1.1.0.22Enter Theseus, Hippolita, [Philostrate,] with others. 1.1.24Now fair Hippolita, our nuptial hour
1.1.35Draws on apace. Four happy days bring in
1.1.46Another moon; but oh, me thinks, how slow
1.1.57This old moon wanes! She lingers my desires,
1.1.68Like to a stepdame, or a dowager
1.1.79Long withering out a young man's revenue.
Four days will quickly steep themselves in nights,
1.1.911Four nights will quickly dream away the time,
1.1.1012And then the moon, like to a silver bow,
1.1.1113Now bent in heaven, shall behold the night
Go Philostrate,
1.1.1416Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments,
1.1.1517Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth,
1.1.1618Turn melancholy forth to funerals;
1.1.1719The pale companion is not for our pomp.
1.1.1820Hippolita, I wooed thee with my sword
1.1.1921And won thy love doing thee injuries.
1.1.2022But I will wed thee in another key,
1.1.2123With pomp, with triumph, and with reveling.
1.1.2224Enter Egeus and his daughter Hermia, Lysander, 25and Demetrius. Happy be Theseus, our renownèd Duke.
Thanks, good Egeus. What's the news with thee?
Full of vexation come I, with complaint
1.1.2629Against my child, my daughter Hermia.
1.1.2832This man hath my consent to marry her.
1.1.3135This man hath bewitched the bosom of my child.
1.1.3236Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes,
1.1.3337And interchanged love tokens with my child;
1.1.3438Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung,
1.1.3539With feigning voice verses of feigning love,
1.1.3640And stolen the impression of her fantasy
1.1.3741With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gauds, conceits,
1.1.3842Knackes, trifles, nose-gays, sweetmeats (messengers
1.1.3943Of strong prevailment in unhardened youth).
1.1.4044With cunning hast thou filched my daughter's heart,
1.1.4145Turned her obedience, which is due to me,
1.1.4246To stubborn harshness. And, my gracious duke,
1.1.4347Be it so she will not here, before your grace,
1.1.4448Consent to marry with Demetrius,
1.1.4549I beg the ancient privilege of Athens:
1.1.4650As she is mine, I may dispose of her,
1.1.4751Which shall be either to this gentleman
1.1.4852Or to her death, according to our law
1.1.4953Immediately provided in that case.
What say you Hermia? Be advised fair maid.
1.1.5155To you your father should be as a god,
1.1.5256One that composed your beauties, yea, and one
1.1.5357To whom you are but as a form in wax
1.1.5458By him imprinted and within his power,
1.1.5559To leave the figure or disfigure it.
1.1.5660Demetrius is a worthy gentleman.
So is Lysander.
In himself he is.
1.1.5963But in this kind, wanting your father's voice.
1.1.6064The other must be held the worthier.
I would my father looked but with my eyes.
Rather, your eyes must with his judgment look.
I do entreat your grace to pardon me.
1.1.6468I know not by what power I am made bold,
1.1.6569Nor how it may concern my modesty
1.1.6670In such a presence here to plead my thoughts,
1.1.6771But I beseech your grace that I may know
1.1.6872The worst that may befall me in this case,
Either to die the death, or to abjure
1.1.7276Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires,
1.1.7377Know of your youth, examine well your blood,
1.1.7478Whether (if you yield not to your father's choice)
1.1.7579You can endure the livery of a nun,
1.1.7680For aye to be in shady cloister mewed,
1.1.7781To live a barren sister all your life,
1.1.7882Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon.
1.1.7983Thrice blessèd they that master so their blood
1.1.8084To undergo such maiden pilgrimage;
1.1.8185But earthlier happy is the rose distilled,
1.1.8286Than that which, withering on the virgin thorn,
1.1.8387Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness.
So will I grow, so live, so die my lord,
1.1.8589Ere I will yield my virgin patent up
1.1.8690Unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke
1.1.8791My soul consents not to give sovereignty.
Take time to pause, and by the next new moon --
1.1.8993The sealing day betwixt my love and me
1.1.9094For everlasting bond of fellowship --
1.1.9195Upon that day either prepare to die
1.1.9296For disobedience to your father's will,
1.1.9397Or else to wed Demetrius, as he would,
1.1.9599For aye austerity and single life.
Relent, sweet Hermia, and Lysander yield
1.1.97101Thy crazèd title to my certain right.
You have her father's love, Demetrius.
1.1.99103Let me have Hermia's. Do you marry him.
Scornful Lysander! True, he hath my love,
1.1.101105And what is mine my love shall render him.
1.1.102106And she is mine, and all my right of her
I am, my lord, as well derived as he,
1.1.105109As well possessed. My love is more than his,
1.1.108112And (which is more then all these boasts can be),
1.1.110114Why should not I, then, prosecute my right?
1.1.113117And won her soul, and she (sweet lady) dotes,
I must confess that I have heard so much,
1.1.117121And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof;
1.1.119123My mind did lose it. But, Demetrius come.
1.1.121125I have some private schooling for you both.
1.1.122126For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself
1.1.123127To fit your fancies to your father's will,
1.1.130134Against our nuptial, and confer with you
1.1.131135Of something nearly that concerns yourselves.
With duty and desire we follow you.
1.1.133Exeunt [Theseus, Hippolita, Egeus, and Demetrius]. 137 Lysander and Hermia [remain]. How now my love? Why is your cheek so pale?
1.1.135139How chance the roses there do fade so fast?
Belike for want of rain, which I could well
1.1.137141Beteem them from the tempest of mine eyes.
For ought that ever I could read,
1.1.140144The course of true love never did run smooth.
O cross! Too high to be enthralled to love.
Or else misgraffèd, in respect of years --
O spite! Too old to be engaged to young.
Or else it stood upon the choice of merit --
O hell! To choose love by another's eye.
Or if there were a sympathy in choice,
1.1.148152War, death, or sickness, did lay siege to it,
1.1.151155Brief as the lightning in the collied night,
1.1.152156That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth,
1.1.153157And ere a man hath power to say "Behold!"
1.1.155159So quick bright things come to confusion.
If, then, true lovers have been ever crossed,
1.1.160164As due to love as thoughts, and dreams, and sighs,
1.1.161165Wishes, and tears, poor fancy's followers.
A good persuasion. Therefore, hear me Hermia.
1.1.164168Of great revenue, and she hath no child.
1.1.165169From Athens is her house removèd seven leagues,
1.1.168172And to that place, the sharp Athenian law
1.1.169173Cannot pursue us. If thou lovest me, then
1.1.170174Steal forth thy father's house tomorrow night,
1.1.171175And in the wood, a league without the town
1.1.172176(Where I did meet thee once with Helena,
My good Lysander,
1.1.176180I swear to thee by Cupid's strongest bow,
1.1.179183By that which knitteth souls and prospers love,
1.1.180184And by that fire which burned the Carthage queen
1.1.181185When the false Trojan under sail was seen,
1.1.182186By all the vows that ever men have broke
1.1.184188In that same place thou hast appointed me
Keep promise love. Look, here comes Helena.
God speed fair Helena! Whither away?
Call you me fair? That fair again unsay.
1.1.191195Your eyes are loadstars, and your tongue's sweet air
1.1.192196More tuneable than lark to shepherd's ear
1.1.193197When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear.
1.1.195199Your words I catch, fair Hermia, ere I go.
1.1.196200My ear should catch your voice, my eye your eye,
1.1.197201My tongue should catch your tongue's sweet melody.
1.1.198202Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated,
1.1.199203The rest I'll give to be to you translated.
1.1.200204O, teach me how you look, and with what art
1.1.201205you sway the motion of Demetrius' heart.
I frown upon him, yet he loves me still.
O, that your frowns would teach my smiles
208such skill.
I give him curses, yet he gives me love.
O, that my prayers could such affection move.
The more I hate, the more he follows me.
The more I love, the more he hateth me.
His folly, Helena, is none of mine.
None but your beauty. Would that fault were mine!
Take comfort. He no more shall see my face;
1.1.212216Lysander and my self will fly this place.
1.1.215219O then, what graces in my love do dwell,
Helen, to you our minds we will unfold.
1.1.220224Decking with liquid pearl the bladed grass
1.1.221225(A time that lovers flights doth still conceal),
1.1.222226Through Athens' gates, have we devised to steal --
And in the wood, where often you and I
1.1.224228Upon faint primrose beds were wont to lye,
1.1.225229Emptying our bosoms of their counsel swelled,
1.1.226230There my Lysander and myself shall meet,
1.1.227231And thence from Athens turn away our eyes
1.1.228232To seek new friends and strange companions.
1.1.229233Farewell sweet playfellow. Pray thou for us,
1.1.231235Keep word, Lysander. We must starve our sight
1.1.232236From lovers' food, till morrow deep midnight.
I will, my Hermia. Helena, adieu.
