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Title: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (published 1596) Author: William Shakespeare (died 1616)
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In Athens, Hermia is in love with Lysander, defying her father's command to marry Demetrius; the couple flee to the woods to avoid the law sentencing her to death or a nunnery. Demetrius pursues them, and is in turn pursued by Helena, who is in unrequited love with him. Meanwhile, a group of low-class workers decides to stage a play for the wedding of the King and Queen of Athens; they rehearse in the woods. Fairy king Oberon is quarrelling with his queen Titania; he magically causes her to fall in love with one of the actors, Bottom, whom he has transformed to have the head of an ass. He also attempts to resolve the Athenian youths' love triangle, but his servant Puck accidentally causes both Lysander and Demetrius to fall in love with Helena instead of Hermia. In the end, Oberon has Puck restore Lysander to loving Hermia, allows Demetrius to stay in love with Helena, and returns Titania to her senses and Bottom to his shape. They return to Athens, where Lysander and Hermia are pardoned and they all watch the workers (badly) perform their play.
Robin Goodfellow, a “puck,” or hobgoblin, in Oberon’s service
A Fairy, in the service of Titania
Peaseblossom
Cobweb
Mote
Mustardseed
fairies attending upon Titania
Lords and Attendants on Theseus and Hippolyta
Other Fairies in the trains of Titania and Oberon
ACT 1
Scene 1
Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, and Philostrate, with others.
THESEUS line 0001Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour line 0002Draws on apace. Four happy days bring in line 0003Another moon. But, O, methinks how slow line 0004This old moon wanes! She lingers my desires 5line 0005Like to a stepdame or a dowager line 0006Long withering out a young man’s revenue. HIPPOLYTA line 0007Four days will quickly steep themselves in night; line 0008Four nights will quickly dream away the time; line 0009And then the moon, like to a silver bow 10line 0010New-bent in heaven, shall behold the night line 0011Of our solemnities. line 0012THESEUSGo, Philostrate, line 0013Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments. line 0014Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth. 15line 0015Turn melancholy forth to funerals; line 0016The pale companion is not for our pomp.
Philostrate exits.
line 0017Hippolyta, I wooed thee with my sword line 0018And won thy love doing thee injuries, line 0019But I will wed thee in another key, 20line 0020With pomp, with triumph, and with reveling. Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 9
Enter Egeus and his daughter Hermia, and Lysander and Demetrius.
EGEUS line 0021Happy be Theseus, our renownèd duke! THESEUS line 0022Thanks, good Egeus. What’s the news with thee? EGEUS line 0023Full of vexation come I, with complaint line 0024Against my child, my daughter Hermia.— 25line 0025Stand forth, Demetrius.—My noble lord, line 0026This man hath my consent to marry her.— line 0027Stand forth, Lysander.—And, my gracious duke, line 0028This man hath bewitched the bosom of my child.— line 0029Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes 30line 0030And interchanged love tokens with my child. line 0031Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung line 0032With feigning voice verses of feigning love line 0033And stol’n the impression of her fantasy line 0034With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gauds, conceits, 35line 0035Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweetmeats—messengers line 0036Of strong prevailment in unhardened youth. line 0037With cunning hast thou filched my daughter’s heart, line 0038Turned her obedience (which is due to me) line 0039To stubborn harshness.—And, my gracious duke, 40line 0040Be it so she will not here before your Grace line 0041Consent to marry with Demetrius, line 0042I beg the ancient privilege of Athens: line 0043As she is mine, I may dispose of her, line 0044Which shall be either to this gentleman 45line 0045Or to her death, according to our law line 0046Immediately provided in that case. THESEUS line 0047What say you, Hermia? Be advised, fair maid. line 0048To you, your father should be as a god, line 0049One that composed your beauties, yea, and one Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 1150line 0050To whom you are but as a form in wax line 0051By him imprinted, and within his power line 0052To leave the figure or disfigure it. line 0053Demetrius is a worthy gentleman. HERMIA line 0054So is Lysander. 55line 0055THESEUSIn himself he is, line 0056But in this kind, wanting your father’s voice, line 0057The other must be held the worthier. HERMIA line 0058I would my father looked but with my eyes. THESEUS line 0059Rather your eyes must with his judgment look. HERMIA 60line 0060I do entreat your Grace to pardon me. line 0061I know not by what power I am made bold, line 0062Nor how it may concern my modesty line 0063In such a presence here to plead my thoughts; line 0064But I beseech your Grace that I may know 65line 0065The worst that may befall me in this case line 0066If I refuse to wed Demetrius. THESEUS line 0067Either to die the death or to abjure line 0068Forever the society of men. line 0069Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires, 70line 0070Know of your youth, examine well your blood, line 0071Whether (if you yield not to your father’s choice) line 0072You can endure the livery of a nun, line 0073For aye to be in shady cloister mewed, line 0074To live a barren sister all your life, 75line 0075Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon. line 0076Thrice-blessèd they that master so their blood line 0077To undergo such maiden pilgrimage, line 0078But earthlier happy is the rose distilled line 0079Than that which, withering on the virgin thorn, 80line 0080Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness. Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 13HERMIA line 0081So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord, line 0082Ere I will yield my virgin patent up line 0083Unto his Lordship whose unwishèd yoke line 0084My soul consents not to give sovereignty. THESEUS 85line 0085Take time to pause, and by the next new moon line 0086(The sealing day betwixt my love and me line 0087For everlasting bond of fellowship), line 0088Upon that day either prepare to die line 0089For disobedience to your father’s will, 90line 0090Or else to wed Demetrius, as he would, line 0091Or on Diana’s altar to protest line 0092For aye austerity and single life. DEMETRIUS line 0093Relent, sweet Hermia, and, Lysander, yield line 0094Thy crazèd title to my certain right. LYSANDER 95line 0095You have her father’s love, Demetrius. line 0096Let me have Hermia’s. Do you marry him. EGEUS line 0097Scornful Lysander, true, he hath my love; line 0098And what is mine my love shall render him. line 0099And she is mine, and all my right of her 100line 0100I do estate unto Demetrius. LYSANDERto Theseus line 0101I am, my lord, as well derived as he, line 0102As well possessed. My love is more than his; line 0103My fortunes every way as fairly ranked line 0104(If not with vantage) as Demetrius’; 105line 0105And (which is more than all these boasts can be) line 0106I am beloved of beauteous Hermia. line 0107Why should not I then prosecute my right? line 0108Demetrius, I’ll avouch it to his head, line 0109Made love to Nedar’s daughter, Helena, 110line 0110And won her soul; and she, sweet lady, dotes, Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 15line 0111Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry, line 0112Upon this spotted and inconstant man. THESEUS line 0113I must confess that I have heard so much, line 0114And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof; 115line 0115But, being overfull of self-affairs, line 0116My mind did lose it.—But, Demetrius, come, line 0117And come, Egeus; you shall go with me. line 0118I have some private schooling for you both.— line 0119For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself 120line 0120To fit your fancies to your father’s will, line 0121Or else the law of Athens yields you up line 0122(Which by no means we may extenuate) line 0123To death or to a vow of single life.— line 0124Come, my Hippolyta. What cheer, my love?— 125line 0125Demetrius and Egeus, go along. line 0126I must employ you in some business line 0127Against our nuptial and confer with you line 0128Of something nearly that concerns yourselves. EGEUS line 0129With duty and desire we follow you.
All but Hermia and Lysander exit.
LYSANDER 130line 0130How now, my love? Why is your cheek so pale? line 0131How chance the roses there do fade so fast? HERMIA line 0132Belike for want of rain, which I could well line 0133Beteem them from the tempest of my eyes. LYSANDER line 0134Ay me! For aught that I could ever read, 135line 0135Could ever hear by tale or history, line 0136The course of true love never did run smooth. line 0137But either it was different in blood— HERMIA line 0138O cross! Too high to be enthralled to low. LYSANDER line 0139Or else misgraffèd in respect of years— Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 17HERMIA 140line 0140O spite! Too old to be engaged to young. LYSANDER line 0141Or else it stood upon the choice of friends— HERMIA line 0142O hell, to choose love by another’s eyes! LYSANDER line 0143Or, if there were a sympathy in choice, line 0144War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it, 145line 0145Making it momentany as a sound, line 0146Swift as a shadow, short as any dream, line 0147Brief as the lightning in the collied night, line 0148That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and Earth, line 0149And, ere a man hath power to say “Behold!” 150line 0150The jaws of darkness do devour it up. line 0151So quick bright things come to confusion. HERMIA line 0152If then true lovers have been ever crossed, line 0153It stands as an edict in destiny. line 0154Then let us teach our trial patience 155line 0155Because it is a customary cross, line 0156As due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs, line 0157Wishes and tears, poor fancy’s followers. LYSANDER line 0158A good persuasion. Therefore, hear me, Hermia: line 0159I have a widow aunt, a dowager 160line 0160Of great revenue, and she hath no child. line 0161From Athens is her house remote seven leagues, line 0162And she respects me as her only son. line 0163There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee; line 0164And to that place the sharp Athenian law 165line 0165Cannot pursue us. If thou lovest me, then line 0166Steal forth thy father’s house tomorrow night, line 0167And in the wood a league without the town line 0168(Where I did meet thee once with Helena line 0169To do observance to a morn of May), 170line 0170There will I stay for thee. Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 19line 0171HERMIAMy good Lysander, line 0172I swear to thee by Cupid’s strongest bow, line 0173By his best arrow with the golden head, line 0174By the simplicity of Venus’ doves, 175line 0175By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves, line 0176And by that fire which burned the Carthage queen line 0177When the false Trojan under sail was seen, line 0178By all the vows that ever men have broke line 0179(In number more than ever women spoke), 180line 0180In that same place thou hast appointed me, line 0181Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee. LYSANDER line 0182Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena.
Enter Helena.
HERMIA line 0183Godspeed, fair Helena. Whither away? HELENA line 0184Call you me “fair”? That “fair” again unsay. 185line 0185Demetrius loves your fair. O happy fair! line 0186Your eyes are lodestars and your tongue’s sweet air line 0187More tunable than lark to shepherd’s ear line 0188When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear. line 0189Sickness is catching. O, were favor so! 190line 0190Yours would I catch, fair Hermia, ere I go. line 0191My ear should catch your voice, my eye your eye; line 0192My tongue should catch your tongue’s sweet line 0193melody. line 0194Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated, 195line 0195The rest I’d give to be to you translated. line 0196O, teach me how you look and with what art line 0197You sway the motion of Demetrius’ heart! HERMIA line 0198I frown upon him, yet he loves me still. HELENA line 0199O, that your frowns would teach my smiles such 200line 0200skill! Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 21HERMIA line 0201I give him curses, yet he gives me love. HELENA line 0202O, that my prayers could such affection move! HERMIA line 0203The more I hate, the more he follows me. HELENA line 0204The more I love, the more he hateth me. HERMIA 205line 0205His folly, Helena, is no fault of mine. HELENA line 0206None but your beauty. Would that fault were mine! HERMIA line 0207Take comfort: he no more shall see my face. line 0208Lysander and myself will fly this place. line 0209Before the time I did Lysander see 210line 0210Seemed Athens as a paradise to me. line 0211O, then, what graces in my love do dwell line 0212That he hath turned a heaven unto a hell! LYSANDER line 0213Helen, to you our minds we will unfold. line 0214Tomorrow night when Phoebe doth behold 215line 0215Her silver visage in the wat’ry glass, line 0216Decking with liquid pearl the bladed grass line 0217(A time that lovers’ flights doth still conceal), line 0218Through Athens’ gates have we devised to steal. HERMIA line 0219And in the wood where often you and I 220line 0220Upon faint primrose beds were wont to lie, line 0221Emptying our bosoms of their counsel sweet, line 0222There my Lysander and myself shall meet line 0223And thence from Athens turn away our eyes line 0224To seek new friends and stranger companies. 225line 0225Farewell, sweet playfellow. Pray thou for us, line 0226And good luck grant thee thy Demetrius.— Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 23line 0227Keep word, Lysander. We must starve our sight line 0228From lovers’ food till morrow deep midnight. LYSANDER line 0229I will, my Hermia.Hermia exits. 230line 0230Helena, adieu. line 0231As you on him, Demetrius dote on you!
Lysander exits.
HELENA line 0232How happy some o’er other some can be! line 0233Through Athens I am thought as fair as she. line 0234But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so. 235line 0235He will not know what all but he do know. line 0236And, as he errs, doting on Hermia’s eyes, line 0237So I, admiring of his qualities. line 0238Things base and vile, holding no quantity, line 0239Love can transpose to form and dignity. 240line 0240Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind; line 0241And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind. line 0242Nor hath Love’s mind of any judgment taste. line 0243Wings, and no eyes, figure unheedy haste. line 0244And therefore is Love said to be a child 245line 0245Because in choice he is so oft beguiled. line 0246As waggish boys in game themselves forswear, line 0247So the boy Love is perjured everywhere. line 0248For, ere Demetrius looked on Hermia’s eyne, line 0249He hailed down oaths that he was only mine; 250line 0250And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt, line 0251So he dissolved, and show’rs of oaths did melt. line 0252I will go tell him of fair Hermia’s flight. line 0253Then to the wood will he tomorrow night line 0254Pursue her. And, for this intelligence 255line 0255If I have thanks, it is a dear expense. line 0256But herein mean I to enrich my pain, line 0257To have his sight thither and back again.
She exits.
