent that she should be your wife.</LINE> 3390</SPEECH> 3391 3392<SPEECH> 3393<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 3394<LINE>My lord, fair Helen told me of their stealth,</LINE> 3395<LINE>Of this their purpose hither to this wood;</LINE> 3396<LINE>And I in fury hither follow'd them,</LINE> 3397<LINE>Fair Helena in fancy following me.</LINE> 3398<LINE>But, my good lord, I wot not by what power,--</LINE> 3399<LINE>But by some power it is,--my love to Hermia,</LINE> 3400<LINE>Melted as the snow, seems to me now</LINE> 3401<LINE>As the remembrance of an idle gaud</LINE> 3402<LINE>Which in my childhood I did dote upon;</LINE> 3403<LINE>And all the faith, the virtue of my heart,</LINE> 3404<LINE>The object and the pleasure of mine eye,</LINE> 3405<LINE>Is only Helena. To her, my lord,</LINE> 3406<LINE>Was I betroth'd ere I saw Hermia:</LINE> 3407<LINE>But, like in sickness, did I loathe this food;</LINE> 3408<LINE>But, as in health, come to my natural taste,</LINE> 3409<LINE>Now I do wish it, love it, long for it,</LINE> 3410<LINE>And will for evermore be true to it.</LINE> 3411</SPEECH> 3412 3413<SPEECH> 3414<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3415<LINE>Fair lovers, you are fortunately met:</LINE> 3416<LINE>Of this discourse we more will hear anon.</LINE> 3417<LINE>Egeus, I will overbear your will;</LINE> 3418<LINE>For in the temple by and by with us</LINE> 3419<LINE>These couples shall eternally be knit:</LINE> 3420<LINE>And, for the morning now is something worn,</LINE> 3421<LINE>Our purposed hunting shall be set aside.</LINE> 3422<LINE>Away with us to Athens; three and three,</LINE> 3423<LINE>We'll hold a feast in great solemnity.</LINE> 3424<LINE>Come, Hippolyta.</LINE> 3425</SPEECH> 3426 3427 3428<STAGEDIR>Exeunt THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, EGEUS, and train</STAGEDIR> 3429 3430<SPEECH> 3431<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 3432<LINE>These things seem small and undistinguishable,</LINE> 3433</SPEECH> 3434 3435<SPEECH> 3436<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 3437<LINE>Methinks I see these things with parted eye,</LINE> 3438<LINE>When every thing seems double.</LINE> 3439</SPEECH> 3440 3441<SPEECH> 3442<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3443<LINE>So methinks:</LINE> 3444<LINE>And I have found Demetrius like a jewel,</LINE> 3445<LINE>Mine own, and not mine own.</LINE> 3446</SPEECH> 3447 3448<SPEECH> 3449<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 3450<LINE>Are you sure</LINE> 3451<LINE>That we are awake? It seems to me</LINE> 3452<LINE>That yet we sleep, we dream. Do not you think</LINE> 3453<LINE>The duke was here, and bid us follow him?</LINE> 3454</SPEECH> 3455 3456<SPEECH> 3457<SPEAKER>HERMIA</SPEAKER> 3458<LINE>Yea; and my father.</LINE> 3459</SPEECH> 3460 3461<SPEECH> 3462<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3463<LINE>And Hippolyta.</LINE> 3464</SPEECH> 3465 3466<SPEECH> 3467<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 3468<LINE>And he did bid us follow to the temple.</LINE> 3469</SPEECH> 3470 3471<SPEECH> 3472<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 3473<LINE>Why, then, we are awake: let's follow him</LINE> 3474<LINE>And by the way let us recount our dreams.</LINE> 3475</SPEECH> 3476 3477 3478<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 3479 3480<SPEECH> 3481<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 3482<LINE><STAGEDIR>Awaking</STAGEDIR> When my cue comes, call me, and I will</LINE> 3483<LINE>answer: my next is, 'Most fair Pyramus.' Heigh-ho!</LINE> 3484<LINE>Peter Quince! Flute, the bellows-mender! Snout,</LINE> 3485<LINE>the tinker! Starveling! God's my life, stolen</LINE> 3486<LINE>hence, and left me asleep! I have had a most rare</LINE> 3487<LINE>vision. I have had a dream, past the wit of man to</LINE> 3488<LINE>say what dream it was: man is but an ass, if he go</LINE> 3489<LINE>about to expound this dream. Methought I was--there</LINE> 3490<LINE>is no man can tell what. Methought I was,--and</LINE> 3491<LINE>methought I had,--but man is but a patched fool, if</LINE> 3492<LINE>he will offer to say what methought I had. The eye</LINE> 3493<LINE>of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not</LINE> 3494<LINE>seen, man's hand is not able to taste, his tongue</LINE> 3495<LINE>to conceive, nor his heart to report, what my dream</LINE> 3496<LINE>was. I will get Peter Quince to write a ballad of</LINE> 3497<LINE>this dream: it shall be called Bottom's Dream,</LINE> 3498<LINE>because it hath no bottom; and I will sing it in the</LINE> 3499<LINE>latter end of a play, before the duke:</LINE> 3500<LINE>peradventure, to make it the more gracious, I shall</LINE> 3501<LINE>sing it at her death.</LINE> 3502</SPEECH> 3503 3504 3505<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 3506</SCENE> 3507 3508<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE II. Athens. QUINCE'S house.</TITLE> 3509<STAGEDIR>Enter QUINCE, FLUTE, SNOUT, and STARVELING</STAGEDIR> 3510 3511<SPEECH> 3512<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 3513<LINE>Have you sent to Bottom's house? is he come home yet?</LINE> 3514</SPEECH> 3515 3516<SPEECH> 3517<SPEAKER>STARVELING</SPEAKER> 3518<LINE>He cannot be heard of. Out of doubt he is</LINE> 3519<LINE>transported.