How happy some o're other some can be!
1.1.236241Through Athens I am thought as fair as she.
1.1.237242But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so;
1.1.238243He will not know what all but he doth know;
1.1.239244And, as he errs, doting on Hermia's eyes,
1.1.241246Things base and vile, holding no quantity,
1.1.243248Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
1.1.244249And therefore is wingèd Cupid painted blind.
1.1.245250Nor hath love's mind of any judgment taste:
1.1.247252And, therefore, is Love said to be a child,
1.1.249254As waggish boys in game themselves forswear,
1.1.251256For ere Demetrius looked on Hermia's eyne,
1.1.252257He hailed down oaths that he was only mine.
1.1.253258And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt,
1.1.254259So he dissolved, and showers of oaths did melt.
1.1.255260I will go tell him of fair Hermia's flight!
1.1.256261Then, to the wood will he tomorrow night
1.1.260265To have his sight thither and back again.
266Enter Quince the carpenter, Snug the joiner, Bottom the 267weaver, Flute the bellows mender, Snout the tinker, and 268Starveling the tailor. Is all our company here?
You were best to call them generally, man by
271man, according to the script.
Here is the scroll of every man's name which
273is thought fit through all Athens to play in our
274interlude before the duke and the duchess on his wedding
275day at night.
First, good Peter Quince, say what the play treats
277on, then read the names of the actors, and so grow on
278to a point.
Marry, our play is "The Most Lamentable
280Comedy, and Most Cruel Death of Pyramus and Thisby.
A very good piece of work, I assure you, and a
282merry. Now, good Peter Quince, call forth your actors
283by the scroll. Masters, spread yourselves.
Answer as I call you. Nick Bottom, the
285weaver.
Ready! Name what part I am for and
287proceed.
You, Nick Bottom, are set down for
289Pyramus.
What is Pyramus? A lover, or a tyrant?
A lover that kills himself most gallantly for
292love.
That will ask some tears in the true
294performing of it. If I do it, let the audience look to their eyes.
295I will move storms; I will condole in some measure.
296To the rest yet, my chief humor is for a tyrant. I could
297play Ercles rarely, or a part to tear a cat in, to make all
298 split.
1.2.21 This
301was lofty. Now name the rest of the players. This
302is Ercles' vein, a tyrants vein. A lover is more
303condoling.
Francis Flute the bellows mender.
Here, Peter Quince.
You must take Thisby on you.
What is Thisby? A wandering knight?
It is the lady that Pyramus must love.
Nay, faith, let not me play a woman! I have a
310beard coming.
That's all one; you shall play it in a mask, and
312you may speak as small as you will.
And I may hide my face, let me play Thisby too!
314I'll speak in a monstrous little voice: "Thisne, Thisne!" "Ah,
315Pyramus, my lover dear, thy Thisby dear, and lady
316dear!"
No, no! You must play Pyramus, and Flute, you
318Thisby.
Well, proceed.
Robin Starveling the tailor.
Here, Peter Quince.
Robin Starveling, you must play Thisby's
323mother.
324Tom Snout, the tinker.
Here, Peter Quince.
You, Pyramus' father; myself, Thisby's father;
327Snug the joiner, you the lion's part. And I hope there
328is a play fitted.
Have you the lion's part written? Pray you, if
330be, give it me, for I am slow of study.
You may do it extempore, for it is nothing
332but roaring.
Let me play the lion too! I will roar that I
334will do any man's heart good to hear me. I will roar
335that I will make the duke say, "Let him roar again! Let
336him roar again!
If you should do it too terribly you would
338fright the duchesse and the ladies that they would
339shriek, and that were enough to hang us all.
That would hang us, every mother's son.
I grant you, friends, if that you should
342fright the ladies out of their wits, they would
343have no more discretion but to hang us. But I will
344aggravate my voice so that I will roar you as gently as
345any sucking dove. I will roar and 'twere any
346nightingale.
You can play no part but Pyramus! For
348Pyramus is a sweet faced man, a proper man as one shall see in
349a summer's day, a most lovely gentleman-like man.
350Therefore you must needs play Pyramus.
Well, I will undertake it. What beard were I
352best to play it in?
Why, what you will.
I will discharge it in either your straw-color
355beard, your orange tawny beard, your purple-in-graine
356beard, or your French-crown colored beard, your
357perfect yellow.
Some of your French crowns have no hair
359at all, and then you will play bare-faced. But masters, here
360are your parts, and I am to entreat you, request you, and
361desire you to con them by tomorrow night, and meet
362me in the palace wood, a mile without the town by
363moonlight, there we will rehearse. For if we meet in
364the city, we shall be dogged with company and our
365devices known. In the mean time, I will draw a bill of
366 properties such as our play wants. I pray you fail me not.
We will meet, and there we may rehearse
368more obscenely and courageously. Take pains, be
369perfect. Adieu.
At the duke's oak we meet.
Enough! Hold or cut bow-strings.
373Enter a Fairy at one door, and Robin 374Goodfellow [Puck] at another. How now spirit! Whither wander you?
Over hill, over dale, through bush, through briar,
2.1.3377Over park, over pale, through flood, through fire,
2.1.4378I do wander everywhere, swifter then the moon's sphere;
2.1.5379And I serve the fairy queen, to dew her orbs upon the green.
2.1.6380The cowslips tall her pensioners be,
2.1.7381In their gold coats spots you see,
2.1.9383In those freckles live their savors.
2.1.11385And hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear.
2.1.12386Farewell thou lob of spirits! I'll be gone;
2.1.13387Our queen and all her elves come here anon.
The king doth keep his revels here tonight.
2.1.15389Take heed the queen come not within his sight.
2.1.16390For Oberon is passing fell and wrath
2.1.17391Because that she, as her attendant, hath
2.1.18392A lovely boy stolen from an Indian king;
2.1.19393She never had so sweet a changeling.
2.1.20394And jealous Oberon would have the child
2.1.21395Knight of his train, to trace the forests wild.
2.1.22396But she perforce withholds the loved boy,
2.1.23397Crowns him with flowers, and makes him all her joy.
2.1.24398And now they never meet in grove, or green,
2.1.25399By fountain clear, or spangled starlight sheen,
2.1.26400But they do square, that all their elves for fear
2.1.27401Creep into acorn cups and hide them there.
Either I mistake your shape and making quite,
2.1.29403Or else you are that shrewd and knavish spirit
2.1.30404Called Robin Goodfellow. Are you not he,
2.1.31405That frights the maidens of the villagery,
2.1.32406Skim milk, and sometimes labor in the quern,
2.1.33407And bootless make the breathless housewife churn,
2.1.34408And sometime make the drink to bear no barm,
2.1.35409Mislead night wanderers, laughing at their harm?
2.1.36410Those that hobgoblin call you, and sweet Puck,
2.1.37411You do their work, and they shall have good luck.
Thou speakest aright;
2.1.40414I am that merry wanderer of the night.
2.1.41415I jest to Oberon, and make him smile
2.1.42416When I a fat and bean-fed horse beguile,
2.1.43417Neighing in likeness of a silly foal.
2.1.44418And sometime lurk I in a gossip's bowl,
2.1.46420And when she drinks, against her lips I bob,
2.1.47421And on her withered dewlap pour the ale.
2.1.48422The wisest aunt telling the saddest tale
2.1.49423Sometime for three-foot stool mistaketh me.
2.1.50424Then slip I from her bum, down topples she,
2.1.51425And "tailor" cries, and falls into a cough.
2.1.52426And then the whole quire hold their hips, and laugh,
2.1.53427And waxen in their mirth, and sneeze, and swear.
2.1.54428A merrier hour was never wasted there!
And here my mistress!
2.1.58.1Enter [Oberon] the King of Fairies at one door with his train, 433and [Titania] the Queen at another with hers. Ill met by moonlight,
What, jealous Oberon? Fairy skip hence.
2.1.62437I have forsworn his bed and company.
Tarry rash wanton! Am not I thy lord?
Then I must be thy lady; but I know
2.1.65440When thou wast stolen away from fairyland,
2.1.66441And in the shape of Corin sat all day
2.1.67442Playing on pipes of corn, and versing love
2.1.68443To amorous Phillida. Why art thou here,
2.1.69444Come from the farthest steep of India,
2.1.70445But that, forsooth, the bouncing Amazon,
2.1.71446Your buskined mistress and your warrior love,
2.1.72447To Theseus must be wedded, and you come,
2.1.73448To give their bed joy and prosperity?
How canst thou thus, for shame Titania,
2.1.77452Didst thou not lead him through the glimmering night
2.1.79454And make him with fair Eagles break his faith?
