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

1.1.1214Of our solemnities.

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.

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.

1.1.2731My noble lord,

1.1.2832This man hath my consent to marry her.

1.1.3034And, my gracious duke,

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,

1.1.6973If I refuse to wed Demetrius.

Either to die the death, or to abjure

1.1.7175Forever the society of men.

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,

1.1.9498Or on Diana's altar to protest

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

1.1.103107I do estate unto Demetrius.

I am, my lord, as well derived as he,

1.1.105109As well possessed. My love is more than his,

1.1.106110My fortune's every way as fairly ranked

1.1.107111(If not with vantage) as Demetrius';

1.1.108112And (which is more then all these boasts can be),

1.1.109113I am beloved of beauteous Hermia.

1.1.110114Why should not I, then, prosecute my right?

1.1.111115Demetrius, I'll avouch it to his head,

1.1.112116Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena,

1.1.113117And won her soul, and she (sweet lady) dotes,

1.1.114118Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry,

1.1.115119Upon this spotted and inconstant man.

I must confess that I have heard so much,

1.1.117121And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof;

1.1.118122But, being overfull of self-affairs,

1.1.119123My mind did lose it. But, Demetrius come.

1.1.120124And come, Egeus. You shall go with me.

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,

1.1.124128Or else the law of Athens yields you up

1.1.125129(Which by no means we may extenuate),

1.1.126130To death, or to a vow of single life.

1.1.127131Come my Hippolita. What cheer, my love?

1.1.128132Demetrius and Egeus go along:

1.1.129133I must employ you in some business

1.1.130134Against our nuptial, and confer with you

1.1.131135Of something nearly that concerns yourselves.

With duty and desire we follow you.

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,

1.1.139143Could ever hear by tale or history,

1.1.140144The course of true love never did run smooth.

1.1.141145But either it was different in blood --

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,

1.1.149153Making it momentary as a sound,

1.1.150154Swift as a shadow, short as any dream,

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!"

1.1.154158The jaws of darkness do devour it up.

1.1.155159So quick bright things come to confusion.

If, then, true lovers have been ever crossed,

1.1.157161It stands as an edict in destiny.

1.1.158162Then let us teach our trial patience,

1.1.159163Because it is a customary cross,

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.

1.1.163167I have a widow aunt, a dowager

1.1.164168Of great revenue, and she hath no child.

1.1.165169From Athens is her house removèd seven leagues,

1.1.166170And she respects me as her only son.

1.1.167171There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee,

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,

1.1.173177To do observance for a morn of May),

1.1.174178There will I stay for thee.

My good Lysander,

1.1.176180I swear to thee by Cupid's strongest bow,

1.1.177181By his best arrow with the golden head,

1.1.178182By the simplicity of Venus' doves,

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

1.1.183187(In number more then ever women spoke),

1.1.184188In that same place thou hast appointed me

1.1.185189Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee.

Keep promise love. Look, here comes Helena.

God speed fair Helena! Whither away?

Call you me fair? That fair again unsay.

1.1.190194Demetrius loves you fair. O happy fair!

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.

1.1.194198Sickness is catching. O, were favor so,

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.

1.1.213217Before the time I did Lysander see,

1.1.214218Seemed Athens like a paradise to me.

1.1.215219O then, what graces in my love do dwell,

1.1.216220That he hath turned a heaven into hell.

Helen, to you our minds we will unfold.

1.1.218222Tomorrow night, when Phoebe doth behold

1.1.219223Her silver visage in the watery glass,

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,

1.1.230234And good luck grant thee thy Demetrius.

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.

1.1.234239As you on him, Demetrius dotes on you.

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,

1.1.240245So I, admiring of his qualities.

1.1.241246Things base and vile, holding no quantity,

1.1.242247Love can transpose to form and dignity.

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:

1.1.246251Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste.

1.1.247252And, therefore, is Love said to be a child,

1.1.248253Because in choice he is often beguiled.

1.1.249254As waggish boys in game themselves forswear,

1.1.250255So the boy Love is perjured everywhere.

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

1.1.257262Pursue her; and for his intelligence

1.1.258263If I have thanks, it is a dear expense.

1.1.259264But herein mean I to enrich my pain,

1.1.260265To have his sight thither and back again.

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 all298 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.

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,

2.1.8382Those be rubies, fairy favors;

2.1.9383In those freckles live their savors.

2.1.10384I must go seek some dewdrops here,

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.

2.1.38412Are not you he?

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,

2.1.45419In very likeness of a roasted crab,

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!

2.1.55429But room, fairy. Here comes Oberon.

And here my mistress!

2.1.57431Would that he were gone.

Ill met by moonlight,

2.1.60435Proud Titania.

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,

2.1.75450Glance at my credit with Hippolita,

2.1.76451Knowing I know thy love to Theseus?

2.1.77452Didst thou not lead him through the glimmering night

2.1.78453From Peregenia, whom he ravished?

2.1.79454And make him with fair Eagles break his faith?

2.1.80455With Ariadne, and Atiopa?

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,

2.1.104479Pale in her anger, washes all the air,

2.1.105480That rheumatic diseases do abound.

2.1.106481And through this distemperature we see

2.1.107482The seasons alter; hoar-headed frosts

2.1.108483Fall in the fresh lap of the crimson rose,

2.1.109484And on old Hyems' chin and icy crown

2.1.110485An odorous chaplet of sweet summer buds

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.

2.1.115490And this same progeny of evils

2.1.116491Comes from our debate, from our dissention;

2.1.117492We are their parents and original.

Do you amend it then; it lies in you.

2.1.119494Why should Titania cross her Oberon?

2.1.120495I do but beg a little changeling boy

2.1.121496To be my henchman.

Set your heart at rest.

2.1.123498The fairyland buys not the child of me.

