A Midsummer Night's Dream

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Dramatis Personæ.

Theseus, Duke of Athens

Hippolita, Queene of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus

Philostrate, Master of the Sports to the Duke

Egeus, an Athenian Lord

Hermia, Daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander

Lysander, in love with Hermia

Helena, in love with Demetrius

Demetrius, in love with Hermia

Peeter Quince, the Carpenter

Snugge, the Ioyner

Nick Bottom, the Weauer

Francis Flute, the Bellowes mender

Tom Snowt, the Tinker

Robin Starueling, the Taylerrepresenting respectively in the interlude Prologue, Lyon, Pyramus, Thisby, Wall, and Moonshine.

Robin goodfellow, the Puck

A Fairie, a servant of the Fairy Queene

Oberon, King of the Fairies

Tytania, Queene of the Fairies

Pease-blossome,

Cobweb,

Moth,

Mustard-seede,Fairies

Attendants upon Theseus and Hippolita

Other Fairies attending on the King and Queen

A

0.1

Midsommer nights

0.2

dreame.

0.3

Actus primus.

Enter Theseus, Hippolita, with others.

Theseus.

Now faire Hippolita, our nuptiall hower

Draws on apase: fower happy daies bring in

An other Moone: but oh, me thinks, how slow

This old Moone waues! She lingers my desires,

Like to a Stepdame, or a dowager,

Long withering out a yong mans reuenewe.

Hip. Fower daies will quickly steepe themselues in night:

Fower nights will quickly dreame away the time:

And then the Moone, like to a siluer bowe,

Now bent in heauen, shall beholde the night

Of our solemnities.

The. Goe Philostrate,

Stirre vp the Athenian youth to merriments,

Awake the peart and nimble spirit of mirth,

Turne melancholy foorth to funerals:

The pale companion is not for our pomp.

Hyppolita, I woo’d thee with my sword,

And wonne thy loue, doing thee iniuries:

But I will wed thee in another key,

With pompe, with triumph, and with reueling.

Enter Egeus and his daughter Hermia, and Lysander

and Helena, and Demetrius.

Ege. Happy be Theseus, our renowned duke.

The. Thankes good Egeus. Whats the newes with thee?

Ege. Full of vexation, come I, with complaint

Against my childe, my daughter Hermia.

Stand forth Demetrius.

My noble Lord,

This man hath my consent to marry her.

Stand forth Lisander.

And my gratious Duke,

This man hath bewitcht the bosome of my childe.

Thou, thou Lysander, thou hast giuen her rimes,

And interchang’d loue tokens with my childe:

Thou hast, by moone-light, at her windowe sung,

With faining voice, verses of faining loue,

And stolne the impression of her phantasie:

With bracelets of thy haire, rings, gawdes, conceites,

Knackes, trifles, nosegaies, sweete meates (messengers

Of strong preuailement in vnhardened youth)

With cunning hast thou filcht my daughters heart,

Turnd her obedience (which is due to mee)

To stubborne harshnesse. And, my gratious Duke,

Be it so, she will not here, before your Grace,

Consent to marry with Demetrius,

I beg the auncient priuiledge of Athens:

As she is mine, I may dispose of her:

Which shall be, either to this gentleman,

Or to her death; according to our lawe,

Immediatly prouided, in that case.

The. What say you, Hermia? Be aduis’d, faire maid.

To you, your father should be as a God:

One that compos’d your beauties: yea and one,

To whome you are but as a forme in wax,

By him imprinted, and within his power,

To leaue the figure, or disfigure it:

Demetrius is a worthy gentleman.

Her. So is Lisander.The. In himselfe he is:

61–2

But in this kinde, wanting your fathers voice,

The other must be held the worthier.

Her. I would my father lookt but with my eyes.

The. Rather your eyes must, with his iudgement, looke.

Her. I doe intreat your grace, to pardon mee.

I know not by what power, I am made bould;

Nor how it may concerne my modesty,

In such a presence, here to plead my thoughts:

But I beseech your Grace, that I may knowe

The worst that may befall mee in this case,

If I refuse to wed Demetrius.

The. Either to dy the death, or to abiure,

For euer, the society of men.

Therefore, faire Hermia, question your desires,

Knowe of your youth, examine well your blood,

Whether (if you yeelde not to your fathers choyce)

You can endure the liuery of a Nunne,

For aye to be in shady cloyster, mew’d

To liue a barraine sister all your life,

Chaunting faint hymnes, to the colde fruitlesse Moone.

Thrise blessed they, that master so there bloode,

To vndergoe such maiden pilgrimage:

But earthlyer happy is the rose distild,

Then that, which, withering on the virgin thorne,

Growes, liues, and dies, in single blessednesse.

Her. So will I growe, so liue, so die my Lord,

Ere I will yield my virgin Patent, vp

Vnto his Lordshippe, whose vnwished yoake

My soule consents not to giue souerainty.

The. Take time to pawse, and by the next newe moone,

The sealing day, betwixt my loue and mee,

For euerlasting bond of fellowshippe,

Vpon that day either prepare to dye,

For disobedience to your fathers will,

Or else to wed Demetrius, as he would,

Or on Dianaes altar to protest,

For aye, austeritie and single life.

Deme. Relent, sweete Hermia, and, Lysander, yeeld

100

Thy crazed title to my certaine right.

101

Lys. You haue her fathers loue, Demetrius:

102

Let me haue Hermias: doe you marry him.

103

Egeus. Scornefull Lysander, true, he hath my loue:

104

And what is mine, my loue shall render him.

105

And she is mine, and all my right of her

106

I doe estate vnto Demetrius.

107

Lysand. I am my Lord, as well deriu’d as hee,

108

As well possest: my loue is more than his:

109

My fortunes euery way as fairely rankt

110

(If not with vantage) as Demetrius:

111

And (which is more then all these boastes can be)

112

I am belou’d of beautious Hermia.

113

Why should not I then prosecute my right?

114

Demetrius, Ile auouch it to his heade,

115

Made loue to Nedars daughter, Helena,

116

And won her soule: and she (sweete Ladie) dotes,

117

Deuoutly dotes, dotes in Idolatry,

118

Vpon this spotted and inconstant man.

119

The. I must confesse, that I haue heard so much;

120

And, with Demetrius, thought to haue spoke thereof:

121

But, being ouer full of selfe affaires,

122

My minde did loose it. But Demetrius come,

123

And come Egeus, you shall goe with mee:

124

I haue some priuate schooling for you both.

125

For you, faire Hermia, looke you arme your selfe,

126

To fit your fancies, to your fathers will;

127

Or else, the Law of Athens yeelds you vp

128

(Which by no meanes we may extenuate)

129

To death, or to a vowe of single life.

130

Come my Hyppolita: what cheare my loue?

131

Demetrius and Egeus goe along:

132

I must employ you in some businesse,

133

Against our nuptiall, and conferre with you

134

Of some thing, nerely that concernes your selues.

135

Ege. With duety and desire, we follow you.Exeunt.

136

Manet Lysander and Hermia.

137

Lysand. How now my loue? Why is your cheeke so pale?

138

How chance the roses there doe fade so fast?

139

Her. Belike, for want of raine: which I could well

140

Beteeme them, from the tempest of my eyes.

141

Lis. Eigh me: for aught that I could euer reade,

142

Could euer here by tale or history,

143

The course of true loue neuer did runne smoothe:

144

But either it was different in bloud;

145

Her. O crosse! too high to be inthrald to loue.

146

Lis. Or else misgraffed, in respect of yeares;

147

Her. O spight! too olde to be ingag’d to young.

148

Lis. Or else, it stoode vpon the choyce of friends;

149

Her. O hell, to choose loue by anothers eyes!

150

Lys. Or, if there were a sympathy in choyce,

151

Warre, death or sicknesse, did lay siege to it;

152

Making it momentany, as a sound;

153

Swift, as a shadowe; short, as any dreame;

154

Briefe, as the lightning in the collied night,

155

That (in a spleene) vnfolds both heauen and earth;

156

And, ere a man hath power to say, beholde,

157

The iawes of darkenesse do deuoure it vp:

158

So quicke bright things come to confusion.

159

Her. If then true louers haue bin euer crost,

160

It stands as an edict, in destiny:

161

Then let vs teach our triall patience:

162

Because it is a customary crosse,

163

As dewe to loue, as thoughts, and dreames, and sighes,

164

Wishes, and teares; poore Fancies followers.

165

Lys. A good perswasion: therefore heare mee, Hermia:

166

I haue a widowe aunt, a dowager,

167

Of great reuenew, and she hath no childe:

168

From Athens is her house remote, seauen leagues.

169

And she respectes mee, as her only sonne:

170

There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee:

171

And to that place, the sharpe Athenian law

172

Can not pursue vs. If thou louest mee, then

173

Steale forth thy fathers house, to morrow night:

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And in the wood, a league without the towne

175

(Where I did meete thee once with Helena

176

To do obseruance to a morne of May)

177

There will I stay for thee.

178

Her. My good Lysander,

179

I sweare to thee, by Cupids strongest bowe,

180

By his best arrowe, with the golden heade,

181

By the simplicitie of Venus doues,

182

By that which knitteth soules, and prospers loues,

183

And by that fire, which burnd the Carthage queene,

184

When the false Troian vnder saile was seene,

185

By all the vowes that euer men haue broke,

186

(In number more then euer women spoke)

187

In that same place thou hast appointed mee,

188

To morrow truely will I meete with thee.

189

Lys. Keepe promise loue: looke, here comes Helena.

190

Enter Helena.

191

Her. God speede faire Helena: whither away?

192

Hel. Call you mee faire? That faire againe vnsay.

193

Demetrius loues your faire: ô happy faire!

194

Your eyes are loadstarres, and your tongues sweete aire

195

More tunable then larke, to sheepeheards eare,

196

When wheat is greene, when hauthorne buddes appeare.

197

Sicknesse is catching: O, were fauour so,

198

Your words I catch, faire Hermia, ere I goe,

199

My eare should catch your voice, my eye, your eye,

200

My tongue should catch your tongues sweete melody.

201

Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated,

202

The rest ile giue to be to you translated.

203

O, teach mee how you looke, and with what Art,

204

You sway the motion of Demetrius heart.

205

Her. I frowne vpon him; yet hee loues mee still.

206

Hel. O that your frowns would teach my smiles such skil.

207–8

Her. I giue him curses; yet he giues mee loue.

209

Hel. O that my prayers could such affection mooue.

210

Her. The more I hate, the more he followes mee.

211

Hel. The more I loue, the more he hateth mee.

212

Her. His folly, Helena, is no fault of mine.

213

Hel. None but your beauty; would that fault were mine.

214

Her. Take comfort: he no more shall see my face:

215

Lysander and my selfe will fly this place.

216

Before the time I did Lisander see,

217

Seem’d Athens as a Paradise to mee.

218

O then, what graces in my loue dooe dwell,

219

That hee hath turnd a heauen vnto a hell!

220

Lys. Helen, to you our mindes wee will vnfould:

221

To morrow night, when Phœbe doth beholde

222

Her siluer visage, in the watry glasse,

223

Decking, with liquid pearle, the bladed grasse

224

(A time, that louers flights doth still conceale)

225

Through Athens gates, haue wee deuis’d to steale.

226

Her. And in the wood, where often you and I,

227

Vpon faint Primrose beddes, were wont to lye,

228

Emptying our bosomes, of their counsell sweld,

229

There my Lysander, and my selfe shall meete,

230

And thence, from Athens, turne away our eyes,

231

To seeke new friends and strange companions.

232

Farewell, sweete playfellow: pray thou for vs:

233

And good lucke graunt thee thy Demetrius.

234

Keepe word Lysander: we must starue our sight,

235

From louers foode, till morrow deepe midnight.

236

Exit Hermia.

237

Lys. I will my Hermia. Helena adieu:

238

As you on him, Demetrius dote on you.Exit Lysander.

239

Hele. How happie some, ore othersome, can be!

240

Through Athens, I am thought as faire as shee.

241

But what of that? Demetrius thinkes not so:

242

He will not knowe, what all, but hee doe know.

243

And as hee erres, doting on Hermias eyes:

244

So I, admiring of his qualities.

245

Things base and vile, holding no quantitie,

246

Loue can transpose to forme and dignitie.

247

Loue lookes not with the eyes, but with the minde:

248

And therefore is wingd Cupid painted blinde.

249

Nor hath loues minde of any iudgement taste:

250

Wings, and no eyes, figure, vnheedy haste.

251

And therefore is loue said to bee a childe:

252

Because, in choyce, he is so oft beguil’d.

253

As waggish boyes, in game, themselues forsweare:

254

So, the boy, Loue, is periur’d euery where.

255

For, ere Demetrius lookt on Hermias eyen,

256

Hee hayld downe othes, that he was onely mine.

257

And when this haile some heate, from Hermia, felt,

258

So he dissolued, and showrs of oathes did melt.

259

I will goe tell him of faire Hermias flight:

260

Then, to the wodde, will he, to morrow night,

261

Pursue her: and for this intelligence,

262

If I haue thankes, it is a deare expense:

263

But herein meane I to enrich my paine,

264

To haue his sight thither, and back againe.Exit.

265

Enter Quince, the Carpenter; and Snugge, the Ioyner; and Bottom,

266

the Weauer; and Flute, the Bellowes mender; & Snout, the Tinker; and

267

Starueling the Tayler.

268

Quin. Is all our company heere?

269

Bot. You were best to call them generally, man by

270

man, according to the scrippe.

271

Quin. Here is the scrowle of euery mans name, which

272

is thought fit, through al Athens, to play in our Enter-

273

lude, before the Duke, & the Dutches, on his wedding

274

day at night.