These are the forgeries of jealousy,
2.1.82457And never, since the middle summer's spring
2.1.83458Met we on hill, in dale, forest, or mead,
2.1.84459By pavèd fountain, or by rushy brook,
2.1.85460Or in the beachèd margent of the sea,
2.1.86461To dance our ringlets to the whistling wind,
2.1.87462But with thy brawls thou hast disturbed our sport.
2.1.88463Therefore the winds, piping to us in vain,
2.1.89464As in revenge, have sucked up from the sea
2.1.90465Contagious fogs, which, falling in the land,
2.1.91466Hath every petty river made so proud
2.1.92467That they have overborne their continents.
2.1.93468The ox hath therefore stretched his yoke in vain,
2.1.94469The plowman lost his sweat, and the green corn
2.1.95470Hath rotted ere his youth attained a beard;
2.1.96471The fold stands empty in the drowned field,
2.1.97472And crows are fatted with the murrion flock;
2.1.98473The nine-men's morris is filled up with mud,
2.1.99474And the quaint mazes in the wanton green
2.1.100475For lack of tread are undistinguishable.
2.1.101476The human mortals want their winter here;
2.1.102477No night is now with hymn or carol blest.
2.1.103478Therefore the moon, the governess of floods,
2.1.108483Fall in the fresh lap of the crimson rose,
2.1.111486Is as in mockery set. The spring, the summer,
2.1.112487The childing autumn, angry winter change
2.1.113488Their wonted liveries; and the 'mazed world,
2.1.114489By their increase, now knows not which is which.
2.1.116491Comes from our debate, from our dissention;
Do you amend it then; it lies in you.
Set your heart at rest.
2.1.126501Full often hath she gossiped by my side,
2.1.127502And sat with me on Neptune's yellow sands,
2.1.128503Marking the embarkèd traders on the flood,
2.1.129504When we have laughed to see the sails conceive
2.1.130505And grow big-bellied with the wanton wind,
2.1.131506Which she, with pretty and with swimming gait
2.1.132507Following (her womb then rich with my young squire),
2.1.136511But she, being mortal, of that boy did die,
2.1.138513And for her sake I will not part with him.
How long within this wood intend you stay?
Perchance till after Theseus' wedding day.
2.1.141516If you will patiently dance in our round
2.1.142517And see our moonlight revels, go with us;
2.1.143518If not, shun me and I will spare your haunts.
Give me that boy, and I will go with thee.
Not for thy fairy kingdom. Fairies away!
521We shall chide downright if I longer stay.
2.1.146.1Exeunt [Titania and her train. Oberon and Puck remain]. Well, go thy way. Thou shalt not from this grove
2.1.149524My gentle Puck, come hither. Thou rememb'rest
2.1.152527Uttering such dulcet and harmonious breath
2.1.153528That the rude sea grew civil at her song,
2.1.154529And certain stars shot madly from their spheres
I remember.
That very time I saw (but thou couldst not),
2.1.158533Flying between the cold moon and the earth
2.1.161536And loosed his love shaft smartly from his bow,
2.1.162537As it should pierce a hundred thousand hearts.
2.1.163538But I might see young Cupid's fiery shaft
2.1.164539Quenched in the chaste beams of the watery moon,
2.1.167542Yet marked I where the bolt of Cupid fell.
2.1.169544Before milk-white, now purple with love's wound,
2.1.171546Fetch me that flower, the herb I showed thee once.
2.1.172547The juice of it on sleeping eyelids laid
2.1.174549Upon the next live creature that it sees.
2.1.175550Fetch me this herb, and be thou here again
I'll put a girdle about the earth in forty
553minutes.
Having once this juice,
2.1.181557The next thing when she waking looks upon --
2.1.184560She shall pursue it with the soul of love.
2.1.185561And ere I take this charm off from her sight
I love thee not, therefore pursue me not!
2.1.192569The one I'll stay, the other stayeth me.
2.1.193570Thou toldest me they were stolen into this wood,
2.1.194571And here am I, and wood within this wood
2.1.196573Hence, get thee gone, and follow me no more!
You draw me, you hard-hearted adamant.
2.1.199576Is true as steel. Leave you your power to draw
2.1.200577And I shall have no power to follow you.
Do I entice you? Do I speak you fair?
2.1.203580Tell you I do not nor I cannot love you?
And even for that do I love thee the more.
2.1.206583The more you beat me, I will fawn on you.
2.1.207584Use me but as your spaniel; spurn me, strike me,
2.1.208585Neglect me, lose me -- only give me leave,
2.1.210587What worser place can I beg in your love,
2.1.211588And yet a place of high respect with me,
Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit,
And I am sick when I look not on you.
You do impeach your modesty too much,
2.1.218595Into the hands of one that loves you not,
Your virtue is my privilege. For that
2.1.223600It is not night when I do see your face.
2.1.224601Therefore, I think I am not in the night,
2.1.225602Nor doth this wood lack worlds of company,
2.1.226603For you in my respect are all the world.
2.1.228605When all the world is here to look on me?
I'll run from thee and hide me in the brakes,
2.1.230607And leave thee to the mercy of wild beasts.
The wildest hath not such a heart as you.
2.1.232609Run when you will. The story shall be changed:
2.1.233610Apollo flies and Daphne holds the chase;
2.1.234611The dove pursues the griffin; the mild hind
2.1.235612Makes speed to catch the tiger, bootless speed,
2.1.236613When cowardice pursues, and valor flies.
I will not stay thy questions. Let me go!
2.1.239616But I shall do thee mischief in the wood.
Aye, in the temple, in the town and field
2.1.243620We cannot fight for love, as men may do;
2.1.244621We should be wooed, and were not made to woo.
2.1.245622I follow thee, and make a heaven of hell,
2.1.246.1Exit [Demetrius, pursued by Helena]. Fare thee well, nymph. Ere he do leave this grove,
2.1.248625Thou shalt fly him and he shall seek thy love.
2.1.249626Hast thou the flower there? Welcome wanderer.
Aye, there it is.
I pray thee give it me.
2.1.252630I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
2.1.253631Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
2.1.254632Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
2.1.255633With sweet musk roses, and with eglantine.
2.1.256634There sleeps Titania sometime of the night,
2.1.257635Lulled in these flowers with dances and delight.
2.1.258636And there the snake throws her enameled skin,
2.1.260638And with the juice of this I'll streak her eyes,
2.1.262640Take thou some of it, and seek through this grove.
2.1.264642With a disdainful youth. Anoint his eyes,
2.1.266644May be the lady. Thou shalt know the man
2.1.268646Effect it with some care, that he may prove
2.1.269647More fond on her then she upon her love;
2.1.270648And look thou meet me ere the first cock crow.
Fear not, my lord; your servant shall do so.
650Enter Queen of Fairies, with her train. Come now, a roundel and a fairy song;
2.2.2652Then, for the third part of a minute hence,
2.2.3653Some to kill cankers in the musk-rose buds,
2.2.4654Some war with reremise for their leathern wings,
2.2.5655To make my small elves coats, and some keep back
2.2.6656The clamorous owl that nightly hoots and wonders
2.2.7657At our quaint spirits. Sing me now asleep,
2.2.8658Then to your offices, and let me rest.
You spotted snakes with double tongue,
2.2.15666Lulla, lulla, lullaby; lulla, lulla, lullaby.
Weaving spiders, come not here.
2.2.20671Hence, you long leg'd spinners, hence!
Hence away, now all is well.
What thou seest when thou dost wake
Fair love, you faint with wandering in the woods,
2.2.35688And, to speak troth, I have forgot our way.
2.2.36689We'll rest us, Hermia, if you think it good,
2.2.37690And tarry for the comfort of the day.
Be it so, Lysander. Find you out a bed,
2.2.39692For I upon this bank will rest my head.
One turf shall serve as pillow for us both,
2.2.41694One heart, one bed, two bosoms, and one troth.
Nay, good Lysander. For my sake, my dear,
2.2.43696Lie further off yet; do not lie so near.
O, take the sense, sweet, of my innocence.
2.2.45698Love takes the meaning in love's conference.
2.2.46699I mean that my heart unto yours is knit,
2.2.47700So that but one heart can you make of it.
2.2.48701Two bosoms interchanged with an oath,
2.2.49702So then two bosoms and a single troth.
2.2.50703Then by your side no bed-room me deny,
Lysander riddles very prettily.
2.2.53706Now much beshrew my manners and my pride,
2.2.54707If Hermia meant to say Lysander lied.
2.2.55708But, gentle friend, for love and courtesy
2.2.57710Such separation, as may well be said,
2.2.58711Becomes a virtuous bachelor and a maid.
2.2.59712So far be distant, and good night sweet friend.
2.2.60713Thy love ne're alter till thy sweet life end.
Amen, amen, to that fair prayer say I,
2.2.62715And then end life when I end loyalty.
2.2.63716Here is my bed; sleep give thee all his rest.
With half that wish the wisher's eyes be pressed.
