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  • Title: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Quarto 1, 1600)
  • Editor: Suzanne Westfall
  • ISBN: 978-1-55058-465-3

    Copyright Suzanne Westfall. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Suzanne Westfall
    Not Peer Reviewed

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

    A Midsommer nightes dreame.
    Lys. Lesse then an ace, man. For he is dead, he is nothing.
    Duke. With the helpe of a Surgeon, he might yet reco-
    uer, and yet prooue an Asse.
    2105Dut. How chance Moone-shine is gone before? Thisby
    comes backe, and findes her louer.
    Duk. Shee will finde him, by starre-light. Here shee
    comes, and her passion ends the Play.
    2110Dut. Me thinkes, she should not vse a long one, for such
    a Pyramus: I hope, she will be briefe.
    Demet. A moth will turne the ballance; which Pyramus,
    which Thisby is the better: he for a man; God warnd vs:
    she, for a woman; God blesse vs.
    Lys. She hath spied him already, with those sweete eyes.
    2115Deme. And thus she meanes, videlicet;
    This. A sleepe my loue? What, dead my doue?
    O Pyramus, arise,
    Speake, speake. Quite dumbe? Dead, dead? A tumbe
    Must couer thy sweete eyes.
    2120These lilly lippes, this cherry nose,
    These yellow cowslippe cheekes
    Are gon, are gon: louers make mone:
    His eyes were greene, as leekes.
    O sisters three, come, come, to mee,
    2125With hands as pale as milke,
    Lay them in gore, since you haue shore
    With sheeres, his threede of silke.
    Tongue, not a word: come trusty sword,
    Come blade, my breast imbrew:
    2130And farewell friends: thus Thysby ends:
    Adieu, adieu, adieu.
    Duke. Moone-shine and Lyon are left to bury the dead.
    Deme. I, and Wall to.
    Lyon. No, I assure you, the wall is downe, that parted
    2135their fathers. Will it please you, to see the Epilogue, or to
    heare a Bergomaske daunce, between two of our cōpany?
    Duke