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Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 16, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, The Duchess of Malfi. To Jun. 15, 2013.
Folger Shakespeare Library, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 9, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Love's Labour's Lost. To Jun. 15, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Return to the Forbidden Planet. To Dec. 1, 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Not Peer Reviewed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.
How answere you that?
825Snout. Berlakin, a parlous feare.
Star. I beleeue, we must leaue the killing, out, when all
is done.
Bott. Not a whit: I haue a deuise to make all well. Write
me a Prologue, and let the Prologue seeme to say; we wil
830do no harme, with our swords, and that Pyramus is not
kild indeede: and for the more better assurance, tel them,
that I Pyramus am not Pyramus, but Bottom the weauer:
this will put them out of feare.
Quin. Well: wee will haue such a Prologue, and it shall be
835written in eight and six.
Bot. No: make it two more: let it be written in eight &
eight.
Snout. Will not the ladies be afeard of the Lyon?
Star. I feare it, I promise you.
840Bot. Masters, you ought to consider with your selfe, to
bring in (God shielde vs) a Lyon among Ladies, is
a most dreadfull thing. For there is not a more fearefull
wilde foule then your Lyon liuing: & we ought to looke
toote.
845Sno. Therfore, another Prologue must tel, he is not a Lion.
Bot. Nay: you must name his name, and halfe his face
must be seene through the Lions necke, and he himselfe
must speake through, saying thus, or to the same defect;
850Ladies, or faire Ladies, I would wish you, or I would re-
quest you, or I wold intreat you, not to feare, not to trēble:
my life for yours. If you thinke I come hither as a Lyon, it
were pittie of my life. No: I am no such thing: I am a man
as other men are: & there indeed, let him name his name,
855and tell them plainely he is Snugge, the Ioyner.
Quin. Well: it shall be so: but there is two hard things;
that is, to bring the Moone-light into a chamber: for you
know, Pyramus and Thisby meete by Moone-light.
Sn. Doth the Moone shine, that night, we play our Play?
Bot.