</LINE> 3520</SPEECH> 3521 3522<SPEECH> 3523<SPEAKER>FLUTE</SPEAKER> 3524<LINE>If he come not, then the play is marred: it goes</LINE> 3525<LINE>not forward, doth it?</LINE> 3526</SPEECH> 3527 3528<SPEECH> 3529<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 3530<LINE>It is not possible: you have not a man in all</LINE> 3531<LINE>Athens able to discharge Pyramus but he.</LINE> 3532</SPEECH> 3533 3534<SPEECH> 3535<SPEAKER>FLUTE</SPEAKER> 3536<LINE>No, he hath simply the best wit of any handicraft</LINE> 3537<LINE>man in Athens.</LINE> 3538</SPEECH> 3539 3540<SPEECH> 3541<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 3542<LINE>Yea and the best person too; and he is a very</LINE> 3543<LINE>paramour for a sweet voice.</LINE> 3544</SPEECH> 3545 3546<SPEECH> 3547<SPEAKER>FLUTE</SPEAKER> 3548<LINE>You must say 'paragon:' a paramour is, God bless us,</LINE> 3549<LINE>a thing of naught.</LINE> 3550</SPEECH> 3551 3552 3553<STAGEDIR>Enter SNUG</STAGEDIR> 3554 3555<SPEECH> 3556<SPEAKER>SNUG</SPEAKER> 3557<LINE>Masters, the duke is coming from the temple, and</LINE> 3558<LINE>there is two or three lords and ladies more married:</LINE> 3559<LINE>if our sport had gone forward, we had all been made</LINE> 3560<LINE>men.</LINE> 3561</SPEECH> 3562 3563<SPEECH> 3564<SPEAKER>FLUTE</SPEAKER> 3565<LINE>O sweet bully Bottom! Thus hath he lost sixpence a</LINE> 3566<LINE>day during his life; he could not have 'scaped</LINE> 3567<LINE>sixpence a day: an the duke had not given him</LINE> 3568<LINE>sixpence a day for playing Pyramus, I'll be hanged;</LINE> 3569<LINE>he would have deserved it: sixpence a day in</LINE> 3570<LINE>Pyramus, or nothing.</LINE> 3571</SPEECH> 3572 3573 3574<STAGEDIR>Enter BOTTOM</STAGEDIR> 3575 3576<SPEECH> 3577<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 3578<LINE>Where are these lads? where are these hearts?</LINE> 3579</SPEECH> 3580 3581<SPEECH> 3582<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 3583<LINE>Bottom! O most courageous day! O most happy hour!</LINE> 3584</SPEECH> 3585 3586<SPEECH> 3587<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 3588<LINE>Masters, I am to discourse wonders: but ask me not</LINE> 3589<LINE>what; for if I tell you, I am no true Athenian. I</LINE> 3590<LINE>will tell you every thing, right as it fell out.</LINE> 3591</SPEECH> 3592 3593<SPEECH> 3594<SPEAKER>QUINCE</SPEAKER> 3595<LINE>Let us hear, sweet Bottom.</LINE> 3596</SPEECH> 3597 3598<SPEECH> 3599<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 3600<LINE>Not a word of me. All that I will tell you is, that</LINE> 3601<LINE>the duke hath dined. Get your apparel together,</LINE> 3602<LINE>good strings to your beards, new ribbons to your</LINE> 3603<LINE>pumps; meet presently at the palace; every man look</LINE> 3604<LINE>o'er his part; for the short and the long is, our</LINE> 3605<LINE>play is preferred. In any case, let Thisby have</LINE> 3606<LINE>clean linen; and let not him that plays the lion</LINE> 3607<LINE>pair his nails, for they shall hang out for the</LINE> 3608<LINE>lion's claws. And, most dear actors, eat no onions</LINE> 3609<LINE>nor garlic, for we are to utter sweet breath; and I</LINE> 3610<LINE>do not doubt but to hear them say, it is a sweet</LINE> 3611<LINE>comedy. No more words: away! go, away!</LINE> 3612</SPEECH> 3613 3614 3615<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 3616</SCENE> 3617 3618</ACT> 3619 3620<ACT><TITLE>ACT V</TITLE> 3621 3622<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE I. Athens. The palace of THESEUS.</TITLE> 3623<STAGEDIR>Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, Lords and 3624Attendants</STAGEDIR> 3625 3626<SPEECH> 3627<SPEAKER>HIPPOLYTA</SPEAKER> 3628<LINE>'Tis strange my Theseus, that these</LINE> 3629<LINE>lovers speak of.</LINE> 3630</SPEECH> 3631 3632<SPEECH> 3633<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3634<LINE>More strange than true: I never may believe</LINE> 3635<LINE>These antique fables, nor these fairy toys.</LINE> 3636<LINE>Lovers and madmen have such seething brains,</LINE> 3637<LINE>Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend</LINE> 3638<LINE>More than cool reason ever comprehends.</LINE> 3639<LINE>The lunatic, the lover and the poet</LINE> 3640<LINE>Are of imagination all compact:</LINE> 3641<LINE>One sees more devils than vast hell can hold,</LINE> 3642<LINE>That is, the madman: the lover, all as frantic,</LINE> 3643<LINE>Sees Helen's beauty in a brow of Egypt:</LINE> 3644<LINE>The poet's eye, in fine frenzy rolling,</LINE> 3645<LINE>Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven;</LINE> 3646<LINE>And as imagination bodies forth</LINE> 3647<LINE>The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen</LINE> 3648<LINE>Turns them to shapes and gives to airy nothing</LINE> 3649<LINE>A local habitation and a name.</LINE> 3650<LINE>Such tricks hath strong imagination,</LINE> 3651<LINE>That if it would but apprehend some joy,</LINE> 3652<LINE>It comprehends some bringer of that joy;</LINE> 3653<LINE>Or in the night, imagining some fear,</LINE> 3654<LINE>How easy is a bush supposed a bear!