275

Bott. First good Peeter Quince, say what the Play treats

276

on: then read the names of the Actors: & so grow

277

to a point.

278

Quin. Mary, our Play is the most lamentable come-

279

dy, and most cruell death of Pyramus and Thisby.

280

Bot. A very good peece of worke, I assure you, & a

281

merry. Now good Peeter Quince, call forth your Actors,

282

by the scrowle. Masters, spreade your selues.

283

Quin. Answere, as I call you. Nick Bottom, the

284

Weauer?

285

Bott. Readie: Name what part I am for, and

286

proceede.

287

Quin. You, Nick Bottom are set downe for Py-

288

ramus.

289

Bott. What is Pyramus? A louer, or a tyrant?

290

Quin. A louer that kils himselfe, most gallant, for

291

loue.

292

Bott. That will aske some teares in the true perfor-

293

ming of it. If I doe it, let the Audience looke to their eyes:

294

I wil mooue stormes: I will condole, in some measure.

295

To the rest yet, my chiefe humour is for a tyrant. I could

296

play Ercles rarely, or a part to teare a Cat in, to make all

297

split the raging rocks: and shiuering shocks, shall breake

298

the locks of prison gates, and Phibbus carre shall shine

299

from farre, and make & marre the foolish Fates. This

300

was loftie. Now, name the rest of the Players. This

301

is Ercles vaine, a tyrants vaine: A louer is more condo-

302

ling.

303

Quin. Francis Flute, the Bellowes mender?

304

Flu. Here Peeter Quince.

305

Quin. Flute, you must take Thisby, on you.

306

Flu. What is Thisby? A wandring knight?

307

Quin. It is the Lady, that Pyramus must loue.

308

Fl. Nay faith: let not me play a womã: I haue a

309

beard cõming.

310

Quin. Thats all one: you shall play it in a Maske: and

311

you may speake as small as you will.

312

Bott. And I may hide my face, let me play Thisby to:

313

Ile speake in a monstrous little voice; Thisne, Thisne, ah

314

Pyramus, my louer deare, thy Thysby deare, & Lady

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deare.

316

Qu. No, no: you must play Pyramus: & Flute, you

317

Thysby.

318

Bot. Well, proceede.

319

Qui. Robin Starueling, the Tailer?

320

Star. Here Peeter Quince.

321

Quin. Robin Starueling, you must play Thysbyes

322

mother.

323

Tom Snowte, the Tinker?

324

Snowt. Here Peter Quince.

325

Quin. You, Pyramus father; my selfe, Thisbies father;

326

Snugge, the Ioyner, you the Lyons part: And I hope here

327

is a Play fitted.

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Snug. Haue you the Lyons part written? Pray you, if it

329

bee, giue it mee: for I am slowe of studie.

330

Quin. You may doe it, extempore: for it is nothing

331

but roaring.

332

Bott. Let mee play the Lyon to. I will roare, that I

333

will doe any mans heart good to heare mee. I will roare,

334

that I will make the Duke say; Let him roare againe: let

335

him roare againe.

336

Quin. And you should do it too terribly, you would

337

fright the Dutchesse, and the Ladies, that they would

338

shrike: and that were inough to hang vs all.

339

All. That would hang vs, euery mothers sonne.

340

Bot. I grant you, friends, if you should

341

fright the Ladies out of their wits, they would

342

haue no more discretion, but to hang vs: but I will ag-

343

grauate my voice so, that I wil roare you as gently, as

344

any sucking doue: I will roare you, and ’twere any Nightin-

345

gale.

346

Quin. You can play no part but Piramus: for Pira-

347

mus is a sweete fac’t man; a proper man as one shall see in

348

a sommers day; a most louely gentlemanlike man: there-

349

fore you must needes play Piramus.

350

Bot. Well: I will vndertake it. What beard were I

351

best to play it in?

352

Quin. Why? what you will.

353

Bot. I wil discharge it, in either your straw colour

354

beard, your Orange tawnie bearde, your purple in graine

355

beard, or your french crowne colour beard, your per-

356

fit yellow.

357

Quin. Some of your french crownes haue no haire

358

at all; and then you will play bare fac’t. But maisters here

359

are your parts, and I am to intreat you, request you, and

360

desire you, to con them by to morrow night: and meete

361

mee in the palace wood, a mile without the towne, by

362

Moone-light; there will wee rehearse: for if wee meete in

363

the city, wee shal be dogd with company, and our deui-

364

ses known. In the meane time, I will draw a bill of pro-

365

perties, such as our play wants. I pray you faile me not.

366

Bot. Wee will meete, & there we may rehearse

367

most obscenely, and coragiously. Take paines, bee per-

368

fit: adieu.

369

Quin. At the Dukes oke wee meete.

370

Bot. Enough: holde, or cut bowstrings.Exeunt.

371

Actus Secundus.

372

Enter a Fairie at one doore, and Robin good-

373

fellow at another.

374

Robin. How now spirit, whither wander you?

375

Fa. Ouer hill, ouer dale, thorough bush, thorough brier,

376

Ouer parke, ouer pale, thorough flood, thorough fire:

377

I do wander euery where; swifter than the Moons sphere:

378

And I serue the Fairy Queene, to dew her orbs vpon the greene.

379

The cowslippes tall her Pensioners bee,

380

In their gold coats, spottes you see:

381

Those be Rubies, Fairie fauours:

382

In those freckles, liue their sauours.

383

I must goe seeke some dew droppes here,

384

And hang a pearle in euery couslippes eare.

385

Farewell thou Lobbe of spirits: Ile be gon.

386

Our Queene, and all her Elues come here anon.

387

Rob. The king doth keepe his Reuels here to night.

388

Take heede the Queene come not within his sight.

389

For Oberon is passing fell and wrath:

390

Because that she, as her attendant, hath

391

A louely boy stollen, from an Indian king:

392

She neuer had so sweete a changeling.

393

And iealous Oberon would haue the childe,

394

Knight of his traine, to trace the forrests wilde.

395

But shee, perforce, withhoulds the loued boy,

396

Crownes him with flowers, and makes him all her ioy.

397

And now, they neuer meete in groue, or greene,

398

By fountaine cleare, or spangled starlight sheene,

399

But they doe square, that all their Elues, for feare,

400

Creepe into acorne cups, and hide them there.

401

Fa. Either I mistake your shape, and making, quite,

402

Or els you are that shrewde and knauish sprite,

403

Call’d Robin goodfellow. Are not you hee,

404

That frights the maidens of the Villageree,

405

Skim milke, and sometimes labour in the querne,

406

And bootlesse make the breathlesse huswife cherne,

407

And sometime make the drinke to beare no barme,

408

Misselead nightwanderers, laughing at their harme?

409

Those, that Hobgoblin call you, and sweete Puck,

410

You doe their worke, and they shall haue good luck.

411

Are not you hee?

412

Rob. Thou speakest aright; I am that merry wanderer of the night.

413–4

I ieast to Oberon, and make him smile,

415

When I a fat and beane-fed horse beguile;

416

Neyghing, in likenesse of a filly fole,

417

And sometime lurke I in a gossippes bole,

418

In very likenesse of a rosted crabbe,

419

And when she drinkes, against her lips I bob,

420

And on her withered dewlop, poure the ale.

421

The wisest Aunt, telling the saddest tale,

422

Sometime, for three foote stoole, mistaketh mee:

423

Then slippe I from her bumme, downe topples she,

424

And tailour cryes, and falles into a coffe;

425

And then the whole Quire hould their hippes, and loffe,

426

And waxen in their myrth, and neeze, and sweare

427

A merrier hower was neuer wasted there.

428

But roome Faery: here comes Oberon.

429

Fa. And here, my mistresse. Would that he were gon.

430–1

Enter the King of Fairies, at one doore, with his traine;

432

and the Queene, at another, with hers.

433

Ob. Ill met by moonelight, proud Tytania.

434–5

Qu. What, Iealous Oberon? Fairy skippe hence.

436

I haue forsworne his bedde, and company.

437

Ob. Tarry, rash wanton. Am not I thy Lord?

438

Qu. Then I must be thy Lady: but I know

439

When thou hast stollen away from Fairy land,

440

And in the shape of Corin, sat all day,

441

Playing on pipes of corne, and versing loue,

442

To amorous Phillida. Why art thou here

443

Come from the farthest steppe of India?

444

But that, forsooth, the bounsing Amason,

445

Your buskind mistresse, and your warriour loue,

446

To Theseus must be wedded; and you come,

447

To giue their bedde, ioy and prosperitie.

448

Ob. How canst thou thus, for shame, Tytania,

449

Glaunce at my credit, with Hippolita?

450

Knowing, I know thy loue to Theseus.

451

Didst not thou lead him through the glimmering night,

452

From Perigenia, whom he rauished?

453

And make him, with faire Eagles, breake his faith

454

With Ariadne, and Antiopa?

455

Quee. These are the forgeries of iealousie:

456

And neuer, since the middle Sommers spring,

457

Met we on hill, in dale, forrest, or meade,

458

By paued fountaine, or by rushie brooke,

459

Or in the beached margent of the Sea,

460

To daunce our ringlets to the whistling winde,

461

But with thy brawles thou hast disturbd our sport.

462

Therefore the windes, pyping to vs in vaine,

463

As in reuenge, haue suckt vp, from the Sea,

464

Contagious fogges: which, falling in the land,

465

Hath euery pelting riuer made so proude,

466

That they haue ouerborne their Continents.

467

The Oxe hath therefore stretcht his yoake in vaine,

468

The Ploughman lost his sweat, and the greene corne

469

Hath rotted, ere his youth attainde a bearde:

470

The fold stands empty, in the drowned field,

471

And crowes are fatted with the murrion flocke.

472

The nine mens Morris is fild vp with mudde:

473

And the queint Mazes, in the wanton greene,

474

For lacke of tread, are vndistinguishable.

475

The humane mortals want their winter heere.

476

No night is now with hymne or carroll blest.

477

Therefore the Moone (the gouernesse of floods)

478

Pale in her anger, washes all the aire;

479

That Rheumaticke diseases doe abound.

480

And, thorough this distemperature, wee see

481

The seasons alter: hoary headed frosts

482

Fall in the fresh lappe of the Crymson rose,

483

And on old Hyems chinne and Icy crowne,

484

An odorous Chaplet of sweete Sommer buddes

485

Is, as in mockery, set. The Spring, the Sommer,

486

The childing Autumne, angry Winter change

487

Their wonted Liueries: and the mazed worlde,

488

By their increase, now knowes not which is which:

489

And this same progeny of euils,

490

Comes from our debate, from our dissention:

491

We are their Parents and originall.

492

Oberon. Doe you amend it then: it lyes in you.

493

Why should Titania crosse her Oberon?

494

I doe but begge a little Changeling boy,

495

To be my Henchman.

496

Queene. Set your heart at rest.

497

The Faiery Land buies not the childe of mee.

498

His mother was a Votresse of my order:

499

And in the spiced Indian ayer, by night,

500

Full often hath she gossipt, by my side,

501

And sat, with me on Neptunes yellow sands

502

Marking th’embarked traders on the flood:

503

When we haue laught to see the sailes conceaue,

504

And grow bigge bellied, with the wanton winde:

505

Which she, with prettie, and with swimming gate,

506

Following (her wombe then rich with my young squire)

507

Would imitate, and saile vpon the land,

508

To fetch me trifles, and returne againe,

509

As from a voyage, rich with marchandise.

510

But she, being mortall, of that boy did dye,

511

And, for her sake, doe I reare vp her boy:

512

And, for her sake, I will not part with him.

513

Ob. How long, within this wood, entend you stay?

514

Quee. Perchaunce, till after Theseus wedding day.

515

If you will patiently daunce in our Round,

516

And see our Moonelight Reuelles, goe with vs:

517

If not, shunne me, and I will spare your haunts.

518

Ob. Giue mee that boy, and I will goe with thee.

519

Quee. Not for thy Fairy kingdome. Fairies away.

520

We shall chide downeright, if I longer stay.Exeunt.

521

Ob. Well: goe thy way. Thou shalt not from this groue,

522

Till I torment thee, for this iniury.

523

My gentle Pucke come hither: thou remembrest,

524

Since once I sat vpon a promontory,

525

And heard a Mearemaide, on a Dolphins backe,

526

Vttering such dulcet and hermonious breath,

527

That the rude sea grewe ciuill at her song,

528

And certaine starres shot madly from their Spheares,

529

To heare the Sea-maids musicke.

530

Puck. I remember.

531

Ob. That very time, I saw (but thou could’st not)

532

Flying betweene the colde Moone and the earth,

533

Cupid, all arm’d: a certaine aime he tooke

534

At a faire Vestall, throned by west,

535

And loos’d his loue-shaft smartly, from his bowe,

536

As it should pearce a hundred thousand hearts:

537

But, I might see young Cupids fiery shaft

538

Quencht in the chast beames of the watry Moone:

539

And the imperiall Votresse passed on,

540

In maiden meditation, fancy free.

541

Yet markt I, where the bolt of Cupid fell.

542

It fell vpon a little westerne flower;

543

Before, milke white; now purple, with loues wound,

544

And maidens call it, Loue in idlenesse.

545

Fetch mee that flowre: the herbe I shewed thee once.

546

The iewce of it, on sleeping eyeliddes laide,

547

Will make or man or woman madly dote,

548

Vpon the next liue creature that it sees.

549

Fetch mee this herbe, and be thou here againe

550

Ere the Leuiathan can swimme a league.

551

Pu. Ile put a girdle, roũd about the earth, in forty mi- nutes.

552–3

Oberon. Hauing once this iuice,

554

Ile watch Titania, when she is a sleepe,

555

And droppe the liquor of it, in her eyes:

556

The next thing then she, waking, lookes vpon

557

(Be it on Lyon, Beare, or Wolfe, or Bull,

558

On medling Monky, or on a busie Ape)

559

She shall pursue it, with the soule of Loue.