2.1.124499His mother was a votress of my order,

2.1.125500And in the spicèd Indian air, by night

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),

2.1.133508Would imitate, and sail upon the land

2.1.134509To fetch me trifles and return again,

2.1.135510As from a voyage rich with merchandise.

2.1.136511But she, being mortal, of that boy did die,

2.1.137512And for her sake I do rear up her boy,

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.

Well, go thy way. Thou shalt not from this grove

2.1.148523Till I torment thee for this injury.

2.1.149524My gentle Puck, come hither. Thou rememb'rest

2.1.150525Since once I sat upon a promontory,

2.1.151526And heard a mermaid on a dolphin's back

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

2.1.155530To hear the sea-maid's music?

I remember.

That very time I saw (but thou couldst not),

2.1.158533Flying between the cold moon and the earth

2.1.159534Cupid all armed; a certain aim he took

2.1.160535At a fair vestal, thronèd by the west,

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,

2.1.165540And the imperial votress passed on,

2.1.166541In maiden meditation, fancy free.

2.1.167542Yet marked I where the bolt of Cupid fell.

2.1.168543It fell upon a little western flower,

2.1.169544Before milk-white, now purple with love's wound,

2.1.170545And maidens call it love-in-idleness.

2.1.171546Fetch me that flower, the herb I showed thee once.

2.1.172547The juice of it on sleeping eyelids laid

2.1.173548Will make or man or woman madly dote

2.1.174549Upon the next live creature that it sees.

2.1.175550Fetch me this herb, and be thou here again

2.1.176551Ere the leviathan can swim a league.

I'll put a girdle about the earth in forty 553minutes.

Having once this juice,

2.1.179555I'll watch Titania when she is asleep,

2.1.180556And drop the liquor of it in her eyes.

2.1.181557The next thing when she waking looks upon --

2.1.182558Be it on lion, bear, or wolf, or bull,

2.1.183559On meddling monkey, or on busy ape --

2.1.184560She shall pursue it with the soul of love.

2.1.185561And ere I take this charm off from her sight

2.1.186562(As I can take it with another herb),

2.1.187563I'll make her render up her page to me.

2.1.188564But who comes here? I am invisible,

2.1.189565And I will overhear their conference.

I love thee not, therefore pursue me not!

2.1.191568Where is Lysander and fair Hermia?

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

2.1.195572Because I cannot meet my Hermia.

2.1.196573Hence, get thee gone, and follow me no more!

You draw me, you hard-hearted adamant.

2.1.198575But yet you draw not iron, for my heart

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?

2.1.202579Or rather do I not in plainest truth

2.1.203580Tell you I do not nor I cannot love you?

And even for that do I love thee the more.

2.1.205582I am your spaniel, and Demetrius,

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,

2.1.209586Unworthy as I am, to follow you.

2.1.210587What worser place can I beg in your love,

2.1.211588And yet a place of high respect with me,

2.1.212589Then to be used as you do your dog?

Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit,

2.1.214591For I am sick when I do look on thee.

And I am sick when I look not on you.

You do impeach your modesty too much,

2.1.217594To leave the city and commit yourself

2.1.218595Into the hands of one that loves you not,

2.1.219596To trust the opportunity of night

2.1.220597And the ill counsel of a desert place

2.1.221598With the rich worth of your virginity.

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.

2.1.227604Then how can it be said I am alone

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!

2.1.238615Or, if thou follow me, do not believe

2.1.239616But I shall do thee mischief in the wood.

Aye, in the temple, in the town and field

2.1.241618You do me mischief. Fie, Demetrius!

2.1.242619Your wrongs do set a scandal on my sex.

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,

2.1.246623To die upon the hand I love so well.

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,

2.1.259637Weed wide enough to wrap a fairy in.

2.1.260638And with the juice of this I'll streak her eyes,

2.1.261639And make her full of hateful fantasies.

2.1.262640Take thou some of it, and seek through this grove.

2.1.263641A sweet Athenian lady is in love

2.1.264642With a disdainful youth. Anoint his eyes,

2.1.265643But do it when the next thing he espies

2.1.266644May be the lady. Thou shalt know the man

2.1.267645By the Athenian garments he hath on.

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.

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.

What thou seest when thou dost wake

2.2.27679Do it for thy true love take;

2.2.28680Love and languish for his sake.

2.2.29681Be it ounce, or cat, or bear,

2.2.30682Pard, or boar with bristled hair,

2.2.31683In thy eye that shall appear,

2.2.32684When thou wak'st, it is thy dear.

2.2.33685Wake when some vile thing is near.

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,

2.2.51704For lying so, Hermia, I do not lie.

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

2.2.56709Lie further off, in human modesty,

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,

2.2.66720But Athenian find I none

2.2.67721On whose eyes I might approve

2.2.68722This flower's force in stirring love.

2.2.69723Night and silence. Who is here?

2.2.70724Weeds of Athens he doth wear.

2.2.71725This is he, my master said,

2.2.72726Despisèd the Athenian maid;

2.2.73727And here the maiden, sleeping sound

2.2.74728On the dank and dirty ground.

2.2.75729Pretty soul, she durst not lie

2.2.76730Near this lack-love, this kill-courtesy.

2.2.77731Churl, upon thy eyes I throw

2.2.78732All the power this charm doth owe:

2.2.79733When thou wak'st, let love forbid

2.2.80734Sleep his seat on thy eyelid.

2.2.81735So awake when I am gone,

2.2.82736For I must now to Oberon.

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.

2.2.93749No, no! I am as ugly as a bear,

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.

2.2.101757Lysander, if you live, good sir awake.

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.

2.2.105761Where is Demetrius? Oh, how fit a word

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.

2.2.112768Not Hermia, but Helena now I love.

2.2.113769Who will not change a raven for a dove?