</LINE> 3655</SPEECH> 3656 3657<SPEECH> 3658<SPEAKER>HIPPOLYTA</SPEAKER> 3659<LINE>But all the story of the night told over,</LINE> 3660<LINE>And all their minds transfigured so together,</LINE> 3661<LINE>More witnesseth than fancy's images</LINE> 3662<LINE>And grows to something of great constancy;</LINE> 3663<LINE>But, howsoever, strange and admirable.</LINE> 3664</SPEECH> 3665 3666<SPEECH> 3667<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3668<LINE>Here come the lovers, full of joy and mirth.</LINE> 3669<STAGEDIR>Enter LYSANDER, DEMETRIUS, HERMIA, and HELENA</STAGEDIR> 3670<LINE>Joy, gentle friends! joy and fresh days of love</LINE> 3671<LINE>Accompany your hearts!</LINE> 3672</SPEECH> 3673 3674<SPEECH> 3675<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 3676<LINE>More than to us</LINE> 3677<LINE>Wait in your royal walks, your board, your bed!</LINE> 3678</SPEECH> 3679 3680<SPEECH> 3681<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3682<LINE>Come now; what masques, what dances shall we have,</LINE> 3683<LINE>To wear away this long age of three hours</LINE> 3684<LINE>Between our after-supper and bed-time?</LINE> 3685<LINE>Where is our usual manager of mirth?</LINE> 3686<LINE>What revels are in hand? Is there no play,</LINE> 3687<LINE>To ease the anguish of a torturing hour?</LINE> 3688<LINE>Call Philostrate.</LINE> 3689</SPEECH> 3690 3691<SPEECH> 3692<SPEAKER>PHILOSTRATE</SPEAKER> 3693<LINE>Here, mighty Theseus.</LINE> 3694</SPEECH> 3695 3696<SPEECH> 3697<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3698<LINE>Say, what abridgement have you for this evening?</LINE> 3699<LINE>What masque? what music? How shall we beguile</LINE> 3700<LINE>The lazy time, if not with some delight?</LINE> 3701</SPEECH> 3702 3703<SPEECH> 3704<SPEAKER>PHILOSTRATE</SPEAKER> 3705<LINE>There is a brief how many sports are ripe:</LINE> 3706<LINE>Make choice of which your highness will see first.</LINE> 3707</SPEECH> 3708 3709 3710<STAGEDIR>Giving a paper</STAGEDIR> 3711 3712<SPEECH> 3713<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3714<LINE><STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR> 'The battle with the Centaurs, to be sung</LINE> 3715<LINE>By an Athenian eunuch to the harp.'</LINE> 3716<LINE>We'll none of that: that have I told my love,</LINE> 3717<LINE>In glory of my kinsman Hercules.</LINE> 3718<STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR> 3719<LINE>'The riot of the tipsy Bacchanals,</LINE> 3720<LINE>Tearing the Thracian singer in their rage.'</LINE> 3721<LINE>That is an old device; and it was play'd</LINE> 3722<LINE>When I from Thebes came last a conqueror.</LINE> 3723<STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR> 3724<LINE>'The thrice three Muses mourning for the death</LINE> 3725<LINE>Of Learning, late deceased in beggary.'</LINE> 3726<LINE>That is some satire, keen and critical,</LINE> 3727<LINE>Not sorting with a nuptial ceremony.</LINE> 3728<STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR> 3729<LINE>'A tedious brief scene of young Pyramus</LINE> 3730<LINE>And his love Thisbe; very tragical mirth.'</LINE> 3731<LINE>Merry and tragical! tedious and brief!</LINE> 3732<LINE>That is, hot ice and wondrous strange snow.</LINE> 3733<LINE>How shall we find the concord of this discord?</LINE> 3734</SPEECH> 3735 3736<SPEECH> 3737<SPEAKER>PHILOSTRATE</SPEAKER> 3738<LINE>A play there is, my lord, some ten words long,</LINE> 3739<LINE>Which is as brief as I have known a play;</LINE> 3740<LINE>But by ten words, my lord, it is too long,</LINE> 3741<LINE>Which makes it tedious; for in all the play</LINE> 3742<LINE>There is not one word apt, one player fitted:</LINE> 3743<LINE>And tragical, my noble lord, it is;</LINE> 3744<LINE>For Pyramus therein doth kill himself.</LINE> 3745<LINE>Which, when I saw rehearsed, I must confess,</LINE> 3746<LINE>Made mine eyes water; but more merry tears</LINE> 3747<LINE>The passion of loud laughter never shed.</LINE> 3748</SPEECH> 3749 3750<SPEECH> 3751<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3752<LINE>What are they that do play it?</LINE> 3753</SPEECH> 3754 3755<SPEECH> 3756<SPEAKER>PHILOSTRATE</SPEAKER> 3757<LINE>Hard-handed men that work in Athens here,</LINE> 3758<LINE>Which never labour'd in their minds till now,</LINE> 3759<LINE>And now have toil'd their unbreathed memories</LINE> 3760<LINE>With this same play, against your nuptial.</LINE> 3761</SPEECH> 3762 3763<SPEECH> 3764<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3765<LINE>And we will hear it.</LINE> 3766</SPEECH> 3767 3768<SPEECH> 3769<SPEAKER>PHILOSTRATE</SPEAKER> 3770<LINE>No, my noble lord;</LINE> 3771<LINE>It is not for you: I have heard it over,</LINE> 3772<LINE>And it is nothing, nothing in the world;</LINE> 3773<LINE>Unless you can find sport in their intents,</LINE> 3774<LINE>Extremely stretch'd and conn'd with cruel pain,</LINE> 3775<LINE>To do you service.</LINE> 3776</SPEECH> 3777 3778<SPEECH> 3779<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3780<LINE>I will hear that play;</LINE> 3781<LINE>For never anything can be amiss,</LINE> 3782<LINE>When simpleness and duty tender it.</LINE> 3783<LINE>Go, bring them in: and take your places, ladies.</LINE> 3784</SPEECH> 3785 3786 3787<STAGEDIR>Exit PHILOSTRATE</STAGEDIR> 3788 3789<SPEECH> 3790<SPEAKER>HIPPOLYTA</SPEAKER> 3791<LINE>I love not to see wretchedness o'er charged</LINE> 3792<LINE>And duty in his service perishing.