Act 1 Scene 2 - Pg 25
Scene 2
Enter Quince the carpenter, and Snug the joiner, and Bottom the weaver, and Flute the bellows-mender, and Snout the tinker, and Starveling the tailor.
line 0258QUINCEIs all our company here? line 0259BOTTOMYou were best to call them generally, man by line 0260man, according to the scrip. line 0261QUINCEHere is the scroll of every man’s name which 5line 0262is thought fit, through all Athens, to play in our line 0263interlude before the Duke and the Duchess on his line 0264wedding day at night. line 0265BOTTOMFirst, good Peter Quince, say what the play line 0266treats on, then read the names of the actors, and so 10line 0267grow to a point. line 0268QUINCEMarry, our play is “The most lamentable line 0269comedy and most cruel death of Pyramus and line 0270Thisbe.” line 0271BOTTOMA very good piece of work, I assure you, and a 15line 0272merry. Now, good Peter Quince, call forth your line 0273actors by the scroll. Masters, spread yourselves. line 0274QUINCEAnswer as I call you. Nick Bottom, the weaver. line 0275BOTTOMReady. Name what part I am for, and line 0276proceed. 20line 0277QUINCEYou, Nick Bottom, are set down for Pyramus. line 0278BOTTOMWhat is Pyramus—a lover or a tyrant? line 0279QUINCEA lover that kills himself most gallant for love. line 0280BOTTOMThat will ask some tears in the true performing line 0281of it. If I do it, let the audience look to their 25line 0282eyes. I will move storms; I will condole in some line 0283measure. To the rest.—Yet my chief humor is for a line 0284tyrant. I could play Ercles rarely, or a part to tear a line 0285cat in, to make all split:
line 0286The raging rocks 30line 0287And shivering shocks line 0288Shall break the locks Act 1 Scene 2 - Pg 27line 0289Of prison gates. line 0290And Phibbus’ car line 0291Shall shine from far 35line 0292And make and mar line 0293The foolish Fates.
line 0294This was lofty. Now name the rest of the players. line 0295This is Ercles’ vein, a tyrant’s vein. A lover is more line 0296condoling. 40line 0297QUINCEFrancis Flute, the bellows-mender. line 0298FLUTEHere, Peter Quince. line 0299QUINCEFlute, you must take Thisbe on you. line 0300FLUTEWhat is Thisbe—a wand’ring knight? line 0301QUINCEIt is the lady that Pyramus must love. 45line 0302FLUTENay, faith, let not me play a woman. I have a line 0303beard coming. line 0304QUINCEThat’s all one. You shall play it in a mask, and line 0305you may speak as small as you will. line 0306BOTTOMAn I may hide my face, let me play Thisbe too. 50line 0307I’ll speak in a monstrous little voice: “Thisne, line 0308Thisne!”—“Ah Pyramus, my lover dear! Thy Thisbe line 0309dear and lady dear!” line 0310QUINCENo, no, you must play Pyramus—and, Flute, line 0311you Thisbe. 55line 0312BOTTOMWell, proceed. line 0313QUINCERobin Starveling, the tailor. line 0314STARVELINGHere, Peter Quince. line 0315QUINCERobin Starveling, you must play Thisbe’s line 0316mother.—Tom Snout, the tinker. 60line 0317SNOUTHere, Peter Quince. line 0318QUINCEYou, Pyramus’ father.—Myself, Thisbe’s line 0319father.—Snug the joiner, you the lion’s part.— line 0320And I hope here is a play fitted. line 0321SNUGHave you the lion’s part written? Pray you, if it 65line 0322be, give it me, for I am slow of study. line 0323QUINCEYou may do it extempore, for it is nothing but line 0324roaring. Act 1 Scene 2 - Pg 29line 0325BOTTOMLet me play the lion too. I will roar that I will line 0326do any man’s heart good to hear me. I will roar that 70line 0327I will make the Duke say “Let him roar again. Let line 0328him roar again!” line 0329QUINCEAn you should do it too terribly, you would line 0330fright the Duchess and the ladies that they would line 0331shriek, and that were enough to hang us all. 75line 0332ALLThat would hang us, every mother’s son. line 0333BOTTOMI grant you, friends, if you should fright the line 0334ladies out of their wits, they would have no more line 0335discretion but to hang us. But I will aggravate my line 0336voice so that I will roar you as gently as any sucking 80line 0337dove. I will roar you an ’twere any nightingale. line 0338QUINCEYou can play no part but Pyramus, for Pyramus line 0339is a sweet-faced man, a proper man as one line 0340shall see in a summer’s day, a most lovely gentlemanlike line 0341man. Therefore you must needs play 85line 0342Pyramus. line 0343BOTTOMWell, I will undertake it. What beard were I line 0344best to play it in? line 0345QUINCEWhy, what you will. line 0346BOTTOMI will discharge it in either your straw-color 90line 0347beard, your orange-tawny beard, your purple-in-grain line 0348beard, or your French-crown-color beard, line 0349your perfit yellow. line 0350QUINCESome of your French crowns have no hair at line 0351all, and then you will play barefaced. But, masters, 95line 0352here are your parts, giving out the parts, and I am line 0353to entreat you, request you, and desire you to con line 0354them by tomorrow night and meet me in the palace line 0355wood, a mile without the town, by moonlight. There line 0356will we rehearse, for if we meet in the city, we shall 100line 0357be dogged with company and our devices known. In line 0358the meantime I will draw a bill of properties such as line 0359our play wants. I pray you fail me not. line 0360BOTTOMWe will meet, and there we may rehearse Act 1 Scene 2 - Pg 31line 0361most obscenely and courageously. Take pains. Be 105line 0362perfit. Adieu. line 0363QUINCEAt the Duke’s Oak we meet. line 0364BOTTOMEnough. Hold or cut bowstrings.
They exit.
ACT 2
Scene 1
Enter a Fairy at one door and Robin Goodfellow at another.
ROBIN line 0365How now, spirit? Whither wander you? FAIRY line 0366Over hill, over dale, line 0367Thorough bush, thorough brier, line 0368Over park, over pale, 5line 0369Thorough flood, thorough fire; line 0370I do wander everywhere, line 0371Swifter than the moon’s sphere. line 0372And I serve the Fairy Queen, line 0373To dew her orbs upon the green. 10line 0374The cowslips tall her pensioners be; line 0375In their gold coats spots you see; line 0376Those be rubies, fairy favors; line 0377In those freckles live their savors. line 0378I must go seek some dewdrops here 15line 0379And hang a pearl in every cowslip’s ear. line 0380Farewell, thou lob of spirits. I’ll be gone. line 0381Our queen and all her elves come here anon. ROBIN line 0382The King doth keep his revels here tonight. line 0383Take heed the Queen come not within his sight, Act 2 Scene 1 - Pg 3720line 0384For Oberon is passing fell and wrath line 0385Because that she, as her attendant, hath line 0386A lovely boy stolen from an Indian king; line 0387She never had so sweet a changeling. line 0388And jealous Oberon would have the child 25line 0389Knight of his train, to trace the forests wild. line 0390But she perforce withholds the lovèd boy, line 0391Crowns him with flowers and makes him all her line 0392joy. line 0393And now they never meet in grove or green, 30line 0394By fountain clear or spangled starlight sheen, line 0395But they do square, that all their elves for fear line 0396Creep into acorn cups and hide them there. FAIRY line 0397Either I mistake your shape and making quite, line 0398Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite 35line 0399Called Robin Goodfellow. Are not you he line 0400That frights the maidens of the villagery, line 0401Skim milk, and sometimes labor in the quern line 0402And bootless make the breathless huswife churn, line 0403And sometime make the drink to bear no barm, 40line 0404Mislead night wanderers, laughing at their harm? line 0405Those that “Hobgoblin” call you and “sweet Puck,” line 0406You do their work, and they shall have good luck. line 0407Are not you he? line 0408ROBINThou speakest aright. 45line 0409I am that merry wanderer of the night. line 0410I jest to Oberon and make him smile line 0411When I a fat and bean-fed horse beguile, line 0412Neighing in likeness of a filly foal. line 0413And sometime lurk I in a gossip’s bowl 50line 0414In very likeness of a roasted crab, line 0415And, when she drinks, against her lips I bob line 0416And on her withered dewlap pour the ale. line 0417The wisest aunt, telling the saddest tale, line 0418Sometime for three-foot stool mistaketh me; Act 2 Scene 1 - Pg 3955line 0419Then slip I from her bum, down topples she line 0420And “Tailor!” cries and falls into a cough, line 0421And then the whole choir hold their hips and loffe line 0422And waxen in their mirth and neeze and swear line 0423A merrier hour was never wasted there. 60line 0424But room, fairy. Here comes Oberon. FAIRY line 0425And here my mistress. Would that he were gone!
Enter Oberon the King of Fairies at one door, with his train, and Titania the Queen at another, with hers.
OBERON line 0426Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania. TITANIA line 0427What, jealous Oberon? Fairies, skip hence. line 0428I have forsworn his bed and company. OBERON 65line 0429Tarry, rash wanton. Am not I thy lord? TITANIA line 0430Then I must be thy lady. But I know line 0431When thou hast stolen away from Fairyland line 0432And in the shape of Corin sat all day line 0433Playing on pipes of corn and versing love 70line 0434To amorous Phillida. Why art thou here, line 0435Come from the farthest steep of India, line 0436But that, forsooth, the bouncing Amazon, line 0437Your buskined mistress and your warrior love, line 0438To Theseus must be wedded, and you come 75line 0439To give their bed joy and prosperity? OBERON line 0440How canst thou thus for shame, Titania, line 0441Glance at my credit with Hippolyta, line 0442Knowing I know thy love to Theseus? line 0443Didst not thou lead him through the glimmering 80line 0444night line 0445From Perigouna, whom he ravishèd, Act 2 Scene 1 - Pg 41line 0446And make him with fair Aegles break his faith, line 0447With Ariadne and Antiopa? TITANIA line 0448These are the forgeries of jealousy; 85line 0449And never, since the middle summer’s spring, line 0450Met we on hill, in dale, forest, or mead, line 0451By pavèd fountain or by rushy brook, line 0452Or in the beachèd margent of the sea, line 0453To dance our ringlets to the whistling wind, 90line 0454But with thy brawls thou hast disturbed our sport. line 0455Therefore the winds, piping to us in vain, line 0456As in revenge have sucked up from the sea line 0457Contagious fogs, which, falling in the land, line 0458Hath every pelting river made so proud 95line 0459That they have overborne their continents. line 0460The ox hath therefore stretched his yoke in vain, line 0461The plowman lost his sweat, and the green corn line 0462Hath rotted ere his youth attained a beard. line 0463The fold stands empty in the drownèd field, 100line 0464And crows are fatted with the murrain flock. line 0465The nine-men’s-morris is filled up with mud, line 0466And the quaint mazes in the wanton green, line 0467For lack of tread, are undistinguishable. line 0468The human mortals want their winter here. 105line 0469No night is now with hymn or carol blessed. line 0470Therefore the moon, the governess of floods, line 0471Pale in her anger, washes all the air, line 0472That rheumatic diseases do abound. line 0473And thorough this distemperature we see 110line 0474The seasons alter: hoary-headed frosts line 0475Fall in the fresh lap of the crimson rose, line 0476And on old Hiems’ thin and icy crown line 0477An odorous chaplet of sweet summer buds line 0478Is, as in mockery, set. The spring, the summer, 115line 0479The childing autumn, angry winter, change line 0480Their wonted liveries, and the mazèd world Act 2 Scene 1 - Pg 43line 0481By their increase now knows not which is which. line 0482And this same progeny of evils comes line 0483From our debate, from our dissension; 120line 0484We are their parents and original. OBERON line 0485Do you amend it, then. It lies in you. line 0486Why should Titania cross her Oberon? line 0487I do but beg a little changeling boy line 0488To be my henchman. 125line 0489TITANIASet your heart at rest: line 0490The Fairyland buys not the child of me. line 0491His mother was a vot’ress of my order, line 0492And in the spicèd Indian air by night line 0493Full often hath she gossiped by my side 130line 0494And sat with me on Neptune’s yellow sands, line 0495Marking th’ embarkèd traders on the flood, line 0496When we have laughed to see the sails conceive line 0497And grow big-bellied with the wanton wind; line 0498Which she, with pretty and with swimming gait, 135line 0499Following (her womb then rich with my young line 0500squire), line 0501Would imitate and sail upon the land line 0502To fetch me trifles and return again, line 0503As from a voyage, rich with merchandise. 140line 0504But she, being mortal, of that boy did die, line 0505And for her sake do I rear up her boy, line 0506And for her sake I will not part with him. OBERON line 0507How long within this wood intend you stay? TITANIA line 0508Perchance till after Theseus’ wedding day. 145line 0509If you will patiently dance in our round line 0510And see our moonlight revels, go with us. line 0511If not, shun me, and I will spare your haunts. OBERON line 0512Give me that boy and I will go with thee. Act 2 Scene 1 - Pg 45TITANIA line 0513Not for thy fairy kingdom. Fairies, away. 150line 0514We shall chide downright if I longer stay.
Titania and her fairies exit.
OBERON line 0515Well, go thy way. Thou shalt not from this grove line 0516Till I torment thee for this injury.— line 0517My gentle Puck, come hither. Thou rememb’rest line 0518Since once I sat upon a promontory 155line 0519And heard a mermaid on a dolphin’s back line 0520Uttering such dulcet and harmonious breath line 0521That the rude sea grew civil at her song line 0522And certain stars shot madly from their spheres line 0523To hear the sea-maid’s music. 160line 0524ROBINI remember. OBERON line 0525That very time I saw (but thou couldst not), line 0526Flying between the cold moon and the Earth, line 0527Cupid all armed. A certain aim he took line 0528At a fair vestal thronèd by the west, 165line 0529And loosed his love-shaft smartly from his bow line 0530As it should pierce a hundred thousand hearts. line 0531But I might see young Cupid’s fiery shaft line 0532Quenched in the chaste beams of the wat’ry moon, line 0533And the imperial vot’ress passèd on 170line 0534In maiden meditation, fancy-free. line 0535Yet marked I where the bolt of Cupid fell. line 0536It fell upon a little western flower, line 0537Before, milk-white, now purple with love’s wound, line 0538And maidens call it “love-in-idleness.” 175line 0539Fetch me that flower; the herb I showed thee once. line 0540The juice of it on sleeping eyelids laid line 0541Will make or man or woman madly dote line 0542Upon the next live creature that it sees. line 0543Fetch me this herb, and be thou here again 180line 0544Ere the leviathan can swim a league. Act 2 Scene 1 - Pg 47ROBIN line 0545I’ll put a girdle round about the Earth line 0546In forty minutes.He exits. line 0547OBERONHaving once this juice, line 0548I’ll watch Titania when she is asleep 185line 0549And drop the liquor of it in her eyes. line 0550The next thing then she, waking, looks upon line 0551(Be it on lion, bear, or wolf, or bull, line 0552On meddling monkey, or on busy ape) line 0553She shall pursue it with the soul of love. 190line 0554And ere I take this charm from off her sight line 0555(As I can take it with another herb), line 0556I’ll make her render up her page to me. line 0557But who comes here? I am invisible, line 0558And I will overhear their conference.