Through the Forest have I gone,
2.2.68722This flower's force in stirring love.
2.2.76730Near this lack-love, this kill-courtesy.
2.2.76.1 [Puck anoints Lysander's eyelids with the juice of love-in-idleness.] 737Enter Demetrius and Helena running. Stay, though thou kill me, sweet Demetrius!
I charge thee, hence and do not haunt me thus!
O, wilt thou darkling leave me? Do not so.
Stay on thy peril! I alone will go.
Oh, I am out of breath in this fond chase.
2.2.88744The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace.
2.2.89745Happy is Hermia, wheresoe'r she lies,
2.2.90746For she hath blessed and attractive eyes.
2.2.91747How came her eyes so bright? Not with salt tears.
2.2.92748If so, my eyes are oftener washed than hers.
2.2.94750For beasts that meet me run away for fear.
2.2.95751Therefore, no marvel though Demetrius
2.2.96752Do, as a monster, fly my presence thus.
2.2.97753What wicked and dissembling glass of mine
2.2.98754Made me compare with Hermia's sphery eyne?
2.2.99755But who is here? Lysander, on the ground.
2.2.100756Dead? Or asleep? I see no blood, no wound.
And run through fire I will for thy sweet sake!
2.2.103759Transparent Helena, nature shows her art,
2.2.104760That through thy bosom makes me see thy heart.
2.2.106762Is that vile name to perish on my sword!
Do not say so Lysander! Say not so.
2.2.108764What though he love your Hermia? Lord, what though?
2.2.109765Yet Hermia still loves you. Then be content.
Content with Hermia? No, I do repent
2.2.111767The tedious minutes I with her have spent.
2.2.114770The will of man is by his reason swayed,
2.2.115771And reason says you are the worthier maid.
2.2.116772Things growing are not ripe until their season;
2.2.117773So, I being young, till now ripe not to reason.
2.2.118774And touching now the point of human skill,
2.2.120776And leads me to your eyes, where I o'erlook
2.2.121777Love's stories, written in love's richest book.
Wherefore was I to this keen mockery born?
2.2.123779When at your hands did I deserve this scorn?
2.2.124780Is't not enough, is't not enough, young man,
2.2.126782Deserve a sweet look from Demetrius' eye,
2.2.128784Good troth, you do me wrong! Good-sooth, you do,
2.2.130786But, fare you well. Perforce, I must confess,
2.2.131787I thought you lord of more true gentleness.
789Should of another therefore be abused.
She sees not Hermia. Hermia, sleep thou there,
2.2.134791And never mayst thou come Lysander near.
2.2.135792For, as a surfeit of the sweetest things
2.2.136793The deepest loathing to the stomach brings,
2.2.138795Are hated most of those that did deceive,
2.2.141798And all my powers address your love and might
Help me Lysander, help me! Do thy best
2.2.144801To pluck this crawling serpent from my breast.
2.2.145802Aye me, for pity. What a dream was here?
2.2.146803Lysander, look how I do quake with fear!
2.2.149806Lysander? What, removed? Lysander? Lord!
2.2.150807What, out of hearing? Gone? No sound, no word?
2.2.151808Alack! Where are you? Speak, and if you hear!
2.2.152809Speak, of all loves! I sound almost with fear.
2.2.153810No? Then I well perceive you are not nigh.
2.2.154811Either death or you I'll find immediately.
813Enter the Clowns [Quince, Snug, Bottom, Flute, Snout, and Starveling]. Are we all met?
Pat, pat. And here's a marvelous convenient
816place for our rehearsal. This green plot shall be our
817stage, this hawthorn brake our tiring house, and we will
818do it in action, as we will do it before the duke.
Peter Quince?
What sayest thou bully Bottom?
There are things in this comedy of Pyramus and
822Thisby, that will never please. First, Pyramus must draw a
823sword to kill himself, which the ladies cannot abide.
824How answer you that?
By'r lakin, a parlous fear.
I believe we must leave the killing out, when
827all is done.
Not a whit. I have a device to make all well.
829Write me a prologue, and let the prologue seem to say,
830we will do no harm with our swords, and that Pyramus
831is not killed indeed. And, for the more better assurance,
832tell them, that I Pyramus am not Pyramus, but Bottom the
833weaver. This will put them out of fear.
Well, we will have such a prologue, and it shall
835be written in eight and six.
No, make it two more. Let it be written in eight
837and eight.
Will not the ladies be afeard of the lion?
I fear it, I promise you.
Masters, you ought to consider with yourselves, to
841bring in (God shield us) a lion among ladies is a most
842dreadful thing. For there is not a more fearful wild
843fowl than your Lyon living, and we ought to look
844to it.
Therefore, another prologue must tell he is not
846a lion.
Nay, you must name his name, and half his face
848must be seen through the lion's neck, and he himself
849must speak through, saying thus, or to the same defect:
850"Ladies," or "faire ladies, I would wish you," or "I would
851request you," or "I would entreat you, not to fear, not to
852tremble, my life for yours. If you think I come hither
853as a lion, it were pity of my life. No, I am no such
854thing. I am a man as other men are." And there, indeed, let
855him name his name, and tell him plainly he is Snug the
856joiner.
Well, it shall be so. But there is two hard
858things: that is, to bring the moonlight into a
859chamber, for you know Pyramus and Thisby meet by
860moonlight.
Doth the moon shine that night we play our
862play?
A calendar, a calendar! Look in the almanac.
864Find out moonshine, find out moonshine!
Yes, it doth shine that night.
Why, then may you leave a casement of the great
868chamber window where we play open, and the moon
869may shine in at the casement.
Ay, or else one must come in with a bush of thorns
871and a lantern, and say he comes to disfigure, or to
872present the person of moonshine. Then there is another
873thing. We must have a wall in the great chamber, for
874Pyramus and Thisby, says the story, did talk through the
875chink of a wall.
You can never bring in a wall. What say you,
877Bottom?
Some man or other must present wall, and let
879him have some plaster, or some loam, or some rough
880cast about him, to signify wall; or let him hold his
881fingers thus, and through that cranny shall Pyramus and
882Thisby whisper.
If that may be, then all is well. Come, sit
884down every mother's son, and rehearse your parts.
885Pyramus, you begin. When you have spoken your speech,
886enter into that brake, and so every one according to his
887cue.
3.1.26What hempen homespuns have we
890swaggering here,
3.1.27891So near the cradle of the fairy queen?
3.1.28892What, a play toward? I'll be an auditor,
3.1.29893An actor too, perhaps, if I see cause.
Speak Pyramus. Thisby, stand forth.
Thisby, the flowers of odious savors sweet --
Odors, odors.
3.1.34Odors savors sweet;
898So hath thy breath, my dearest Thisby dear.
3.1.35899But hark, a voice! Stay thou but here a while,
3.1.36900And by and by I will to thee appear.
A stranger Pyramus, then e're played here.
Must I speak now?
Ay, marry must you. For you must understand he
904goes but to see a noise that he heard, and is to come
905again.
3.1.41Most radiant Pyramus, most lily-white of hue,
907Of color like the red rose on triumphant brier.
3.1.42908Most brisky juvenile, and eke most lovely Jew,
3.1.43909As true as truest horse, that yet would never tire.
3.1.44910I'll meet thee Pyramus, at Ninny's tomb.
Ninus' tomb man. Why, you must not speak
912that yet. That you answer to Pyramus. You speak all
913your part at once, cues and all. Pyramus enter. Your cue is
914past; it is "never tire."
3.1.47O, as true as truest horse, that yet would never
916tire.
3.1.47.1 [Enter Puck and Bottom with the ass' head.] If I were fair, Thisby, I were only thine.
Oh monstrous! Oh strange! We are haunted! Pray
919masters, fly masters! Help!
3.1.51I'll follow you, I'll lead you about a round,
922Through bog, through bush, through brake, through brier,
3.1.52923Sometime a horse I'll be, sometime a hound,
3.1.53924A hog, a headless bear, sometime a fire;
3.1.54925And neigh, and bark, and grunt, and roar, and burn,
3.1.55926Like horse, hound, hog, bear, fire, at every turn.
Why do they run away? This is a knavery of
929them to make me afeard.
O Bottom, thou art changed! What doe I see on
931thee?
What do you see? You see an ass-head of your
933own, do you?
Bless thee Bottom, bless thee! Thou art
936translated.
I see their knavery. This is to make an ass of me,
938to fright me if they could. But I will not stir from
939this place, do what they can. I will walk up and down
940here, and I will sing that they shall hear I am not
941afraid.
3.1.63944The throstle, with his note so true,
What Angel wakes me from my flowery bed?
The finch, the sparrow, and the lark,
3.1.68949Whose note full many a man doth mark,
3.1.70951For indeed, who would set his wit to so foolish a bird?