560

And ere I take this charme, from of her sight

561

(As I can take it with another herbe)

562

Ile make her render vp her Page, to mee.

563

But, who comes here? I am inuisible,

564

And I will ouerheare their conference.

565

Enter Demetrius, Helena following him.

566

Deme. I loue thee not: therefore pursue me not,

567

Where is Lysander, and faire Hermia?

568

The one Ile stay: the other stayeth me.

569

Thou toldst me, they were stolne vnto this wood:

570

And here am I, and wodde, within this wood:

571

Because I cannot meete my Hermia.

572

Hence, get the gone, and follow mee no more.

573

Hel. You draw mee, you hard hearted Adamant:

574

But yet you draw not Iron. For my heart

575

Is true as steele. Leaue you your power to draw,

576

And I shall haue no power to follow you.

577

Deme. Doe I entise you? Doe I speake you faire?

578

Or rather doe I not in plainest truthe,

579

Tell you I doe not, not I cannot loue you?

580

Hele. And euen, for that, do I loue you, the more:

581

I am your Spaniell: and, Demetrius,

582

The more you beat mee, I will fawne on you.

583

Vse me but as your Spaniell: spurne me, strike mee,

584

Neglect mee, loose me: onely giue me leaue

585

(Vnworthie as I am) to follow you.

586

What worser place can I begge, in your loue

587

(And yet, a place of high respect with mee)

588

Then to be vsed as you vse your dogge.

589

Deme. Tempt not, too much, the hatred of my spirit.

590

For I am sick, when I do looke on thee.

591

Hele. And I am sick, when I looke not on you.

592

Deme. You doe impeach your modestie too much,

593

To leaue the citie, and commit your selfe,

594

Into the hands of one that loues you not,

595

To trust the opportunitie of night,

596

And the ill counsell of a desert place,

597

With the rich worth of your virginitie.

598

Hel. Your vertue is my priuiledge: For that

599

It is not night, when I doe see your face.

600

Therefore, I thinke, I am not in the night,

601

Nor doth this wood lacke worlds of company.

602

For you, in my respect, are all the world.

603

Then, how can it be saide, I am alone,

604

When all the world is here, to looke on mee?

605

Deme. Ile runne from thee, and hide me in the brakes,

606

And leaue thee to the mercy of wilde beastes.

607

Hel. The wildest hath not such a heart as you.

608

Runne when you will: The story shall be chaung’d:

609

Apollo flies and Daphne holds the chase:

610

The Doue pursues the Griffon: the milde Hinde

611

Makes speede to catch the Tigre. Bootelesse speede,

612

When cowardise pursues, and valour flies.

613

Demet. I will not stay thy questions. Let me goe:

614

Or if thou followe mee, do not beleeue,

615

But I shall doe thee mischiefe, in the wood.

616

Hel. I, in the Temple, in the towne, the fielde,

617

You doe me mischiefe. Fy Demetrius.

618

Your wrongs doe set a scandall on my sex:

619

We cannot fight for loue, as men may doe:

620

We should be woo’d, and were not made to wooe.

621

Ile follow thee and make a heauen of hell,

622

To dy vpon the hand I loue so well.

623

Ob. Fare thee well Nymph. Ere he do leaue this groue,

624

Thou shalt fly him, and he shall seeke thy loue.

625

Hast thou the flower there? Welcome wanderer.

626

Enter Pucke.

627

Puck. I, there it is.

628

Ob. I pray thee giue it mee.

629

I know a banke where the wilde time blowes,

630

Where Oxlips, and the nodding Violet growes,

631

Quite ouercanopi’d with lushious woodbine,

632

With sweete muske roses, and with Eglantine:

633

There sleepes Tytania, sometime of the night,

634

Luld in these flowers, with daunces and delight:

635

And there the snake throwes her enammeld skinne,

636

Weed wide enough to wrappe a Fairy in.

637

And, with the iuyce of this, Ile streake her eyes,

638

And make her full of hatefull phantasies.

639

Take thou some of it, and seeke through this groue:

640

A sweete Athenian Lady is in loue,

641

With a disdainefull youth: annoint his eyes.

642

But doe it, when the next thing he espies,

643

May be the Ladie. Thou shalt know the man,

644

By the Athenian garments he hath on.

645

Effect it with some care; that he may prooue

646

More fond on her, then she vpon her loue:

647

And looke thou meete me ere the first Cocke crowe.

648

Pu. Feare not my Lord: your seruant shall do so.Exeunt.

649

Enter Tytania Queene of Fairies, with her traine.

650

Quee. Come, now a Roundell, and a Fairy song:

651

Then, for the third part of a minute hence,

652

Some to kill cankers in the musk rose buds,

653

Some warre with Reremise, for their lethren wings,

654

To make my small Elues coates, and some keepe backe

655

The clamorous Owle, that nightly hootes and wonders

656

At our queint spirits: Sing me now a sleepe:

657

Then to your offices, and let mee rest.

658

Fairies sing.

659

You spotted Snakes, with double tongue,

660

Thorny Hedgehogges be not seene,

661

Newts and blindewormes do no wrong,

662

Come not neere our Fairy Queene.

663

Philomele, with melody,

664

Sing in our sweete Lullaby,

665

Lulla, lulla, lullaby, lulla, lulla, lullaby,

666

Neuer harme, nor spell, nor charme,

667

Come our louely lady nigh.

668

So good night, with lullaby.

669

1. Fai. Weauing Spiders come not heere:

670

Hence you long legd Spinners, hence:

671

Beetles blacke approach not neere:

672

Worme nor snaile doe no offence.

673

Philomele with melody, &c.

674

2. Fai. Hence away: now all is well:

675

One aloofe, stand Centinell.

676

Enter Oberon.

677

Ob. What thou seest, when thou doest wake,

678

Doe it for thy true loue take:

679

Loue and languish for his sake.

680

Be it Ounce, or Catte, or Beare,

681

Pard, or Boare with bristled haire,

682

In thy eye that shall appeare,

683

When thou wak’st, it is thy deare:

684

Wake, when some vile thing is neere.

685

Enter Lysander: and Hermia.

686

Lys. Faire loue, you fainte, with wandring in the wood:

687

And to speake troth I haue forgot our way.

688

Weele rest vs Hermia, if you thinke it good,

689

And tarry for the comfort of the day.

690

Her. Bet it so Lysander: finde you out a bedde:

691

For I, vpon this banke, will rest my head.

692

Lys. One turfe shall serue, as pillow, for vs both,

693

One heart, one bedde, two bosomes, and one troth.

694

Her. Nay god Lysander: for my sake, my deere

695

Ly further off, yet; doe not lye so neere.

696

Lys. O take the sense, sweete, of my innocence.

697

Loue takes the meaning, in loues conference.

698

I meane that my heart vnto yours it knit;

699

So that but one heart wee can make of it:

700

Two bosomes interchained with an oath:

701

So then two bosomes, and a single troth.

702

Then, by your side, no bed-roome me deny:

703

For lying so, Hermia, I doe not lye.

704

Her. Lysander riddles very prettily.

705

Now much beshrewe my manners, and my pride,

706

If Hermia meant to say, Lysander lyed.

707

But gentle friend, for loue and curtesie,

708

Ly further off, in humane modesty:

709

Such separation, as may well be said

710

Becomes a vertuous batcheler, and a maide,

711

So farre be distant, and good night sweete friend:

712

Thy loue nere alter till thy sweete life end.

713

Lys. Amen, amen, to that faire prayer, say I,

714

And then end life, when I end loyalty.

715

Heere is my bed: sleepe giue thee all his rest.

716

Her. With halfe that wish, the wishers eyes be prest.

717

Enter Pucke.

718

Puck. Through the forrest haue I gone:

719

But Athenian found I none,

720

On whose eyes I might approue

721

This flowers force in stirring loue.

722

Night and silence. Who is heere?

723

Weedes of Athens he doth weare:

724

This is hee (my master saide)

725

Despised the Athenian maide:

726

And here the maiden, sleeping sound,

727

On the danke and dirty ground.

728

Pretty sowle, she durst not lye,

729

Neere this lack-loue, this kil-curtesie.

730

Churle, vpon thy eyes I throwe

731

All the power this charme doth owe.

732

When thou wak’st, let loue forbidde

733

Sleepe, his seat, on thy eye lidde.

734

So awake, when I am gon:

735

For I must now to Oberon.Exit.

736

Enter Demetrius and Helena running.

737

Hel. Stay; though thou kill mee, sweete Demetrius.

738

De. I charge thee hence, and doe not haunt mee thus.

739

Hele. O, wilt thou darkling leaue me? doe not so.

740

De. Stay, on thy perill: I alone will goe.

741

Exit Demetrius.

742

Hel. O, I am out of breath, in this fond chase,

743

The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace.

744

Happie is Hermia, wheresoere she lies:

745

For she hath blessed, and attractiue eyes.

746

How came her eyes so bright? Not with salt teares.

747

If so, my eyes are oftner washt then hers.

748

No, no: I am as vgly as a Beare:

749

For beastes that meete mee, runne away, for feare.

750

Therefore, no maruaile, though Demetrius

751

Doe, as a monster, fly my presence, thus.

752

What wicked and dissembling glasse, of mine,

753

Made me compare with Hermias sphery eyen!

754

But, who is here? Lysander, on the ground?

755

Dead, or a sleepe? I see no blood, no wound.

756

Lysander, if you liue, good sir awake.

757

Lys. And runne through fire, I will for thy sweete sake.

758

Transparent Helena, nature shewes arte,

759

That through thy bosome, makes me see thy heart.

760

Where is Demetrius? Oh how fit a word

761

Is that vile name, to perish on my sworde!

762

Hel. Do not say so, Lysander, say not so.

763

What though he loue your Hermia? Lord, what though?

764

Yet Hermia still loues you: then be content.

765

Lys. Content with Hermia? No: I doe repent

766

The tedious minutes, I with her haue spent.

767

Not Hermia, but Helena I loue.

768

VVho will not change a Rauen for a doue?

769

The will of man is by his reason swai’d:

770

And reason saies you are the worthier maide.

771

Things growing are not ripe, vntill their season:

772

So I, being young, till now ripe not to reason.

773

And touching now, the point of humane skill,

774

Reason becomes the Marshall to my will,

775

And leads mee to your eyes; where I orelooke

776

Loues stories, written in loues richest booke.

777

Hel. Wherefore was I to this keene mockery borne?

778

When, at your hands, did I deserue this scorne?

779

Ist not enough, ist not enough, young man,

780

That I did neuer, no nor neuer can,

781

Deserue a sweete looke from Demetrius eye,

782

But you must flout my insufficiency?

783

Good troth you doe mee wrong (good sooth you doe)

784

In such disdainfull manner, mee to wooe.

785

But, fare you well: perforce, I must confesse,

786

I thought you Lord of more true gentlenesse.

787

O, that a Ladie, of one man refus’d,

788

Should, of another, therefore be abus’d!Exit.

789

Lys. She sees not Hermia. Hermia, sleepe thou there,

790

And neuer maist thou come Lysander neere.

791

For, as a surfet of the sweetest things

792

The deepest loathing, to the stomacke bringes:

793

Or, as the heresies, that men doe leaue,

794

Are hated most of those they did deceiue:

795

So thou, my surfet, and my heresie,

796

Of all bee hated; but the most, of mee:

797

And all my powers addresse your loue and might,

798

To honour Helen, and to be her knight.Exit.

799

Her. Helpe mee Lysander, helpe mee: do thy best

800

To pluck this crawling serpent, from my brest.

801

Ay mee, for pittie. What a dreame was here?

802

Lysander looke, how I doe quake with feare.

803

Me thought, a serpent eate my heart away,

804

And you sate smiling at his cruell pray.

805

Lysander what, remou’d? Lysander, Lord,

806

What, out of hearing, gon? No sound, no word?

807

Alacke where are you? Speake, and if you heare:

808

Speake, of all loues. I swoune almost with feare.

809

No, then I well perceiue, you are not ny:

810

Either death, or you, Ile finde immediately.Exit.

811

Actus Tertius.

812

Enter the Clownes.

813

Bott. Are wee all met?

814

Quin. Pat, pat: and heres a maruailes conuenient

815

place, for our rehearsall. This greene plot shall be our

816

stage, this hauthorne brake our tyring house, and wee will

817

doe it in action, as wee will doe it before the Duke.

818

Bott. Peeter Quince?

819

Quin. What saiest thou, bully, Bottom?

820

Bot. There are things in this Comedy, of Pyramus and

821

Thisby, that will neuer please. First, Pyramus must draw a

822

sworde, to kill himselfe; which the Ladies cannot abide.

823

How answere you that?

824

Snout. Berlakin, a parlous feare.

825

Star. I beleeue, we must leaue the killing, out, when

826

all is done.

827

Bott. Not a whit: I haue a deuise to make all well.

828

Write me a Prologue, and let the Prologue seeme to say;

829

we wil do no harme, with our swords, and that Pyramus

830

is not kild indeede: and for the more better assurance,

831

tel them, that I Pyramus am not Pyramus, but Bottom the

832

weauer: this will put them out of feare.

833

Quin. Well: wee will haue such a Prologue, and it shall

834

be written in eight and six.

835

Bot. No: make it two more: let it be written in eight

836

& eight.

837

Snout. Will not the ladies be afeard of the Lyon?

838

Star. I feare it, I promise you.

839

Bot. Masters, you ought to consider with your selfe, to

840

bring in (God shielde vs) a Lyon among Ladies, is a most

841

dreadfull thing. For there is not a more fearefull wilde

842

foule then your Lyon liuing: & we ought to looke

843

toote.