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,

2.2.119775Reason becomes the marshal to my will,

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,

2.2.125781That I did never, no, nor never can

2.2.126782Deserve a sweet look from Demetrius' eye,

2.2.127783But you must flout my insufficiency?

2.2.128784Good troth, you do me wrong! Good-sooth, you do,

2.2.129785In such disdainful manner me to woo.

2.2.130786But, fare you well. Perforce, I must confess,

2.2.131787I thought you lord of more true gentleness.

2.2.132788Oh, that a lady of one man refus'd

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,

2.2.137794Or, as the heresies that men do leave

2.2.138795Are hated most of those that did deceive,

2.2.139796So thou, my surfeit, and my heresy,

2.2.140797Of all be hated, but the most of me.

2.2.141798And all my powers address your love and might

2.2.142799To honor Helen, and to be her knight.

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!

2.2.147804Methought a serpent eat my heart away,

2.2.148805And you sat smiling at his cruel prey.

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.

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.

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.

3.1.61942The ouzel cock, so black of hew,

3.1.62943With orange-tawny bill.

3.1.63944The throstle, with his note so true,

3.1.64945The wren with little quill.

What Angel wakes me from my flowery bed?

The finch, the sparrow, and the lark,

3.1.67948The plainsong cuckoo gray,

3.1.68949Whose note full many a man doth mark,

3.1.69950And dares not answer nay.

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.

3.1.82971I am a spirit of no common rate.

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.

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,

3.1.1161019Lamenting some enforced chastity.

3.1.1171020Tie up my lover's tongue, bring him silently.

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,

3.2.91031A crew of patches, rude mechanicals

3.2.101032That work for bread upon Athenian stalls,

3.2.111033Were met together to rehearse a play

3.2.121034Intended for great Theseus' nuptial day.

3.2.131035The shallowest thick-skin of that barren sort,

3.2.141036Who Pyramus presented, in their sport,

3.2.151037Forsook his scene, and entered in a brake.

3.2.161038When I did him at this advantage take,

3.2.171039An ass' nole I fixed on his head.

3.2.181040Anon his Thisby must be answered,

3.2.191041And forth my mimic comes. When they him spy,

3.2.201042As wild geese that the creeping fowler eye,

3.2.211043Or russet-pated coughs, many in sort

3.2.221044Rising and cawing at the gun's report,

3.2.231045Sever themselves, and madly sweep the sky,

3.2.241046So, at his sight, away his fellows fly,

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.

3.2.311053I led them on in this distracted fear

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,

3.2.371059With the love juice, as I bid thee do?

I took him sleeping. That is finished too.

3.2.391061And the Athenian woman by his side,

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.

3.2.501073The sun was not so true unto the day

3.2.511074As he to me. Would he have stolen away

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?

3.2.671090Henceforth be never numbered among men.

3.2.681091Oh, once tell true, even for my sake.

3.2.691092Durst thou a look upon him, being awake?

3.2.701093And hast thou killed him sleeping? O brave touch!

3.2.711094Could not a worm, an adder, do so much?

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.

3.2.751098I am not guilty of Lysander's blood.

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,

3.2.811104Whether he be dead or no.

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.

3.2.901113Of thy misprision must perforce ensue

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,

3.2.951118And Helena of Athens look thou find.

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,

3.2.1011124Swifter then arrow from the Tartar's bow.

Flower of this purple dye,

3.2.1031126Hit with Cupid's archery,

3.2.1041127Sink in apple of his eye,

3.2.1051128When his love he doth espy,

3.2.1061129Let her shine as gloriously

3.2.1071130As the Venus of the sky.

3.2.1081131When thou wak'st if she be by,

3.2.1091132Beg of her for remedy.

Captain of our fairy band,

3.2.1111135Helena is here at hand,

3.2.1121136And the youth, mistook by me,

3.2.1131137Pleading for a lover's fee.

3.2.1141138Shall we their fond pageant see?

3.2.1151139Lord, what fools these mortals be!

Stand aside. The noise they make

3.2.1171141Will cause Demetrius to awake.

Then will two at once woo one;

3.2.1191143That must needs be sport alone.

3.2.1201144And those things do best please me

3.2.1211145That befall preposterously.

Why should you think that I should woo in scorn?

3.2.1231148Scorn and derision never comes in tears.

3.2.1241149Look, when I vow I weep; and vows so born,

3.2.1251150In their nativity all truth appears.

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.

3.2.1321157Your vows to her and me, put in two scales,

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?

3.2.1391164Crystal is muddy. O, how ripe in show

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

3.2.1461171To set against me for your merriment.

3.2.1471172If you were civil and knew courtesy

3.2.1481173You would not do me thus much injury.

3.2.1491174Can you not hate me, as I know you do,

3.2.1501175But you must join in souls to mock me too?

3.2.1511176If you are men, as men you are in show,

3.2.1521177You would not use a gentle lady so --

3.2.1531178To vow, and swear, and super-praise my parts,

3.2.1541179When I am sure you hate me with your hearts.

3.2.1551180You both are rivals, and love Hermia,

3.2.1561181And now both rivals to mock Helena.

3.2.1571182A trim exploit, a manly enterprise,

3.2.1581183To conjure tears up in a poor maid's eyes

3.2.1591184With your derision. None of noble sort

3.2.1601185Would so offend a virgin, and extort

3.2.1611186A poor soul's patience, all to make you sport.

You are unkind Demetrius. Be not so!

3.2.1631188For you love Hermia, this you know I know.

3.2.1641189And here, with all good will, with all my heart,

3.2.1651190In Hermia's love I yield you up my part;

3.2.1661191And yours of Helena to me bequeath,

3.2.1671192Whom I do love, and will do to my death.

Never did mockers waste more idle breath.

Lysander, keep thy Hermia; I will none.

3.2.1701195If e're I loved her, all that love is gone.

3.2.1711196My heart to her but as guest-wise sojourned,

3.2.1721197And now to Helen it is home returned,

3.2.1731198There to remain.

It is not so.

Disparage not the faith thou dost not know,

3.2.1761201Lest, to thy peril, thou abide it dear.

3.2.1771202Look where thy love comes. Yonder is thy dear.

Dark night, that from the eye his function takes,

3.2.1791205The ear more quick of apprehension makes.

3.2.1801206Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense,

3.2.1811207It pays the hearing double recompense.

3.2.1821208Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander, found;

3.2.1831209Mine ear, I thank it, brought me to that sound.

3.2.1841210But why unkindly didst thou leave me so?

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.

3.2.1881214Fair Helena, who more engilds the night

3.2.1891215Then all yon fiery oes and eyes of light.

3.2.1901216Why seek'st thou me? Could not this make thee know,

3.2.1911217The hate I bare thee made me leave thee so?

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

3.2.1951221To fashion this false sport in spite of me.

3.2.1961222Injurious Hermia, most ungrateful maid,

3.2.1971223Have you conspired, have you with these contrived

3.2.1981224To bait me with this foul derision?

3.2.1991225Is all the counsel that we two have shared,

3.2.2001226The sisters' vows, the hours that we have spent,

3.2.2011227When we have chid the hasty-footed time

3.2.2021228For parting us -- O, is all forgot?

3.2.2031229All schooldays friendship, childhood innocence?

3.2.2041230We, Hermia, like two artificial gods,

3.2.2051231Have with our needles created both one flower,

3.2.2061232Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,

3.2.2071233Both warbling of one song, both in one key;

3.2.2081234As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds

3.2.2091235Had been incorporate. So we grew together,

3.2.2101236Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,

3.2.2111237But yet a union in partition,

3.2.2121238Two lovely berries molded on one stem.

3.2.2131239So, with two seeming bodies, but one heart;

3.2.2141240Two of the first, like coats in heraldry,

3.2.2151241Due but to one, and crowned with one crest.

3.2.2161242And will you rent our ancient love asunder,

3.2.2171243To join with men in scorning your poor friend?

3.2.2181244It is not friendly, 'tis not maidenly.

3.2.2191245Our sex, as well as I, may chide you for it,

3.2.2201246Though I alone do feel the injury.

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,

3.2.2241250To follow me and praise my eyes and face?

3.2.2251251And made your other love, Demetrius

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

3.2.2301256Deny your love, so rich within his soul,

3.2.2311257And tender me, forsooth, affection,

3.2.2321258But by your setting on, by your consent?

3.2.2331259What though I be not so in grace as you,

3.2.2341260So hung upon with love, so fortunate?

3.2.2351261But miserable most, to love unloved?

3.2.2361262This you should pity rather then despise.

I understand not what you mean by this.

Ay, do. Persevere, counterfeit sad looks,

3.2.2391265Make mouths upon me when I turn my back,

3.2.2401266Wink each at other, hold the sweet jest up.

3.2.2411267This sport, well carried, shall be chronicled.

3.2.2421268If you have any pity, grace, or manners,

3.2.2431269You would not make me such an argument.

3.2.2441270But, fare ye well. 'Tis partly mine own fault,

3.2.2451271Which death or absence soon shall remedy.

Stay, gentle Helena, hear my excuse,

3.2.2471273My love, my life, my soul, fair Helena.

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.

3.2.2531279Helen, I love thee, by my life I do!

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,

3.2.2621288Take on as you would follow,

3.2.2631289But yet come not. You are a tame man, go!

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?

3.2.2671293What change is this sweet love?

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?

3.2.2761302Although I hate her, I'll not harm her so.

What, can you do me greater harm then hate?

3.2.2781304Hate me? Wherefore? O me, what news my Love?

3.2.2791305Am not I Hermia? Are not you Lysander?

3.2.2801306I am as fair now, as I was e're while.

3.2.2811307Since night you loved me, yet since night you left me.

3.2.2821308Why, then, you left me -- O the gods forbid --

3.2.2831309In earnest, shall I say?

Ay, by my life!

3.2.2851311And never did desire to see thee more.

3.2.2861312Therefore be out of hope, of question, of doubt;

3.2.2871313Be certain, nothing truer. 'Tis no jest

3.2.2881314That I do hate thee, and love Helena.

O me! You juggler, you canker blossom,

3.2.2901316You thief of love! What, have you come by night

3.2.2911317And stolen my love's heart from him?

Fine, i'faith.

3.2.2931319Have you no modesty, no maiden shame,

3.2.2941320No touch of bashfulness? What, will you tear

3.2.2951321Impatient answers from my gentle tongue?

3.2.2961322Fie, fie, you counterfeit, you puppet you!

Puppet? Why so? Ay, that way goes the game.

3.2.2981324Now I perceive that she hath made compare

3.2.2991325Between our statures; she hath urged her height,

3.2.3001326And with her personage, her tall personage,

3.2.3011327Her height, forsooth, she hath prevailed with him.

3.2.3021328And are you grown so high in his esteem,

3.2.3031329Because I am so dwarfish, and so low?

3.2.3041330How low am I, thou painted maypole? Speak!

3.2.3051331How low am I? I am not yet so low,

3.2.3061332But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes!

I pray you, though you mock me, gentlemen,

3.2.3081334Let her not hurt me. I was never curst.

3.2.3091335I have no gift at all in shrewishness.

3.2.3101336I am a right maid for my cowardice;

3.2.3111337Let her not strike me. You perhaps may think

3.2.3121338Because she is something lower then myself,

3.2.3131339That I can match her.

Lower? Harke again!

Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me.