Enter Demetrius, Helena following him.
DEMETRIUS 195line 0559I love thee not; therefore pursue me not. line 0560Where is Lysander and fair Hermia? line 0561The one I’ll stay; the other stayeth me. line 0562Thou told’st me they were stol’n unto this wood, line 0563And here am I, and wood within this wood 200line 0564Because I cannot meet my Hermia. line 0565Hence, get thee gone, and follow me no more. HELENA line 0566You draw me, you hard-hearted adamant! line 0567But yet you draw not iron, for my heart line 0568Is true as steel. Leave you your power to draw, 205line 0569And I shall have no power to follow you. DEMETRIUS line 0570Do I entice you? Do I speak you fair? line 0571Or rather do I not in plainest truth line 0572Tell you I do not, nor I cannot love you? HELENA line 0573And even for that do I love you the more. Act 2 Scene 1 - Pg 49210line 0574I am your spaniel, and, Demetrius, line 0575The more you beat me I will fawn on you. line 0576Use me but as your spaniel: spurn me, strike me, line 0577Neglect me, lose me; only give me leave line 0578(Unworthy as I am) to follow you. 215line 0579What worser place can I beg in your love line 0580(And yet a place of high respect with me) line 0581Than to be usèd as you use your dog? DEMETRIUS line 0582Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit, line 0583For I am sick when I do look on thee. HELENA 220line 0584And I am sick when I look not on you. DEMETRIUS line 0585You do impeach your modesty too much line 0586To leave the city and commit yourself line 0587Into the hands of one that loves you not, line 0588To trust the opportunity of night 225line 0589And the ill counsel of a desert place line 0590With the rich worth of your virginity. HELENA line 0591Your virtue is my privilege. For that line 0592It is not night when I do see your face, line 0593Therefore I think I am not in the night. 230line 0594Nor doth this wood lack worlds of company, line 0595For you, in my respect, are all the world. line 0596Then, how can it be said I am alone line 0597When all the world is here to look on me? DEMETRIUS line 0598I’ll run from thee and hide me in the brakes 235line 0599And leave thee to the mercy of wild beasts. HELENA line 0600The wildest hath not such a heart as you. line 0601Run when you will. The story shall be changed: line 0602Apollo flies and Daphne holds the chase; line 0603The dove pursues the griffin; the mild hind Act 2 Scene 1 - Pg 51240line 0604Makes speed to catch the tiger. Bootless speed line 0605When cowardice pursues and valor flies! DEMETRIUS line 0606I will not stay thy questions. Let me go, line 0607Or if thou follow me, do not believe line 0608But I shall do thee mischief in the wood. HELENA 245line 0609Ay, in the temple, in the town, the field, line 0610You do me mischief. Fie, Demetrius! line 0611Your wrongs do set a scandal on my sex. line 0612We cannot fight for love as men may do. line 0613We should be wooed and were not made to woo.
Demetrius exits.
250line 0614I’ll follow thee and make a heaven of hell line 0615To die upon the hand I love so well.Helena exits. OBERON line 0616Fare thee well, nymph. Ere he do leave this grove, line 0617Thou shalt fly him, and he shall seek thy love.
Enter Robin.
line 0618Hast thou the flower there? Welcome, wanderer. ROBIN 255line 0619Ay, there it is. line 0620OBERONI pray thee give it me.
Robin gives him the flower.
line 0621I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, line 0622Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows, line 0623Quite overcanopied with luscious woodbine, 260line 0624With sweet muskroses, and with eglantine. line 0625There sleeps Titania sometime of the night, line 0626Lulled in these flowers with dances and delight. line 0627And there the snake throws her enameled skin, line 0628Weed wide enough to wrap a fairy in. 265line 0629And with the juice of this I’ll streak her eyes line 0630And make her full of hateful fantasies. line 0631Take thou some of it, and seek through this grove. Act 2 Scene 2 - Pg 53
He gives Robin part of the flower.
line 0632A sweet Athenian lady is in love line 0633With a disdainful youth. Anoint his eyes, 270line 0634But do it when the next thing he espies line 0635May be the lady. Thou shalt know the man line 0636By the Athenian garments he hath on. line 0637Effect it with some care, that he may prove line 0638More fond on her than she upon her love. 275line 0639And look thou meet me ere the first cock crow. ROBIN line 0640Fear not, my lord. Your servant shall do so.
They exit.
Scene 2
Enter Titania, Queen of Fairies, with her train.
TITANIA line 0641Come, now a roundel and a fairy song; line 0642Then, for the third part of a minute, hence— line 0643Some to kill cankers in the muskrose buds, line 0644Some war with reremice for their leathern wings 5line 0645To make my small elves coats, and some keep back line 0646The clamorous owl that nightly hoots and wonders line 0647At our quaint spirits. Sing me now asleep. line 0648Then to your offices and let me rest.She lies down.
Fairies sing.
FIRST FAIRY line 0649You spotted snakes with double tongue, 10line 0650Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen. line 0651Newts and blindworms, do no wrong, line 0652Come not near our Fairy Queen. CHORUS line 0653Philomel, with melody line 0654Sing in our sweet lullaby. Act 2 Scene 2 - Pg 5515line 0655Lulla, lulla, lullaby, lulla, lulla, lullaby. line 0656Never harm line 0657Nor spell nor charm line 0658Come our lovely lady nigh. line 0659So good night, with lullaby. FIRST FAIRY 20line 0660Weaving spiders, come not here. line 0661Hence, you long-legged spinners, hence. line 0662Beetles black, approach not near. line 0663Worm nor snail, do no offence. CHORUS line 0664Philomel, with melody 25line 0665Sing in our sweet lullaby. line 0666Lulla, lulla, lullaby, lulla, lulla, lullaby. line 0667Never harm line 0668Nor spell nor charm line 0669Come our lovely lady nigh. 30line 0670So good night, with lullaby.
Titania sleeps.
SECOND FAIRY line 0671Hence, away! Now all is well. line 0672One aloof stand sentinel.Fairies exit.
Enter Oberon, who anoints Titania’s eyelids with the nectar.
OBERON line 0673What thou seest when thou dost wake line 0674Do it for thy true love take. 35line 0675Love and languish for his sake. line 0676Be it ounce, or cat, or bear, line 0677Pard, or boar with bristled hair, line 0678In thy eye that shall appear line 0679When thou wak’st, it is thy dear. 40line 0680Wake when some vile thing is near.He exits.
Enter Lysander and Hermia.
Act 2 Scene 2 - Pg 57LYSANDER line 0681Fair love, you faint with wand’ring in the wood. line 0682And, to speak troth, I have forgot our way. line 0683We’ll rest us, Hermia, if you think it good, line 0684And tarry for the comfort of the day. HERMIA 45line 0685Be it so, Lysander. Find you out a bed, line 0686For I upon this bank will rest my head. LYSANDER line 0687One turf shall serve as pillow for us both; line 0688One heart, one bed, two bosoms, and one troth. HERMIA line 0689Nay, good Lysander. For my sake, my dear, 50line 0690Lie further off yet. Do not lie so near. LYSANDER line 0691O, take the sense, sweet, of my innocence! line 0692Love takes the meaning in love’s conference. line 0693I mean that my heart unto yours is knit, line 0694So that but one heart we can make of it; 55line 0695Two bosoms interchainèd with an oath— line 0696So then two bosoms and a single troth. line 0697Then by your side no bed-room me deny, line 0698For lying so, Hermia, I do not lie. HERMIA line 0699Lysander riddles very prettily. 60line 0700Now much beshrew my manners and my pride line 0701If Hermia meant to say Lysander lied. line 0702But, gentle friend, for love and courtesy, line 0703Lie further off in human modesty. line 0704Such separation, as may well be said, 65line 0705Becomes a virtuous bachelor and a maid. line 0706So far be distant; and good night, sweet friend. line 0707Thy love ne’er alter till thy sweet life end! LYSANDER line 0708“Amen, amen” to that fair prayer, say I, line 0709And then end life when I end loyalty! 70line 0710Here is my bed. Sleep give thee all his rest! Act 2 Scene 2 - Pg 59HERMIA line 0711With half that wish the wisher’s eyes be pressed!
They sleep.
Enter Robin.
ROBIN line 0712Through the forest have I gone, line 0713But Athenian found I none line 0714On whose eyes I might approve 75line 0715This flower’s force in stirring love.
He sees Lysander.
line 0716Night and silence! Who is here? line 0717Weeds of Athens he doth wear. line 0718This is he my master said line 0719Despisèd the Athenian maid. 80line 0720And here the maiden, sleeping sound line 0721On the dank and dirty ground. line 0722Pretty soul, she durst not lie line 0723Near this lack-love, this kill-courtesy.— line 0724Churl, upon thy eyes I throw 85line 0725All the power this charm doth owe.
He anoints Lysander’s eyelids with the nectar.
line 0726When thou wak’st, let love forbid line 0727Sleep his seat on thy eyelid. line 0728So, awake when I am gone, line 0729For I must now to Oberon.He exits.
Enter Demetrius and Helena, running.
HELENA 90line 0730Stay, though thou kill me, sweet Demetrius. DEMETRIUS line 0731I charge thee, hence, and do not haunt me thus. HELENA line 0732O, wilt thou darkling leave me? Do not so. Act 2 Scene 2 - Pg 61DEMETRIUS line 0733Stay, on thy peril. I alone will go.Demetrius exits. HELENA line 0734O, I am out of breath in this fond chase. 95line 0735The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace. line 0736Happy is Hermia, wheresoe’er she lies, line 0737For she hath blessèd and attractive eyes. line 0738How came her eyes so bright? Not with salt tears. line 0739If so, my eyes are oftener washed than hers. 100line 0740No, no, I am as ugly as a bear, line 0741For beasts that meet me run away for fear. line 0742Therefore no marvel though Demetrius line 0743Do as a monster fly my presence thus. line 0744What wicked and dissembling glass of mine 105line 0745Made me compare with Hermia’s sphery eyne? line 0746But who is here? Lysander, on the ground! line 0747Dead or asleep? I see no blood, no wound.— line 0748Lysander, if you live, good sir, awake. LYSANDERwaking up line 0749And run through fire I will for thy sweet sake. 110line 0750Transparent Helena! Nature shows art, line 0751That through thy bosom makes me see thy heart. line 0752Where is Demetrius? O, how fit a word line 0753Is that vile name to perish on my sword! HELENA line 0754Do not say so. Lysander, say not so. 115line 0755What though he love your Hermia? Lord, what line 0756though? line 0757Yet Hermia still loves you. Then be content. LYSANDER line 0758Content with Hermia? No, I do repent line 0759The tedious minutes I with her have spent. 120line 0760Not Hermia, but Helena I love. line 0761Who will not change a raven for a dove? line 0762The will of man is by his reason swayed, line 0763And reason says you are the worthier maid. Act 2 Scene 2 - Pg 63line 0764Things growing are not ripe until their season; 125line 0765So I, being young, till now ripe not to reason. line 0766And touching now the point of human skill, line 0767Reason becomes the marshal to my will line 0768And leads me to your eyes, where I o’erlook line 0769Love’s stories written in love’s richest book. HELENA 130line 0770Wherefore was I to this keen mockery born? line 0771When at your hands did I deserve this scorn? line 0772Is ’t not enough, is ’t not enough, young man, line 0773That I did never, no, nor never can line 0774Deserve a sweet look from Demetrius’ eye, 135line 0775But you must flout my insufficiency? line 0776Good troth, you do me wrong, good sooth, you do, line 0777In such disdainful manner me to woo. line 0778But fare you well. Perforce I must confess line 0779I thought you lord of more true gentleness. 140line 0780O, that a lady of one man refused line 0781Should of another therefore be abused!She exits. LYSANDER line 0782She sees not Hermia.—Hermia, sleep thou there, line 0783And never mayst thou come Lysander near. line 0784For, as a surfeit of the sweetest things 145line 0785The deepest loathing to the stomach brings, line 0786Or as the heresies that men do leave line 0787Are hated most of those they did deceive, line 0788So thou, my surfeit and my heresy, line 0789Of all be hated, but the most of me! 150line 0790And, all my powers, address your love and might line 0791To honor Helen and to be her knight.He exits. HERMIAwaking up line 0792Help me, Lysander, help me! Do thy best line 0793To pluck this crawling serpent from my breast. line 0794Ay me, for pity! What a dream was here! 155line 0795Lysander, look how I do quake with fear. line 0796Methought a serpent ate my heart away, Act 2 Scene 2 - Pg 65line 0797And you sat smiling at his cruel prey. line 0798Lysander! What, removed? Lysander, lord! line 0799What, out of hearing? Gone? No sound, no word? 160line 0800Alack, where are you? Speak, an if you hear. line 0801Speak, of all loves! I swoon almost with fear.— line 0802No? Then I well perceive you are not nigh. line 0803Either death or you I’ll find immediately.
She exits.