844

Sno. Therfore, another Prologue must tel, he is not

845

a Lion.

846

Bot. Nay: you must name his name, and halfe his face

847

must be seene through the Lions necke, and he himselfe

848

must speake through, saying thus, or to the same defect;

849

Ladies, or faire Ladies, I would wish you, or I would

850

request you, or I wold intreat you, not to feare, not to

851

trẽble: my life for yours. If you thinke I come hither

852

as a Lyon, it were pittie of my life. No: I am no such

853

thing: I am a man as other men are: & there indeed, let

854

him name his name, and tell them plainely he is Snugge, the

855

Ioyner.

856

Quin. Well: it shall be so: but there is two hard

857

things; that is, to bring the Moone-light into a cham-

858

ber: for you know, Pyramus and Thisby meete by Moone-

859

light.

860

Sn. Doth the Moone shine, that night, we play our

861

Play?

862

Bot. A Calender, a Calender: looke in the Almanack:

863

finde out Moone-shine, finde out Moone-shine.

864

Enter Pucke.

865

Quin. Yes: it doth shine that night.

866

Cet. Why then, may you leaue a casement of the great

867

chamber window (where we play) open; and the Moone

868

may shine in at the casement.

869

Quin. I: or els, one must come in, with a bush of thorns,

870

& a lãtern, and say he comes to disfigure, or to pre-

871

sent the person of Moone-shine. Then, there is another

872

thing; we must haue a wal in the great chãber: for Py-

873

ramus & Thisby (saies the story) did talke through the

874

chinke of a wall.

875

Sno. You can neuer bring in a wal. What say you

876

Bottom?

877

Bot. Some man or other must present wall: and let

878

him haue some plaster, or som lome, or some rough

879

cast, about him, to signifie wall; or let him holde his fin-

880

gers thus: and through that crany, shall Pyramus and

881

Thisby whisper.

882

Quin. If that may be, then all is well. Come, sit

883

downe euery mothers sonne, and reherse your parts.

884

Pyramus, you beginne: when you haue spoken your speech,

885

enter into that Brake, and so euery one according to his

886

cue.

887

Enter Robin.

888

Ro. What hempen homespunnes haue we swagg- ring here,

889–90

So neere the Cradle of the Fairy Queene?

891

What, a play toward? Ile be an Auditor,

892

An Actor to perhappes, If I see cause.

893

Quin. Speake Pyramus: Thysby stand forth.

894

Pyra. Thisby the flowers of odious sauours sweete.

895

Quin. Odours, odorous.

896

Py. Odours sauours sweete.

897

So hath thy breath, my dearest Thisby deare.

898

But harke, a voice: stay thou but heere a while,

899

And by and by I will to thee appeare.Exit.

900

Quin. A stranger Pyramus, then ere played heere.

901

Thys. Must I speake now?

902

Quin. I marry must you. For you must vnderstãd, he

903

goes but to see a noyse, that he heard, and is to come a-

904

gaine.

905

Thys. Most radiant Pyramus, most lillie white of hewe,

906

Of colour like the red rose, on triumphant bryer,

907

Most brisky Iuuenall, and eeke most louely Iewe,

908

As true as truest horse, that yet would neuer tyre,

909

Ile meete thee Pyramus, at Ninnies toumbe.

910

Quin. Ninus toumbe, man. Why? you must not speake

911

That yet. That you answere to Pyramus. You speake

912–

Al your part at once, cues, and, all. Pyramus, enter: your cue

912–13

is past: It is; neuer tire.

913-14

Thys. O, as true as truest horse, that yet would neuer tyre.

915–16

Py. If I were faire, Thysby, I were onely thine.

917

Quin. O monstrous! O strange! We are haunted. Pray

918

masters: fly masters: helpe.

919

The Clownes all Exit.

920

Rob. Ile follow you: Ile leade you about a Round,

921

Through bogge, through bush, through brake, through bryer:

922

Sometime a horse Ile be, sometime a hound,

923

A hogge, a headelesse Beare, sometime a fier,

924

And neigh, and barke, and grunt, and rore, and burne,

925

Like horse, hound, hogge, beare, fire, at euery turne.Exit.

926

Enter Piramus with the Asse head.

927

Bott. Why doe they runne away? This is a knauery of

928

them to make mee afeard.Enter Snowte.

929

Sn. O Bottom, thou art chaung’d. What do I see on

930

thee?

931

Bot. What doe you see? You see an Asse head of your

932

owne. Do you?

933

Enter Quince.

934

Quin. Blesse thee Bottom, blesse thee. Thou art trãsla-

935

ted.Exit.

936

Bot. I see their knauery. This is to make an asse of mee,

937

to fright me, if they could: but I wil not stirre from

938

this place, do what they can. I will walke vp and downe

939

heere, and I will sing, that they shall heare I am not a-

940

fraide.

941

The Woosell cock, so blacke of hewe,

942

With Orange tawny bill,

943

The Throstle, with his note so true,

944

The Wren, with little quill.

945

Tytania. What Angell wakes me from my flowry bed?

946

Bot. The Fynch, the Sparrowe, and the Larke,

947

The plainsong Cuckow gray:

948

Whose note, full many a man doth marke,

949

And dares not answere, nay.

950

For indeede, who would set his wit to so foolish a birde?

951

Who would giue a bird the ly, though hee cry Cuckow,

952

neuer so?

953

Tita. I pray thee, gentle mortall, sing againe.

954

Myne eare is much enamoured of thy note:

955

So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape,

957

And thy faire vertues force (perforce) doth mooue mee,

958

On the first viewe to say, to sweare, I loue thee.

956

Bott. Mee thinks mistresse, you should haue little

959

reason for that. And yet, to say the truth, reason and

960

loue keepe little company together, now a daies.

961

The more the pitty, that some honest neighbours will

962

not make them friends. Nay I can gleeke, vpon occa-

963

sion.

964

Tyta. Thou art as wise, as thou art beautifull.

965

Bott. Not so neither: but if I had wit enough to get

966

out of this wood, I haue enough to serue mine owe

967

turne.

968

Tyta. Out of this wood, doe not desire to goe:

969

Thou shalt remaine here, whether thou wilt or no.

970

I am a spirit, of no common rate:

971

The Sommer, still, doth tend vpon my state,

972

And I doe loue thee: therefore goe with mee.

973

Ile giue thee Fairies to attend on thee:

974

And they shall fetch thee Iewels, from the deepe,

975

And sing, while thou, on pressed flowers, dost sleepe:

976

And I will purge thy mortall grossenesse so,

977

That thou shalt, like an ayery spirit, goe.

978

Pease-blossome, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustard-seede?

979

Enter foure Fairyes.

980

Fairies. Readie: and I, and I, and I. Where shall we goe?

981

Tita. Be kinde and curteous to this gentleman,

982

Hop in his walkes, and gambole in his eyes,

983

Feede him with Apricocks, and Dewberries,

984

With purple Grapes, greene figges, and Mulberries,

985

The hony bagges steale from the humble Bees,

986

And for night tapers, croppe their waxen thighes,

987

And light them at the fiery Glowe-wormes eyes,

988

To haue my loue to bedde, and to arise,

989

And pluck the wings, from painted Butterflies,

990

To fanne the Moone-beames from his sleeping eyes,

991

Nod to him Elues, and doe him curtesies.

992

1. Fai. Haile mortall, haile.

993

2. Fai. Haile.

994

3. Fai. Haile.

995

Bot. I cry your worships mercy, hartily: I beseech

996

your worshippes name.

997

Cob. Cobwebbe.

998

Bot. I shall desire you of more acquaintance, good

999

master Cobweb: if I cut my finger, I shall make bolde

1000

with you.

1001

Your name honest gentleman?

1002

Pea. Pease-blossome.

1003

Bot. I pray you commend mee to mistresse Squash,

1004

your mother, and to master Peascod, your father. Good

1005

master Pease-blossome, I shall desire you of more acquain-

1006

tance, to. Your name I beseech you sir?

1007

Must. Mustardseede.

1008

Peas. Pease-blossome.

1009

Bot. Good master Mustardseede, I know your pati-

1010

ence well. That same cowardly, gyantlike, Ox-beefe

1011

hath deuourd many a gentleman of your house. I pro-

1012

mise you, your kindred hath made my eyes water, ere

1013

now. I desire you more acquaintance, good master

1014

Mustardseede.

1015

Tita. Come waite vpon him: leade him to my bower.

1016

The Moone, me thinkes, lookes with a watry eye:

1017

And when shee weepes, weepes euery little flower,

1018

Lamenting some enforced chastitie.

1019

Ty vp my louers tongue, bring him silently.Exit.

1020

Enter King of Fairies, and Robin goodfellow.

1021

Ob. I wonder if Titania be awak’t;

1022

Then what it was, that next came in her eye,

1023

Which she must dote on, in extreamitie.

1024

Enter Pucke.

1025

Here comes my messenger. How now, mad spirit?

1026

What nightrule now about this haunted groue?

1027

Puck. My mistresse with a monster is in loue,

1028

Neere to her close and consecrated bower.

1029

While she was in her dull, and sleeping hower,

1030

A crew of patches, rude Mechanicals,

1031

That worke for bread, vpon Athenian stalles,

1032

Were met together to rehearse a play,

1033

Intended for great Theseus nuptiall day:

1034

The shallowest thickskinne, of that barraine sort,

1035

Who Pyramus presented, in their sport,

1036

Forsooke his Scene, and entred in a brake,

1037

VVhen I did him at this aduantage take:

1038

An Asses nole I fixed on his head.

1039

Anon his Thisbie must be answered,

1040

And forth my Minnick comes. When they him spy;

1041

As wilde geese, that the creeping Fouler eye,

1042

Or russet pated choughes, many in sort

1043

(Rysing, and cawing, at the gunnes report)

1044

Seuer themselues, and madly sweepe the sky:

1045

So, at his sight, away his fellowes fly,

1046

And at our stampe, here ore and ore, one falles:

1047

He murther cryes, and helpe from Athens cals.

1048

Their sense, thus weake, lost with their feares, thus strong,

1049

Made senselesse things begin to doe them wrong.

1050

For, briers and thornes, at their apparell, snatch:

1051

Some sleeues, some hats; from yeelders, all things catch.

1052

I led them on, in this distracted feare,

1053

And left sweete Pyramus translated there:

1054

When in that moment (so it came to passe)

1055

Tytania wak’d, and straight way lou’d an Asse.

1056

Ob. This falles out better, then I could deuise.

1057

But hast thou yet latcht the Athenians eyes,

1058

With the loue iuice, as I did bid thee doe?

1059

Rob. I tooke him sleeping (that is finisht to)

1060

And the Athenian woman, by his side;

1061

That when he wak’d, of force she must be ey’d.

1062

Enter Demetrius and Hermia.

1063

Ob. Stand close: this is the same Athenian.

1064

Rob. This is the woman: but not this the man.

1065

Demet. O, Why rebuke you him, that loues you so?

1066

Lay breath so bitter, on your bitter foe.

1067

Her. Now I but chide: but I should vse thee worse.

1068

For thou (I feare) hast giuen me cause to curse.

1069

If thou hast slaine Lysander, in his sleepe;

1070

Being ore shooes in blood, plunge in the deepe, & kill mee to.

1071–2

The Sunne was not so true vnto the day,

1073

As hee to mee. Would hee haue stollen away,

1074

Frow sleeping Hermia? Ile beleeue, as soone,

1075

This whole earth may be bor’d, and that the Moone

1076

May through the Center creepe, and so displease

1077

Her brothers noonetide, with th’Antipodes.

1078

It cannot be, but thou hast murdred him.

1079

So should a murtherer looke; so dead, so grimme.

1080

Dem. So should the murthered looke, and so should I,

1081

Pearst through the heart, with your sterne cruelty.

1082

Yet you, the murtherer, looke as bright, as cleere,

1083

As yonder Venus, in her glimmering spheare.

1084

Her. Whats this to my Lysander? Where is hee?

1085

Ah good Demetrius, wilt thou giue him mee?

1086

Deme. I had rather giue his carcasse to my hounds.

1087

Her. Out dog, out curre: thou driu’st me past the bounds

1088

Of maidens patience. Hast thou slaine him then?

1089

Henceforth be neuer numbred among men.

1090

O, once tell true: tell true, euen for my sake:

1091

Durst thou haue lookt vpon him, being awake?

1092

And hast thou kild him, sleeping? O braue tutch!

1093

Could not a worme, an Adder do so much?

1094

An Adder did it: For with doubler tongue

1095

Then thyne (thou serpent) neuer Adder stung.

1096

Deme. You spende your passion, on a mispris’d mood:

1097

I am not guilty of Lysanders bloode:

1098

Nor is he deade, for ought that I can tell.

1099

Her. I pray thee, tell mee then, that he is well.

1100

De. And if I could, what should I get therefore?

1101

Her. A priuiledge, neuer to see mee more:

1102

And from thy hated presence part I: see me no more;

1103

Whether he be dead or no.Exit.

1104

Deme. There is no following her in this fierce vaine.

1105

Heere therefore, for a while, I will remaine.

1106

So sorrowes heauinesse doth heauier growe.

1107

For debt that bankrout slippe doth sorrow owe:

1108

Which now in some slight measure it will pay;

1109

If for his tender here I make some stay.Ly doune.

1110

Ob. What hast thou done? Thou hast mistaken quite,

1111

And laid the loue iuice on some true loues sight.

1112

Of thy misprision, must perforce ensue

1113

Some true loue turnd, and not a false turnd true.

1114

Robi. Then fate orerules, that one man holding troth,

1115

A million faile, confounding oath on oath.

1116

Ob. About the wood, goe swifter then the winde,

1117

And Helena of Athens looke thou finde.

