Toolbox



Textual Analysis

[ Go ]

Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, The Duchess of Malfi. To Jun. 15, 2013.
Folger Shakespeare Library, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 9, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Return to the Forbidden Planet. To Dec. 1, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 16, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Love's Labour's Lost. To Jun. 15, 2013.
More Performances…
‌

A Midsummer Night's Dream (Quarto 1, 1600)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Suzanne Westfall
Not Peer Reviewed
A Midsommer nightes dreame.
O how I loue thee! how I dote on thee!
Enter Robin goodfellow.
1560Ob. Welcome good Robin. Seest thou this sweete sight?
Her dotage now I doe beginne to pittie.
For meeting her of late, behinde the wood,
Seeking sweete fauours for this hatefull foole,
1565I did vpbraid her, and fall out with her.
For she his hairy temples then had rounded,
With coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers.
And that same deawe which sometime on the buddes,
Was wont to swell, like round and orient pearles;
1570Stood now within the pretty flouriets eyes,
Like teares, that did their owne disgrace bewaile.
When I had, at my pleasure, taunted her,
And she, in milde tearmes, begd my patience,
I then did aske of her, her changeling childe:
1575Which straight she gaue mee, and her Fairy sent
To beare him, to my bower, in Fairie land.
And now I haue the boy, I will vndoe
This hatefull imperfection of her eyes.
And, gentle Puck, take this transformed scalpe,
1580From of the heade of this Athenian swaine;
That hee, awaking when the other do,
May all to Athens backe againe repaire,
And thinke no more of this nights accidents,
But as the fearce vexation of a dreame.
1585But first I will release the Fairy Queene.
Be, as thou wast wont to bee:
See, as thou wast wont to see.
Dians budde, or Cupids flower,
Hath such force, and blessed power.
1590Now, my Titania, wake you, my sweete Queene.
Tita. My Oberon, what visions haue I seene!
Me thought I was enamourd of an Asse.
Ob. There lyes your loue.
Tita.