ACT 3
Scene 1
With Titania still asleep onstage, enter the Clowns, Bottom, Quince, Snout, Starveling, Snug, and Flute.
line 0804BOTTOMAre we all met? line 0805QUINCEPat, pat. And here’s a marvels convenient line 0806place for our rehearsal. This green plot shall be line 0807our stage, this hawthorn brake our tiring-house, 5line 0808and we will do it in action as we will do it before line 0809the Duke. line 0810BOTTOMPeter Quince? line 0811QUINCEWhat sayest thou, bully Bottom? line 0812BOTTOMThere are things in this comedy of Pyramus 10line 0813and Thisbe that will never please. First, Pyramus line 0814must draw a sword to kill himself, which the ladies line 0815cannot abide. How answer you that? line 0816SNOUTBy ’r lakin, a parlous fear. line 0817STARVELINGI believe we must leave the killing out, 15line 0818when all is done. line 0819BOTTOMNot a whit! I have a device to make all well. line 0820Write me a prologue, and let the prologue seem to line 0821say we will do no harm with our swords and that line 0822Pyramus is not killed indeed. And, for the more 20line 0823better assurance, tell them that I, Pyramus, am not line 0824Pyramus, but Bottom the weaver. This will put them line 0825out of fear. Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 71line 0826QUINCEWell, we will have such a prologue, and it shall line 0827be written in eight and six. 25line 0828BOTTOMNo, make it two more. Let it be written in line 0829eight and eight. line 0830SNOUTWill not the ladies be afeard of the lion? line 0831STARVELINGI fear it, I promise you. line 0832BOTTOMMasters, you ought to consider with yourself, 30line 0833to bring in (God shield us!) a lion among ladies is a line 0834most dreadful thing. For there is not a more fearful line 0835wildfowl than your lion living, and we ought to look line 0836to ’t. line 0837SNOUTTherefore another prologue must tell he is not 35line 0838a lion. line 0839BOTTOMNay, you must name his name, and half his line 0840face must be seen through the lion’s neck, and he line 0841himself must speak through, saying thus, or to the line 0842same defect: “Ladies,” or “Fair ladies, I would 40line 0843wish you,” or “I would request you,” or “I would line 0844entreat you not to fear, not to tremble! My life for line 0845yours. If you think I come hither as a lion, it were line 0846pity of my life. No, I am no such thing. I am a man as line 0847other men are.” And there indeed let him name his 45line 0848name and tell them plainly he is Snug the joiner. line 0849QUINCEWell, it shall be so. But there is two hard line 0850things: that is, to bring the moonlight into a chamber, line 0851for you know Pyramus and Thisbe meet by line 0852moonlight. 50line 0853SNOUTDoth the moon shine that night we play our line 0854play? line 0855BOTTOMA calendar, a calendar! Look in the almanac. line 0856Find out moonshine, find out moonshine.
Quince takes out a book.
line 0857QUINCEYes, it doth shine that night. 55line 0858BOTTOMWhy, then, may you leave a casement of the line 0859great chamber window, where we play, open, and line 0860the moon may shine in at the casement. Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 73line 0861QUINCEAy, or else one must come in with a bush of line 0862thorns and a lantern and say he comes to disfigure 60line 0863or to present the person of Moonshine. Then there line 0864is another thing: we must have a wall in the great line 0865chamber, for Pyramus and Thisbe, says the story, line 0866did talk through the chink of a wall. line 0867SNOUTYou can never bring in a wall. What say you, 65line 0868Bottom? line 0869BOTTOMSome man or other must present Wall. And line 0870let him have some plaster, or some loam, or some line 0871roughcast about him to signify wall, or let him line 0872hold his fingers thus, and through that cranny shall 70line 0873Pyramus and Thisbe whisper. line 0874QUINCEIf that may be, then all is well. Come, sit down, line 0875every mother’s son, and rehearse your parts. Pyramus, line 0876you begin. When you have spoken your line 0877speech, enter into that brake, and so everyone 75line 0878according to his cue.
Enter Robin invisible to those onstage.
ROBINaside line 0879What hempen homespuns have we swagg’ring here line 0880So near the cradle of the Fairy Queen? line 0881What, a play toward? I’ll be an auditor— line 0882An actor too perhaps, if I see cause. 80line 0883QUINCESpeak, Pyramus.—Thisbe, stand forth. BOTTOMas Pyramus line 0884Thisbe, the flowers of odious savors sweet— line 0885QUINCEOdors, odors! BOTTOMas Pyramus line 0886…odors savors sweet. line 0887So hath thy breath, my dearest Thisbe dear.— 85line 0888But hark, a voice! Stay thou but here awhile, line 0889And by and by I will to thee appear.He exits. ROBINaside line 0890A stranger Pyramus than e’er played here.He exits. Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 75line 0891FLUTEMust I speak now? line 0892QUINCEAy, marry, must you, for you must understand 90line 0893he goes but to see a noise that he heard and is to line 0894come again. FLUTEas Thisbe line 0895Most radiant Pyramus, most lily-white of hue, line 0896Of color like the red rose on triumphant brier, line 0897Most brisky juvenal and eke most lovely Jew, 95line 0898As true as truest horse, that yet would never tire. line 0899I’ll meet thee, Pyramus, at Ninny’s tomb. line 0900QUINCE“Ninus’ tomb,” man! Why, you must not line 0901speak that yet. That you answer to Pyramus. You line 0902speak all your part at once, cues and all.—Pyramus, 100line 0903enter. Your cue is past. It is “never tire.” line 0904FLUTEO! line 0905As Thisbe. As true as truest horse, that yet would never line 0906tire.
Enter Robin, and Bottom as Pyramus with the ass-head.
BOTTOMas Pyramus line 0907If I were fair, fair Thisbe, I were only thine. 105line 0908QUINCEO monstrous! O strange! We are haunted. Pray, line 0909masters, fly, masters! Help!
Quince, Flute, Snout, Snug, and Starveling exit.
ROBIN line 0910I’ll follow you. I’ll lead you about a round, line 0911Through bog, through bush, through brake, line 0912through brier. 110line 0913Sometime a horse I’ll be, sometime a hound, line 0914A hog, a headless bear, sometime a fire, line 0915And neigh and bark and grunt and roar and burn, line 0916Like horse, hound, hog, bear, fire, at every turn.
He exits.
line 0917BOTTOMWhy do they run away? This is a knavery of 115line 0918them to make me afeard. Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 77
Enter Snout.
line 0919SNOUTO Bottom, thou art changed! What do I see on line 0920thee? line 0921BOTTOMWhat do you see? You see an ass-head of your line 0922own, do you?Snout exits.
Enter Quince.
120line 0923QUINCEBless thee, Bottom, bless thee! Thou art line 0924translated!He exits. line 0925BOTTOMI see their knavery. This is to make an ass of line 0926me, to fright me, if they could. But I will not stir line 0927from this place, do what they can. I will walk up 125line 0928and down here, and I will sing, that they shall hear line 0929I am not afraid. line 0930He sings. The ouzel cock, so black of hue, line 0931With orange-tawny bill, line 0932The throstle with his note so true, 130line 0933The wren with little quill— TITANIAwaking up line 0934What angel wakes me from my flow’ry bed? BOTTOMsings line 0935The finch, the sparrow, and the lark, line 0936The plainsong cuckoo gray, line 0937Whose note full many a man doth mark 135line 0938And dares not answer “nay”— line 0939for, indeed, who would set his wit to so foolish a line 0940bird? Who would give a bird the lie though he cry line 0941“cuckoo” never so? TITANIA line 0942I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing again. 140line 0943Mine ear is much enamored of thy note, line 0944So is mine eye enthrallèd to thy shape, line 0945And thy fair virtue’s force perforce doth move me line 0946On the first view to say, to swear, I love thee. line 0947BOTTOMMethinks, mistress, you should have little Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 79145line 0948reason for that. And yet, to say the truth, reason line 0949and love keep little company together nowadays. line 0950The more the pity that some honest neighbors will line 0951not make them friends. Nay, I can gleek upon line 0952occasion. TITANIA 150line 0953Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful. line 0954BOTTOMNot so neither; but if I had wit enough to get line 0955out of this wood, I have enough to serve mine own line 0956turn. TITANIA line 0957Out of this wood do not desire to go. 155line 0958Thou shalt remain here whether thou wilt or no. line 0959I am a spirit of no common rate. line 0960The summer still doth tend upon my state, line 0961And I do love thee. Therefore go with me. line 0962I’ll give thee fairies to attend on thee, 160line 0963And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep line 0964And sing while thou on pressèd flowers dost sleep. line 0965And I will purge thy mortal grossness so line 0966That thou shalt like an airy spirit go.— line 0967Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Mote, and Mustardseed!
Enter four Fairies: Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Mote, and Mustardseed.
165line 0968PEASEBLOSSOMReady. line 0969COBWEBAnd I. line 0970MOTEAnd I. line 0971MUSTARDSEEDAnd I. line 0972ALLWhere shall we go? TITANIA 170line 0973Be kind and courteous to this gentleman. line 0974Hop in his walks and gambol in his eyes; line 0975Feed him with apricocks and dewberries, line 0976With purple grapes, green figs, and mulberries; line 0977The honey-bags steal from the humble-bees, Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 81175line 0978And for night-tapers crop their waxen thighs line 0979And light them at the fiery glowworms’ eyes line 0980To have my love to bed and to arise; line 0981And pluck the wings from painted butterflies line 0982To fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes. 180line 0983Nod to him, elves, and do him courtesies. line 0984PEASEBLOSSOMHail, mortal! line 0985COBWEBHail! line 0986MOTEHail! line 0987MUSTARDSEEDHail! 185line 0988BOTTOMI cry your Worships mercy, heartily.—I beseech line 0989your Worship’s name. line 0990COBWEBCobweb. line 0991BOTTOMI shall desire you of more acquaintance, good line 0992Master Cobweb. If I cut my finger, I shall make 190line 0993bold with you.—Your name, honest gentleman? line 0994PEASEBLOSSOMPeaseblossom. line 0995BOTTOMI pray you, commend me to Mistress Squash, line 0996your mother, and to Master Peascod, your father. line 0997Good Master Peaseblossom, I shall desire you of 195line 0998more acquaintance too.—Your name, I beseech line 0999you, sir? line 1000MUSTARDSEEDMustardseed. line 1001BOTTOMGood Master Mustardseed, I know your patience line 1002well. That same cowardly, giantlike ox-beef 200line 1003hath devoured many a gentleman of your house. I line 1004promise you, your kindred hath made my eyes line 1005water ere now. I desire you of more acquaintance, line 1006good Master Mustardseed. TITANIA line 1007Come, wait upon him. Lead him to my bower. 205line 1008The moon, methinks, looks with a wat’ry eye, line 1009And when she weeps, weeps every little flower, line 1010Lamenting some enforcèd chastity. line 1011Tie up my lover’s tongue. Bring him silently.
They exit.
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 83
Scene 2
Enter Oberon, King of Fairies.
OBERON line 1012I wonder if Titania be awaked; line 1013Then what it was that next came in her eye, line 1014Which she must dote on in extremity.
Enter Robin Goodfellow.
line 1015Here comes my messenger. How now, mad spirit? 5line 1016What night-rule now about this haunted grove? ROBIN line 1017My mistress with a monster is in love. line 1018Near to her close and consecrated bower, line 1019While she was in her dull and sleeping hour, line 1020A crew of patches, rude mechanicals, 10line 1021That work for bread upon Athenian stalls, line 1022Were met together to rehearse a play line 1023Intended for great Theseus’ nuptial day. line 1024The shallowest thick-skin of that barren sort, line 1025Who Pyramus presented in their sport, 15line 1026Forsook his scene and entered in a brake. line 1027When I did him at this advantage take, line 1028An ass’s noll I fixèd on his head. line 1029Anon his Thisbe must be answerèd, line 1030And forth my mimic comes. When they him spy, 20line 1031As wild geese that the creeping fowler eye, line 1032Or russet-pated choughs, many in sort, line 1033Rising and cawing at the gun’s report, line 1034Sever themselves and madly sweep the sky, line 1035So at his sight away his fellows fly, 25line 1036And, at our stamp, here o’er and o’er one falls. line 1037He “Murder” cries and help from Athens calls. line 1038Their sense thus weak, lost with their fears thus line 1039strong, line 1040Made senseless things begin to do them wrong; Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 8530line 1041For briers and thorns at their apparel snatch, line 1042Some sleeves, some hats, from yielders all things line 1043catch. line 1044I led them on in this distracted fear line 1045And left sweet Pyramus translated there. 35line 1046When in that moment, so it came to pass, line 1047Titania waked and straightway loved an ass. OBERON line 1048This falls out better than I could devise. line 1049But hast thou yet latched the Athenian’s eyes line 1050With the love juice, as I did bid thee do? ROBIN 40line 1051I took him sleeping—that is finished, too— line 1052And the Athenian woman by his side, line 1053That, when he waked, of force she must be eyed.
Enter Demetrius and Hermia.
OBERON line 1054Stand close. This is the same Athenian. ROBIN line 1055This is the woman, but not this the man.
They step aside.
DEMETRIUS 45line 1056O, why rebuke you him that loves you so? line 1057Lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe! HERMIA line 1058Now I but chide, but I should use thee worse, line 1059For thou, I fear, hast given me cause to curse. line 1060If thou hast slain Lysander in his sleep, 50line 1061Being o’er shoes in blood, plunge in the deep line 1062And kill me too. line 1063The sun was not so true unto the day line 1064As he to me. Would he have stolen away line 1065From sleeping Hermia? I’ll believe as soon 55line 1066This whole Earth may be bored, and that the moon line 1067May through the center creep and so displease Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 87line 1068Her brother’s noontide with th’ Antipodes. line 1069It cannot be but thou hast murdered him. line 1070So should a murderer look, so dead, so grim. DEMETRIUS 60line 1071So should the murdered look, and so should I, line 1072Pierced through the heart with your stern cruelty. line 1073Yet you, the murderer, look as bright, as clear, line 1074As yonder Venus in her glimmering sphere. HERMIA line 1075What’s this to my Lysander? Where is he? 65line 1076Ah, good Demetrius, wilt thou give him me? DEMETRIUS line 1077I had rather give his carcass to my hounds. HERMIA line 1078Out, dog! Out, cur! Thou driv’st me past the bounds line 1079Of maiden’s patience. Hast thou slain him, then? line 1080Henceforth be never numbered among men. 70line 1081O, once tell true! Tell true, even for my sake! line 1082Durst thou have looked upon him, being awake? line 1083And hast thou killed him sleeping? O brave touch! line 1084Could not a worm, an adder, do so much? line 1085An adder did it, for with doubler tongue 75line 1086Than thine, thou serpent, never adder stung. DEMETRIUS line 1087You spend your passion on a misprised mood. line 1088I am not guilty of Lysander’s blood, line 1089Nor is he dead, for aught that I can tell. HERMIA line 1090I pray thee, tell me then that he is well. DEMETRIUS 80line 1091An if I could, what should I get therefor? HERMIA line 1092A privilege never to see me more. line 1093And from thy hated presence part I so. line 1094See me no more, whether he be dead or no.
She exits.
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 89DEMETRIUS line 1095There is no following her in this fierce vein. 85line 1096Here, therefore, for a while I will remain. line 1097So sorrow’s heaviness doth heavier grow line 1098For debt that bankrout sleep doth sorrow owe, line 1099Which now in some slight measure it will pay, line 1100If for his tender here I make some stay.