3.2.3161342I evermore did love you, Hermia,

3.2.3171343Did ever keep your counsels, never wronged you,

3.2.3181344Save that, in love unto Demetrius,

3.2.3191345I told him of your stealth unto this wood.

3.2.3201346He followed you, for love I followed him.

3.2.3211347But he hath chid me hence, and threatened me

3.2.3221348To strike me, spurn me, nay, to kill me too!

3.2.3231349And now, so you will let me quiet go,

3.2.3241350To Athens will I bear my folly back,

3.2.3251351And follow you no further. Let me go.

3.2.3261352You see how simple, and how fond I am.

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.

3.2.3341360She was a vixen when she went to school,

3.2.3351361And though she be but little, she is fierce.

"Little" again? Nothing but "low" and "little?"

3.2.3371363Why will you suffer her to flout me thus?

3.2.3381364Let me come to her!

Get you gone, you dwarf,

3.2.3401366You minimus, of hind'ring knotgrass made!

3.2.3411367You bead, you acorn.

You are too officious,

3.2.3431369In her behalf that scorns your services.

3.2.3441370Let her alone. Speak not of Helena,

3.2.3451371Take not her part. For if thou dost intend

3.2.3461372Never so little show of love to her,

3.2.3471373Thou shalt abide it.

Now she holds me not.

3.2.3491375Now follow if thou dar'st, to try whose right,

3.2.3501376Of thine or mine, is most in Helena.

Follow? Nay, I'll go with thee, cheek by 1378jowl.

You, mistress, all this coil is long of you.

3.2.3531380Nay, go not back.

I will not trust you, I,

3.2.3551382Nor longer stay in your curst company.

3.2.3561383Your hands than mine are quicker for a fray;

3.2.3571384My legs are longer, though, to run away.

This is thy negligence. Still thou mistak'st,

3.2.3591387Or else committ'st thy knaveries willingly.

Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook.

3.2.3611389Did not you tell me I should know the man

3.2.3621390By the Athenian garments he hath on?

3.2.3631391And so far blameless proves my enterprise,

3.2.3641392That I have 'nointed an Athenian's eyes,

3.2.3651393And so far am I glad it so did sort,

3.2.3661394As this their jangling I esteem a sport.

Thou seest these lovers seek a place to fight.

3.2.3681396Hie therefore, Robin, overcast the night,

3.2.3691397The starry welkin cover thou anon

3.2.3701398With drooping fog as black as Acheron,

3.2.3711399And lead these testy rivals so astray

3.2.3721400As one come not within another's way.

3.2.3731401Like to Lysander sometime frame thy tongue,

3.2.3741402Then stir Demetrius up with bitter wrong;

3.2.3751403And sometime rail thou like Demetrius.

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.

3.2.3791407Then crush this herb into Lysander's eye,

3.2.3801408Whose liquor hath this virtuous property,

3.2.3811409To take from thence all error with his might,

3.2.3821410And make his eyeballs roll with wonted sight.

3.2.3831411When they next wake, all this derision

3.2.3841412Shall seem a dream and fruitless vision,

3.2.3851413And back to Athens shall the lovers wend

3.2.3861414With league whose date till death shall never end.

3.2.3871415While I in this affaire do thee employ,

3.2.3881416I'll to my queen and beg her Indian boy;

3.2.3891417And then I will her charmèd eye release

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,

3.2.3931421And yonder shines Aurora's harbinger,

3.2.3941422At whose approach ghosts wandering here and there

3.2.3951423Troop home to churchyards. Damnèd spirits all,

3.2.3961424That in crossways and floods have burial,

3.2.3971425Already to their wormy beds are gone

3.2.3981426For fear least day should look their shames upon;

3.2.3991427They willfully themselves exile from light

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,

3.2.4031431And, like a forester, the groves may tread

3.2.4041432Even till the eastern gate, all fiery red,

3.2.4051433Opening on Neptune with fair blessed beams,

3.2.4061434Turns into yellow gold his salt-green streams.

3.2.4071435But, notwithstanding, haste! Make no delay.

3.2.4081436We may effect this business yet ere day.

3.2.4101438Up and down, up and down,

3.2.4111439I will lead them up and down.

3.2.4121440I am feared in field and town.

3.2.4131441Goblin, lead them up and down.

3.2.4141442Here comes one.

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!

3.2.4201448Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled?

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!

3.2.4251453I'll whip thee with a rod. He is defiled

3.2.4261454That draws a sword on thee.

Yea, art thou there?

Follow my voice, we'll try no manhood here.

He goes before me, and still dares me on.

3.2.4301458When I come where he calls, then he's gone.

3.2.4311459The villain is much lighter heeled than I.

3.2.4321460I followed fast, but faster he did fly,

3.2.4331461That fallen am I in dark uneven way,

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.

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.

3.2.4411470Where art thou?

Come hither! I am here.

Nay then, thou mock'st me. Thou shalt buy this

3.2.4441473dear,

3.2.4451474If ever I thy face by daylight see.

3.2.4461475Now go thy way. Faintness constraineth me

3.2.4471476To measure out my length on this cold bed.

3.2.4481477By day's approach look to be visited.

O weary night, O long and tedious night,

3.2.4501480Abate thy hours, shine comforts from the east,

3.2.4511481That I may back to Athens by daylight

3.2.4521482From these that my poor company detest;

3.2.4531483And sleep, that sometime shuts up sorrow's eye,

3.2.4541484Steal me awhile from mine own company.

Yet but three? Come one more.

3.2.4561486Two of both kinds makes up four.

3.2.4571487Here she comes, curst and sad.

3.2.4581488Cupid is a knavish lad

3.2.4591490Thus to make poor females mad.

Never so weary, never so in woe,

3.2.4611492Bedabbled with the dew, and torn with briars,

3.2.4621493I can no further crawl, no further go;

3.2.4631494My legs can keep no pace with my desires.