</LINE> 3793</SPEECH> 3794 3795<SPEECH> 3796<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3797<LINE>Why, gentle sweet, you shall see no such thing.</LINE> 3798</SPEECH> 3799 3800<SPEECH> 3801<SPEAKER>HIPPOLYTA</SPEAKER> 3802<LINE>He says they can do nothing in this kind.</LINE> 3803</SPEECH> 3804 3805<SPEECH> 3806<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3807<LINE>The kinder we, to give them thanks for nothing.</LINE> 3808<LINE>Our sport shall be to take what they mistake:</LINE> 3809<LINE>And what poor duty cannot do, noble respect</LINE> 3810<LINE>Takes it in might, not merit.</LINE> 3811<LINE>Where I have come, great clerks have purposed</LINE> 3812<LINE>To greet me with premeditated welcomes;</LINE> 3813<LINE>Where I have seen them shiver and look pale,</LINE> 3814<LINE>Make periods in the midst of sentences,</LINE> 3815<LINE>Throttle their practised accent in their fears</LINE> 3816<LINE>And in conclusion dumbly have broke off,</LINE> 3817<LINE>Not paying me a welcome. Trust me, sweet,</LINE> 3818<LINE>Out of this silence yet I pick'd a welcome;</LINE> 3819<LINE>And in the modesty of fearful duty</LINE> 3820<LINE>I read as much as from the rattling tongue</LINE> 3821<LINE>Of saucy and audacious eloquence.</LINE> 3822<LINE>Love, therefore, and tongue-tied simplicity</LINE> 3823<LINE>In least speak most, to my capacity.</LINE> 3824</SPEECH> 3825 3826 3827<STAGEDIR>Re-enter PHILOSTRATE</STAGEDIR> 3828 3829<SPEECH> 3830<SPEAKER>PHILOSTRATE</SPEAKER> 3831<LINE>So please your grace, the Prologue is address'd.</LINE> 3832</SPEECH> 3833 3834<SPEECH> 3835<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3836<LINE>Let him approach.</LINE> 3837</SPEECH> 3838 3839<STAGEDIR>Flourish of trumpets</STAGEDIR> 3840<STAGEDIR>Enter QUINCE for the Prologue</STAGEDIR> 3841 3842<SPEECH> 3843<SPEAKER>Prologue</SPEAKER> 3844<LINE>If we offend, it is with our good will.</LINE> 3845<LINE>That you should think, we come not to offend,</LINE> 3846<LINE>But with good will. To show our simple skill,</LINE> 3847<LINE>That is the true beginning of our end.</LINE> 3848<LINE>Consider then we come but in despite.</LINE> 3849<LINE>We do not come as minding to contest you,</LINE> 3850<LINE>Our true intent is. All for your delight</LINE> 3851<LINE>We are not here. That you should here repent you,</LINE> 3852<LINE>The actors are at hand and by their show</LINE> 3853<LINE>You shall know all that you are like to know.</LINE> 3854</SPEECH> 3855 3856<SPEECH> 3857<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3858<LINE>This fellow doth not stand upon points.</LINE> 3859</SPEECH> 3860 3861<SPEECH> 3862<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 3863<LINE>He hath rid his prologue like a rough colt; he knows</LINE> 3864<LINE>not the stop. A good moral, my lord: it is not</LINE> 3865<LINE>enough to speak, but to speak true.</LINE> 3866</SPEECH> 3867 3868<SPEECH> 3869<SPEAKER>HIPPOLYTA</SPEAKER> 3870<LINE>Indeed he hath played on his prologue like a child</LINE> 3871<LINE>on a recorder; a sound, but not in government.</LINE> 3872</SPEECH> 3873 3874<SPEECH> 3875<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3876<LINE>His speech, was like a tangled chain; nothing</LINE> 3877<LINE>impaired, but all disordered. Who is next?</LINE> 3878</SPEECH> 3879 3880 3881<STAGEDIR>Enter Pyramus and Thisbe, Wall, Moonshine, and Lion</STAGEDIR> 3882 3883<SPEECH> 3884<SPEAKER>Prologue</SPEAKER> 3885<LINE>Gentles, perchance you wonder at this show;</LINE> 3886<LINE>But wonder on, till truth make all things plain.</LINE> 3887<LINE>This man is Pyramus, if you would know;</LINE> 3888<LINE>This beauteous lady Thisby is certain.</LINE> 3889<LINE>This man, with lime and rough-cast, doth present</LINE> 3890<LINE>Wall, that vile Wall which did these lovers sunder;</LINE> 3891<LINE>And through Wall's chink, poor souls, they are content</LINE> 3892<LINE>To whisper. At the which let no man wonder.</LINE> 3893<LINE>This man, with lanthorn, dog, and bush of thorn,</LINE> 3894<LINE>Presenteth Moonshine; for, if you will know,</LINE> 3895<LINE>By moonshine did these lovers think no scorn</LINE> 3896<LINE>To meet at Ninus' tomb, there, there to woo.</LINE> 3897<LINE>This grisly beast, which Lion hight by name,</LINE> 3898<LINE>The trusty Thisby, coming first by night,</LINE> 3899<LINE>Did scare away, or rather did affright;</LINE> 3900<LINE>And, as she fled, her mantle she did fall,</LINE> 3901<LINE>Which Lion vile with bloody mouth did stain.</LINE> 3902<LINE>Anon comes Pyramus, sweet youth and tall,</LINE> 3903<LINE>And finds his trusty Thisby's mantle slain:</LINE> 3904<LINE>Whereat, with blade, with bloody blameful blade,</LINE> 3905<LINE>He bravely broach'd is boiling bloody breast;</LINE> 3906<LINE>And Thisby, tarrying in mulberry shade,</LINE> 3907<LINE>His dagger drew, and died. For all the rest,</LINE> 3908<LINE>Let Lion, Moonshine, Wall, and lovers twain</LINE> 3909<LINE>At large discourse, while here they do remain.</LINE> 3910</SPEECH> 3911 3912 3913<STAGEDIR>Exeunt Prologue, Thisbe, Lion, and Moonshine</STAGEDIR> 3914 3915<SPEECH> 3916<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3917<LINE>I wonder if the lion be to speak.</LINE> 3918</SPEECH> 3919 3920<SPEECH> 3921<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 3922<LINE>No wonder, my lord: one lion may, when many asses do.</LINE> 3923</SPEECH> 3924 3925<SPEECH> 3926<SPEAKER>Wall</SPEAKER> 3927<LINE>In this same interlude it doth befall</LINE> 3928<LINE>That I, one Snout by name, present a wall;</LINE> 3929<LINE>And such a wall, as I would have you think,</LINE> 3930<LINE>That had in it a crannied hole or chink,</LINE> 3931<LINE>Through which the lovers, Pyramus and Thisby,</LINE> 3932<LINE>Did whisper often very secretly.</LINE> 3933<LINE>This loam, this rough-cast and this stone doth show</LINE> 3934<LINE>That I am that same wall; the truth is so:</LINE> 3935<LINE>And this the cranny is, right and sinister,</LINE> 3936<LINE>Through which the fearful lovers are to whisper.</LINE> 3937</SPEECH> 3938 3939<SPEECH> 3940<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3941<LINE>Would you desire lime and hair to speak better?</LINE> 3942</SPEECH> 3943 3944<SPEECH> 3945<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 3946<LINE>It is the wittiest partition that ever I heard</LINE> 3947<LINE>discourse, my lord.</LINE> 3948</SPEECH> 3949 3950 3951<STAGEDIR>Enter Pyramus</STAGEDIR> 3952 3953<SPEECH> 3954<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3955<LINE>Pyramus draws near the wall: silence!</LINE> 3956</SPEECH> 3957 3958<SPEECH> 3959<SPEAKER>Pyramus</SPEAKER> 3960<LINE>O grim-look'd night! O night with hue so black!</LINE> 3961<LINE>O night, which ever art when day is not!</LINE> 3962<LINE>O night, O night! alack, alack, alack,</LINE> 3963<LINE>I fear my Thisby's promise is forgot!</LINE> 3964<LINE>And thou, O wall, O sweet, O lovely wall,</LINE> 3965<LINE>That stand'st between her father's ground and mine!</LINE> 3966<LINE>Thou wall, O wall, O sweet and lovely wall,</LINE> 3967<LINE>Show me thy chink, to blink through with mine eyne!</LINE> 3968<STAGEDIR>Wall holds up his fingers</STAGEDIR> 3969<LINE>Thanks, courteous wall: Jove shield thee well for this!</LINE> 3970<LINE>But what see I? No Thisby do I see.</LINE> 3971<LINE>O wicked wall, through whom I see no bliss!</LINE> 3972<LINE>Cursed be thy stones for thus deceiving me!</LINE> 3973</SPEECH> 3974 3975<SPEECH> 3976<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 3977<LINE>The wall, methinks, being sensible, should curse again.</LINE> 3978</SPEECH> 3979 3980<SPEECH> 3981<SPEAKER>Pyramus</SPEAKER> 3982<LINE>No, in truth, sir, he should not. 'Deceiving me'</LINE> 3983<LINE>is Thisby's cue: she is to enter now, and I am to</LINE> 3984<LINE>spy her through the wall. You shall see, it will</LINE> 3985<LINE>fall pat as I told you. Yonder she comes.</LINE> 3986</SPEECH> 3987 3988 3989<STAGEDIR>Enter Thisbe</STAGEDIR> 3990 3991<SPEECH> 3992<SPEAKER>Thisbe</SPEAKER> 3993<LINE>O wall, full often hast thou heard my moans,</LINE> 3994<LINE>For parting my fair Pyramus and me!</LINE> 3995<LINE>My cherry lips have often kiss'd thy stones,</LINE> 3996<LINE>Thy stones with lime and hair knit up in thee.</LINE> 3997</SPEECH> 3998 3999<SPEECH> 4000<SPEAKER>Pyramus</SPEAKER> 4001<LINE>I see a voice: now will I to the chink,</LINE> 4002<LINE>To spy an I can hear my Thisby's face. Thisby!</LINE> 4003</SPEECH> 4004 4005<SPEECH> 4006<SPEAKER>Thisbe</SPEAKER> 4007<LINE>My love thou art, my love I think.</LINE> 4008</SPEECH> 4009 4010<SPEECH> 4011<SPEAKER>Pyramus</SPEAKER> 4012<LINE>Think what thou wilt, I am thy lover's grace;</LINE> 4013<LINE>And, like Limander, am I trusty still.</LINE> 4014</SPEECH> 4015 4016<SPEECH> 4017<SPEAKER>Thisbe</SPEAKER> 4018<LINE>And I like Helen, till the Fates me kill.</LINE> 4019</SPEECH> 4020 4021<SPEECH> 4022<SPEAKER>Pyramus</SPEAKER> 4023<LINE>Not Shafalus to Procrus was so true.</LINE> 4024</SPEECH> 4025 4026<SPEECH> 4027<SPEAKER>Thisbe</SPEAKER> 4028<LINE>As Shafalus to Procrus, I to you.</LINE> 4029</SPEECH> 4030 4031<SPEECH> 4032<SPEAKER>Pyramus</SPEAKER> 4033<LINE>O kiss me through the hole of this vile wall!</LINE> 4034</SPEECH> 4035 4036<SPEECH> 4037<SPEAKER>Thisbe</SPEAKER> 4038<LINE>I kiss the wall's hole, not your lips at all.</LINE> 4039</SPEECH> 4040 4041<SPEECH> 4042<SPEAKER>Pyramus</SPEAKER> 4043<LINE>Wilt thou at Ninny's tomb meet me straightway?</LINE> 4044</SPEECH> 4045 4046<SPEECH> 4047<SPEAKER>Thisbe</SPEAKER> 4048<LINE>'Tide life, 'tide death, I come without delay.</LINE> 4049</SPEECH> 4050 4051 4052<STAGEDIR>Exeunt Pyramus and Thisbe</STAGEDIR> 4053 4054<SPEECH> 4055<SPEAKER>Wall</SPEAKER> 4056<LINE>Thus have I, Wall, my part discharged so;</LINE> 4057<LINE>And, being done, thus Wall away doth go.</LINE> 4058</SPEECH> 4059 4060 4061<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 4062 4063<SPEECH> 4064<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 4065<LINE>Now is the mural down between the two neighbours.</LINE> 4066</SPEECH> 4067 4068<SPEECH> 4069<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 4070<LINE>No remedy, my lord, when walls are so wilful to hear</LINE> 4071<LINE>without warning.</LINE> 4072</SPEECH> 4073 4074<SPEECH> 4075<SPEAKER>HIPPOLYTA</SPEAKER> 4076<LINE>This is the silliest stuff that ever I heard.</LINE> 4077</SPEECH> 4078 4079<SPEECH> 4080<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 4081<LINE>The best in this kind are but shadows; and the worst</LINE> 4082<LINE>are no worse, if imagination amend them.</LINE> 4083</SPEECH> 4084 4085<SPEECH> 4086<SPEAKER>HIPPOLYTA</SPEAKER> 4087<LINE>It must be your imagination then, and not theirs.</LINE> 4088</SPEECH> 4089 4090<SPEECH> 4091<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 4092<LINE>If we imagine no worse of them than they of</LINE> 4093<LINE>themselves, they may pass for excellent men. Here</LINE> 4094<LINE>come two noble beasts in, a man and a lion.</LINE> 4095</SPEECH> 4096 4097 4098<STAGEDIR>Enter Lion and Moonshine</STAGEDIR> 4099 4100<SPEECH> 4101<SPEAKER>Lion</SPEAKER> 4102<LINE>You, ladies, you, whose gentle hearts do fear</LINE> 4103<LINE>The smallest monstrous mouse that creeps on floor,</LINE> 4104<LINE>May now perchance both quake and tremble here,</LINE> 4105<LINE>When lion rough in wildest rage doth roar.</LINE> 4106<LINE>Then know that I, one Snug the joiner, am</LINE> 4107<LINE>A lion-fell, nor else no lion's dam;</LINE> 4108<LINE>For, if I should as lion come in strife</LINE> 4109<LINE>Into this place, 'twere pity on my life.</LINE> 4110</SPEECH> 4111 4112<SPEECH> 4113<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 4114<LINE>A very gentle beast, of a good conscience.</LINE> 4115</SPEECH> 4116 4117<SPEECH> 4118<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 4119<LINE>The very best at a beast, my lord, that e'er I saw.</LINE> 4120</SPEECH> 4121 4122<SPEECH> 4123<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 4124<LINE>This lion is a very fox for his valour.</LINE> 4125</SPEECH> 4126 4127<SPEECH> 4128<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 4129<LINE>True; and a goose for his discretion.</LINE> 4130</SPEECH> 4131 4132<SPEECH> 4133<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 4134<LINE>Not so, my lord; for his valour cannot carry his</LINE> 4135<LINE>discretion; and the fox carries the goose.</LINE> 4136</SPEECH> 4137 4138<SPEECH> 4139<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 4140<LINE>His discretion, I am sure, cannot carry his valour;</LINE> 4141<LINE>for the goose carries not the fox. It is well:</LINE> 4142<LINE>leave it to his discretion, and let us listen to the moon.</LINE> 4143</SPEECH> 4144 4145<SPEECH> 4146<SPEAKER>Moonshine</SPEAKER> 4147<LINE>This lanthorn doth the horned moon present;--</LINE> 4148</SPEECH> 4149 4150<SPEECH> 4151<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 4152<LINE>He should have worn the horns on his head.</LINE> 4153</SPEECH> 4154 4155<SPEECH> 4156<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 4157<LINE>He is no crescent, and his horns are</LINE> 4158<LINE>invisible within the circumference.</LINE> 4159</SPEECH> 4160 4161<SPEECH> 4162<SPEAKER>Moonshine</SPEAKER> 4163<LINE>This lanthorn doth the horned moon present;</LINE> 4164<LINE>Myself the man i' the moon do seem to be.</LINE> 4165</SPEECH> 4166 4167<SPEECH> 4168<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 4169<LINE>This is the greatest error of all the rest: the man</LINE> 4170<LINE>should be put into the lanthorn. How is it else the</LINE> 4171<LINE>man i' the moon?</LINE> 4172</SPEECH> 4173 4174<SPEECH> 4175<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 4176<LINE>He dares not come there for the candle; for, you</LINE> 4177<LINE>see, it is already in snuff.</LINE> 4178</SPEECH> 4179 4180<SPEECH> 4181<SPEAKER>HIPPOLYTA</SPEAKER> 4182<LINE>I am aweary of this moon: would he would change!</LINE> 4183</SPEECH> 4184 4185<SPEECH> 4186<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 4187<LINE>It appears, by his small light of discretion, that</LINE> 4188<LINE>he is in the wane; but yet, in courtesy, in all</LINE> 4189<LINE>reason, we must stay the time.</LINE> 4190</SPEECH> 4191 4192<SPEECH> 4193<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 4194<LINE>Proceed, Moon.</LINE> 4195</SPEECH> 4196 4197<SPEECH> 4198<SPEAKER>Moonshine</SPEAKER> 4199<LINE>All that I have to say, is, to tell you that the</LINE> 4200<LINE>lanthorn is the moon; I, the man in the moon; this</LINE> 4201<LINE>thorn-bush, my thorn-bush; and this dog, my dog.</LINE> 4202</SPEECH> 4203 4204<SPEECH> 4205<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 4206<LINE>Why, all these should be in the lanthorn; for all</LINE> 4207<LINE>these are in the moon. But, silence! here comes Thisbe.</LINE> 4208</SPEECH> 4209 4210 4211<STAGEDIR>Enter Thisbe</STAGEDIR> 4212 4213<SPEECH> 4214<SPEAKER>Thisbe</SPEAKER> 4215<LINE>This is old Ninny's tomb. Where is my love?</LINE> 4216</SPEECH> 4217 4218<SPEECH> 4219<SPEAKER>Lion</SPEAKER> 4220<LINE><STAGEDIR>Roaring</STAGEDIR> Oh--</LINE> 4221</SPEECH> 4222 4223 4224<STAGEDIR>Thisbe runs off</STAGEDIR> 4225 4226<SPEECH> 4227<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 4228<LINE>Well roared, Lion.</LINE> 4229</SPEECH> 4230 4231<SPEECH> 4232<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 4233<LINE>Well run, Thisbe.</LINE> 4234</SPEECH> 4235 4236<SPEECH> 4237<SPEAKER>HIPPOLYTA</SPEAKER> 4238<LINE>Well shone, Moon. Truly, the moon shines with a</LINE> 4239<LINE>good grace.</LINE> 4240</SPEECH> 4241 4242 4243<STAGEDIR>The Lion shakes Thisbe's mantle, and exit</STAGEDIR> 4244 4245<SPEECH> 4246<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 4247<LINE>Well moused, Lion.</LINE> 4248</SPEECH> 4249 4250<SPEECH> 4251<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 4252<LINE>And so the lion vanished.</LINE> 4253</SPEECH> 4254 4255<SPEECH> 4256<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 4257<LINE>And then came Pyramus.</LINE> 4258</SPEECH> 4259 4260 4261<STAGEDIR>Enter Pyramus</STAGEDIR> 4262 4263<SPEECH> 4264<SPEAKER>Pyramus</SPEAKER> 4265<LINE>Sweet Moon, I thank thee for thy sunny beams;</LINE> 4266<LINE>I thank thee, Moon, for shining now so bright;</LINE> 4267<LINE>For, by thy gracious, golden, glittering gleams,</LINE> 4268<LINE>I trust to take of truest Thisby sight.</LINE> 4269<LINE>But stay, O spite!</LINE> 4270<LINE>But mark, poor knight,</LINE> 4271<LINE>What dreadful dole is here!</LINE> 4272<LINE>Eyes, do you see?</LINE> 4273<LINE>How can it be?</LINE> 4274<LINE>O dainty duck! O dear!</LINE> 4275<LINE>Thy mantle good,</LINE> 4276<LINE>What, stain'd with blood!</LINE> 4277<LINE>Approach, ye Furies fell!</LINE> 4278<LINE>O Fates, come, come,</LINE> 4279<LINE>Cut thread and thrum;</LINE> 4280<LINE>Quail, crush, conclude, and quell!</LINE> 4281</SPEECH> 4282 4283<SPEECH> 4284<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 4285<LINE>This passion, and the death of a dear friend, would</LINE> 4286<LINE>go near to make a man look sad.</LINE> 4287</SPEECH> 4288 4289<SPEECH> 4290<SPEAKER>HIPPOLYTA</SPEAKER> 4291<LINE>Beshrew my heart, but I pity the man.</LINE> 4292</SPEECH> 4293 4294<SPEECH> 4295<SPEAKER>Pyramus</SPEAKER> 4296<LINE>O wherefore, Nature, didst thou lions frame?</LINE> 4297<LINE>Since lion vile hath here deflower'd my dear:</LINE> 4298<LINE>Which is--no, no--which was the fairest dame</LINE> 4299<LINE>That lived, that loved, that liked, that look'd</LINE> 4300<LINE>with cheer.</LINE> 4301<LINE>Come, tears, confound;</LINE> 4302<LINE>Out, sword, and wound</LINE> 4303<LINE>The pap of Pyramus;</LINE> 4304<LINE>Ay, that left pap,</LINE> 4305<LINE>Where heart doth hop:</LINE> 4306<STAGEDIR>Stabs himself</STAGEDIR> 4307<LINE>Thus die I, thus, thus, thus.</LINE> 4308<LINE>Now am I dead,</LINE> 4309<LINE>Now am I fled;</LINE> 4310<LINE>My soul is in the sky:</LINE> 4311<LINE>Tongue, lose thy light;</LINE> 4312<LINE>Moon take thy flight:</LINE> 4313<STAGEDIR>Exit Moonshine</STAGEDIR> 4314<LINE>Now die, die, die, die, die.</LINE> 4315</SPEECH> 4316 4317 4318<STAGEDIR>Dies</STAGEDIR> 4319 4320<SPEECH> 4321<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 4322<LINE>No die, but an ace, for him; for he is but one.</LINE> 4323</SPEECH> 4324 4325<SPEECH> 4326<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 4327<LINE>Less than an ace, man; for he is dead; he is nothing.</LINE> 4328</SPEECH> 4329 4330<SPEECH> 4331<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 4332<LINE>With the help of a surgeon he might yet recover, and</LINE> 4333<LINE>prove an ass.</LINE> 4334</SPEECH> 4335 4336<SPEECH> 4337<SPEAKER>HIPPOLYTA</SPEAKER> 4338<LINE>How chance Moonshine is gone before Thisbe comes</LINE> 4339<LINE>back and finds her lover?</LINE> 4340</SPEECH> 4341 4342<SPEECH> 4343<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 4344<LINE>She will find him by starlight. Here she comes; and</LINE> 4345<LINE>her passion ends the play.</LINE> 4346</SPEECH> 4347 4348 4349<STAGEDIR>Re-enter Thisbe</STAGEDIR> 4350 4351<SPEECH> 4352<SPEAKER>HIPPOLYTA</SPEAKER> 4353<LINE>Methinks she should not use a long one for such a</LINE> 4354<LINE>Pyramus: I hope she will be brief.</LINE> 4355</SPEECH> 4356 4357<SPEECH> 4358<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 4359<LINE>A mote will turn the balance, which Pyramus, which</LINE> 4360<LINE>Thisbe, is the better; he for a man, God warrant us;</LINE> 4361<LINE>she for a woman, God bless us.</LINE> 4362</SPEECH> 4363 4364<SPEECH> 4365<SPEAKER>LYSANDER</SPEAKER> 4366<LINE>She hath spied him already with those sweet eyes.</LINE> 4367</SPEECH> 4368 4369<SPEECH> 4370<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 4371<LINE>And thus she means, videlicet:--</LINE> 4372</SPEECH> 4373 4374<SPEECH> 4375<SPEAKER>Thisbe</SPEAKER> 4376<LINE>Asleep, my love?</LINE> 4377<LINE>What, dead, my dove?</LINE> 4378<LINE>O Pyramus, arise!</LINE> 4379<LINE>Speak, speak. Quite dumb?</LINE> 4380<LINE>Dead, dead? A tomb</LINE> 4381<LINE>Must cover thy sweet eyes.</LINE> 4382<LINE>These My lips,</LINE> 4383<LINE>This cherry nose,</LINE> 4384<LINE>These yellow cowslip cheeks,</LINE> 4385<LINE>Are gone, are gone:</LINE> 4386<LINE>Lovers, make moan:</LINE> 4387<LINE>His eyes were green as leeks.</LINE> 4388<LINE>O Sisters Three,</LINE> 4389<LINE>Come, come to me,</LINE> 4390<LINE>With hands as pale as milk;</LINE> 4391<LINE>Lay them in gore,</LINE> 4392<LINE>Since you have shore</LINE> 4393<LINE>With shears his thread of silk.</LINE> 4394<LINE>Tongue, not a word:</LINE> 4395<LINE>Come, trusty sword;</LINE> 4396<LINE>Come, blade, my breast imbrue:</LINE> 4397<STAGEDIR>Stabs herself</STAGEDIR> 4398<LINE>And, farewell, friends;</LINE> 4399<LINE>Thus Thisby ends:</LINE> 4400<LINE>Adieu, adieu, adieu.</LINE> 4401</SPEECH> 4402 4403 4404<STAGEDIR>Dies</STAGEDIR> 4405 4406<SPEECH> 4407<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 4408<LINE>Moonshine and Lion are left to bury the dead.</LINE> 4409</SPEECH> 4410 4411<SPEECH> 4412<SPEAKER>DEMETRIUS</SPEAKER> 4413<LINE>Ay, and Wall too.