He lies down and falls asleep.
OBERONto Robin 90line 1101What hast thou done? Thou hast mistaken quite line 1102And laid the love juice on some true-love’s sight. line 1103Of thy misprision must perforce ensue line 1104Some true-love turned, and not a false turned true. ROBIN line 1105Then fate o’errules, that, one man holding troth, 95line 1106A million fail, confounding oath on oath. OBERON line 1107About the wood go swifter than the wind, line 1108And Helena of Athens look thou find. line 1109All fancy-sick she is and pale of cheer line 1110With sighs of love that costs the fresh blood dear. 100line 1111By some illusion see thou bring her here. line 1112I’ll charm his eyes against she do appear. line 1113ROBINI go, I go, look how I go, line 1114Swifter than arrow from the Tartar’s bow.He exits. OBERONapplying the nectar to Demetrius’ eyes line 1115Flower of this purple dye, 105line 1116Hit with Cupid’s archery, line 1117Sink in apple of his eye. line 1118When his love he doth espy, line 1119Let her shine as gloriously line 1120As the Venus of the sky.— 110line 1121When thou wak’st, if she be by, line 1122Beg of her for remedy.
Enter Robin.
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 91ROBIN line 1123Captain of our fairy band, line 1124Helena is here at hand, line 1125And the youth, mistook by me, 115line 1126Pleading for a lover’s fee. line 1127Shall we their fond pageant see? line 1128Lord, what fools these mortals be! OBERON line 1129Stand aside. The noise they make line 1130Will cause Demetrius to awake. ROBIN 120line 1131Then will two at once woo one. line 1132That must needs be sport alone. line 1133And those things do best please me line 1134That befall prepost’rously.
They step aside.
Enter Lysander and Helena.
LYSANDER line 1135Why should you think that I should woo in scorn? 125line 1136Scorn and derision never come in tears. line 1137Look when I vow, I weep; and vows so born, line 1138In their nativity all truth appears. line 1139How can these things in me seem scorn to you, line 1140Bearing the badge of faith to prove them true? HELENA 130line 1141You do advance your cunning more and more. line 1142When truth kills truth, O devilish holy fray! line 1143These vows are Hermia’s. Will you give her o’er? line 1144Weigh oath with oath and you will nothing line 1145weigh. 135line 1146Your vows to her and me, put in two scales, line 1147Will even weigh, and both as light as tales. LYSANDER line 1148I had no judgment when to her I swore. HELENA line 1149Nor none, in my mind, now you give her o’er. Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 93LYSANDER line 1150Demetrius loves her, and he loves not you. DEMETRIUSwaking up 140line 1151O Helen, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine! line 1152To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne? line 1153Crystal is muddy. O, how ripe in show line 1154Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow! line 1155That pure congealèd white, high Taurus’ snow, 145line 1156Fanned with the eastern wind, turns to a crow line 1157When thou hold’st up thy hand. O, let me kiss line 1158This princess of pure white, this seal of bliss! HELENA line 1159O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent line 1160To set against me for your merriment. 150line 1161If you were civil and knew courtesy, line 1162You would not do me thus much injury. line 1163Can you not hate me, as I know you do, line 1164But you must join in souls to mock me too? line 1165If you were men, as men you are in show, 155line 1166You would not use a gentle lady so, line 1167To vow and swear and superpraise my parts, line 1168When, I am sure, you hate me with your hearts. line 1169You both are rivals and love Hermia, line 1170And now both rivals to mock Helena. 160line 1171A trim exploit, a manly enterprise, line 1172To conjure tears up in a poor maid’s eyes line 1173With your derision! None of noble sort line 1174Would so offend a virgin and extort line 1175A poor soul’s patience, all to make you sport. LYSANDER 165line 1176You are unkind, Demetrius. Be not so, line 1177For you love Hermia; this you know I know. line 1178And here with all goodwill, with all my heart, line 1179In Hermia’s love I yield you up my part. line 1180And yours of Helena to me bequeath, 170line 1181Whom I do love and will do till my death. Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 95HELENA line 1182Never did mockers waste more idle breath. DEMETRIUS line 1183Lysander, keep thy Hermia. I will none. line 1184If e’er I loved her, all that love is gone. line 1185My heart to her but as guest-wise sojourned, 175line 1186And now to Helen is it home returned, line 1187There to remain. line 1188LYSANDERHelen, it is not so. DEMETRIUS line 1189Disparage not the faith thou dost not know, line 1190Lest to thy peril thou aby it dear. 180line 1191Look where thy love comes. Yonder is thy dear.
Enter Hermia.
HERMIAto Lysander line 1192Dark night, that from the eye his function takes, line 1193The ear more quick of apprehension makes; line 1194Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense, line 1195It pays the hearing double recompense. 185line 1196Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander, found; line 1197Mine ear, I thank it, brought me to thy sound. line 1198But why unkindly didst thou leave me so? LYSANDER line 1199Why should he stay whom love doth press to go? HERMIA line 1200What love could press Lysander from my side? LYSANDER 190line 1201Lysander’s love, that would not let him bide, line 1202Fair Helena, who more engilds the night line 1203Than all yon fiery oes and eyes of light. line 1204Why seek’st thou me? Could not this make thee line 1205know 195line 1206The hate I bear thee made me leave thee so? HERMIA line 1207You speak not as you think. It cannot be. Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 97HELENA line 1208Lo, she is one of this confederacy! line 1209Now I perceive they have conjoined all three line 1210To fashion this false sport in spite of me.— 200line 1211Injurious Hermia, most ungrateful maid, line 1212Have you conspired, have you with these contrived, line 1213To bait me with this foul derision? line 1214Is all the counsel that we two have shared, line 1215The sisters’ vows, the hours that we have spent 205line 1216When we have chid the hasty-footed time line 1217For parting us—O, is all forgot? line 1218All schooldays’ friendship, childhood innocence? line 1219We, Hermia, like two artificial gods, line 1220Have with our needles created both one flower, 210line 1221Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion, line 1222Both warbling of one song, both in one key, line 1223As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds line 1224Had been incorporate. So we grew together line 1225Like to a double cherry, seeming parted, 215line 1226But yet an union in partition, line 1227Two lovely berries molded on one stem; line 1228So with two seeming bodies but one heart, line 1229Two of the first, like coats in heraldry, line 1230Due but to one, and crownèd with one crest. 220line 1231And will you rent our ancient love asunder, line 1232To join with men in scorning your poor friend? line 1233It is not friendly; ’tis not maidenly. line 1234Our sex, as well as I, may chide you for it, line 1235Though I alone do feel the injury. HERMIA 225line 1236I am amazèd at your words. line 1237I scorn you not. It seems that you scorn me. HELENA line 1238Have you not set Lysander, as in scorn, line 1239To follow me and praise my eyes and face, line 1240And made your other love, Demetrius, Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 99230line 1241Who even but now did spurn me with his foot, line 1242To call me goddess, nymph, divine and rare, line 1243Precious, celestial? Wherefore speaks he this line 1244To her he hates? And wherefore doth Lysander line 1245Deny your love (so rich within his soul) 235line 1246And tender me, forsooth, affection, line 1247But by your setting on, by your consent? line 1248What though I be not so in grace as you, line 1249So hung upon with love, so fortunate, line 1250But miserable most, to love unloved? 240line 1251This you should pity rather than despise. HERMIA line 1252I understand not what you mean by this. HELENA line 1253Ay, do. Persever, counterfeit sad looks, line 1254Make mouths upon me when I turn my back, line 1255Wink each at other, hold the sweet jest up. 245line 1256This sport, well carried, shall be chronicled. line 1257If you have any pity, grace, or manners, line 1258You would not make me such an argument. line 1259But fare you well. ’Tis partly my own fault, line 1260Which death or absence soon shall remedy. LYSANDER 250line 1261Stay, gentle Helena. Hear my excuse, line 1262My love, my life, my soul, fair Helena. HELENA line 1263O excellent! HERMIAto Lysander line 1264Sweet, do not scorn her so. DEMETRIUSto Lysander line 1265If she cannot entreat, I can compel. LYSANDER 255line 1266Thou canst compel no more than she entreat. line 1267Thy threats have no more strength than her weak line 1268prayers.— line 1269Helen, I love thee. By my life, I do. Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 101line 1270I swear by that which I will lose for thee, 260line 1271To prove him false that says I love thee not. DEMETRIUS line 1272I say I love thee more than he can do. LYSANDER line 1273If thou say so, withdraw and prove it too. DEMETRIUS line 1274Quick, come. line 1275HERMIALysander, whereto tends all this?
She takes hold of Lysander.
LYSANDER 265line 1276Away, you Ethiop! DEMETRIUSto Hermia line 1277No, no. He’ll line 1278Seem to break loose. To Lysander. Take on as you line 1279would follow, line 1280But yet come not. You are a tame man, go! LYSANDERto Hermia 270line 1281Hang off, thou cat, thou burr! Vile thing, let loose, line 1282Or I will shake thee from me like a serpent. HERMIA line 1283Why are you grown so rude? What change is this, line 1284Sweet love? line 1285LYSANDERThy love? Out, tawny Tartar, out! 275line 1286Out, loathèd med’cine! O, hated potion, hence! HERMIA line 1287Do you not jest? line 1288HELENAYes, sooth, and so do you. LYSANDER line 1289Demetrius, I will keep my word with thee. DEMETRIUS line 1290I would I had your bond. For I perceive 280line 1291A weak bond holds you. I’ll not trust your word. LYSANDER line 1292What? Should I hurt her, strike her, kill her dead? line 1293Although I hate her, I’ll not harm her so. Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 103HERMIA line 1294What, can you do me greater harm than hate? line 1295Hate me? Wherefore? O me, what news, my love? 285line 1296Am not I Hermia? Are not you Lysander? line 1297I am as fair now as I was erewhile. line 1298Since night you loved me; yet since night you left line 1299me. line 1300Why, then, you left me—O, the gods forbid!— 290line 1301In earnest, shall I say? line 1302LYSANDERAy, by my life, line 1303And never did desire to see thee more. line 1304Therefore be out of hope, of question, of doubt. line 1305Be certain, nothing truer, ’tis no jest 295line 1306That I do hate thee and love Helena.
Hermia turns him loose.
HERMIA line 1307O me! To Helena. You juggler, you cankerblossom, line 1308You thief of love! What, have you come by night line 1309And stol’n my love’s heart from him? line 1310HELENAFine, i’ faith. 300line 1311Have you no modesty, no maiden shame, line 1312No touch of bashfulness? What, will you tear line 1313Impatient answers from my gentle tongue? line 1314Fie, fie, you counterfeit, you puppet, you! HERMIA line 1315“Puppet”? Why so? Ay, that way goes the game. 305line 1316Now I perceive that she hath made compare line 1317Between our statures; she hath urged her height, line 1318And with her personage, her tall personage, line 1319Her height, forsooth, she hath prevailed with him. line 1320And are you grown so high in his esteem 310line 1321Because I am so dwarfish and so low? line 1322How low am I, thou painted maypole? Speak! line 1323How low am I? I am not yet so low line 1324But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes. Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 105HELENA line 1325I pray you, though you mock me, gentlemen, 315line 1326Let her not hurt me. I was never curst; line 1327I have no gift at all in shrewishness. line 1328I am a right maid for my cowardice. line 1329Let her not strike me. You perhaps may think, line 1330Because she is something lower than myself, 320line 1331That I can match her. line 1332HERMIA“Lower”? Hark, again! HELENA line 1333Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me. line 1334I evermore did love you, Hermia, line 1335Did ever keep your counsels, never wronged you— 325line 1336Save that, in love unto Demetrius, line 1337I told him of your stealth unto this wood. line 1338He followed you; for love, I followed him. line 1339But he hath chid me hence and threatened me line 1340To strike me, spurn me, nay, to kill me too. 330line 1341And now, so you will let me quiet go, line 1342To Athens will I bear my folly back line 1343And follow you no further. Let me go. line 1344You see how simple and how fond I am. HERMIA line 1345Why, get you gone. Who is ’t that hinders you? HELENA 335line 1346A foolish heart that I leave here behind. HERMIA line 1347What, with Lysander? line 1348HELENAWith Demetrius. LYSANDER line 1349Be not afraid. She shall not harm thee, Helena. DEMETRIUS line 1350No, sir, she shall not, though you take her part. HELENA 340line 1351O, when she is angry, she is keen and shrewd. line 1352She was a vixen when she went to school, line 1353And though she be but little, she is fierce. Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 107HERMIA line 1354“Little” again? Nothing but “low” and “little”? line 1355Why will you suffer her to flout me thus? 345line 1356Let me come to her. line 1357LYSANDERGet you gone, you dwarf, line 1358You minimus of hind’ring knotgrass made, line 1359You bead, you acorn— line 1360DEMETRIUSYou are too officious 350line 1361In her behalf that scorns your services. line 1362Let her alone. Speak not of Helena. line 1363Take not her part. For if thou dost intend line 1364Never so little show of love to her, line 1365Thou shalt aby it. 355line 1366LYSANDERNow she holds me not. line 1367Now follow, if thou dar’st, to try whose right, line 1368Of thine or mine, is most in Helena. DEMETRIUS line 1369“Follow”? Nay, I’ll go with thee, cheek by jowl.
Demetrius and Lysander exit.
HERMIA line 1370You, mistress, all this coil is long of you.
Helena retreats.