1118

All fancy sicke she is and pale of cheere,

1119

With sighes of loue, that costs the fresh blood deare.

1120

By some illusion see thou bring her here:

1121

Ile charme his eyes, against she doe appeare.

1122

Robin. I goe, I goe, looke how I goe.

1123

Swifter then arrow, from the Tartars bowe.

1124

Ob. Flower of this purple dy,

1125

Hit with Cupids archery,

1126

Sinke in apple of his eye,

1127

When his loue he doth espy,

1128

Let her shine as gloriously

1129

As the Venus of the sky.

1130

When thou wak’st, if she be by,

1131

Begge of her, for remedy.

1132

Enter Puck.

1133

Puck. Captaine of our Fairy band,

1134

Helena is heere at hande,

1135

And the youth, mistooke by mee,

1136

Pleading for a louers fee.

1137

Shall wee their fond pageant see?

1138

Lord, what fooles these mortals bee!

1139

Ob. Stand aside. The noyse, they make,

1140

Will cause Demetrius to awake.

1141

Pu. Then will two, at once, wooe one:

1142

That must needes be sport alone.

1143

And those things do best please mee,

1144

That befall prepost’rously.

1145

Enter Lysander, and Helena.

1146

Lys. Why should you think, that I should wooe in scorne?

1147

Scorne, and derision, neuer come in teares.

1148

Looke when I vow, I weepe: and vowes so borne,

1149

In their natiuitie all truth appeares.

1150

How can these things, in mee, seeme scorne to you?

1151

Bearing the badge of faith to prooue them true.

1152

Hel. You doe aduance your cunning, more, and more.

1153

When trueth killes truth, ô diuelish holy fray!

1154

These vowes are Hermias. Will you giue her ore?

1155

Weigh oath, with oath, and you will nothing waigh.

1156

Your vowes to her, and mee (put in two scales)

1157

Will euen weigh; and both as light as tales.

1158

Lys. I had no iudgement, when to her I swore.

1159

Hel. Nor none, in my minde, now you giue her ore.

1160

Lys. Demetrius loues her: and he loues not you.

1161

Deme. O Helen, goddesse, nymph, perfect diuine,

1162

To what, my loue, shall I compare thine eyne!

1163

Christall is muddy. O, how ripe, in showe,

1164

Thy lippes, those kissing cherries, tempting growe!

1165

That pure coniealed white, high Taurus snow,

1166

Fand with the Easterne winde, turnes to a crowe,

1167

When thou holdst vp thy hand. O, let me kisse

1168

This Princesse of pure white, this seale of blisse.

1169

Hel. O spight! O hell! I see, you all are bent

1170

To set against mee, for your merriment.

1171

If you were ciuill, and knew curtesie,

1172

You would not doe mee thus much iniury.

1173

Can you not hate mee, as I know you doe,

1174

But you must ioyne, in soules, to mocke mee to?

1175

If you were men, as men you are in showe,

1176

You would not vse a gentle Lady so;

1177

To vowe, and sweare, and superpraise my parts,

1178

When I am sure, you hate mee with your hearts.

1179

You both are Riuals, and loue Hermia:

1180

And now both Riualles, to mock Helena.

1181

A trim exploit, a manly enterprise,

1182

To coniure teares vp, in a poore maides eyes,

1183

With your derision None, of noble sort,

1184

Would so offend a virgine, and extort

1185

A poore soules patience, all to make you sport.

1186

Lysand. You are vnkinde, Demetrius: be not so.

1187

For you loue Hermia: this you know I know.

1188

And heare, with all good will, with all my heart,

1189

In Hermias loue I yeelde you vp my part:

1190

And yours of Helena, to mee bequeath:

1191

Whom I doe loue, and will do till my death.

1192

Hel. Neuer did mockers waste more idle breath.

1193

Deme. Lysander, keepe thy Hermia: I will none.

1194

If ere I lou’d her, all that loue is gone.

1195

My heart to her, but as guestwise, soiournd:

1196

And now to Helen, is it home returnd,

1197

There to remaine.

1198

Lys. Helen, it is not so.

1199

Deme. Disparage not the faith, thou dost not know;

1200

Least to thy perill, thou aby it deare.

1201

Looke where thy loue comes: yonder is thy deare.

1202

Enter Hermia.

1203

Her. Darke night, that from the eye, his function takes,

1204

The eare more quicke of apprehension makes.

1205

Wherein it doth impaire the seeing sense,

1206

It payes the hearing double recompence.

1207

Thou art not, by myne eye, Lysander, found:

1208

Mine eare, I thanke it, brought me to thy sound.

1209

But why, vnkindly, didst thou leaue mee so?

1210

Lys. Why should he stay, whom loue doth presse to go?

1211

Her. What loue could presse Lysander, from my side?

1212

Lys. Lysanders loue (that would not let him bide)

1213

Faire Helena: who more engilds the night

1214

Then all yon fiery oes, and eyes of light.

1215

Why seek’st thou me? Could not this make thee know,

1216

The hate I bare thee, made mee leaue thee so?

1217

Her. You speake not as you thinke: It cannot bee.

1218

Hel. Lo: she is one of this confederacy.

1219

Now I perceiue, they haue conioynd all three,

1220

To fashion this false sport, in spight of mee.

1221

Iniurious Hermia, most vngratefull maide,

1222

Haue you conspir’d, haue you with these contriu’d

1223

To baite mee, with this foule derision?

1224

Is all the counsell that we two haue shar’d,

1225

The sisters vowes, the howers that we haue spent,

1226

When we haue chid the hastie footed time,

1227

For parting vs; O, is all forgot?

1228

All schooldaies friendshippe, childhood innocence?

1229

VVee, Hermia, like two artificiall gods,

1230

Haue with our needles, created both one flower,

1231

Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,

1232

Both warbling of one song, both in one key;

1233

As if our hands, our sides, voyces, and mindes

1234

Had bin incorporate. So wee grewe together,

1235

Like to a double cherry, seeming parted;

1236

But yet an vnion in partition,

1237

Two louely berries moulded on one stemme:

1238

So with two seeming bodies, but one heart,

1239

Two of the first life coats in heraldry,

1240

Due but to one, and crowned with one creast.

1241

And will you rent our auncient loue asunder,

1242

To ioyne with men, in scorning your poore friend?

1243

It is not friendly, tis not maidenly.

1244

Our sex, as well as I, may chide you for it;

1245

Though I alone doe fele the iniury.

1246

Her. I am amazed at your words:

1247

I scorne you not. It seemes that you scorne mee.

1248

Hel. Haue you not set Lysander, as in scorne,

1249

To follow mee, and praise my eyes and face?

1250

And made your other loue, Demetrius

1251

(Who euen but now did spurne mee with his foote)

1252

To call mee goddesse, nymph, diuine, and rare,

1253

Pretious celestiall? VVherefore speakes he this,

1254

To her he hates? And wherfore doth Lysander

1255

Deny your loue (so rich within his soule)

1256

And tender mee (forsooth) affection,

1257

But by your setting on, by your consent?

1258

VVhat, though I be not so in grace as you,

1259

So hung vpon with loue, so fortunate?

1260

(But miserable most, to loue vnlou’d)

1261

This you should pittie, rather then despise.

1262

Her. I vnderstand not, what you meane by this.

1263

Hel. I doe. Perseuer, counterfait sad lookes:

1264

Make mouthes vpon mee, when I turne my back:

1265

Winke each at other, holde the sweete ieast vp.

1266

This sport well carried, shall bee chronicled.

1267

If you haue any pitty, grace, or manners,

1268

You would not make mee such an argument.

1269

But fare ye well: tis partly my owne fault:

1270

Which death, or absence soone shall remedy.

1271

Lys. Stay, gentle Helena: heare my excuse,

1272

My loue, my life, my soule, faire Helena.

1273

Hel. O excellent!

1274

Herm. Sweete, doe not scorne her so.

1275

Dem. If she cannot entreat, I can compell.

1276

Lys. Thou canst compell no more, then she intreat.

1277

Thy threats haue no more strength then her weake praise.

1278

Helen, I loue thee, by my life I doe:

1279

I sweare by that which I will loose for thee;

1280

To prooue him false, that saies I loue thee not.

1281

Dem. I say, I loue thee more then he can do.

1282

Lys. If thou say so, withdrawe, and prooue it to.

1283

Dem. Quick come.

1284

Her. Lysander, whereto tends all this?

1285

Lys. Away, you Ethiop.

1286

Dem. No, no: heele

1287–

Seeme to breake loose: take on as you would follow;

1287–8

But yet come not. You are a tame man, go.

1289

Lys. Hang of thou cat, thou bur: vile thing let loose;

1290

Or I will shake thee from mee, like a serpent.

1291

Her. Why are you growne so rude? What change is this,

1292–3

Sweete loue?

1293

Lys. Thy loue? Out tawny Tartar, out:

1294

Out loathed medcine: ô hated potion hence.

1295

Her. Doe you not ieast?

1296

Hel. Yes sooth: and so doe you.

1297

Lys. Demetrius, I will keepe my word, with thee.

1298

Dem. I would I had your bond. For I perceiue,

1299

A weake bond holds you. Ile not trust your word.

1300

Lys. What? should I hurt her, strike her, kill her dead?

1301

Although I hate her, Ile not harme her so.

1302

Her. What? Can you do me greater harme, then hate?

1303

Hate mee, wherefore? O me, what newes, my loue?

1304

Am not I Hermia? Are not you Lysander?

1305

I am as faire now, as I was ere while.

1306

Since night, you lou’d mee; yet since night, you left mee.

1307

Why then, you left mee (ô the gods forbid)

1308

In earnest, shall I say?

1309

Lys. I, by my life:

1310

And neuer did desire to see thee more.

1311

Therefore be out of hope, of question, of doubt:

1312

Be certaine: nothing truer: tis no ieast,

1313

That I doe hate thee, and loue Helena.

1314

Her. O mee, you iuggler, you canker blossome,

1315

You theefe of loue: what, haue you come by night,

1316

And stolne my loues heart, from him?

1317

Hel. Fine, I faith.

1318

Haue you no modesty, no maiden shame,

1319

No touch of bashfulnesse? What, will you teare

1320

Impatient answeres, from my gentle tongue?

1321

Fy, fy, you counterfait, you puppet, you.

1322

Her. Puppet? Why so? I, that way goes the game.

1323

Now I perceiue that she hath made compare,

1324

Betweene our statures, she hath vrg’d her height,

1325

And with her personage, her tall personage,

1326

Her height (forsooth) she hath preuaild with him.

1327

And are you growne so high in his esteeme,

1328

Because I am so dwarfish and so lowe?

1329

How lowe am I, thou painted May-pole? Speake:

1330

How lowe am I? I am not yet so lowe,

1331

But that my nailes can reach vnto thine eyes.

1332

Hel. I pray you, though you mocke me, gentleman,

1333

Let her not hurt me. I was neuer curst:

1334

I haue no gift at all in shrewishnesse:

1335

I am a right maid, for my cowardize:

1336

Let her not strike mee. You perhaps, may thinke,

1337

Because she is something lower then my selfe,

1338

That I can match her.

1339

Her. Lower? harke againe.

1340

Hel. Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with mee,

1341

I euermore did loue you Hermia,

1342

Did euer keepe your counsels, neuer wrongd you;

1343

Saue that in loue, vnto Demetrius,

1344

I tould him of your stealth vnto this wood.

1345

He followed you: for loue, I followed him.

1346

But he hath chid me hence, and threatned mee

1347

To strike mee, spurne mee; nay to kill mee to.

1348

And now, so you will let me quiet goe,

1349

To Athens will I beare my folly backe,

1350

And follow you no further. Let me goe.

1351

You see how simple, and how fond I am.

1352

Herm. Why? get you gon. Who ist that hinders you?

1353

Hel. A foolish heart, that I leaue here behind.

1354

Her. What, with Lysander?

1355

Hel. With Demetrius.

1356

Lys. Be not afraid: she shall not harme thee Helena.

1357

Deme. No sir: she shall not, though you take her part.

1358

Hel. O, when she is angry, she is keene and shrewd.

1359

She was a vixen, when she went to schoole:

1360

And though she be but little, she is fierce.

1361

Her. Little againe? Nothing but low and little?

1362

Why will you suffer her to floute me thus?

1363

Let me come to her.

1364

Lys. Get you gon, you dwarfe;

1365

You minimus, of hindring knot grasse, made;

1366

You bead, you acorne.

1367

Deme. You are too officious,

1368

In her behalfe, that scornes your seruices.

1369

Let her alone: speake not of Helena,

1370

Take not her part. For if thou dost intend

1371

Neuer so little shewe of loue to her,

1372

Thou shalt aby it.

1373

Lys. Now she holdes me not:

1374

Now follow, if thou dar’st, to try whose right,

1375

Of thine or mine, is most in Helena.

1376

Deme. Follow? Nay: Ile go with thee, cheeke by iowle.

1377–8

Her. You, mistresse, all this coyle is long of you.

1379

Nay: goe not backe.

1380

Hel. I will not trust you, I,

1381

Nor longer stay in your curst company.

1382

Your hands, than mine, are quicker for a fray:

1383

My legges are longer though, to runne away.

1384

Her. I am amaz’d, and know not what to say.Exeunt.

1384+1

Enter Oberon and Pucke.

1385

Ob. This is thy negligence: still thou mistak’st,

1386

Or else commitst thy knaueries wilfully.

1387

Puck. Beleeue mee, king of shadowes, I mistooke.

1388

Did not you tell mee, I should know the man,

1389

By the Athenian garments, he had on?

1390

And, so farre blamelesse prooues my enterprise,

1391

That I haue nointed an Athenians eyes:

1392

And so farre am I glad, it so did sort,

1393

As this their iangling I esteeme a sport.