3.2.4641495Here will I rest me till the break of day.

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.

3.2.4681499When thou wak'st, thou tak'st

3.2.4691500True delight in the sight

3.2.470Of thy former lady's eye.

3.2.4711501And the country proverb known,

3.2.4721502That every man should take his own,

3.2.4731503In your waking shall be shown.

3.2.4741504Jack shall have Jill,

3.2.475Naught shall go ill.

3.2.4761505The man shall have his mare again,

3.2.477And all shall be 1506well.

Come, sit thee down upon this flowery bed,

4.1.31512While I thy amiable cheeks do coy,

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

4.1.211549And fetch thee new nuts.

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.

4.1.251554Fairies, be gone, and be always away.

4.1.261555So doth the woodbine, the sweet honeysuckle,

4.1.271556Gently entwist; the female ivy so

4.1.281557Enrings the barky fingers of the elm.

4.1.291558O how I love thee! How I dote on thee!

Welcome good Robin.

4.1.311561Seest thou this sweet sight?

4.1.321562Her dotage now I do begin to pity.

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.

4.1.421572When I had at my pleasure taunted her,

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

4.1.461576To bear him to my bower in fairyland.

4.1.471577And now I have the boy, I will undo

4.1.481578This hateful imperfection of her eyes.

4.1.491579And, gentle Puck, take this transformed scalp,

4.1.501580From off the head of this Athenian swain,

4.1.511581That he, awaking when the other do,

4.1.521582May all to Athens back again repair,

4.1.531583And think no more of this night's accidents,

4.1.541584But as the fierce vexation of a dream.

4.1.551585But first I will release the fairy queen.

4.1.601590Now, my Titania, wake you my sweet queen.

My Oberon, what visions have I seen!

4.1.621592Methought I was enamored of an ass.

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.

4.1.741605Now thou and I are new in amity,

4.1.751606And will tomorrow midnight solemnly

4.1.761607Dance in Duke Theseus' house triumphantly,

4.1.771608And bless it to all fair posterity.

4.1.781609There shall the pairs of faithful lovers be

4.1.791610Wedded, with Theseus, all in jollity.

Fairy king attend and mark,

4.1.811612I do hear the morning lark.

Then, my queen, in silence sad,

4.1.831614Trip we after the night's shade.

4.1.841615We the globe can compass soon,

4.1.851616Swifter then the wandering moon.

Come, my lord, and in our flight,

4.1.871618Tell me how it came this night

4.1.881619That I sleeping here was found

4.1.891621With these mortals on the ground.

Go, one of you, find out the forester,

4.1.921625For now our observation is performed;

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.

4.1.961629Dispatch, I say, and find the forester.

4.1.971630We will, faire queen, up to the mountain's top,

4.1.981631And mark the musical confusion

4.1.991632Of hounds and echo in conjunction.

I was with Hercules and Cadmus once

4.1.1011634When in a wood of Crete they bayed the bear

4.1.1021635With hounds of Sparta. Never did I hear

4.1.1031636Such gallant chiding; for, besides the groves,

4.1.1041637The skies, the fountains, every region near

4.1.1051638Seemed all one mutual cry. I never heard

4.1.1061639So musical a discord, such sweet thunder.

My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind,

4.1.1081641So flewed, so sanded, and their heads are hung

4.1.1091642With ears that sweep away the morning dew;

4.1.1101643Crook-kneed, and dewlapped, like Thessalian bulls,

4.1.1111644Slow in pursuit, but matched in mouth like bells,

4.1.1121645Each under each. A cry more tuneable

4.1.1131646Was never hallowed to nor cheered with horn

4.1.1141647In Crete, in Sparta, nor in Thessaly.

4.1.1151648Judge when you hear. But soft! What nymphs are these?

My Lord, this is my daughter here asleep,

4.1.1171650And this Lysander, this Demetrius is,

4.1.1181651This Helena, old Nedar's Helena.

4.1.1191652I wonder of this being here together.

No doubt they rose up early to observe

4.1.1211654The right of May, and hearing our intent,

4.1.1221655Came here in grace of our solemnity.

4.1.1231656But speak, Egeus. Is not this the day

4.1.1241657That Hermia should give answer of her choice?

It is, my lord.

Go, bid the huntsmen wake them with their

4.1.1271660hornes.

Good morrow friends. Saint Valentine is past;

4.1.1291664Begin these wood birds but to couple now?

Pardon, my lord.

I pray you all stand up.

4.1.1321667I know you two are rival enemies.

4.1.1331668How comes this gentle concord in the world,

4.1.1341669That hatred is so far from jealousy

4.1.1351670To sleep by hate, and fear no enmity?

My lord, I shall reply amazedly,

4.1.1371672Half asleep, half waking. But as yet, I swear,

4.1.1381673I cannot truly say how I came here.

4.1.1391674But as I think, for truly would I speak,

4.1.1401675And now I do bethink me, so it is,

4.1.1411676I came with Hermia hither. Our intent

4.1.1421677Was to be gone from Athens, where we might be

4.1.1431678Without the peril of the Athenian law.

Enough, enough, my lord! You have enough.

4.1.1451680I beg the law, the law, upon his head.

4.1.1461681They would have stolen away, they would, Demetrius,

4.1.1471682Thereby to have defeated you and me --

4.1.1481683You of your wife, and me of my consent,

4.1.1491684Of my consent that she should be your wife.

My lord, fair Helen told me of their stealth,

4.1.1511686Of this their purpose hither, to this wood,

4.1.1521687And I in fury hither followed them,

4.1.1531688Fair Helena, in fancy, followed me.

4.1.1541689But, my good lord, I wot not by what power,

4.1.1551690But by some power it is, my love

4.1.1561691To Hermia, melted as the snow,

4.1.1571692Seems to me now as the remembrance of an idle gaud,

4.1.1581693Which in my childhood I did dote upon.