360line 1371Nay, go not back. line 1372HELENAI will not trust you, I, line 1373Nor longer stay in your curst company. line 1374Your hands than mine are quicker for a fray. line 1375My legs are longer though, to run away.She exits. HERMIA 365line 1376I am amazed and know not what to say.She exits. OBERONto Robin line 1377This is thy negligence. Still thou mistak’st, line 1378Or else committ’st thy knaveries willfully. ROBIN line 1379Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook. line 1380Did not you tell me I should know the man 370line 1381By the Athenian garments he had on? Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 109line 1382And so far blameless proves my enterprise line 1383That I have ’nointed an Athenian’s eyes; line 1384And so far am I glad it so did sort, line 1385As this their jangling I esteem a sport. OBERON 375line 1386Thou seest these lovers seek a place to fight. line 1387Hie, therefore, Robin, overcast the night; line 1388The starry welkin cover thou anon line 1389With drooping fog as black as Acheron, line 1390And lead these testy rivals so astray 380line 1391As one come not within another’s way. line 1392Like to Lysander sometime frame thy tongue; line 1393Then stir Demetrius up with bitter wrong. line 1394And sometime rail thou like Demetrius. line 1395And from each other look thou lead them thus, 385line 1396Till o’er their brows death-counterfeiting sleep line 1397With leaden legs and batty wings doth creep. line 1398Then crush this herb into Lysander’s eye,
He gives a flower to Robin.
line 1399Whose liquor hath this virtuous property, line 1400To take from thence all error with his might 390line 1401And make his eyeballs roll with wonted sight. line 1402When they next wake, all this derision line 1403Shall seem a dream and fruitless vision. line 1404And back to Athens shall the lovers wend, line 1405With league whose date till death shall never end. 395line 1406Whiles I in this affair do thee employ, line 1407I’ll to my queen and beg her Indian boy; line 1408And then I will her charmèd eye release line 1409From monster’s view, and all things shall be peace. ROBIN line 1410My fairy lord, this must be done with haste, 400line 1411For night’s swift dragons cut the clouds full fast, line 1412And yonder shines Aurora’s harbinger, line 1413At whose approach, ghosts wand’ring here and line 1414there Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 111line 1415Troop home to churchyards. Damnèd spirits all, 405line 1416That in crossways and floods have burial, line 1417Already to their wormy beds are gone. line 1418For fear lest day should look their shames upon, line 1419They willfully themselves exile from light line 1420And must for aye consort with black-browed night. OBERON 410line 1421But we are spirits of another sort. line 1422I with the Morning’s love have oft made sport line 1423And, like a forester, the groves may tread line 1424Even till the eastern gate, all fiery red, line 1425Opening on Neptune with fair blessèd beams, 415line 1426Turns into yellow gold his salt-green streams. line 1427But notwithstanding, haste! Make no delay. line 1428We may effect this business yet ere day.He exits. ROBIN line 1429Up and down, up and down, line 1430I will lead them up and down. 420line 1431I am feared in field and town. line 1432Goblin, lead them up and down. line 1433Here comes one.
Enter Lysander.
LYSANDER line 1434Where art thou, proud Demetrius? Speak thou now. ROBINin Demetrius’ voice line 1435Here, villain, drawn and ready. Where art thou? 425line 1436LYSANDERI will be with thee straight. line 1437ROBINin Demetrius’ voiceFollow me, then, to line 1438plainer ground.Lysander exits.
Enter Demetrius.
line 1439DEMETRIUSLysander, speak again. line 1440Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled? 430line 1441Speak! In some bush? Where dost thou hide thy line 1442head? Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 113ROBINin Lysander’s voice line 1443Thou coward, art thou bragging to the stars, line 1444Telling the bushes that thou look’st for wars, line 1445And wilt not come? Come, recreant! Come, thou 435line 1446child! line 1447I’ll whip thee with a rod. He is defiled line 1448That draws a sword on thee. line 1449DEMETRIUSYea, art thou there? ROBINin Lysander’s voice line 1450Follow my voice. We’ll try no manhood here.
They exit.
Enter Lysander.
LYSANDER 440line 1451He goes before me and still dares me on. line 1452When I come where he calls, then he is gone. line 1453The villain is much lighter-heeled than I. line 1454I followed fast, but faster he did fly, line 1455That fallen am I in dark uneven way, 445line 1456And here will rest me. Come, thou gentle day, line 1457For if but once thou show me thy gray light, line 1458I’ll find Demetrius and revenge this spite.
He lies down and sleeps.
Enter Robin and Demetrius.
ROBINin Lysander’s voice line 1459Ho, ho, ho! Coward, why com’st thou not? DEMETRIUS line 1460Abide me, if thou dar’st, for well I wot 450line 1461Thou runn’st before me, shifting every place, line 1462And dar’st not stand nor look me in the face. line 1463Where art thou now? ROBINin Lysander’s voice line 1464Come hither. I am here. DEMETRIUS line 1465Nay, then, thou mock’st me. Thou shalt buy this 455line 1466dear Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 115line 1467If ever I thy face by daylight see. line 1468Now go thy way. Faintness constraineth me line 1469To measure out my length on this cold bed. line 1470By day’s approach look to be visited.
He lies down and sleeps.
Enter Helena.
HELENA 460line 1471O weary night, O long and tedious night, line 1472Abate thy hours! Shine, comforts, from the east, line 1473That I may back to Athens by daylight line 1474From these that my poor company detest. line 1475And sleep, that sometimes shuts up sorrow’s eye, 465line 1476Steal me awhile from mine own company.
She lies down and sleeps.
ROBIN line 1477Yet but three? Come one more. line 1478Two of both kinds makes up four. line 1479Here she comes, curst and sad. line 1480Cupid is a knavish lad 470line 1481Thus to make poor females mad.
Enter Hermia.
HERMIA line 1482Never so weary, never so in woe, line 1483Bedabbled with the dew and torn with briers, line 1484I can no further crawl, no further go. line 1485My legs can keep no pace with my desires. 475line 1486Here will I rest me till the break of day. line 1487Heavens shield Lysander if they mean a fray!
She lies down and sleeps.
ROBIN line 1488On the ground line 1489Sleep sound. line 1490I’ll apply 480line 1491To your eye, line 1492Gentle lover, remedy. Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 117
Robin applies the nectar to Lysander’s eyes.
line 1493When thou wak’st, line 1494Thou tak’st line 1495True delight 485line 1496In the sight line 1497Of thy former lady’s eye. line 1498And the country proverb known, line 1499That every man should take his own, line 1500In your waking shall be shown. 490line 1501Jack shall have Jill; line 1502Naught shall go ill; line 1503The man shall have his mare again, and all shall be line 1504well.
He exits.
ACT 4
Scene 1
With the four lovers still asleep onstage, enter Titania, Queen of Fairies, and Bottom and Fairies, and Oberon, the King, behind them unseen by those onstage.
TITANIA line 1505Come, sit thee down upon this flow’ry bed, line 1506While I thy amiable cheeks do coy, line 1507And stick muskroses in thy sleek smooth head, line 1508And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy. 5line 1509BOTTOMWhere’s Peaseblossom? line 1510PEASEBLOSSOMReady. line 1511BOTTOMScratch my head, Peaseblossom. Where’s line 1512Monsieur Cobweb? line 1513COBWEBReady. 10line 1514BOTTOMMonsieur Cobweb, good monsieur, get you line 1515your weapons in your hand and kill me a red-hipped line 1516humble-bee on the top of a thistle, and, good line 1517monsieur, bring me the honey-bag. Do not fret line 1518yourself too much in the action, monsieur, and, 15line 1519good monsieur, have a care the honey-bag break line 1520not; I would be loath to have you overflown with a line 1521honey-bag, signior. Cobweb exits. Where’s Monsieur line 1522Mustardseed? line 1523MUSTARDSEEDReady. Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 12320line 1524BOTTOMGive me your neaf, Monsieur Mustardseed. line 1525Pray you, leave your courtesy, good monsieur. line 1526MUSTARDSEEDWhat’s your will? line 1527BOTTOMNothing, good monsieur, but to help Cavalery line 1528Cobweb to scratch. I must to the barber’s, 25line 1529monsieur, for methinks I am marvels hairy about line 1530the face. And I am such a tender ass, if my hair do line 1531but tickle me, I must scratch. TITANIA line 1532What, wilt thou hear some music, my sweet love? line 1533BOTTOMI have a reasonable good ear in music. Let’s 30line 1534have the tongs and the bones. TITANIA line 1535Or say, sweet love, what thou desirest to eat. line 1536BOTTOMTruly, a peck of provender. I could munch line 1537your good dry oats. Methinks I have a great desire line 1538to a bottle of hay. Good hay, sweet hay, hath no 35line 1539fellow. TITANIA line 1540I have a venturous fairy that shall seek line 1541The squirrel’s hoard and fetch thee new nuts. line 1542BOTTOMI had rather have a handful or two of dried line 1543peas. But, I pray you, let none of your people stir 40line 1544me; I have an exposition of sleep come upon me. TITANIA line 1545Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms.— line 1546Fairies, begone, and be all ways away.
Fairies exit.
line 1547So doth the woodbine the sweet honeysuckle line 1548Gently entwist; the female ivy so 45line 1549Enrings the barky fingers of the elm. line 1550O, how I love thee! How I dote on thee!
Bottom and Titania sleep.
Enter Robin Goodfellow.
OBERON line 1551Welcome, good Robin. Seest thou this sweet sight? Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 125line 1552Her dotage now I do begin to pity. line 1553For, meeting her of late behind the wood, 50line 1554Seeking sweet favors for this hateful fool, line 1555I did upbraid her and fall out with her. line 1556For she his hairy temples then had rounded line 1557With coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers; line 1558And that same dew, which sometime on the buds 55line 1559Was wont to swell like round and orient pearls, line 1560Stood now within the pretty flouriets’ eyes, line 1561Like tears that did their own disgrace bewail. line 1562When I had at my pleasure taunted her, line 1563And she in mild terms begged my patience, 60line 1564I then did ask of her her changeling child, line 1565Which straight she gave me, and her fairy sent line 1566To bear him to my bower in Fairyland. line 1567And now I have the boy, I will undo line 1568This hateful imperfection of her eyes. 65line 1569And, gentle Puck, take this transformèd scalp line 1570From off the head of this Athenian swain, line 1571That he, awaking when the other do, line 1572May all to Athens back again repair line 1573And think no more of this night’s accidents 70line 1574But as the fierce vexation of a dream. line 1575But first I will release the Fairy Queen.
He applies the nectar to her eyes.
line 1576Be as thou wast wont to be. line 1577See as thou wast wont to see. line 1578Dian’s bud o’er Cupid’s flower 75line 1579Hath such force and blessèd power. line 1580Now, my Titania, wake you, my sweet queen. TITANIAwaking line 1581My Oberon, what visions have I seen! line 1582Methought I was enamored of an ass. OBERON line 1583There lies your love. 80line 1584TITANIAHow came these things to pass? line 1585O, how mine eyes do loathe his visage now! Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 127OBERON line 1586Silence awhile.—Robin, take off this head.— line 1587Titania, music call; and strike more dead line 1588Than common sleep of all these five the sense. TITANIA 85line 1589Music, ho, music such as charmeth sleep! ROBINremoving the ass-head from Bottom line 1590Now, when thou wak’st, with thine own fool’s eyes line 1591peep. OBERON line 1592Sound music.Music. line 1593Come, my queen, take hands with me, 90line 1594And rock the ground whereon these sleepers be.
Titania and Oberon dance.
line 1595Now thou and I are new in amity, line 1596And will tomorrow midnight solemnly line 1597Dance in Duke Theseus’ house triumphantly, line 1598And bless it to all fair prosperity. 95line 1599There shall the pairs of faithful lovers be line 1600Wedded, with Theseus, all in jollity. ROBIN line 1601Fairy king, attend and mark. line 1602I do hear the morning lark. OBERON line 1603Then, my queen, in silence sad 100line 1604Trip we after night’s shade. line 1605We the globe can compass soon, line 1606Swifter than the wand’ring moon. TITANIA line 1607Come, my lord, and in our flight line 1608Tell me how it came this night 105line 1609That I sleeping here was found line 1610With these mortals on the ground.
Oberon, Robin, and Titania exit.
Wind horn. Enter Theseus and all his train, Hippolyta, Egeus.
Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 129THESEUS line 1611Go, one of you, find out the Forester. line 1612For now our observation is performed, line 1613And, since we have the vaward of the day, 110line 1614My love shall hear the music of my hounds. line 1615Uncouple in the western valley; let them go. line 1616Dispatch, I say, and find the Forester.
A Servant exits.
line 1617We will, fair queen, up to the mountain’s top line 1618And mark the musical confusion 115line 1619Of hounds and echo in conjunction. HIPPOLYTA line 1620I was with Hercules and Cadmus once, line 1621When in a wood of Crete they bayed the bear line 1622With hounds of Sparta. Never did I hear line 1623Such gallant chiding, for, besides the groves, 120line 1624The skies, the fountains, every region near line 1625Seemed all one mutual cry. I never heard line 1626So musical a discord, such sweet thunder. THESEUS line 1627My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind, line 1628So flewed, so sanded; and their heads are hung 125line 1629With ears that sweep away the morning dew; line 1630Crook-kneed, and dewlapped like Thessalian bulls; line 1631Slow in pursuit, but matched in mouth like bells, line 1632Each under each. A cry more tunable line 1633Was never holloed to, nor cheered with horn, 130line 1634In Crete, in Sparta, nor in Thessaly. line 1635Judge when you hear.—But soft! What nymphs are line 1636these? EGEUS line 1637My lord, this is my daughter here asleep, line 1638And this Lysander; this Demetrius is, 135line 1639This Helena, old Nedar’s Helena. line 1640I wonder of their being here together. Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 131THESEUS line 1641No doubt they rose up early to observe line 1642The rite of May, and hearing our intent, line 1643Came here in grace of our solemnity. 140line 1644But speak, Egeus. Is not this the day line 1645That Hermia should give answer of her choice? line 1646EGEUSIt is, my lord. THESEUS line 1647Go, bid the huntsmen wake them with their horns.
A Servant exits.
Shout within. Wind horns. They all start up.
THESEUS line 1648Good morrow, friends. Saint Valentine is past. 145line 1649Begin these woodbirds but to couple now?
Demetrius, Helena, Hermia, and Lysander kneel.
LYSANDER line 1650Pardon, my lord. line 1651THESEUSI pray you all, stand up.