1394

Ob. Thou seest, these louers seeke a place to fight:

1395

Hy therefore Robin, ouercast the night,

1396

The starry welkin couer thou anon,

1397

With drooping fogge as blacke as Acheron,

1398

And lead these teasty Riuals so astray,

1399

As one come not within anothers way.

1400

Like to Lysander, sometime frame thy tongue:

1401

Then stirre Demetrius vp, with bitter wrong:

1402

And sometime raile thou like Demetrius:

1403

And from each other, looke thou lead them thus;

1404

Till ore their browes, death-counterfaiting, sleepe,

1405

With leaden legs, and Batty wings doth creepe:

1406

Then crush this hearbe into Lysanders eye;

1407

Whose liquor hath this vertuous property,

1408

To take from thence all errour, with his might,

1409

And make his eyebals roule with wonted sight.

1410

When they next wake, all this derision

1411

Shall seeme a dreame, and fruitelesse vision.

1412

And backe to Athens shall the louers wend,

1413

With league, whose date, till death shall neuer end.

1414

Whiles I, in this affaire, doe thee imploy,

1415

Ile to my Queene and beg her Indian boy:

1416

And then I will her charmed eye release

1417

From monsters viewe, and all things shall be peace.

1418

Puck. My Faiery Lord, this must be done with haste.

1419

For nights swift Dragons cut the clouds full fast,

1420

And yonder shines Auroras harbinger:

1421

At whose approach, Ghosts, wandring here and there,

1422

Troope home to Churchyards: damned spirits all,

1423

That in crosse waies and floods haue buriall,

1424

Already to their wormy beds are gone:

1425

For feare least day should looke their shames vpon,

1426

They wilfully themselues exile from light,

1427

And must for aye consort with black browed night.

1428

Ober. But we are spirits of another sort.

1429

I, with the mornings loue, haue oft made sport,

1430

And like a forrester, the groues may tread

1431

Euen till the Easterne gate all fiery red,

1432

Opening on Neptune, with faire blessed beames,

1433

Turnes, into yellow golde, his salt greene streames.

1434

But notwithstanding, haste, make no delay:

1435

We may effect this businesse, yet ere day.

1436

Pu. Vp & down, vp & down, I will lead them vp & down:

1437–8

I am feard in field & town. Goblin, lead them vp & downe.

1438–9

Here comes one. Enter Lysander.

1439–40

Lys. Where art thou, proud Demetrius? Speak thou now.

1441–2

Rob. Here villaine, drawne & ready. Where art thou?

1443

Lys. I will be with thee straight.

1444

Rob. Follow me then to plainer ground.

1445

Enter Demetrius.

1446

Deme. Lysander, speake againe.

1447

Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled?

1448

Speake in some bush. Where doest thou hide thy head?

1449

Rob. Thou coward art thou bragging, to the starres,

1450

Telling the bushes that thou look’st for warres,

1451

And wilt not come? Come recreant, come thou childe,

1452

Ile whippe thee with a rodde. He is defil’d,

1453

That drawes a sword on thee.

1454

De. Yea, art thou there?

1455

Ro. Follow my voice: weele try no manhood here.Exeũt.

1456

Lys. He goes before me, and still dares me on:

1457

When I come where he calles, then he is gon.

1458

The villaine is much lighter heel’d then I;

1459

I followed fast: but faster he did fly;

1460

That fallen am I in darke vneauen way,

1461

And here will rest me. Come thou gentle day.

1462

For if but once, thou shewe me thy gray light,

1463

Ile finde Demetrius, and reuenge this spight.

1464

Robin, and Demetrius.

1465

Robi. Ho, ho, ho: Coward, why comst thou not?

1466

Deme. Abide me, if thou dar’st. For well I wot,

1467

Thou runst before mee, shifting euery place,

1468

And dar’st not stand, nor looke me in the face.

1469

Where art thou now?

1470

Rob. Come hither: I am here.

1471

De. Nay then thou mockst me. Thou shalt buy this dear,

1472–3

If euer I thy face by day light see.

1474

Now, goe thy way. Faintnesse constraineth mee,

1475

To measure, out my length, on this cold bed:

1476

By daies approach looke to be visited.

1477

Enter Helena.

1478

Hele. O weary night, O long and tedious night,

1479

Abate thy houres, shine comforts, from the east;

1480

That I may backe to Athens, by day light,

1481

From these that my poore company detest:

1482

And sleepe, that sometimes shuts vp sorrowes eye,

1483

Steale mee a while from mine owne companie.Sleepe.

1484

Rob. Yet but three? Come one more.

1485

Two of both kindes makes vp fower.

1486

Heare shee comes, curst and sadde.

1487

Cupid is a knauish ladde,

1488

Enter Hermia.

1489

Thus to make poore females madde.

1490

Her. Neuer so weary, neuer so in woe,

1491

Bedabbled with the deaw, and torne with briers:

1492

I can no further crawle, no further goe:

1493

My legges can keepe no pase with my desires.

1494

Here will I rest mee, till the breake of day:

1495

Heauens shielde Lysander, if they meane a fray.

1496

Rob. On the ground, sleepe sound:

1497

Ile apply your eye, gentle louer, remedy.

1498

When thou wak’st, thou tak’st

1499

True delight, in the sight, of thy former ladies eye:

1500

And the country prouerbe knowne,

1501

That euery man should take his owne,

1502

In your waking shall be showen.

1503

Iacke shall haue Iill: nought shall goe ill:

1504

The man shall haue his mare again, & all shall be well.

1505–6

They sleepe all the Act.

1507

Actus Quartus.

1508

Enter Queene of Faieries, and Clowne, and Faieries: and the

1509

king behinde them.

1510

Tita. Come sit thee downe vpon this flowry bed,

1511

While I thy amiable cheekes doe coy,

1512

And stick musk roses in thy sleeke smooth head,

1513

And kisse thy faire large eares, my gentle ioy.

1514

Clown. Where’s Pease-blossome?

1515

Pea. Ready.

1516

Clow. Scratch my heade, Pease-blossome. Wher’s Moun-

1517

sieur Cobweb?

1518

Cob. Ready.

1519

Clo. Mounsieur Cobweb, good Mounsieur, get you your

1520

weapons in your hand, and kill me a red hipt Humble Bee,

1521

on the toppe of a thistle: and good Mounsieur, bring mee

1522

the hony bagge. Doe not fret your selfe too much, in the

1523

action, Mounsieur: and good Mounsieur haue a care, the

1524

honybagge breake not, I wold be loath to haue you ouer-

1525

flowen with a honibag signior. Where’s Mounsieur

1526

Mustardseede?

1527

Must. Readie.

1528

Clo. Giue me your neafe, Mounsieur Mustardseede.

1529

Pray you, leaue your curtsie, good Mounsieur.

1530

Must. What’s your will?

1531

Clo. Nothing good Mounsieur, but to helpe Caualery

1532

Cobwebbe, to scratch. I must to the Barbers, Mounsieur. For

1533

me thinkes I am maruailes hairy about the face. And I

1534

am such a tender Asse, if my haire doe but tickle mee, I must

1535

scratch.

1536

Tita. What, wilt thou heare some musique, my sweete

1537

loue?

1538

Clo. I haue a reasonable good eare in musique. Let s

1539–40

haue the tongs, and the bones.

1540

Musicke Tongs, Rurall Musicke.

1541

Tyta. Or, say sweete loue, what thou desirest to eate.

1542

Clo. Truely a pecke of prouander. I could mounch

1543

your good dry Oates. Me thinkes, I haue a great desire

1544

to a bottle of hay. Good hay, sweete hay hath no fel-

1545

low.

1546

Ty. I haue a venturous Fairy, that shall seeke the Squirils hoord,

1547–8

And fetch thee newe nuts.

1549

Clo. I had rather haue a handfull, or two of dryed

1550

pease. But, I pray you: let none of your people stirre me: I

1551

haue an exposition of sleepe come vpon mee.

1552

Tyta. Sleepe thou, and I will winde thee in my armes.

1553

Faieries be gon, and be alwaies away.

1554

So doth the woodbine, the sweete Honisuckle,

1555

Gently entwist: the female Iuy so

1556

Enrings the barky fingers of the Elme.

1557

O how I loue thee! how I dote on thee!

1558

Enter Robin goodfellow.

1559

Ob. Welcome good Robin. Seest thou this sweete sight?

1560–1

Her dotage now I doe beginne to pittie.

1562

For meeting her of late, behinde the wood,

1563

Seeking sweete fauours for this hatefull foole,

1564

I did vpbraid her, and fall out with her.

1565

For she his hairy temples then had rounded,

1566

With coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers.

1567

And that same deawe which sometime on the buddes,

1568

Was wont to swell, like round and orient pearles;

1569

Stood now within the pretty flouriets eyes,

1570

Like teares, that did their owne disgrace bewaile.

1571

When I had, at my pleasure, taunted her,

1572

And she, in milde tearmes, begd my patience,

1573

I then did aske of her, her changeling childe:

1574

Which straight she gaue mee, and her Fairy sent

1575

To beare him, to my bower, in Fairie land.

1576

And now I haue the boy, I will vndoe

1577

This hatefull imperfection of her eyes.

1578

And, gentle Puck, take this transformed scalpe,

1579

From of the heade of this Athenian swaine;

1580

That hee, awaking when the other do,

1581

May all to Athens backe againe repaire,

1582

And thinke no more of this nights accidents,

1583

But as the fearce vexation of a dreame.

1584

But first I will release the Fairy Queene.

1585

Be, as thou wast wont to bee:

1586

See, as thou wast wont to see.

1587

Dians budde, or Cupids flower,

1588

Hath such force, and blessed power.

1589

Now, my Titania, wake you, my sweete Queene.

1590

Tita. My Oberon, what visions haue I seene!

1591

Me thought I was enamourd of an Asse.

1592

Ob. There lyes your loue.

1593

Tita. How came these things to passe?

1594

O, how mine eyes doe loath his visage now!

1595

Ob. Silence a while. Robin, take off this head:

1596

Titania, musicke call, and strike more dead

1597

Then common sleepe: of all these, fine the sense.

1598

Ti. Musick, howe musick: such as charmeth sleepe.

1599

Musick still.

1600

Rob. Now, when thou wak’st, with thine own fools eyes peepe.

1601–2

Ob. Sound Musick: come, my queen, take hands with me,

1603

And rocke the ground whereon these sleepers be.

1604

Now, thou and I are new in amitie,

1605

And will to morrow midnight, solemnely

1606

Daunce, in Duke Theseus house triumphantly,

1607

And blesse it to all faire prosperitie.

1608

There shall the paires of faithfull louers be

1609

Wedded, with Theseus, all in iollitie.

1610

Rob. Fairy King, attend, and marke:

1611

I do heare the morning Larke.

1612

Ob. Then my Queene, in silence sad,

1613

Trippe we after nights shade:

1614

We, the Globe, can compasse soone,

1615

Swifter then the wandring Moone.

1616

Tita. Come my Lord, and in our flight,

1617

Tell me how it came this night,

1618

That I sleeping here was found,

1619

Sleepers Lye still.

1620

With these mortals on the ground.Exeunt.

1621

Enter Theseus and all his traine. VVinde horne.

1623, 1622

The. Goe one of you, finde out the forrester:

1624

For now our obseruation is performde.

1625

And since we haue the vaward of the day,

1626

My loue shall heare the musicke of my hounds.

1627

Vncouple, in the westerne vallie, let them goe:

1628

Dispatch I say, and finde the forrester.

1629

Wee will, faire Queene, vp to the mountaines toppe,

1630

And marke the musicall confusion

1631

Of hounds and Echo in coniunction.

1632

Hip. I was with Hercules and Cadmus, once,

1633

When in a wood of Creete they bayed the Beare,

1634

With hounds of Sparta: neuer did I heare

1635

Such gallant chiding. For besides the groues,

1636

The skyes, the fountaines, euery region neare

1637

Seeme all one mutuall cry. I neuer heard

1638

So musicall a discord, such sweete thunder.

1639

Thes. My hounds are bred out of the Spartane kinde:

1640

So flew’d, so sanded: and their heads are hung

1641

VVith eares, that sweepe away the morning deawe,

1642

Crooke kneed, and deawlapt, like Thessalian Buls:

1643

Slowe in pursuit; but matcht in mouth like bels,

1644

Each vnder each. A cry more tunable

1645

Was neuer hollowd to, nor cheerd with horne,

1646

In Creete, in Sparta, nor in Thessaly.

1647

Iudge when you heare. But soft. What nymphes are these?

1648

Egeus. My Lord, this my daughter heere a sleepe,

1649

And this Lysander, this Demetrius is,

1650

This Helena, old Nedars Helena.

1651

I wonder of their being here together.

1652

The. No doubt, they rose vp earely, to obserue

1653

The right of May: and hearing our intent,

1654

Came heere, in grace of our solemnitie.

1655

But speake, Egeus, is not this the day,

1656

That Hermia should giue answer of her choyce?

1657

Egeus. It is, my Lord.

1658

These. Goe, bid the huntsmen wake them with their hornes.

1659–60

Shoute within: they all start vp. Winde hornes.

1662, 1661

The. Good morrow, friends. Saint Valentine is past.

1663

Begin these wood birds but to couple, now?

1664

Lys. Pardon, my Lord.

1665

The. I pray you all, stand vp.

1666

I know, you two are Riuall enemies.

1667

How comes this gentle concord in the worlde,

1668

That hatred is so farre from iealousie,

1669

To sleepe by hate, and feare no enmitie,

1670

Lys. My Lord, I shal reply amazedly,

1671

Halfe sleepe, halfe waking. But, as yet, I sweare,

1672

I cannot truely say how I came here.