</LINE> 4414</SPEECH> 4415 4416<SPEECH> 4417<SPEAKER>BOTTOM</SPEAKER> 4418<LINE><STAGEDIR>Starting up</STAGEDIR> No assure you; the wall is down that</LINE> 4419<LINE>parted their fathers. Will it please you to see the</LINE> 4420<LINE>epilogue, or to hear a Bergomask dance between two</LINE> 4421<LINE>of our company?</LINE> 4422</SPEECH> 4423 4424<SPEECH> 4425<SPEAKER>THESEUS</SPEAKER> 4426<LINE>No epilogue, I pray you; for your play needs no</LINE> 4427<LINE>excuse. Never excuse; for when the players are all</LINE> 4428<LINE>dead, there needs none to be blamed. Marry, if he</LINE> 4429<LINE>that writ it had played Pyramus and hanged himself</LINE> 4430<LINE>in Thisbe's garter, it would have been a fine</LINE> 4431<LINE>tragedy: and so it is, truly; and very notably</LINE> 4432<LINE>discharged. But come, your Bergomask: let your</LINE> 4433<LINE>epilogue alone.</LINE> 4434<STAGEDIR>A dance</STAGEDIR> 4435<LINE>The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve:</LINE> 4436<LINE>Lovers, to bed; 'tis almost fairy time.</LINE> 4437<LINE>I fear we shall out-sleep the coming morn</LINE> 4438<LINE>As much as we this night have overwatch'd.</LINE> 4439<LINE>This palpable-gross play hath well beguiled</LINE> 4440<LINE>The heavy gait of night. Sweet friends, to bed.</LINE> 4441<LINE>A fortnight hold we this solemnity,</LINE> 4442<LINE>In nightly revels and new jollity.</LINE> 4443</SPEECH> 4444 4445<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 4446<STAGEDIR>Enter PUCK</STAGEDIR> 4447 4448<SPEECH> 4449<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 4450<LINE>Now the hungry lion roars,</LINE> 4451<LINE>And the wolf behowls the moon;</LINE> 4452<LINE>Whilst the heavy ploughman snores,</LINE> 4453<LINE>All with weary task fordone.</LINE> 4454<LINE>Now the wasted brands do glow,</LINE> 4455<LINE>Whilst the screech-owl, screeching loud,</LINE> 4456<LINE>Puts the wretch that lies in woe</LINE> 4457<LINE>In remembrance of a shroud.</LINE> 4458<LINE>Now it is the time of night</LINE> 4459<LINE>That the graves all gaping wide,</LINE> 4460<LINE>Every one lets forth his sprite,</LINE> 4461<LINE>In the church-way paths to glide:</LINE> 4462<LINE>And we fairies, that do run</LINE> 4463<LINE>By the triple Hecate's team,</LINE> 4464<LINE>From the presence of the sun,</LINE> 4465<LINE>Following darkness like a dream,</LINE> 4466<LINE>Now are frolic: not a mouse</LINE> 4467<LINE>Shall disturb this hallow'd house:</LINE> 4468<LINE>I am sent with broom before,</LINE> 4469<LINE>To sweep the dust behind the door.</LINE> 4470</SPEECH> 4471 4472 4473<STAGEDIR>Enter OBERON and TITANIA with their train</STAGEDIR> 4474 4475<SPEECH> 4476<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 4477<LINE>Through the house give gathering light,</LINE> 4478<LINE>By the dead and drowsy fire:</LINE> 4479<LINE>Every elf and fairy sprite</LINE> 4480<LINE>Hop as light as bird from brier;</LINE> 4481<LINE>And this ditty, after me,</LINE> 4482<LINE>Sing, and dance it trippingly.</LINE> 4483</SPEECH> 4484 4485<SPEECH> 4486<SPEAKER>TITANIA</SPEAKER> 4487<LINE>First, rehearse your song by rote</LINE> 4488<LINE>To each word a warbling note:</LINE> 4489<LINE>Hand in hand, with fairy grace,</LINE> 4490<LINE>Will we sing, and bless this place.</LINE> 4491</SPEECH> 4492 4493 4494<STAGEDIR>Song and dance</STAGEDIR> 4495 4496<SPEECH> 4497<SPEAKER>OBERON</SPEAKER> 4498<LINE>Now, until the break of day,</LINE> 4499<LINE>Through this house each fairy stray.</LINE> 4500<LINE>To the best bride-bed will we,</LINE> 4501<LINE>Which by us shall blessed be;</LINE> 4502<LINE>And the issue there create</LINE> 4503<LINE>Ever shall be fortunate.</LINE> 4504<LINE>So shall all the couples three</LINE> 4505<LINE>Ever true in loving be;</LINE> 4506<LINE>And the blots of Nature's hand</LINE> 4507<LINE>Shall not in their issue stand;</LINE> 4508<LINE>Never mole, hare lip, nor scar,</LINE> 4509<LINE>Nor mark prodigious, such as are</LINE> 4510<LINE>Despised in nativity,</LINE> 4511<LINE>Shall upon their children be.</LINE> 4512<LINE>With this field-dew consecrate,</LINE> 4513<LINE>Every fairy take his gait;</LINE> 4514<LINE>And each several chamber bless,</LINE> 4515<LINE>Through this palace, with sweet peace;</LINE> 4516<LINE>And the owner of it blest</LINE> 4517<LINE>Ever shall in safety rest.</LINE> 4518<LINE>Trip away; make no stay;</LINE> 4519<LINE>Meet me all by break of day.</LINE> 4520</SPEECH> 4521 4522 4523<STAGEDIR>Exeunt OBERON, TITANIA, and train</STAGEDIR> 4524 4525<SPEECH> 4526<SPEAKER>PUCK</SPEAKER> 4527<LINE>If we shadows have offended,</LINE> 4528<LINE>Think but this, and all is mended,</LINE> 4529<LINE>That you have but slumber'd here</LINE> 4530<LINE>While these visions did appear.</LINE> 4531<LINE>And this weak and idle theme,</LINE> 4532<LINE>No more yielding but a dream,</LINE> 4533<LINE>Gentles, do not reprehend:</LINE> 4534<LINE>if you pardon, we will mend:</LINE> 4535<LINE>And, as I am an honest Puck,</LINE> 4536<LINE>If we have unearned luck</LINE> 4537<LINE>Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,</LINE> 4538<LINE>We will make amends ere long;</LINE> 4539<LINE>Else the Puck a liar call;</LINE> 4540<LINE>So, good night unto you all.</LINE> 4541<LINE>Give me your hands, if we be friends,</LINE> 4542<LINE>And Robin shall restore amends.</LINE> 4543</SPEECH> 4544</SCENE> 4545</ACT> 4546</PLAY> 4547