They rise.
line 1652I know you two are rival enemies. line 1653How comes this gentle concord in the world, 150line 1654That hatred is so far from jealousy line 1655To sleep by hate and fear no enmity? LYSANDER line 1656My lord, I shall reply amazèdly, line 1657Half sleep, half waking. But as yet, I swear, line 1658I cannot truly say how I came here. 155line 1659But, as I think—for truly would I speak, line 1660And now I do bethink me, so it is: line 1661I came with Hermia hither. Our intent line 1662Was to be gone from Athens, where we might, line 1663Without the peril of the Athenian law— EGEUS 160line 1664Enough, enough!—My lord, you have enough. line 1665I beg the law, the law upon his head. line 1666They would have stol’n away.—They would, line 1667Demetrius, Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 133line 1668Thereby to have defeated you and me: 165line 1669You of your wife and me of my consent, line 1670Of my consent that she should be your wife. DEMETRIUS line 1671My lord, fair Helen told me of their stealth, line 1672Of this their purpose hither to this wood, line 1673And I in fury hither followed them, 170line 1674Fair Helena in fancy following me. line 1675But, my good lord, I wot not by what power line 1676(But by some power it is) my love to Hermia, line 1677Melted as the snow, seems to me now line 1678As the remembrance of an idle gaud 175line 1679Which in my childhood I did dote upon, line 1680And all the faith, the virtue of my heart, line 1681The object and the pleasure of mine eye, line 1682Is only Helena. To her, my lord, line 1683Was I betrothed ere I saw Hermia. 180line 1684But like a sickness did I loathe this food. line 1685But, as in health, come to my natural taste, line 1686Now I do wish it, love it, long for it, line 1687And will forevermore be true to it. THESEUS line 1688Fair lovers, you are fortunately met. 185line 1689Of this discourse we more will hear anon.— line 1690Egeus, I will overbear your will, line 1691For in the temple by and by, with us, line 1692These couples shall eternally be knit.— line 1693And, for the morning now is something worn, 190line 1694Our purposed hunting shall be set aside. line 1695Away with us to Athens. Three and three, line 1696We’ll hold a feast in great solemnity. line 1697Come, Hippolyta.
Theseus and his train, including Hippolyta and Egeus, exit.
DEMETRIUS line 1698These things seem small and undistinguishable, 195line 1699Like far-off mountains turnèd into clouds. Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 135HERMIA line 1700Methinks I see these things with parted eye, line 1701When everything seems double. line 1702HELENASo methinks. line 1703And I have found Demetrius like a jewel, 200line 1704Mine own and not mine own. line 1705DEMETRIUSAre you sure line 1706That we are awake? It seems to me line 1707That yet we sleep, we dream. Do not you think line 1708The Duke was here and bid us follow him? HERMIA 205line 1709Yea, and my father. line 1710HELENAAnd Hippolyta. LYSANDER line 1711And he did bid us follow to the temple. DEMETRIUS line 1712Why, then, we are awake. Let’s follow him, line 1713And by the way let us recount our dreams.
Lovers exit.
210line 1714BOTTOMwaking up When my cue comes, call me, line 1715and I will answer. My next is “Most fair Pyramus.” line 1716Hey-ho! Peter Quince! Flute the bellows-mender! line 1717Snout the tinker! Starveling! God’s my life! Stolen line 1718hence and left me asleep! I have had a most rare 215line 1719vision. I have had a dream past the wit of man to say line 1720what dream it was. Man is but an ass if he go about line 1721to expound this dream. Methought I was—there line 1722is no man can tell what. Methought I was and line 1723methought I had—but man is but a patched fool if 220line 1724he will offer to say what methought I had. The eye of line 1725man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, line 1726man’s hand is not able to taste, his tongue to line 1727conceive, nor his heart to report what my dream line 1728was. I will get Peter Quince to write a ballad of this 225line 1729dream. It shall be called “Bottom’s Dream” because line 1730it hath no bottom; and I will sing it in the Act 4 Scene 2 - Pg 137line 1731latter end of a play, before the Duke. Peradventure, line 1732to make it the more gracious, I shall sing it at her line 1733death.
He exits.
Scene 2
Enter Quince, Flute, Snout, and Starveling.
line 1734QUINCEHave you sent to Bottom’s house? Is he come line 1735home yet? line 1736STARVELINGHe cannot be heard of. Out of doubt he line 1737is transported. 5line 1738FLUTEIf he come not, then the play is marred. It goes line 1739not forward, doth it? line 1740QUINCEIt is not possible. You have not a man in all line 1741Athens able to discharge Pyramus but he. line 1742FLUTENo, he hath simply the best wit of any handicraftman 10line 1743in Athens. line 1744QUINCEYea, and the best person too, and he is a very line 1745paramour for a sweet voice. line 1746FLUTEYou must say “paragon.” A “paramour” is (God line 1747bless us) a thing of naught.
Enter Snug the joiner.
15line 1748SNUGMasters, the Duke is coming from the temple, line 1749and there is two or three lords and ladies more line 1750married. If our sport had gone forward, we had all line 1751been made men. line 1752FLUTEO, sweet bully Bottom! Thus hath he lost sixpence 20line 1753a day during his life. He could not have line 1754’scaped sixpence a day. An the Duke had not given line 1755him sixpence a day for playing Pyramus, I’ll be line 1756hanged. He would have deserved it. Sixpence a day line 1757in Pyramus, or nothing!
Enter Bottom.
Act 4 Scene 2 - Pg 13925line 1758BOTTOMWhere are these lads? Where are these line 1759hearts? line 1760QUINCEBottom! O most courageous day! O most happy line 1761hour! line 1762BOTTOMMasters, I am to discourse wonders. But ask 30line 1763me not what; for, if I tell you, I am not true line 1764Athenian. I will tell you everything right as it fell line 1765out. line 1766QUINCELet us hear, sweet Bottom. line 1767BOTTOMNot a word of me. All that I will tell you is that 35line 1768the Duke hath dined. Get your apparel together, line 1769good strings to your beards, new ribbons to your line 1770pumps. Meet presently at the palace. Every man line 1771look o’er his part. For the short and the long is, our line 1772play is preferred. In any case, let Thisbe have clean 40line 1773linen, and let not him that plays the lion pare his line 1774nails, for they shall hang out for the lion’s claws. line 1775And, most dear actors, eat no onions nor garlic, for line 1776we are to utter sweet breath, and I do not doubt but line 1777to hear them say it is a sweet comedy. No more 45line 1778words. Away! Go, away!
They exit.
ACT 5
Scene 1
Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, and Philostrate, Lords, and Attendants.
HIPPOLYTA line 1779’Tis strange, my Theseus, that these lovers speak of. THESEUS line 1780More strange than true. I never may believe line 1781These antique fables nor these fairy toys. line 1782Lovers and madmen have such seething brains, 5line 1783Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend line 1784More than cool reason ever comprehends. line 1785The lunatic, the lover, and the poet line 1786Are of imagination all compact. line 1787One sees more devils than vast hell can hold: 10line 1788That is the madman. The lover, all as frantic, line 1789Sees Helen’s beauty in a brow of Egypt. line 1790The poet’s eye, in a fine frenzy rolling, line 1791Doth glance from heaven to Earth, from Earth to line 1792heaven, 15line 1793And as imagination bodies forth line 1794The forms of things unknown, the poet’s pen line 1795Turns them to shapes and gives to airy nothing line 1796A local habitation and a name. line 1797Such tricks hath strong imagination 20line 1798That, if it would but apprehend some joy, Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 145line 1799It comprehends some bringer of that joy. line 1800Or in the night, imagining some fear, line 1801How easy is a bush supposed a bear! HIPPOLYTA line 1802But all the story of the night told over, 25line 1803And all their minds transfigured so together, line 1804More witnesseth than fancy’s images line 1805And grows to something of great constancy, line 1806But, howsoever, strange and admirable.
Enter Lovers: Lysander, Demetrius, Hermia, and Helena.
THESEUS line 1807Here come the lovers full of joy and mirth.— 30line 1808Joy, gentle friends! Joy and fresh days of love line 1809Accompany your hearts! line 1810LYSANDERMore than to us line 1811Wait in your royal walks, your board, your bed! THESEUS line 1812Come now, what masques, what dances shall we 35line 1813have line 1814To wear away this long age of three hours line 1815Between our after-supper and bedtime? line 1816Where is our usual manager of mirth? line 1817What revels are in hand? Is there no play 40line 1818To ease the anguish of a torturing hour? line 1819Call Philostrate. line 1820PHILOSTRATEcoming forwardHere, mighty Theseus. THESEUS line 1821Say what abridgment have you for this evening, line 1822What masque, what music? How shall we beguile 45line 1823The lazy time if not with some delight? PHILOSTRATEgiving Theseus a paper line 1824There is a brief how many sports are ripe. line 1825Make choice of which your Highness will see first. Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 147THESEUS line 1826“The battle with the Centaurs, to be sung line 1827By an Athenian eunuch to the harp.” 50line 1828We’ll none of that. That have I told my love line 1829In glory of my kinsman Hercules. line 1830“The riot of the tipsy Bacchanals, line 1831Tearing the Thracian singer in their rage.” line 1832That is an old device, and it was played 55line 1833When I from Thebes came last a conqueror. line 1834“The thrice-three Muses mourning for the death line 1835Of learning, late deceased in beggary.” line 1836That is some satire, keen and critical, line 1837Not sorting with a nuptial ceremony. 60line 1838“A tedious brief scene of young Pyramus line 1839And his love Thisbe, very tragical mirth.” line 1840“Merry” and “tragical”? “Tedious” and “brief”? line 1841That is hot ice and wondrous strange snow! line 1842How shall we find the concord of this discord? PHILOSTRATE 65line 1843A play there is, my lord, some ten words long line 1844(Which is as brief as I have known a play), line 1845But by ten words, my lord, it is too long, line 1846Which makes it tedious; for in all the play, line 1847There is not one word apt, one player fitted. 70line 1848And tragical, my noble lord, it is. line 1849For Pyramus therein doth kill himself, line 1850Which, when I saw rehearsed, I must confess, line 1851Made mine eyes water; but more merry tears line 1852The passion of loud laughter never shed. THESEUS 75line 1853What are they that do play it? PHILOSTRATE line 1854Hard-handed men that work in Athens here, line 1855Which never labored in their minds till now, line 1856And now have toiled their unbreathed memories line 1857With this same play, against your nuptial. Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 149THESEUS 80line 1858And we will hear it. line 1859PHILOSTRATENo, my noble lord, line 1860It is not for you. I have heard it over, line 1861And it is nothing, nothing in the world, line 1862Unless you can find sport in their intents, 85line 1863Extremely stretched and conned with cruel pain line 1864To do you service. line 1865THESEUSI will hear that play, line 1866For never anything can be amiss line 1867When simpleness and duty tender it. 90line 1868Go, bring them in—and take your places, ladies.
Philostrate exits.
HIPPOLYTA line 1869I love not to see wretchedness o’ercharged, line 1870And duty in his service perishing. THESEUS line 1871Why, gentle sweet, you shall see no such thing. HIPPOLYTA line 1872He says they can do nothing in this kind. THESEUS 95line 1873The kinder we, to give them thanks for nothing. line 1874Our sport shall be to take what they mistake; line 1875And what poor duty cannot do, noble respect line 1876Takes it in might, not merit. line 1877Where I have come, great clerks have purposèd 100line 1878To greet me with premeditated welcomes, line 1879Where I have seen them shiver and look pale, line 1880Make periods in the midst of sentences, line 1881Throttle their practiced accent in their fears, line 1882And in conclusion dumbly have broke off, 105line 1883Not paying me a welcome. Trust me, sweet, line 1884Out of this silence yet I picked a welcome, line 1885And in the modesty of fearful duty, line 1886I read as much as from the rattling tongue line 1887Of saucy and audacious eloquence. Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 151110line 1888Love, therefore, and tongue-tied simplicity line 1889In least speak most, to my capacity.
Enter Philostrate.
PHILOSTRATE line 1890So please your Grace, the Prologue is addressed. line 1891THESEUSLet him approach.
Enter the Prologue.
PROLOGUE line 1892If we offend, it is with our goodwill. 115line 1893That you should think we come not to offend, line 1894But with goodwill. To show our simple skill, line 1895That is the true beginning of our end. line 1896Consider, then, we come but in despite. line 1897We do not come, as minding to content you, 120line 1898Our true intent is. All for your delight line 1899We are not here. That you should here repent line 1900you, line 1901The actors are at hand, and, by their show, line 1902You shall know all that you are like to know.
Prologue exits.
125line 1903THESEUSThis fellow doth not stand upon points. line 1904LYSANDERHe hath rid his prologue like a rough colt; line 1905he knows not the stop. A good moral, my lord: it is line 1906not enough to speak, but to speak true. line 1907HIPPOLYTAIndeed he hath played on this prologue like 130line 1908a child on a recorder—a sound, but not in line 1909government. line 1910THESEUSHis speech was like a tangled chain—nothing line 1911impaired, but all disordered. Who is next?
Enter Pyramus (Bottom), and Thisbe (Flute), and Wall (Snout), and Moonshine (Starveling), and Lion (Snug), and Prologue (Quince).
QUINCEas Prologue line 1912Gentles, perchance you wonder at this show. Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 153135line 1913But wonder on, till truth make all things plain. line 1914This man is Pyramus, if you would know. line 1915This beauteous lady Thisbe is certain. line 1916This man with lime and roughcast doth present line 1917“Wall,” that vile wall which did these lovers 140line 1918sunder; line 1919And through Wall’s chink, poor souls, they are line 1920content line 1921To whisper, at the which let no man wonder. line 1922This man, with lantern, dog, and bush of thorn, 145line 1923Presenteth “Moonshine,” for, if you will know, line 1924By moonshine did these lovers think no scorn line 1925To meet at Ninus’ tomb, there, there to woo. line 1926This grisly beast (which “Lion” hight by name) line 1927The trusty Thisbe coming first by night 150line 1928Did scare away or rather did affright; line 1929And, as she fled, her mantle she did fall, line 1930Which Lion vile with bloody mouth did stain. line 1931Anon comes Pyramus, sweet youth and tall, line 1932And finds his trusty Thisbe’s mantle slain. 155line 1933Whereat, with blade, with bloody blameful blade, line 1934He bravely broached his boiling bloody breast. line 1935And Thisbe, tarrying in mulberry shade, line 1936His dagger drew, and died. For all the rest, line 1937Let Lion, Moonshine, Wall, and lovers twain 160line 1938At large discourse, while here they do remain. line 1939THESEUSI wonder if the lion be to speak. line 1940DEMETRIUSNo wonder, my lord. One lion may when line 1941many asses do.