952Who would give a bird the lie, though he cry cuckoo,
953never so?
3.1.72I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing again.
955Mine ear is much enamored of thy note;
3.1.73956On the first view to say -- to swear -- I love thee!
3.1.74957So is mine eye enthrallèd to thy shape.
3.1.75958And thy fair virtue's force perforce doth move me.
Methinks, mistress, you should have little
960reason for that. And yet, to say the truth, reason and
961love keep little company together, nowadays.
962The more the pity, that some honest neighbors will
963not make them friends. Nay, I can gleek, upon
964occasion.
Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful.
Not so, neither; but if I had wit enough to get
967out of this wood, I have enough to serve mine own
968turn.
3.1.80Out of this wood, do not desire to go.
3.1.81970Thou shalt remain here, whether thou wilt or no.
3.1.83972The summer still doth tend upon my state,
3.1.84973And I do love thee. Therefore go with me.
3.1.85974I'll give thee fairies to attend on thee,
3.1.86975And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep,
3.1.87976And sing, while thou on pressèd flowers dost sleep.
3.1.88977And I will purge thy mortal grossness so
3.1.89978That thou shalt like an airy spirit go.
3.1.89.1979Enter Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, 980Mustardseed, and four fairies. Ready; and I, and I, and I. Where shall we go?
3.1.92Be kind and courteous to this gentleman.
983Hop in his walks, and gambol in his eyes;
3.1.93984Feed him with apricots, and dewberries,
3.1.94985With purple grapes, green figs, and mulberries.
3.1.95986The honeybags steal from the humble bees,
3.1.96987And for night-tapers crop their waxen thighs,
3.1.97988And light them at the fiery glowworm's eyes,
3.1.98989To have my love to bed, and to arise;
3.1.99990And pluck the wings from painted butterflies
3.1.100991To fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes.
3.1.101992Nod to him elves, and do him courtesies.
Hail, mortal, hail.
Hail.
Hail.
I cry your worships' mercy heartily! I beseech
997your worship's name?
Cobweb.
I shall desire you of more acquaintance, good
1000Master Cobweb. If I cut my finger, I shall make bold
1001with you.
1002Your name, honest gentleman?
Peaseblossom.
I pray you, commend me to mistress Squash,
1005your mother, and to master Peascod, your father. Good
1006master Peaseblossom, I shall desire of you more
1007acquaintance too. Your name, I beseech you sir?
Mustardseed.
Good master Mustardseede, I know your
1011patience well. That same cowardly giant-like ox beef
1012hath devoured many a gentleman of your house. I
1013promise you, your kindred hath made my eyes water ere
1014now. I desire you more acquaintance, good Master
1015Mustardseed.
3.1.114Come wait upon him; lead him to my bower.
1017The moon, methinks, looks with a watery eye,
3.1.1151018And when she weeps, weeps every little flower,
3.1.1171020Tie up my lover's tongue, bring him silently.
1021Enter King of Fairies [Oberon] solus. I wonder if Titania be awaked;
3.2.21023Then what it was that next came in her eye,
3.2.31024Which she must dote on in extremity.
3.2.41026Here comes my messenger. How now, mad spirit?
3.2.51027What night rule now about this haunted grove?
My mistress with a monster is in love!
3.2.71029Near to her close and consecrated bower,
3.2.81030While she was in her dull and sleeping hour,
3.2.101032That work for bread upon Athenian stalls,
3.2.121034Intended for great Theseus' nuptial day.
3.2.131035The shallowest thick-skin of that barren sort,
3.2.151037Forsook his scene, and entered in a brake.
3.2.191041And forth my mimic comes. When they him spy,
3.2.201042As wild geese that the creeping fowler eye,
3.2.231045Sever themselves, and madly sweep the sky,
3.2.251047And, at our stamp, here o'er and o'er one falls;
3.2.261048He "murder," cries, and help from Athens calls.
3.2.271049Their sense thus weak, lost with their fears thus strong,
3.2.281050Made senseless things begin to do them wrong.
3.2.291051For briers and thorns at their apparel snatch,
3.2.301052Some sleeves, some hats, from yielders all things catch.
3.2.321054And left sweet Pyramus translated there.
3.2.331055When, in that moment (so it came to pass),
3.2.341056Titania waked, and straightway loved an ass.
This falls out better then I could devise!
3.2.361058But hast thou yet latched the Athenian's eyes,
I took him sleeping. That is finished too.
3.2.401062That when he waked, of force she must be eyed.
Stand close. This is the same Athenian.
This is the woman, but not this the man.
O why rebuke you him that loves you so?
3.2.441067Lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe.
Now I but chide, but I should use thee worse.
3.2.461069For thou, I fear, hast given me cause to curse.
3.2.471070If thou hast slain Lysander in his sleep,
3.2.481071Being o'er shoes in blood, plunge in the deep and kill
1072me too.
3.2.521075From sleeping Hermia? I'll believe as soon
3.2.531076This whole earth may be bored, and that the moon
3.2.541077May through the center creep, and so displease
3.2.551078Her brother's noontide with the antipodes.
3.2.561079It cannot be but thou hast murdered him!
3.2.571080So should a murderer look -- so dead, so grim.
So should the murderer look, and so should I,
3.2.591082Pierced through the heart with your stern cruelty.
3.2.601083Yet you, the murderer, looks as bright, as clear,
3.2.611084As yonder Venus in her glimmering sphere.
What's this to my Lysander? Where is he?
3.2.631086Ah, good Demetrius, wilt thou give him me?
I'd rather give his carcass to my hounds.
Out dog! Out cur! Thou drivest me past the bounds
3.2.661089Of maiden's patience. Hast thou slain him then?
3.2.691092Durst thou a look upon him, being awake?
3.2.701093And hast thou killed him sleeping? O brave touch!
3.2.721095An adder did it; for with doubler tongue
3.2.731096Than thine, thou serpent, never adder stung.
You spend your passion on a misprised mood.
3.2.761099Nor is he dead, for ought that I can tell.
I pray thee, tell me then that he is well.
And if I could, what should I get therefore?
A privilege never to see me more;
3.2.801103And from thy hated presence part I: see me no more,
There is no following her in this fierce vein.
3.2.831106Here, therefore, for a while I will remain.
3.2.841107So sorrow's heaviness doth heavier grow,
3.2.851108For debt that bankrout sleep doth sorrow owe,
3.2.861109Which now in some slight measure it will pay,
3.2.871110If for his tender here I make some stay.
What hast thou done? Thou hast mistaken quite
3.2.891112And laid the love juice on some true love's sight.
3.2.911114Some true love turned, and not a false turned true.
Then fate o'er rules, that one man holding troth,
3.2.931116A million fail, confounding oath on oath.
About the wood, go swifter then the wind,
3.2.961119All fancy sick she is and pale of cheer,
3.2.971120With sighs of love that costs the fresh blood dear.
3.2.981121By some illusion see thou bring her here.
3.2.991122I'll charm his eyes against she doth appear.
I go, I go, look how I go,
Flower of this purple dye,
Captain of our fairy band,
Stand aside. The noise they make
Then will two at once woo one;
Why should you think that I should woo in scorn?
3.2.1261151How can these things in me seem scorn to you?
3.2.1271152Bearing the badge of faith to prove them true?
You do advance your cunning more and more.
3.2.1291154When truth kills truth, Oh devilish holy fray!
3.2.1301155These vows are Hermia's. Will you give her o'er?
3.2.1311156Weigh oath with oath, and you will nothing weigh.
3.2.1331158Will even weigh, and both as light as tales.
I had no judgment when to her I swore.
Nor none in my mind, now you give her o'er.
Demetrius loves her, and he loves not you.
O Helen! Goddess, nymph, perfect, divine!
3.2.1381163To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne?
3.2.1401165Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow!
3.2.1411166That pure congealed white, high Taurus' snow,
3.2.1421167Fanned with the eastern wind, turns to a crow
3.2.1431168When thou hold'st up thy hand. O, let me kiss
3.2.1441169This princess of pure white, this seal of bliss.
O spite! O hell! I see you are all bent
3.2.1531178To vow, and swear, and super-praise my parts,
3.2.1541179When I am sure you hate me with your hearts.
3.2.1611186A poor soul's patience, all to make you sport.
You are unkind Demetrius. Be not so!
3.2.1641189And here, with all good will, with all my heart,
Never did mockers waste more idle breath.
Lysander, keep thy Hermia; I will none.
3.2.1711196My heart to her but as guest-wise sojourned,
It is not so.
Disparage not the faith thou dost not know,
3.2.1771202Look where thy love comes. Yonder is thy dear.
Dark night, that from the eye his function takes,
3.2.1831209Mine ear, I thank it, brought me to that sound.
Why should he stay whom love doth press to go?
What love could press Lysander from my side?
Lysander's love, that would not let him bide.
