824798How answere you that?

825799Snout. Berlakin, a parlous feare.

826800Star. I beleeue, we must leaue the killing, out, when all

827801is done.

828802Bott. Not a whit: I haue a deuise to make all well. Write

829803me a Prologue, and let the Prologue seeme to say; we wil

830804do no harme, with our swords, and that Pyramus is not

831805kild indeede: and for the more better assurance, tel them,

832806that I Pyramus am not Pyramus, but Bottom the weauer:

833807this will put them out of feare.

834808Quin. Well: wee will haue such a Prologue, and it shall be

835809written in eight and six.

836810Bot. No: make it two more: let it be written in eight &

837811eight.

838812Snout. Will not the ladies be afeard of the Lyon?

839813Star. I feare it, I promise you.

840814Bot. Masters, you ought to consider with your selfe, to

841815bring in (God shielde vs) a Lyon among Ladies, is

842816a most dreadfull thing. For there is not a more fearefull

843817wilde foule then your Lyon liuing: & we ought to looke

844818toote.

845819Sno. Therfore, another Prologue must tel, he is not a Lion.

847820Bot. Nay: you must name his name, and halfe his face

848821must be seene through the Lions necke, and he himselfe

849822must speake through, saying thus, or to the same defect;

850823Ladies, or faire Ladies, I would wish you, or I would re-

851824quest you, or I wold intreat you, not to feare, not to trēble:

852825my life for yours. If you thinke I come hither as a Lyon, it

853826were pittie of my life. No: I am no such thing: I am a man

854827as other men are: & there indeed, let him name his name,

855828and tell them plainely he is Snugge, the Ioyner.

857829Quin. Well: it shall be so: but there is two hard things;

858830that is, to bring the Moone-light into a chamber: for you

859831know, Pyramus and Thisby meete by Moone-light.

861832Sn. Doth the Moone shine, that night, we play our Play?