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Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, All's Well That Ends Well. To Nov. 29, 2013.
Original Shakespeare Company, As You Like It. To Jun. 23, 2013.
SIP Editors, King Henry VIII. To Aug. 4, 2013.
Original Shakespeare Company, A Midsommer Night's Dreame (Midsummer Midsommer). To Jun. 21, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Return to the Forbidden Planet. To Dec. 1, 2013.
More Performances…
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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Not Peer Reviewed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.
Fairies. Readie: and I, and I, and I. Where shall we goe?
Tita. Be kinde and curteous to this gentleman,
Hop in his walkes, and gambole in his eyes,
Feede him with Apricocks, and Dewberries,
985With purple Grapes, greene figges, and Mulberries,
The hony bagges steale from the humble Bees,
And for night tapers, croppe their waxen thighes,
And light them at the fiery Glowe-wormes eyes,
To haue my loue to bedde, and to arise,
990And pluck the wings, from painted Butterflies,
To fanne the Moone-beames from his sleeping eyes,
Nod to him Elues, and doe him curtesies.
1. Fai. Haile mortall, haile.
2. Fai. Haile.
9953. Fai. Haile.
Bot. I cry your worships mercy, hartily: I beseech your
worshippes name.
Cob. Cobwebbe.
Bot. I shall desire you of more acquaintance, good ma-
1000ster Cobweb: if I cut my finger, I shall make bolde with
you. Your name honest gentleman?
Pea. Pease-blossome.
Bot. I pray you commend mee to mistresse Squash, your
1005mother, and to master Peascod, your father. Good master
Pease-blossome, I shall desire you of more acquaintance,
to. Your name I beseech you sir?
Must. Mustardseede.
1010Bot. Good master Mustardseede, I know your patience
woll. That same cowardly, gyantlike, Ox-beefe hath de-
uourd many a gentleman of your house. I promise you,
your kindred hath made my eyes water, ere now. I desire
you more acquaintance, good master Mustardseede.
Tita. Come waite vpon him: leade him to my bower.
The Moone, me thinkes, lookes with a watry eye:
And when shee weepes, weepes euery little flower,
Lamen-