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Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 16, 2013.
Folger Shakespeare Library, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 9, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, The Duchess of Malfi. To Jun. 15, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Return to the Forbidden Planet. To Dec. 1, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Love's Labour's Lost. To Jun. 15, 2013.
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A Midsummer Night's Dream (Quarto 1, 1600)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Suzanne Westfall
Not Peer Reviewed
A Midsommer nightes dreame.
Her. With halfe that wish, the wishers eyes be prest.
Enter Pucke.
Puck. Through the forrest haue I gone:
720But Athenian found I none,
On whose eyes I might approue
This flowers force in stirring loue.
Night and silence. Who is heere?
Weedes of Athens he doth weare:
725This is hee (my master saide)
Despised the Athenian maide:
And here the maiden, sleeping sound,
On the danke and dirty ground.
Pretty sowle, she durst not lye,
730Neere this lack-loue, this kil-curtesie
Churle, vpon thy eyes I throwe
All the power this charme doth owe:
When thou wak'st, let loue forbidde
Sleepe, his seat, on thy eye lidde.
735So awake, when I am gon:
For I must now to Oberon.
Exit.
Enter Demetrius and Helena running.
Hel. Stay; though thou kill mee, sweete Demetrius.
De. I charge thee hence, and doe not haunt mee thus.
740Hele. O, wilt thou darkling leaue me? doe not so.
De. Stay, on thy perill: I alone will goe.
Hel. O, I am out of breath, in this fond chase,
The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace.
745Happie is Hermia, wheresoere she lies:
For she hath blessed, and attractiue eyes.
How came her eyes so bright? Not with salt teares.
If so, my eyes are oftner washt then hers.
No, no: I am as vgly as a Beare:
750For beastes that meete mee, runne away, for feare.
Therefore, no maruaile, though Demetrius
Doe, as a monster, fly my presence, thus.
C4
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