1673

But as I thinke (for truely would I speake)

1674

And now I doe bethinke mee, so it is;

1675

I came with Hermia, hither. Our intent

1676

Was to be gon from Athens: where we might

1677

Without the perill of the Athenian lawe,

1678

Ege. Enough, enough my Lord: you haue enough.

1679

I begge the law, the law, vpon his head:

1680

They would haue stolne away, they would, Demetrius,

1681

Thereby to haue defeated you and me:

1682

You of your wife, and mee, of my consent:

1683

Of my consent, that she should be your wife.

1684

Deme. My Lord, faire Helen told me of their stealth,

1685

Of this their purpose hither, to this wood,

1686

And I in fury hither followed them;

1687

Faire Helena, in fancy following mee.

1688

But my good Lord, I wote not by what power

1689

(But by some power it is) my loue,

1690

To Hermia (melted as the snowe)

1691

Seemes to me now as the remembrance of an idle gaude,

1692

Which in my childehoode I did dote vpon:

1693

And all the faith, the vertue of my heart,

1694

The obiect and the pleasure of mine eye,

1695

Is onely Helena. To her, my Lord,

1696

Was I betrothed, ere I see Hermia:

1697

But, like a sicknesse, did I loath this foode.

1698

But, as in health, come to my naturall taste,

1699

Now I doe wish it, loue it, long for it,

1700

And will for euermore be true to it.

1701

The. Faire louers, you are fortunately met.

1702

Of this discourse, we more will here anon.

1703

Egeus, I will ouerbeare your will:

1704

For in the Temple, by and by, with vs,

1705

These couples shall eternally be knit.

1706

And, for the morning now is somthing worne,

1707

Our purpos’d hunting shall be set aside.

1708

Away, with vs, to Athens. Three and three,

1709

Weele holde a feast, in great solemnitie. Come Hyppolita.

1710–11

Deme. These things seeme small and vndistinguishable,

1712

Like farre off mountaines turned into clouds.

1713

Her. Me thinks I see these things, with parted eye,

1714

When euery thing seemes double.

1715

Hel. So mee thinkes:

1716

And I haue found Demetrius, like a iewell,

1717

Mine owne, and not mine owne.

1718

Dem. Are you sure

1718+1

That we are awake? It seemes to me,

1718+1–1719

That yet we sleepe, we dreame. Do not you thinke,

1720

The Duke was here, and bid vs follow him?

1721

Her. Yea, and my father.

1722

Hel. And Hyppolita.

1723

Lys. And he did bid vs follow to the Temple.

1724

Dem. Why then, we are awake: lets follow him, and

1725

by the way lets recount our dreames.

1726

Bottome wakes.Exit Louers.

1727

Clo. When my cue comes, call mee, and I will answere.

1728

My next is, most faire Pyramus. Hey ho. Peeter Quince?

1729

Flute, the bellowes mender? Snout the tinker? Starue-

1730

ling? Gods my life! Stolne hence, and left mee a sleepe? I

1731

haue had a most rare vision. I haue had a dreame, past the wit

1732

of man, to say; what dreame it was. Man is but an Asse,

1733

if hee goe about expound this dreame. Me thought I

1734

was, there is no man can tell what. Me thought I was,

1735

and me thought I had. But man is but patcht a foole,

1736

If hee will offer to say, what mee thought I had. The eye of

1737

man hath not heard, the eare of man hath not seene, mans

1738

hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceiue, nor his

1739

hearte to report, what my dreame was. I will get Peter

1740

Quince to write a Ballet of this dreame: it shall be call’d

1741

Bottoms Dreame; because it hath no bottome: and I will

1742

sing it in the latter end of a Play, before the Duke. Per-

1743

aduenture, to make it the more gratious, I shall sing it

1744

at her death.

1745

Enter Quince, Flute, Thisby and the rabble.

1746

Quin. Haue you sent to Bottoms house? Is he come

1747

home, yet?

1748

Flut. Hee cannot be heard of. Out of doubt he is

1749

transported.

1750

Thys. If hee come not, then the Play is mard. It goes

1751

not forward. Doth it?

1752

Quin. It is not possible. You haue not a man, in all

1753

Athens, able to discharge Pyramus, but he.

1754

Thys. No, hee hath simply the best wit of any handy-

1755

craft man, in Athens.

1756

Quin. Yea, and the best person to, and hee is a very

1757

Paramour, for a sweete voice.

1758

This. You must say, Paragon. A Paramour is (God

1759

blesse vs) a thing of nought.

1760

Enter Snug, the Ioyner.

1761

Snug. Masters, the Duke is comming from the Tem-

1762

ple, and there is two or three Lords and Ladies more mar-

1763

ried. If our sport had gon forward, wee had all beene made

1764

men.

1765

Thys. O sweete bully Bottome. Thus hath hee lost six

1766

pence a day, during his life: hee coulde not haue scaped sixe

1767

pence a day. And the Duke had not giuen him six pence

1768

a day, for playing Pyramus, Ile be hanged. He would haue

1769

deserued it. Six pence a day, in Pyramus, or nothing.

1770

Enter Bottom.

1771

Bot. Where are these lads? Where are these harts?

1772

Quin. Bottom, ô most couragious day! O most hap-

1773

py houre!

1774

Bott. Masters, I am to discourse wonders: but aske me

1775

not what. For if I tell you, I am not true Athenian. I

1776

will tell you euery thing right as it fell out.

1777

Quin. Let vs heare, sweete Bottom.

1778

Bot. Not a word of mee. All that I will tell you, is, that

1779

the Duke hath dined. Get your apparrell together, good

1780

strings to your beardes, new ribands to your pumpes,

1781

meete presently at the palace, euery man looke ore his

1782

part. For, the short and the long is, our play is preferd.

1783

In any case let Thisby haue cleane linnen: and let not him,

1784

that plaies the Lyon, pare his nailes: for they shall hang

1785

out for the Lyons clawes. And most deare Actors, eate

1786

no Onions, nor garlicke: for we are to vtter sweete

1787

breath: and I do not doubt but to hear them say, it is a

1788

sweete Comedy. No more wordes. Away, go away.

1789

Exeunt.

1790

Actus Quintus.

1791

Enter Theseus, Hyppolita, and Philostrate.

1792

Hip. Tis strange, my Theseus, that these louers speake of.

1793

The. More straunge then true. I neuer may beleeue

1794

These antique fables, nor these Fairy toyes.

1795

Louers, and mad men haue such seething braines,

1796

Such shaping phantasies, that apprehend more,

1797

Then coole reason euer comprehends. The lunatick,

1798–9

The louer, and the Poet are of imagination all compact.

1799–1800

One sees more diuels, then vast hell can holde:

1801

That is the mad man. The louer, all as frantick,

1802

Sees Helens beauty in a brow of Ægypt.

1803

The Poets eye, in a fine frenzy, rolling, doth glance

1804

From heauen to earth, from earth to heauen. And as

1805–6

Imagination bodies forth the formes of things

1806

Vnknowne: the Poets penne turnes them to shapes,

1807

And giues to ayery nothing, a locall habitation,

1808

And a name. Such trickes hath strong imagination,

1809

That if it would but apprehend some ioy,

1810

It comprehends some bringer of that ioy.

1811

Or in the night, imagining some feare,

1812

How easie is a bush suppos’d a Beare?

1813

Hyp. But, all the story of the night told ouer,

1814

And all their minds transfigur’d so together,

1815

More witnesseth than fancies images,

1816

And growes to something of great constancy:

1817

But howsoeuer, strange and admirable.

1818

Enter Louers; Lysander, Demetrius, Hermia

1819

and Helena.

1820

The. Here come the louers, full of ioy and mirth.

1821

Ioy, gentle friends, ioy and fresh daies

1822

Of loue accompany your hearts.

1823

Lys. More then to vs, waite in your royall walkes,

1824

your boorde, your bedde.

1825

The. Come now: what maskes, what daunces shall wee haue,

1826–7

To weare away this long age of three hours, betweene

1828–9

Or after supper, & bed-time? Where is our vsuall manager

1829–30

Of mirth? What Reuels are in hand? Is there no play,

1830–1

To ease the anguish of a torturing hower? Call Philostrate.

1832–3

Philostrate. Here mighty Theseus.

1834

The. Say, what abridgement haue you for this eue- ning?

1835–6

What maske, what musicke? How shall we beguile

1837

The lazy tyme, if not with some delight?

1838

Philost. There is a briefe, how many sports are ripe.

1839

Make choyce, of which your Highnesse will see first.

1840

The. The battell with the Centaures to be sung,

1841

By an Athenian Eunuche, to the Harpe?

1842

Weele none of that. That haue I tolde my loue,

1843

In glory of my kinsman Hercules.

1844

The ryot of the tipsie Bachanals,

1845

Tearing the Thracian singer, in their rage?

1846

That is an olde deuise: and it was plaid,

1847

When I from Thebes came last a conquerer.

1848

The thrise three Muses, mourning for the death

1849

Of learning, late deceast, in beggery?

1850

That is some Satire keene and criticall,

1851

Not sorting with a nuptiall ceremony.

1852

A tedious briefe Scene of young Pyramus

1853

And his loue Thisby; very tragicall mirth?

1854

Merry, and tragicall? Tedious, and briefe? That is hot ise,

1855–6

And wõdrous strange snow. How shall we find the cõcord

1856–7

Of this discord?

–1857

Philost. A Play there is, my Lord, some ten words long;

1858

Which is as briefe, as I haue knowne a play:

1859

But, by ten words, my Lord it is too long:

1860

Which makes it tedious. For in all the Play,

1861

There is not one word apt, one player fitted.

1862

And tragicall, my noble Lord, it is. For Pyramus,

1863

Therein, doth kill himselfe. Which when I saw

1864

Rehearst, I must confesse, made mine eyes water:

1865

But more merry teares the passion of loud laughter

1866

Neuer shed.

1867

These. What are they, that doe play it?

1868

Phil. Hard handed men, that worke in Athens here,

1869

Which neuer labour’d in their minds till now:

1870

And now haue toyled their vnbreathed memories,

1871

With this same Play, against your nuptiall.

1872

The. And wee will heare it.

1873

Phi. No, my noble Lord, it is not for you. I haue heard

1874

It ouer, and it is nothing, nothing in the world;

1875

Vnlesse you can finde sport in their entents,

1876

Extreamely stretcht, and cond with cruell paine,

1877

To do you seruice.

1878

The. I will heare that play. For neuer any thing

1879

Can be amisse, when simplenesse and duety tender it.

1880

Goe bring them in, and take your places, Ladies.

1881

Hip. I loue not to see wretchednesse orecharged;

1882

And duety, in his seruice, perishing.

1883

The. Why, gentle sweete, you shall see no such thing.

1884

Hip. He sayes, they can doe nothing in this kinde.

1885

The. The kinder we, to giue them thanks, for nothing.

1886

Our sport shall be, to take what they mistake.

1887

And what poore duty cannot doe, noble respect

1888

Takes it in might, not merit.

1889

Where I haue come, great Clerkes haue purposed

1890

To greete me, with premeditated welcomes;

1891

Where I haue seene them shiuer and looke pale,

1892

Make periods in the midst of sentences,

1893

Throttle their practiz’d accent in their feares,

1894

And in conclusion dumbly haue broke off,

1895

Not paying mee a welcome. Trust me, sweete,

1896

Out of this silence, yet, I pickt a welcome:

1897

And in the modesty of fearefull duty,

1898

I read as much, as from the rattling tongue

1899

Of saucy and audacious eloquence.

1900

Loue, therefore, and tong-tide simplicity,

1901

In least, speake most, to my capacity.

1902

Philost. So please your Grace, the Prologue is addrest.

1903

Duk. Let him approach.

1904

Enter the Prologue.

1905

Pro. If wee offend, it is with our good will.

1906

That you should thinke, we come not to offend,

1907

But with good will. To shew our simple skill,

1908

That is the true beginning of our end.

1909

Consider then, we come but in despight.

1910

We doe not come, as minding to content you,

1911

Our true intent is. All for your delight,

1912

Wee are not here. That you should here repent you,

1913

The Actors are at hand: and, by their showe,

1914

You shall know all, that you are like to knowe,

1915

The. This fellow doth not stand vpon points.

1916

Lys. He hath rid his Prologue, like a rough Colte: hee

1917

knowes not the stoppe. A good morall my Lord. It is not

1918

enough to speake; but to speake true.

1919

Hyp. Indeed he hath plaid on this Prologue, like a

1920

child on a Recorder, a sound; but not in gouernement.

1921

The. His speach was like a tangled Chaine; nothing

1922

impaired, but all disordered. Who is next?

1923

Tawyer with a Trumpet before them.

1924

Enter Pyramus, and Thisby, and Wall, and Moone-shine, and Lyon.

1925

Prologue. Gentles, perchance you wonder at this show.

1926

But, wonder on, till truthe make all things plaine.

1927

This man is Pyramus, if you would knowe:

1928

This beautious Lady Thisby is certaine.

1929

This man, with lyme and roughcast, doth present

1930

Wall, that vile wall, which did these louers sunder:

1931

And through wals chinke, poore soules, they are content

1932

To whisper. At the which, let no man wonder.

1933

This man, with lanterne, dogge, and bush of thorne,

1934

Presenteth moone-shine. For if you will know,

1935

By moone-shine did these louers thinke no scorne

1936

To meete at Ninus tombe, there, there to wooe.

1937

This grizly beast (which Lyon hight by name)

1938

The trusty Thysby, comming first by night,

1939

Did scarre away, or rather did affright:

1940

And as she fled, her mantle she did fall:

1941

Which Lyon vile with bloody mouth did staine.