4.1.1591694And all the faith, the virtue of my heart,

4.1.1601695The object and the pleasure of mine eye,

4.1.1611696Is only Helena. To her, my lord,

4.1.1621697Was I betrothèd ere I see Hermia.

4.1.1631698But, like a sickness, did I loath this food;

4.1.1641699But, as in health, come to my natural taste.

4.1.1651700Now do I wish it, love it, long for it,

4.1.1661701And will for evermore be true to it.

Fair lovers, you are fortunately met;

4.1.1681703Of this discourse we shall hear more anon.

4.1.1691704Egeus, I will overbear your will;

4.1.1701705For in the temple, by and by, with us,

4.1.1711706These couples shall eternally be knit.

4.1.1721707And, for the morning now is something worn,

4.1.1731708Our purposed hunting shall be set aside.

4.1.1741709Away, with us to Athens. Three and three,

4.1.1751710We'll hold a feast in great solemnity.

4.1.1761711Come, Hippolita.

These things seem small and undistinguishable,

4.1.1781713Like far off mountains turned into clouds.

Methinks I see these things with parted eye,

4.1.1801715When every thing seems double.

So methinks.

4.1.1821717And I have found Demetrius, like a jewel,

4.1.1831718Mine own, and not mine own.

It seems to me,

4.1.1851720That yet we sleep, we dream. Do not you think

4.1.1861721The duke was here, and bid us follow him?

Yea, and my father.

And Hippolita.

And he bid us follow to the temple.

Why then, we are awake! Let's follow him,

4.1.1911726And by the way let us recount our dreams.

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.

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!

'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

5.1.61798Than cool reason ever comprehends.

5.1.71799The lunatic, the lover, and the poet

5.1.81800Are of imagination all compact.

5.1.91801One sees more devils then vast hell can hold:

5.1.101802That is the madman. The lover, all as frantic,

5.1.111803Sees Helen's beauty in a brow of Egypt.

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.

5.1.201812Or, in the night, imagining some fear,

5.1.211813How easy is a bush supposed a bear?

But all the story of the night told over,

5.1.231815And all their minds transfigured so together,

5.1.241816More witnesseth than fancy's images

5.1.251817And grows to something of great constancy;

5.1.261818But howsoever, strange and admirable.

Here come the lovers, full of joy and mirth.

5.1.281822Joy, gentle friends, joy and fresh days

5.1.291823Of love accompany your hearts.

More then to us wait in your royal walks,

5.1.311825your board, your bed.

Come now, what masks, what dances shall

1827we have,

5.1.331828To wear away this long age of three hours,

5.1.341829Between our after-supper and bed-time?

5.1.351830Where is our usual manager of mirth?

5.1.361831What revels are in hand? Is there no play

5.1.371832To ease the anguish of a torturing hour?

5.1.381833Call Egeus.

Here mighty Theseus.

Say, what abridgement have you for this

5.1.411836evening?

5.1.421837What mask? What music? How shall we beguile

5.1.431838The lazy time if not with some delight?

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

5.1.471842By an Athenian eunuch to the harp.

We'll none of that. That have I told my love

5.1.491844In glory of my kinsman Hercules.

5.1.501845"The Riot of the Tipsy Bacchanals

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

5.1.551850of Learning, late Deceased in Beggary."

5.1.561851That is some satire keen and critical,

5.1.571852Not sorting with a nuptial ceremony.

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

5.1.621857Find the concord of this discord?

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

5.1.721867Never shed.

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,

5.1.831878To do you service.

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,

5.1.881883And duty in his service perishing.

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

5.1.941889Takes it in might, not merit.

5.1.951890Where I have come, great clerks have purposed

5.1.961891To greet me with premeditated welcomes;

5.1.971892Where I have seen them shiver and look pale,

5.1.981893Make periods in the midst of sentences,

5.1.991894Throttle their practiced accent in their fears,

5.1.1001895And, in conclusion, dumbly have broke off,

5.1.1011896Not paying me a welcome. Trust me, sweet,

5.1.1021897Out of this silence yet I picked a welcome;

5.1.1031898And in the modesty of fearful duty

5.1.1041899I read as much as from the rat'ling tongue

5.1.1051900Of saucy and audacious eloquence.

5.1.1061901Love, therefore, and tongue-tied simplicity

5.1.1071902In least speak most, to my capacity.

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,

5.1.1131909That is the true beginning of our end.

5.1.1141910Consider then, we come but in despite.

5.1.1151911We do not come, as minding to content you,

5.1.1161912Our true intent is. All for your delight,

5.1.1171913We are not here. That you should here repent you,

5.1.1181914The actors are at hand; and by their show,

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?

5.1.126Gentles, perchance you wonder at this show,

5.1.1271927But wonder on, till truth make all things plain.

5.1.1281928This man is Pyramus, if you would know;

5.1.1291929This beauteous lady Thisby is certain.

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,

5.1.1391939The trusty Thisby, coming first by night,

5.1.1401940Did scare away, or rather did affright;

5.1.1411941And, as she fled, her mantle she did fall,

5.1.1421942Which lion vile with bloody mouth did stain.

5.1.1431943Anon comes Pyramus, sweet youth and tall,

5.1.1441944And finds his Thisby's mantle slain;

5.1.1451945Whereat, with blade, with bloody blameful blade,

5.1.1461946He bravely broached his boiling bloody breast.

5.1.1471947And Thisby, tarrying in mulberry shade,

5.1.1481948His dagger drew, and died. For all the rest,

5.1.1491949Let lion, moonshine, wall, and lovers twain

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

5.1.1551957That I, one Snout by name, present a wall;

5.1.1561958And such a wall, as I would have you think,

5.1.1571959That had in it a crannied hole or chink,

5.1.1581960Through which the lovers, Pyramus and Thisby,

5.1.1591961Did whisper often, very secretly.

5.1.1601962This loam, this rough-cast, and this stone doth show

5.1.1611963That I am that same Wall, the truth is so.

5.1.1621964And this the cranny is, right and sinister,

5.1.1631965Through which the fearful lovers are to whisper.

Would you desire lime and hair to speak

1967better?

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,

5.1.1691973O night, which ever art when day is not.

5.1.1701974O night, O night, alack, alack, alack.

5.1.1711975I fear my Thisby's promise is forgot.

5.1.1721976And thou, O wall, thou sweet and lovely wall,

5.1.1731977That stands between her father's ground and mine,

5.1.1741978Thou wall, O wall, O sweet and lovely wall,

5.1.1751979Show me thy chink, to blink through with mine eyne.

5.1.1761980Thanks, courteous wall. Jove shield thee well for this.

5.1.1771981But what see I? No Thisby do I see.

5.1.1781982O wicked wall, through whom I see no bliss,

5.1.1791983Curst be thy stones for thus deceiving me!

The wall, methinks, being sensible, should

1985curse again.

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

5.1.1821990Pat as I told you. Yonder she comes.

5.1.184O wall, full often hast thou heard my moans

5.1.1851992For parting my fair Pyramus and me.

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,

5.1.1921999And like Limander am I trusty still.

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

2011neighbors.

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,

5.1.2122025When Lion rough in wildest rage doth roar.

5.1.2132026Then know that I, one Snug the Joiner am

5.1.2142027A lion fell, nor else no lion's dam.

5.1.2152028For, if I should as lion come in strife

5.1.2162029Into this place,'twere pity of my life!

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.

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

5.1.2492077I trust to taste of truest Thisby's sight.

5.1.2502078But stay: O spite! But mark, poor knight,

5.1.2512079What dreadful dole is here?

5.1.2522080Eyes, do you see? How can it be?

5.1.2532081O dainty duck, O dear!

5.1.2542082Thy mantle good, what, stained with blood?

5.1.2552083Approach you Furies fell!

5.1.2562084O Fates, come, come! Cut thread and thrum,

5.1.2572085Quail, crush, conclude, and quell.

This passion, and the death of a dear friend,

5.1.2592087Would go near to make a man look sad.

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.

5.1.2652093Come tears, confound. Out sword, and wound

5.1.2662094The pap of Pyramus:

5.1.2672095Aye, that left pap, where heart doth hop;

5.1.2682096Thus die I, thus, thus, thus.

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,

5.1.2712100Now die, die, die, die, die.

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

5.1.2842119Must cover thy sweet eyes.

5.1.2852120These lily lips, this cherry nose,

5.1.2862121These yellow cowslip cheeks

5.1.2872122Are gone, are gone. Lovers, make moan.

5.1.2882123His eyes were green as leeks.

5.1.2892124O sisters three, come, come to me,

5.1.2902125With hands as pale as milk,

5.1.2912126Lay them in gore, since you have shore

5.1.2922127With shears, his thread of silk.

5.1.2932128Tongue, not a word. Come, trusty sword,

5.1.2942129Come, blade, my breast imbrue.

5.1.2952130And, farewell friends. Thus Thisby ends.

5.1.2962131Adieu, adieu, adieu.

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.

5.1.3022146Lovers, to bed; 'tis almost fairy time.

5.1.3032147I fear we shall out-sleep the coming morn,

5.1.3042148As much as we this night have over-watched.

5.1.3052149This palpable gross play hath well beguiled

5.1.3062150The heavy gate of night. Sweet friends, to bed.

5.1.3072151A fortnight hold we this solemnity

5.1.3082152In nightly revels and new jollity.

Now the hungry lion's roars,

5.1.3102155And the wolf beholds the moon,

5.1.3112156Whilst the heavy plowman snores,

5.1.3122157All with weary task fordone.

5.1.3132158Now the wasted brands do glow,

5.1.3142159Whil'st the screech owl, screeching loud,

5.1.3152160Puts the wretch that lies in woe

5.1.3162161In remembrance of a shroud.

5.1.3172162Now it is the time of night,

5.1.3182163That the graves, all gaping wide,

5.1.3192164Every one lets forth his sprite,

5.1.3202165In the churchway paths to glide.

5.1.3212166And we fairies that do run

5.1.3222167By the triple Hecate's team

5.1.3232168From the presence of the sun,

5.1.3242169Following darkness like a dream,

5.1.3252170Now are frolic; not a mouse

5.1.3262171Shall disturb this hallowed house.

5.1.3272172I am sent with broom before,

5.1.3282173To sweep the dust behind the door.

Through the house give glimmering light,

5.1.3302176By the dead and drowsy fire.

5.1.3312177Every elf and fairy sprite

5.1.3322178Hop as light as bird from brier;

5.1.3332179And this ditty after me sing and dance it trippingly.

First rehearse this song by rote,

5.1.3352181To each word a warbling note.

5.1.3362182Hand in hand with fairy grace

5.1.3372183Will we sing and bless this place.

If we shadows have offended,

5.1.3612208Think but this, and all is mended:

5.1.3622209That you have but slumbered here,

5.1.3632210While these visions did appear.

5.1.3642211And this weak and idle theme,

5.1.3652212No more yielding but a dream.

5.1.3662213Gentles, do not reprehend.

5.1.3672214If you pardon, we will mend.

5.1.3682215And, as I am an honest Puck,

5.1.3692216If we have unearnèd luck

5.1.3702217Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,

5.1.3712218We will make amends ere long.

5.1.3722219Else the Puck a liar call.

5.1.3732220So, good night unto you all.

5.1.3742221Give me your hands, if we be friends,

5.1.3752222And Robin shall restore amends.