Lion, Thisbe, Moonshine, and Prologue exit.
SNOUTas Wall line 1942In this same interlude it doth befall 165line 1943That I, one Snout by name, present a wall; line 1944And such a wall as I would have you think line 1945That had in it a crannied hole or chink, line 1946Through which the lovers, Pyramus and Thisbe, Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 155line 1947Did whisper often, very secretly. 170line 1948This loam, this roughcast, and this stone doth show line 1949That I am that same wall. The truth is so. line 1950And this the cranny is, right and sinister, line 1951Through which the fearful lovers are to whisper. line 1952THESEUSWould you desire lime and hair to speak 175line 1953better? line 1954DEMETRIUSIt is the wittiest partition that ever I heard line 1955discourse, my lord. line 1956THESEUSPyramus draws near the wall. Silence. BOTTOMas Pyramus line 1957O grim-looked night! O night with hue so black! 180line 1958O night, which ever art when day is not! line 1959O night! O night! Alack, alack, alack! line 1960I fear my Thisbe’s promise is forgot. line 1961And thou, O wall, O sweet, O lovely wall, line 1962That stand’st between her father’s ground and 185line 1963mine, line 1964Thou wall, O wall, O sweet and lovely wall, line 1965Show me thy chink to blink through with mine line 1966eyne. line 1967Thanks, courteous wall. Jove shield thee well for 190line 1968this. line 1969But what see I? No Thisbe do I see. line 1970O wicked wall, through whom I see no bliss, line 1971Cursed be thy stones for thus deceiving me! line 1972THESEUSThe wall, methinks, being sensible, should 195line 1973curse again. line 1974BOTTOMNo, in truth, sir, he should not. “Deceiving line 1975me” is Thisbe’s cue. She is to enter now, and I am line 1976to spy her through the wall. You shall see it will fall line 1977pat as I told you. Yonder she comes.
Enter Thisbe (Flute).
FLUTEas Thisbe 200line 1978O wall, full often hast thou heard my moans Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 157line 1979For parting my fair Pyramus and me. line 1980My cherry lips have often kissed thy stones, line 1981Thy stones with lime and hair knit up in thee. BOTTOMas Pyramus line 1982I see a voice! Now will I to the chink 205line 1983To spy an I can hear my Thisbe’s face. line 1984Thisbe? FLUTEas Thisbe line 1985My love! Thou art my love, I think. BOTTOMas Pyramus line 1986Think what thou wilt, I am thy lover’s grace, line 1987And, like Limander, am I trusty still. FLUTEas Thisbe 210line 1988And I like Helen, till the Fates me kill. BOTTOMas Pyramus line 1989Not Shafalus to Procrus was so true. FLUTEas Thisbe line 1990As Shafalus to Procrus, I to you. BOTTOMas Pyramus line 1991O kiss me through the hole of this vile wall. FLUTEas Thisbe line 1992I kiss the wall’s hole, not your lips at all. BOTTOMas Pyramus 215line 1993Wilt thou at Ninny’s tomb meet me straightway? FLUTEas Thisbe line 1994’Tide life, ’tide death, I come without delay.
Bottom and Flute exit.
SNOUTas Wall line 1995Thus have I, Wall, my part dischargèd so, line 1996And, being done, thus Wall away doth go.He exits. line 1997THESEUSNow is the wall down between the two 220line 1998neighbors. line 1999DEMETRIUSNo remedy, my lord, when walls are so line 2000willful to hear without warning. line 2001HIPPOLYTAThis is the silliest stuff that ever I heard. line 2002THESEUSThe best in this kind are but shadows, and Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 159225line 2003the worst are no worse, if imagination amend line 2004them. line 2005HIPPOLYTAIt must be your imagination, then, and not line 2006theirs. line 2007THESEUSIf we imagine no worse of them than they of 230line 2008themselves, they may pass for excellent men. Here line 2009come two noble beasts in, a man and a lion.
Enter Lion (Snug) and Moonshine (Starveling).
SNUGas Lion line 2010You ladies, you whose gentle hearts do fear line 2011The smallest monstrous mouse that creeps on line 2012floor, 235line 2013May now perchance both quake and tremble here, line 2014When lion rough in wildest rage doth roar. line 2015Then know that I, as Snug the joiner, am line 2016A lion fell, nor else no lion’s dam; line 2017For if I should as lion come in strife 240line 2018Into this place, ’twere pity on my life. line 2019THESEUSA very gentle beast, and of a good line 2020conscience. line 2021DEMETRIUSThe very best at a beast, my lord, that e’er I line 2022saw. 245line 2023LYSANDERThis lion is a very fox for his valor. line 2024THESEUSTrue, and a goose for his discretion. line 2025DEMETRIUSNot so, my lord, for his valor cannot carry line 2026his discretion, and the fox carries the goose. line 2027THESEUSHis discretion, I am sure, cannot carry his 250line 2028valor, for the goose carries not the fox. It is well. line 2029Leave it to his discretion, and let us listen to the line 2030Moon. STARVELINGas Moonshine line 2031This lanthorn doth the hornèd moon present. line 2032DEMETRIUSHe should have worn the horns on his 255line 2033head. line 2034THESEUSHe is no crescent, and his horns are invisible line 2035within the circumference. Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 161STARVELINGas Moonshine line 2036This lanthorn doth the hornèd moon present. line 2037Myself the man i’ th’ moon do seem to be. 260line 2038THESEUSThis is the greatest error of all the rest; the line 2039man should be put into the lanthorn. How is it else line 2040“the man i’ th’ moon”? line 2041DEMETRIUSHe dares not come there for the candle, line 2042for you see, it is already in snuff. 265line 2043HIPPOLYTAI am aweary of this moon. Would he would line 2044change. line 2045THESEUSIt appears by his small light of discretion that line 2046he is in the wane; but yet, in courtesy, in all reason, line 2047we must stay the time. 270line 2048LYSANDERProceed, Moon. line 2049STARVELINGas Moonshine All that I have to say is to tell line 2050you that the lanthorn is the moon, I the man i’ th’ line 2051moon, this thornbush my thornbush, and this dog line 2052my dog. 275line 2053DEMETRIUSWhy, all these should be in the lanthorn, line 2054for all these are in the moon. But silence. Here line 2055comes Thisbe.
Enter Thisbe (Flute).
FLUTEas Thisbe line 2056This is old Ninny’s tomb. Where is my love? line 2057SNUGas LionO!
The Lion roars. Thisbe runs off, dropping her mantle.
280line 2058DEMETRIUSWell roared, Lion. line 2059THESEUSWell run, Thisbe. line 2060HIPPOLYTAWell shone, Moon. Truly, the Moon shines line 2061with a good grace.
Lion worries the mantle.
line 2062THESEUSWell moused, Lion.
Enter Pyramus (Bottom).
Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 163285line 2063DEMETRIUSAnd then came Pyramus.
Lion exits.
line 2064LYSANDERAnd so the lion vanished. BOTTOMas Pyramus line 2065Sweet Moon, I thank thee for thy sunny beams. line 2066I thank thee, Moon, for shining now so bright, line 2067For by thy gracious, golden, glittering gleams, 290line 2068I trust to take of truest Thisbe sight.— line 2069But stay! O spite! line 2070But mark, poor knight, line 2071What dreadful dole is here! line 2072Eyes, do you see! 295line 2073How can it be! line 2074O dainty duck! O dear! line 2075Thy mantle good— line 2076What, stained with blood? line 2077Approach, ye Furies fell! 300line 2078O Fates, come, come, line 2079Cut thread and thrum, line 2080Quail, crush, conclude, and quell! line 2081THESEUSThis passion, and the death of a dear friend, line 2082would go near to make a man look sad. 305line 2083HIPPOLYTABeshrew my heart but I pity the man. BOTTOMas Pyramus line 2084O, wherefore, Nature, didst thou lions frame, line 2085Since lion vile hath here deflowered my dear, line 2086Which is—no, no—which was the fairest dame line 2087That lived, that loved, that liked, that looked with 310line 2088cheer? line 2089Come, tears, confound! line 2090Out, sword, and wound line 2091The pap of Pyramus; line 2092Ay, that left pap, 315line 2093Where heart doth hop.Pyramus stabs himself. line 2094Thus die I, thus, thus, thus. line 2095Now am I dead; Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 165line 2096Now am I fled; line 2097My soul is in the sky. 320line 2098Tongue, lose thy light! line 2099Moon, take thy flight!Moonshine exits. line 2100Now die, die, die, die, die.Pyramus falls. line 2101DEMETRIUSNo die, but an ace for him, for he is but line 2102one. 325line 2103LYSANDERLess than an ace, man, for he is dead, he is line 2104nothing. line 2105THESEUSWith the help of a surgeon he might yet line 2106recover and yet prove an ass. line 2107HIPPOLYTAHow chance Moonshine is gone before 330line 2108Thisbe comes back and finds her lover? line 2109THESEUSShe will find him by starlight.
Enter Thisbe (Flute).
line 2110Here she comes, and her passion ends the play. line 2111HIPPOLYTAMethinks she should not use a long one for line 2112such a Pyramus. I hope she will be brief. 335line 2113DEMETRIUSA mote will turn the balance, which Pyramus, line 2114which Thisbe, is the better: he for a man, God line 2115warrant us; she for a woman, God bless us. line 2116LYSANDERShe hath spied him already with those line 2117sweet eyes. 340line 2118DEMETRIUSAnd thus she means, videlicet— FLUTEas Thisbe line 2119Asleep, my love? line 2120What, dead, my dove? line 2121O Pyramus, arise! line 2122Speak, speak. Quite dumb? 345line 2123Dead? Dead? A tomb line 2124Must cover thy sweet eyes. line 2125These lily lips, line 2126This cherry nose, line 2127These yellow cowslip cheeks 350line 2128Are gone, are gone! Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 167line 2129Lovers, make moan; line 2130His eyes were green as leeks. line 2131O Sisters Three, line 2132Come, come to me 355line 2133With hands as pale as milk. line 2134Lay them in gore, line 2135Since you have shore line 2136With shears his thread of silk. line 2137Tongue, not a word! 360line 2138Come, trusty sword, line 2139Come, blade, my breast imbrue!
Thisbe stabs herself.
line 2140And farewell, friends. line 2141Thus Thisbe ends. line 2142Adieu, adieu, adieu.Thisbe falls. 365line 2143THESEUSMoonshine and Lion are left to bury the line 2144dead. line 2145DEMETRIUSAy, and Wall too.
Bottom and Flute arise.
line 2146BOTTOMNo, I assure you, the wall is down that line 2147parted their fathers. Will it please you to see the 370line 2148Epilogue or to hear a Bergomask dance between line 2149two of our company? line 2150THESEUSNo epilogue, I pray you. For your play needs line 2151no excuse. Never excuse. For when the players are line 2152all dead, there need none to be blamed. Marry, if 375line 2153he that writ it had played Pyramus and hanged line 2154himself in Thisbe’s garter, it would have been a fine line 2155tragedy; and so it is, truly, and very notably discharged. line 2156But, come, your Bergomask. Let your line 2157epilogue alone.
Dance, and the players exit.
380line 2158The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve. line 2159Lovers, to bed! ’Tis almost fairy time. line 2160I fear we shall outsleep the coming morn line 2161As much as we this night have overwatched. Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 169line 2162This palpable-gross play hath well beguiled 385line 2163The heavy gait of night. Sweet friends, to bed. line 2164A fortnight hold we this solemnity line 2165In nightly revels and new jollity.They exit.
Enter Robin Goodfellow.
ROBIN line 2166Now the hungry lion roars, line 2167And the wolf behowls the moon, 390line 2168Whilst the heavy plowman snores, line 2169All with weary task fordone. line 2170Now the wasted brands do glow, line 2171Whilst the screech-owl, screeching loud, line 2172Puts the wretch that lies in woe 395line 2173In remembrance of a shroud. line 2174Now it is the time of night line 2175That the graves, all gaping wide, line 2176Every one lets forth his sprite line 2177In the church-way paths to glide. 400line 2178And we fairies, that do run line 2179By the triple Hecate’s team line 2180From the presence of the sun, line 2181Following darkness like a dream, line 2182Now are frolic. Not a mouse 405line 2183Shall disturb this hallowed house. line 2184I am sent with broom before, line 2185To sweep the dust behind the door.
Enter Oberon and Titania, King and Queen of Fairies, with all their train.
OBERON line 2186Through the house give glimmering light, line 2187By the dead and drowsy fire. 410line 2188Every elf and fairy sprite, line 2189Hop as light as bird from brier, line 2190And this ditty after me, line 2191Sing and dance it trippingly. Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 171TITANIA line 2192First rehearse your song by rote, 415line 2193To each word a warbling note. line 2194Hand in hand, with fairy grace, line 2195Will we sing and bless this place.
Oberon leads the Fairies in song and dance.
OBERON line 2196Now, until the break of day, line 2197Through this house each fairy stray. 420line 2198To the best bride-bed will we, line 2199Which by us shall blessèd be, line 2200And the issue there create line 2201Ever shall be fortunate. line 2202So shall all the couples three 425line 2203Ever true in loving be, line 2204And the blots of Nature’s hand line 2205Shall not in their issue stand. line 2206Never mole, harelip, nor scar, line 2207Nor mark prodigious, such as are 430line 2208Despisèd in nativity, line 2209Shall upon their children be. line 2210With this field-dew consecrate line 2211Every fairy take his gait, line 2212And each several chamber bless, 435line 2213Through this palace, with sweet peace. line 2214And the owner of it blest, line 2215Ever shall in safety rest. line 2216Trip away. Make no stay. line 2217Meet me all by break of day.
All but Robin exit.
ROBIN 440line 2218If we shadows have offended, line 2219Think but this and all is mended: line 2220That you have but slumbered here line 2221While these visions did appear. line 2222And this weak and idle theme, Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 173445line 2223No more yielding but a dream, line 2224Gentles, do not reprehend. line 2225If you pardon, we will mend. line 2226And, as I am an honest Puck, line 2227If we have unearnèd luck 450line 2228Now to ’scape the serpent’s tongue, line 2229We will make amends ere long. line 2230Else the Puck a liar call. line 2231So good night unto you all. line 2232Give me your hands, if we be friends, 455line 2233And Robin shall restore amends.