1942

Anon comes Pyramus, sweete youth, and tall,

1943

And findes his trusty Thisbyes mantle slaine:

1944

Whereat, with blade, with bloody blamefull blade,

1945

He brauely broacht his boyling bloody breast.

1946

And Thisby, tarying in Mulberry shade,

1947

His dagger drewe, and dyed. For all the rest,

1948

Let Lyon, Moone-shine, Wall, and louers twaine,

1949

At large discourse, while here they doe remaine.

1950

Exit all but Wall.

1951

The. I wonder, if the Lyon be to speake.

1952

Demet. No wonder, my Lord. One Lyon may, when

1953

many Asses doe.

1954

Exit Lyon, Thysby, and Mooneshine.

1955

Wall. In this same enterlude it doth befall,

1956

That I, one Flute (by name) present a wall:

1957

And such a wall, as I would haue you thinke

1958

That had in it a cranied hole or chinke:

1959

Through which the louers, Pyramus, and Thisby,

1960

Did whisper often, very secretly.

1961

This lome, this roughcast, and this stone doth showe,

1962

That I am that same wall: the truth is so.

1963

And this the cranie is, right and sinister,

1964

Through which the fearefull louers are to whisper.

1965

The. Would you desire lime and haire to speake

1966

better?

1967

Deme. It is the wittiest partition, that euer I heard

1968

discourse, my Lord.

1969

The. Pyramus drawes neare the wall: silence.

1970

Enter Pyramus.

1971

Py. O grim lookt night, o night, with hue so blacke,

1972

O night, which euer art, when day is not:

1973

O night, O night, alacke, alacke, alacke,

1974

I feare my Thisbyes promise is forgot.

1975

And thou ô wall, ô sweete, ô louely wall,

1976

That standst betweene her fathers ground and mine,

1977

Thou wall, ô wall, O sweete and louely wall,

1978

Showe mee thy chinke, to blink through, with mine eyne.

1979

Thankes curteous wall. Ioue shield thee well, for this.

1980

But what see I? No Thisby doe I see.

1981

O wicked wall, through whome I see no blisse,

1982

Curst be thy stones, for thus deceiuing mee.

1983

The. The wall mee thinkes, being sensible, should

1984

curse againe.

1985

Pyr. No, in truth Sir, he should not. Deceiuing mee is

1986–7

Thisbyes cue: she is to enter now, and I am to spy

–1987

Her through the wall. You shall see it will fall

1988

Pat as I told you: yonder she comes. Enter Thisby.

1990, 1989

This. O wall, full often hast thou heard my mones,

1991

For parting my faire Pyramus, and mee.

1992

My cherry lips haue often kist thy stones;

1993

Thy stones, with lime and haire knit now againe.

1994

Pyra. I see a voice: now will I to the chinke,

1995

To spy and I can heare my Thisbyes face. Thysby?

1996

This. My loue thou art, my loue I thinke.

1997

Py. Thinke what thou wilt, I am thy louers Grace:

1998

And, like Limander, am I trusty still.

1999

This. And I, like Helen, till the fates me kill.

2000

Pyra. Not Shafalus, to Procrus, was so true.

2001

This. As Shafalus to Procrus, I to you.

2002

Pyr. O kisse mee, through the hole of this vilde wall.

2003

This. I kisse the walles hole; not your lips at all.

2004

Pyr. Wilt thou, at Ninnies tombe, meete me straight way?

2005–6

Thy. Tide life, tyde death, I come without delay.

2007

Wal. Thus haue I, Wall, my part discharged so;

2008

And, being done, thus wall away doth goe.

2009

Duk. Now is the Moon vsed between the two

2010

neighbors.

2011

Deme. No remedy, my Lord, when wals are so wil-

2012

full, to heare without warning.

2013

Dutch. This is the silliest stuffe, that euer I heard.

2014

Duke. The best, in this kinde, are but shadowes: and the

2015

worst are no worse, if imagination amend them.

2016

Dutch. It must be your imagination, then; & not theirs.

2017

Duke. If we imagine no worse of them, then they of

2018

thẽselues, they may passe for excellent men. Here come

2019

two noble beasts, in a man and a Lyon.

2020

Enter Lyon, and Moone-shine.

2021

Lyon. You Ladies, you (whose gentle hearts do feare

2022

The smallest monstrous mouse, that creepes on floore)

2023

May now, perchance, both quake and tremble here,

2024

When Lyon rough, in wildest rage, doth roare.

2025

Then know that I, as Snug the Ioyner am

2026

A Lyon fell, nor else no Lyons damme.

2027

For, if I should, as Lyon, come in strife,

2028

Into this place, ’twere pitty on my life.

2029

Duk. A very gentle beast, and of a good conscience.

2030

Deme. The very best at a beast, my Lord, that ere I saw.

2031

Lys. This Lyon is a very fox, for his valour.

2032

Duk. True: and a goose for his discretion.

2033

De. Not so my Lord. For his valour cannot carry

2034

his discretion: and the fox carries the goose.

2035

Duk. His discretion, I am sure, cannot carry his valour.

2036

For the goose carries not the fox. It is well: leaue it to

2037

his discretion, and let vs listen to the Moone.

2038

Moone. This lanthorne doth the horned moone pre- sent.

2039–40

Deme. He should haue worne the hornes, on his head.

2041

Duk. He is no crescent, and his hornes are inuisible,

2042

within the circumference.

2043

Moone. This lanthorne doth the horned moone pre- sent,

2044–5

My selfe, the man ith Moone, doe seeme to be.

2045

Duke. This is the greatest errour of all the rest; the man

2046

should be put into the lanthorne. How is it else the man

2047

ith Moone?

2048

Deme. He dares not come there, for the candle.

2049

For, you see, it is already in snuffe.

2050

Dutch. I am aweary of this Moone. Would hee woulde

2051

change.

2052

Duke. It appeares, by his small light of discretion, that

2053

hee is in the wane: but yet in curtesie, in all reason, wee

2054

must stay the time.

2055

Lysan. Proceede, Moone.

2056

Moon. All that I haue to say, is to tell you, that the

2057

lanthorne is the Moone, I the man ith Moone, this

2058

thorne bush my thorne bush, and this dogge my dogge.

2059

Deme. Why? All these should be in the lanthorne: for all

2060

these are in the Moone. But silence: here comes Thisby.

2061

Enter Thisby.

2062

Th. This is ould Ninies tumbe. Where is my loue? Lyon. Oh.

2063–4

The Lion roares, Thisby runs off.

2065

Dem. Well roard, Lyon.

2066

Duke. Well runne, Thisby.

2067

Dutchesse. Well shone Moone. Truly, the Moone shines,

2068–9

with a good grace.

–2069

Duk. Well mouz’d, Lyon.

2070

Dem. And then came Pyramus.

2071

Lys. And so the Lyon vanisht.

2072

Enter Pyramus.

2073

Pyr. Sweete Moone, I thanke thee, for thy sunny beams.

2074

I thanke thee, Moone, for shining now so bright.

2075

For by thy gratious, golden, glittering beames,

2076

I trust to take of truest Thisby sight.

2077

But stay: ô spight! but marke, poore knight,

2078

What dreadfull dole is here?

2079

Eyes do you see! How can it bee!

2080

O dainty duck, o deare!

2081

Thy mantle good, what, staind with blood?

2082

Approach ye Furies fell,

2083

O fates come, come, cut thread and thrumme,

2084

Quaile, crush, conclude, and quell.

2085

Duke. This passion, & the death of a deare friend

2086

would goe neere to make a man looke sad.

2087

Dutch. Beshrewe my heart, but I pitty the man.

2088

Pyr. O, wherefore, Nature, didst thou Lyons frame?

2089

Since Lyon vilde hath here deflour’d my deare.

2090

Which is, no, no: which was the fairest dame

2091

That liu’d, that lou’d, that lik’t, that look’t with cheere.

2092

Come teares, confound, out sword, and wound

2093

The pappe of Pyramus:

2094

I, that left pappe, where heart doth hoppe.

2095

Thus dy I, thus, thus, thus.

2096

Now am I dead, now am I fled, my soule is in the sky.

2097

Tongue loose thy light, Moone take thy flight,

2098

Now dy, dy, dy, dy, dy.

2099

Dem. No Die, but an ace for him. For he is but one.

2100

Lys. Lesse then an ace, man. For he is dead, he is no-

2101

thing.

2102

Duke. With the helpe of a Surgeon, he might yet reco-

2103

uer, and yet prooue an Asse.

2104

Dut. How chance Moone-shine is gone before?

2105

Thisby comes backe, and findes her louer.

2106

Enter Thisby.

2107

Duk. Shee will finde him, by starre-light.

2108

Here shee comes, and her passion ends the Play.

2109

Dut. Me thinkes, she should not vse a long one, for

2110

such a Pyramus: I hope, she will be briefe.

2111

Demet. A moth will turne the ballance; which Pyramus,

2112

which Thisby is the better: he for a man; God warnd vs:

2113

she, for a woman; God blesse vs.

2113+1

Lys. She hath spied him already, with those sweete eyes.

2114

Deme. And thus she meanes, videlicet;

2115

This. A sleepe my loue? What, dead my doue?

2116

O Pyramus, arise,

2117

Speake, speake. Quite dumbe? Dead, dead? A tumbe

2118

Must couer thy sweete eyes.

2119

These lilly lippes, this cherry nose,

2120

These yellow cowslippe cheekes

2121

Are gon, are gon: louers make mone:

2122

His eyes were greene, as leekes.

2123

O sisters three, come, come, to mee,

2124

With hands as pale as milke,

2125

Lay them in gore, since you haue shore

2126

With sheeres, his threede of silke.

2127

Tongue, not a word: come trusty sword,

2128

Come blade, my breast imbrew:

2129

And farewell friends: thus Thysby ends:

2130

Adieu, adieu, adieu.

2131

Duke. Moone-shine and Lyon are left to bury the dead.

2132

Deme. I, and Wall to.

2133

Lyon. No, I assure you, the wall is downe, that parted

2134

their fathers. Will it please you, to see the Epilogue, or

2135

to heare a Bergomaske daunce, between two of our cõ-

2136

pany ?

2137

Duke. No Epilogue, I pray you. For your Play needs

2138

no excuse. Neuer excuse: For when the Players are all

2139

deade, there neede none to be blamed. Mary, if hee that

2140

writ it, had played Pyramus, and hangd himselfe in Thisbies

2141

garter, it would haue beene a fine Tragedy: and so it is

2142

truely, and very notably discharg’d. But come your

2143

Burgomaske: let your Epilogue alone.

2144

The iron tongue of midnight hath tolde twelue.

2145

Louers to bed, tis almost Fairy time.

2146

I feare we shall outsleepe the comming morne,

2147

As much as wee this night haue ouerwatcht.

2148

This palpable grosse Play hath well beguil’d

2149

The heauie gate of night. Sweete friends, to bed.

2150

A fortnight holde we this solemnitie,

2151

In nightly Reuels, and new iollity.Exeunt.

2152

Enter Pucke.

2153

Puck. Now the hungry Lyons roares.

2154

And the wolfe beholds the Moone;

2155

Whilst the heauie ploughman snores,

2156

All with weary taske foredoone.

2157

Now the wasted brands doe glowe,

2158

Whilst the scriech-owle, scrieching lowd,

2159

Puts the wretch, that lyes in woe,

2160

In remembrance of a shrowde.

2161

Now it is the time of night,

2162

That the graues, all gaping wide,

2163

Euery one lets forth his spright,

2164

In the Churchway paths to glide.

2165

And wee Fairies, that doe runne,

2166

By the triple Hecates teame,

2167

From the presence of the Sunne,

2168

Following darkenesse like a dreame,

2169

Now are frollick: not a mouse

2170

Shall disturbe this hallowed house.

2171

I am sent, with broome, before,

2172

To sweepe the dust, behinde the dore.

2173

Enter King and Queene of Fairies, with all their traine.

2174

Ob. Through the house giue glimmering light,

2175

By the dead and drowsie fier,

2176

Euery Elfe and Fairy spright,

2177

Hop as light as birde from brier,

2178

And this dittie after mee, Sing, and daunce it trippingly.

2179

Tita. First rehearse your song by rote,

2180

To each word a warbling note.

2181

Hand in hand, with Fairy grace,

2182

Will we sing and blesse this place.

2183

The Song.

2184

Ob. Now, vntill the breake of day,

2185

Through this house, each Fairy stray.

2186

To the best bride bed will wee:

2187

Which by vs shall blessed be:

2188

And the issue, there create,

2189

Euer shall be fortunate:

2190

So shall all the couples three

2191

Euer true in louing be:

2192

And the blots of natures hand

2193

Shall not in their issue stand.

2194

Neuer mole, hare-lippe, nor scarre,

2195

Nor marke prodigious, such as are

2196

Despised in natiuitie,

2197

Shall vpon their children be.

2198

With this field deaw consecrate,

2199

Euery Fairy take his gate,

2200

And each seuerall chamber blesse,

2201

Through this palace, with sweete peace,

2202

Euer shall in safety rest,

2203

And the owner of it blest.

2204

Trippe away: make no stay:

2205

Meete me all, by breake of day.Exeunt.

2206

Robin. If we shadowes haue offended,

2207

Thinke but this (and all is mended)

2208

That you haue but slumbred here,

2209

While these visions did appeare.

2210

And this weake and idle theame,

2211

No more yielding but a dreame,

2212

Gentles, doe not reprehend.

2213

If you pardon, wee will mend.

2214

And, as I am an honest Puck,

2215

If we haue vnearned luck,

2216

Now to scape the Serpents tongue,

2217

We will make amends, ere long:

2218

Else, the Puck a lyer call.

2219

So, good night vnto you all.

2220

Giue me your hands, if we be friends:

2221

And Robin shall restore amends.

2222

FINIS.

2223