3.2.1901216Why seek'st thou me? Could not this make thee know,
You speak not as you think; it cannot be.
Lo, she is one of this confederacy!
3.2.1941220Now I perceive they have conjoined all three
3.2.1971223Have you conspired, have you with these contrived
3.2.2001226The sisters' vows, the hours that we have spent,
3.2.2031229All schooldays friendship, childhood innocence?
3.2.2051231Have with our needles created both one flower,
3.2.2061232Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,
3.2.2081234As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds
3.2.2171243To join with men in scorning your poor friend?
3.2.2191245Our sex, as well as I, may chide you for it,
I am amazed at your passionate words!
3.2.2221248I scorn you not. It seems that you scorn me.
Have you not set Lysander, as in scorn,
3.2.2261252(Who even but now did spurn me with his foot),
3.2.2271253To call me goddess, nymph, divine, and rare,
3.2.2281254Precious, celestial? Wherefore speaks he this
3.2.2291255To her he hates? And wherefore doth Lysander
I understand not what you mean by this.
Ay, do. Persevere, counterfeit sad looks,
3.2.2411267This sport, well carried, shall be chronicled.
3.2.2441270But, fare ye well. 'Tis partly mine own fault,
Stay, gentle Helena, hear my excuse,
O excellent!
Sweet, do not scorn her so.
If she cannot entreat, I can compel.
Thou canst compel no more than she entreat.
3.2.2521278Thy threats have no more strength then her weak praise.
3.2.2541280I swear, by that which I will lose for thee,
3.2.2551281To prove him false, that says I love thee not.
I say I love thee more then he can do.
If thou say so, withdraw and prove it too.
Quick, come!
Lysander, whereto tends all this?
Away, you Ethiope!
No, no, sir, seem to break loose,
Hang off, thou cat, thou burr! Vile thing, let loose
3.2.2651291Or I will shake thee from me like a serpent.
Why are you grown so rude?
Thy love? Out, tawny Tartar, out!
3.2.2691295Out, loathèd medicine! O hated poison, hence!
Do you not jest?
Yes, sooth, and so do you!
Demetrius, I will keep my word with thee.
I would I had your bond, for I perceive
3.2.2741300A weak bond holds you. I'll not trust your word.
What, should I hurt her, strike her, kill her dead?
What, can you do me greater harm then hate?
3.2.2781304Hate me? Wherefore? O me, what news my Love?
3.2.2811307Since night you loved me, yet since night you left me.
3.2.2821308Why, then, you left me -- O the gods forbid --
Ay, by my life!
3.2.2861312Therefore be out of hope, of question, of doubt;
O me! You juggler, you canker blossom,
3.2.2901316You thief of love! What, have you come by night
Fine, i'faith.
3.2.2941320No touch of bashfulness? What, will you tear
Puppet? Why so? Ay, that way goes the game.
3.2.2991325Between our statures; she hath urged her height,
3.2.3011327Her height, forsooth, she hath prevailed with him.
3.2.3061332But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes!
I pray you, though you mock me, gentlemen,
3.2.3111337Let her not strike me. You perhaps may think
Lower? Harke again!
Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me.
3.2.3171343Did ever keep your counsels, never wronged you,
3.2.3211347But he hath chid me hence, and threatened me
3.2.3221348To strike me, spurn me, nay, to kill me too!
Why, get you gone! Who is't that hinders you?
A foolish heart that I leave here behind.
What, with Lysander?
With Demetrius.
Be not afraid. She shall not harm thee, Helena.
No, sir, she shall not, though you take her part.
O, when she's angry, she is keen and shrewd.
3.2.3351361And though she be but little, she is fierce.
"Little" again? Nothing but "low" and "little?"
Get you gone, you dwarf,
You are too officious,
Now she holds me not.
3.2.3491375Now follow if thou dar'st, to try whose right,
Follow? Nay, I'll go with thee, cheek by
1378jowl.
You, mistress, all this coil is long of you.
I will not trust you, I,
3.2.3561383Your hands than mine are quicker for a fray;
3.2.357.11385 Enter Oberon and Puck [from the background. Exit Helena and Hermia]. This is thy negligence. Still thou mistak'st,
Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook.
Thou seest these lovers seek a place to fight.
3.2.3761404And from each other look thou lead them thus,
3.2.3771405Till o're their brows, death-counterfeiting, sleep
3.2.3781406With leaden legs, and batty wings doth creep.
3.2.3811409To take from thence all error with his might,
3.2.3821410And make his eyeballs roll with wonted sight.
3.2.3861414With league whose date till death shall never end.
3.2.3901418From monster's view, and all things shall be peace.
My fairy lord, this must be done with haste,
3.2.3921420For night-swift dragons cut the clouds full fast,
3.2.3941422At whose approach ghosts wandering here and there
3.2.3951423Troop home to churchyards. Damnèd spirits all,
3.2.3981426For fear least day should look their shames upon;
3.2.4001428And must for aye consort with black-browed night.
But we are spirits of another sort.
3.2.4021430I with the Morning's love have oft made sport,
3.2.4061434Turns into yellow gold his salt-green streams.
Where art thou, proud Demetrius? Speak thou now.
Here villain, drawn and ready. Where art thou?
I will be with thee straight.
Follow me then to plainer ground.
Lysander, speak again!
3.2.4211449Speak! In some bush? Where dost thou hide thy head?
Thou coward, art thou bragging to the stars,
3.2.4231451Telling the bushes that thou look'st for wars,
3.2.4241452And wilt not come? Come recreant, come thou child!
Yea, art thou there?
Follow my voice, we'll try no manhood here.
He goes before me, and still dares me on.
3.2.4341462And here will rest me. Come thou gentle day.
3.2.4351463For if but once thou show me thy gray light,
3.2.4361464I'll find Demetrius, and revenge this spite.
1465Enter [Puck] and Demetrius. Ho, ho, ho! Coward, why com'st thou not?
Abide me, if thou dar'st. For well I wot,
3.2.4391468Thou runn'st before me, shifting every place,
3.2.4401469And dar'st not stand nor look me in the face.
Come hither! I am here.
Nay then, thou mock'st me. Thou shalt buy this
O weary night, O long and tedious night,
3.2.4501480Abate thy hours, shine comforts from the east,
3.2.4531483And sleep, that sometime shuts up sorrow's eye,
Yet but three? Come one more.
Never so weary, never so in woe,
3.2.4611492Bedabbled with the dew, and torn with briars,
3.2.4651496Heavens shield Lysander if they mean a fray.
On the ground sleep sound,
3.2.4671498I'll apply to your eye, gentle lover, remedy.
4.1.1.11509Enter queen of fairies [Titania], and clown [Bottom], and fairies and the king [Oberon] behind them. Come, sit thee down upon this flowery bed,
4.1.41513And stick musk-roses in thy sleek smooth head,
4.1.51514And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy.
Where's Peaseblossom?
Ready.
Scratch my head, Peaseblossom. Where's
1518Mounsieur Cobweb?
Ready.
Mounsieur Cobweb, good mounsier, get your
1521weapons in your hand and kill me a red-hipped humblebee
1522on the top of a thistle; and, good mounsieur, bring me
1523the honey bag. Do not fret yourself too much in the
1524action, mounsieur; and, good mounsieur, have a care the
1525honey bag break not. I would be loath to have you
1526overflowen with a honey bag signor. Where's Mounsieur
1527Mustardseed?
Ready.
Give me your neaf, Mounsieur Mustardseed.
1530Pray you, leave your courtesy good mounsieur.
What's your will?
Nothing, good mounsieur, but to help Cavalery
1533Cobweb to scratch. I must to the barber's, mounsieur, for
1534methinks I am marvelous hairy about the face. And I
1535am such a tender ass, if my hair do but tickle me, I must
1536scratch.
What, wilt thou hear some music, my sweet
1538love?
I have a reasonable good ear in music. Let
1540us have the tongs and the bones.
Or say, sweet Love, what thou desirest to eat.
Truly, a peck of provender. I could munch
1544your good dry oats. Methinks I have a great desire
1545to a bottle of hay. Good hay, sweet hay, hath no
1546fellow.
4.1.20I have a venturous fairy
1548That shall seek the squirrel's hoard
I had rather have a handful or two of dried
1551peas. But, I pray you, let none of your people stir me. I
1552have an exposition of sleep come upon me.
4.1.24Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms.
4.1.261555So doth the woodbine, the sweet honeysuckle,
4.1.29.11559[Titania and Bottom sleep.] Enter Robin Goodfellow [Puck] and Oberon. Welcome good Robin.
4.1.331563For, meeting her of late behind the wood,
4.1.341564Seeking sweet savors for this hateful fool,
4.1.351565I did upbraid her, and fall out with her.
4.1.361566For she his hairy temples then had rounded,
4.1.371567With coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers.
4.1.381568And that same dew, which sometime on the buds
4.1.391569Was wont to swell like round and orient pearls,
4.1.401570Stood now within the pretty floweret's eyes,
4.1.411571Like tears that did their own disgrace bewail.
4.1.431573And she in mild terms begged my patience,
4.1.441574I then did ask of her her changeling child,
4.1.451575Which straight she gave me, and her fairy sent
4.1.491579And, gentle Puck, take this transformed scalp,
4.1.501580From off the head of this Athenian swain,
4.1.531583And think no more of this night's accidents,
4.1.551585But first I will release the fairy queen.
Be thou as thou wast wont to be;
4.1.601590Now, my Titania, wake you my sweet queen.
My Oberon, what visions have I seen!
There lies your love.
How came these things to pass?
4.1.651595Oh, how mine eyes do loath this visage now!
Silence a while. Robin take off his head.
4.1.671597Titania, music call, and strike more dead
4.1.681598Than common sleep of all these five the sense.
Music, ho music! Such as charmeth sleep.
When thou wak'st, with thine own fool's eyes
1602peep.
Sound music! Come, my queen, take hands with me.
4.1.731604And rock the ground whereon these sleepers be.
4.1.761607Dance in Duke Theseus' house triumphantly,
4.1.781609There shall the pairs of faithful lovers be
Fairy king attend and mark,
Then, my queen, in silence sad,
Come, my lord, and in our flight,
4.1.89.31623 Enter Theseus, Egeus, Hippolita and all his train. Go, one of you, find out the forester,
4.1.931626And since we have the vaward of the day,
4.1.941627My love shall hear the music of my hounds.
4.1.951628Uncouple in the western valley; let them go.
4.1.971630We will, faire queen, up to the mountain's top,
I was with Hercules and Cadmus once
4.1.1031636Such gallant chiding; for, besides the groves,
My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind,
4.1.1081641So flewed, so sanded, and their heads are hung
4.1.1101643Crook-kneed, and dewlapped, like Thessalian bulls,
4.1.1111644Slow in pursuit, but matched in mouth like bells,
4.1.1151648Judge when you hear. But soft! What nymphs are these?
My Lord, this is my daughter here asleep,
No doubt they rose up early to observe
4.1.1241657That Hermia should give answer of her choice?
It is, my lord.
Go, bid the huntsmen wake them with their
Good morrow friends. Saint Valentine is past;
Pardon, my lord.
I pray you all stand up.
My lord, I shall reply amazedly,
4.1.1371672Half asleep, half waking. But as yet, I swear,
4.1.1421677Was to be gone from Athens, where we might be
Enough, enough, my lord! You have enough.
4.1.1461681They would have stolen away, they would, Demetrius,
My lord, fair Helen told me of their stealth,
4.1.1571692Seems to me now as the remembrance of an idle gaud,
4.1.1631698But, like a sickness, did I loath this food;
4.1.1641699But, as in health, come to my natural taste.
Fair lovers, you are fortunately met;
4.1.176.1Exit duke [Theseus, Hippolita, Egeus] and lords. These things seem small and undistinguishable,
Methinks I see these things with parted eye,
So methinks.
It seems to me,
4.1.1851720That yet we sleep, we dream. Do not you think
Yea, and my father.
And Hippolita.
And he bid us follow to the temple.
Why then, we are awake! Let's follow him,
When my cue comes, call me, and I will answer.
1729My next is, "most fair Pyramus." Hey ho. Peter Quince?
1730Flute the bellows mender? Snout the tinker?
1731Starveling? God's my life! Stolen hence, and left me asleep? I
1732have had a most rare vision. I had a dream, past the wit
1733of man, to say, what dream it was. Man is but an ass,
1734if he go about to expound this dream. Methought I
1735was -- there is no man can tell what. Methought I was,
1736and methought I had -- but man is but a patched fool,
1737if he will offer to say what methought I had. The eye of
1738man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, man's
1739hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceive, nor his
1740heart to report, what my dream was. I will get Peter
1741Quince to write a ballet of this dream. It shall be called
1742 "Bottom's Dream," because it hath no bottom. And I will
1743sing it in the latter end of a play, before the duke.
1744Peradventure, to make it the more gracious, I shall sing it
1745at her death.
1746Enter Quince, Flute [as] Thisby, Snout, and Starveling. Have you sent to Bottom's house? Is he come
1748home yet?
He cannot be heard of. Out of doubt he is
1750transported.
If he come not, then the play is marred. It goes
1752not forward, doth it?
It is not possible. You have not a man in all
1754Athens able to discharge Pyramus but he.
No, he hath simply the best wit of any
1756handicraft man in Athens.
Yea, and the best person too, and he is a very
1758paramour for a sweet voice.
You must say "paragon." A paramour is (God
1760bless us), a thing of naught.
Masters, the duke is coming from the
1763temple, and there is two or three lords and ladies more
1764married. If our sport had gone forward, we had all been made
1765men.
O sweet bully Bottom! Thus hath he lost
1767sixpence a day during his life. He could not have 'scaped
1768sixpence a day. And the duke had not given him sixpence
1769a day for playing Pyramus, I'll be hanged. He would have
1770deserved it. Sixpence a day in Pyramus, or nothing.
Where are these lads? Where are these hearts?
Bottom! O most courageous day! O most
1774happy hour!
Masters, I am to discourse wonders, but ask me
1776not what. For if I tell you, I am no true Athenian. I
1777will tell you every thing as it fell out.
Let us hear, sweet Bottom.
Not a word of me. All that I will tell you is, that
1780the duke hath dined. Get your apparel together, good
1781strings to your beards, new ribbons to your pumps,
1782meet presently at the palace, every man look o're his
1783part; for the short and the long is, our play is preferred!
1784In any case, let Thisby have clean linen, and let not him
1785that plays the lion pare his nails, for they shall hang
1786out for the lion's claws. And, most dear actors, eat
1787no onions, nor garlic, for we are to utter sweet
1788breath; and I do not doubt but to hear them say, it is a
1789sweet comedy. No more words. Away! go away!
1792Enter Theseus, Hippolita, Egeus and his lords. 'Tis strange, my Theseus, that these lovers speak of.
More strange then true. I never may believe
5.1.31795These antique fables, nor these fairy toys.
5.1.41796Lovers and madmen have such seething brains,
5.1.51797Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend more
5.1.71799The lunatic, the lover, and the poet
5.1.91801One sees more devils then vast hell can hold:
5.1.101802That is the madman. The lover, all as frantic,
5.1.121804The poet's eye, in a fine frenzy rolling, doth glance
5.1.131805From heaven to earth, from earth to heaven,
5.1.141806And as imagination bodies forth the forms of things
5.1.151807Unknown, the poet's pen turns them to shapes,
5.1.161808And gives to airy nothing a local habitation
5.1.171809And a name. Such tricks hath strong imagination,
5.1.181810That if it would but apprehend some joy,
5.1.191811It comprehends some bringer of that joy.
But all the story of the night told over,
5.1.231815And all their minds transfigured so together,
5.1.251817And grows to something of great constancy;
Here come the lovers, full of joy and mirth.
More then to us wait in your royal walks,
Come now, what masks, what dances shall
5.1.331828To wear away this long age of three hours,
5.1.361831What revels are in hand? Is there no play
5.1.371832To ease the anguish of a torturing hour?
Here mighty Theseus.
Say, what abridgement have you for this
5.1.421837What mask? What music? How shall we beguile
There is a brief how many sports are rife.
5.1.451840Make choice of which your highness will see first.
"The Battle with the Centaurs," to be sung
We'll none of that. That have I told my love
5.1.511846Tearing the Thracian Singer in their Rage."
5.1.521847That is an old device, and it was played
5.1.531848When I from Thebes came last a conqueror.
5.1.541849"The Thrice Three Muses Mourning for the Death
5.1.581853"A Tedious Brief Scene of Young Pyramus,
5.1.591854And his love Thisby; very tragical mirth."
5.1.601855Merry and tragical? Tedious and brief? That
5.1.611856Is hot ice and wondrous strange snow. How shall we
A play there is, my lord, some ten words long,
5.1.641859Which is as brief as I have known a play;
5.1.651860But by ten words, my lord, it is too long,
5.1.661861Which makes it tedious. For in all the play
5.1.671862There is not one word apt, one player fitted.
5.1.681863And tragical, my noble lord, it is, for Pyramus
5.1.691864Therein doth kill himself. Which, when I saw
5.1.701865Rehearsed, I must confess, made mine eyes water,
5.1.711866But more merry tears the passion of loud laughter
What are they that do play it?
Hard-handed men, that work in Athens here,
5.1.751870Which never labored in their minds till now;
5.1.761871And now have toiled their unbreathed memories
5.1.771872With this same play, against your nuptial.
And we will hear it.
No, my noble lord, it is not for you. I have heard
5.1.801875It over, and it is nothing, nothing in the world;
5.1.811876Unless you can find sport in their intents,
5.1.821877Extremely stretched and conned with cruel pain,
I will hear that play. For never any thing
5.1.851880Can be amiss when simpleness and duty tender it.
5.1.861881Go, bring them in, and take your places ladies.
I love not to see wretchedness o'ercharged,
Why, gentle sweet, you shall see no such thing.
He says they can do nothing in this kind.
The kinder we, to give them thanks for nothing.
5.1.921887Our sport shall be to take what they mistake,
5.1.931888And what poor duty cannot do, noble respect
5.1.951890Where I have come, great clerks have purposed
5.1.971892Where I have seen them shiver and look pale,
5.1.991894Throttle their practiced accent in their fears,
So please your grace, the prologue is addressed.
Let him approach.
If we offend, it is with our good will.
5.1.1111907That you should think, we come not to offend,
5.1.1121908But with good will. To show our simple skill,
5.1.1171913We are not here. That you should here repent you,
5.1.1191915You shall know all, that you are like to know.
This fellow doth not stand upon points.
He hath rid his prologue like a rough colt; he
1918knows not the stop. A good moral, my lord. It is not
1919enough to speak, but to speak true.
Indeed, he hath played on his prologue like a
1921child on a recorder: a sound, but not in government.
His speech was like a tangled chain: nothing
1923impaired, but all disordered. Who is next?
5.1.1241925Enter Pyramus and Thisby, Wall, Moonshine, and Lion. 5.1.126Gentles, perchance you wonder at this show,
5.1.1271927But wonder on, till truth make all things plain.
5.1.1301930This man, with lime and roughcast, doth present
5.1.1311931Wall, that vile wall, which did these lovers sunder;
5.1.1321932And through wall's chink, poor souls, they are content
5.1.1331933To whisper. At the which, let no man wonder.
5.1.1341934This man, with lantern, dog, and bush of thorn,
5.1.1351935Presenteth moonshine. For, if you will know,
5.1.1361936By moonshine did these lovers think no scorn
5.1.1371937To meet at Ninus' tomb, there, there to woo.
5.1.1381938This grizzly beast, which lion hight by name,
5.1.1421942Which lion vile with bloody mouth did stain.
5.1.1451945Whereat, with blade, with bloody blameful blade,
5.1.1461946He bravely broached his boiling bloody breast.
5.1.1481948His dagger drew, and died. For all the rest,
5.1.1501950At large discourse, while here they do remain.
I wonder if the lion be to speak?
No wonder, my lord. One lion may when many asses do.
5.1.154In this same interlude it doth befall
5.1.1581960Through which the lovers, Pyramus and Thisby,
5.1.1601962This loam, this rough-cast, and this stone doth show
5.1.1631965Through which the fearful lovers are to whisper.
Would you desire lime and hair to speak
It is the wittiest partition, that ever I heard
1969discourse, my lord.
Pyramus draws near the wall. Silence!
5.1.168O grim-looked night, O night with hue so black,
5.1.1721976And thou, O wall, thou sweet and lovely wall,
5.1.1731977That stands between her father's ground and mine,
5.1.1751979Show me thy chink, to blink through with mine eyne.
5.1.1761980Thanks, courteous wall. Jove shield thee well for this.
The wall, methinks, being sensible, should
No, in truth, sir, he should not. "Deceiving me"
1987Is Thisby's cue. She is to enter, and I am to spy
1988her through the wall. You shall see it will fall
5.1.184O wall, full often hast thou heard my moans
5.1.1861993My cherry lips have often kissed thy stones,
5.1.1871994Thy stones with lime and hair knit up in thee.
I see a voice! Now will I to the chink
5.1.1891996To spy and I can hear my Thisby's face. Thisby?
My love! Thou art my love, I think?
Think what thou wilt, I am thy lover's grace,
And I like Helen, till the Fates me kill.
Not Shafalus to Procrus was so true.
As Shafalus to Procrus, I to you.
O, kiss me through the hole of this vile wall.
I kiss the wall's hole, not your lips at all.
Wilt thou at Ninnies tomb meet me straight
2006way?
'Tide life, 'tide death, I come without delay.
Thus have I, Wall, my part discharged so;
2009And being done, thus Wall away doth go.
Now is the moral down between the two
No remedy, my lord, when walls are so
2013willful to hear without warning.
This is the silliest stuff that e're I heard.
The best in this kind are but shadows, and the
2016worst are no worse, if imagination amend them.
It must be your imagination then, and not theirs.
If we imagine no worse of them then they of
2019themselves, they may pass for excellent men. Here come
2020two noble beasts, in a man and a lion.
5.1.209You Ladies, you whose gentle hearts do fear
5.1.2102023The smallest monstrous mouse that creeps on floor,
5.1.2112024May now, perchance, both quake and tremble here,
A very gentle beast, and of good conscience.
The very best at a beast, my lord, that e're I saw.
This lion is a very fox for his valor.
True, and a goose for his discretion.
Not so, my lord, for his valor cannot carry
2035his discretion, and the fox carries the goose.
His discretion, I am sure cannot carry his valor,
2037for the goose carries not the fox. It is well. Leave it to
2038his discretion, and let us hearken to the moon.
5.1.224This lantern doth the horned moon
2040present --
He should have worn the horns on his head.
He is no crescent, and his horns are invisible
2043within the circumference.
5.1.228This lantern doth the horned moon present.
5.1.2292045 Myself the man in the moon doth seem to be.
This is the greatest error of all the rest! The man
2047should be put into the lantern. How is it else the man
2048in the moon?
He dares not come there for the candle.
2050For you see, it is already in snuff.
I am weary of this moon; would he would
2052change.
It appears, by his small light of discretion, that
2054he is in the wane; but yet, in courtesy, in all reason, we
2055must stay the time.
Proceed, moon.
All that I have to say is to tell you that the
2058lantern is the moon; I the man in the moon; this
2059thorn bush, my thorn bush; and this dog, my dog.
Why all these should be in the lantern, for
2061they are in the moon. But silence, here comes Thisby.
This is old Ninnies tomb: where is my love?
Oh.
Well roared, lion.
Well run, Thisby.
Well shone, moon.
2069Truly, the moon shines with a good grace.
5.1.241.1 [Lion mauls Thisby's mantle and runs off.] Well moused, Lion.
And then came Pyramus.
And so the lion vanished.
5.1.246Sweet moon, I thank thee for thy sunny beams.
5.1.2472075I thank thee, moon, for shining now so bright,
5.1.2482076For by thy gracious, golden, glittering beams
This passion, and the death of a dear friend,
Beshrew my heart, but I pity the man.
O, wherefore, Nature, did'st thou lions frame?
5.1.2622090Since lion vile hath here deflowered my dear;
5.1.2632091Which is -- no, no -- which was the fairest dame
5.1.2642092That lived, that loved, that liked, that looked with cheer.
5.1.2692097Now am I dead, now am I fled; my soul is in the sky,
5.1.2702098Tongue, lose thy light. Moon, take thy flight,
No die, but an ace for him. For he is but one.
Less than an ace man, for he is dead. He is nothing.
With the help of a surgeon, he might yet
2104recover, and prove an ass.
How chance moonshine is gone before?
2106Thisby comes back, and finds her lover.
She will find him by starlight.
2109Here she comes, and her passion ends the play.
Methinks she should not use a long one for
2111such a Pyramus; I hope she will be brief.
A moth will turn the balance, which Pyramus
2113which Thisby is the better.
She hath spied him already, with those sweet eyes.
And thus she means, videlicit:
5.1.282Asleep my love? What, dead my dove?
2117O Pyramus, arise!
5.1.2832118Speak, speak! Quite dumb? Dead, dead? A tomb
Moonshine and Lion are left to bury the dead.
Ay, and Wall too.
No, I assure you, the wall is down, that parted
2135their fathers. Will it please you to see the epilogue, or
2136to hear a Bergomask dance between two of our
2137company?
No epilogue, I pray you, for your play needs
2139no excuse. Never excuse, for when the players are all
2140dead, there need none to be blamed. Marry, if he that
2141writ it had played Pyramus, and hung himself in Thisby's
2142garter, it would have been a fine tragedy; and so it is
2143truly, and very notably discharged. But come, your
2144Burgomaske, let your epilogue alone.
5.1.3012145The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve.
5.1.3062150The heavy gate of night. Sweet friends, to bed.
Now the hungry lion's roars,
5.1.328.12174Enter king [Oberon] and queen[Titania] of fairies with their train. Through the house give glimmering light,
5.1.3332179And this ditty after me sing and dance it trippingly.
First rehearse this song by rote,
Now until the break of day
Epilogue
If we shadows have offended,