279273Quin. Mary, our Play is the most lamentable comedy,

280274and most cruell death of Pyramus and Thisby.

281275Bot. A very good peece of worke, I assure you, & a mer-

282276ry. Now good Peeter Quince, call forth your Actors, by the

283277scrowle. Masters, spreade your selues.

284278Quin. Answere, as I call you. Nick Bottom, the Weauer?

286279Bott. Readie: Name what part I am for, and proceede.

288280Quin. You, Nick Bottom are set downe for Pyramus.

290281Bott. What is Pyramus? A louer, or a tyrant?

291282Quin. A louer that kils himselfe, most gallant, for loue.

293283Bott. That will aske some teares in the true performing

294284of it. If I doe it, let the Audience looke to their eyes: I wil

295285mooue stormes: I will condole, in some measure. To the

296286rest yet, my chiefe humour is for a tyrant. I could play Er-

297287cles rarely, or a part to teare a Cat in, to make all split the

298288raging rocks: and shiuering shocks, shall breake the locks

299289of prison gates, and Phibbus carre shall shine from farre,

300290and make & marre the foolish Fates. This was loftie. Now,

301291name the rest of the Players. This is Ercles vaine, a tyrants

302292vaine: A louer is more condoling.

304293Quin. Francis Flute, the Bellowes mender?

305294Flu. Here Peeter Quince.

306295Quin. Flute, you must take Thisby, on you.

307296Flu. What is Thisby? A wandring knight?

308297Quin. It is the Lady, that Pyramus must loue.

309298Fl. Nay faith: let not me play a womā: I haue a beard cō-(ming.

311299Quin. Thats all one: you shall play it in a Maske: and you

312300may speake as small as you will.

313301Bott. And I may hide my face, let me play Thisby to: Ile

314302speake in a monstrous little voice; Thisne, Thisne, ah Py-,

315303ramus my louer deare, thy Thysby deare, & Lady deare.

317304Qu. No, no: you must play Pyramus: & Flute, you Thysby.

319305Bot. Well, proceede. Qui. Robin Starueling, the Tailer?

321306Star. Here Peeter Quince.

322307Quin. Robin Starueling, you must play Thysbyes mother: