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

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    Not Peer Reviewed

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

    A Midsommer nightes dreame.
    1520Clo. Mounsieur Cobweb, good Mounsieur, get you your
    weapons in your hand, and kill me a red hipt Humble Bee,
    on the toppe of a thistle: and good Mounsieur, bring mee
    the hony bagge. Doe not fret your selfe too much, in the
    action, Mounsieur: and good Mounsieur haue a care, the
    1525honybagge breake not, I wold be loath to haue you ouer-
    flowen with a honibag signior. Where's Mounsieur Must-
    tardseede?
    Must. Readie.
    Clo. Giue me your neafe, Mounsieur Mustardseede. Pray
    1530you, leaue your curtsie, good Mounsieur.
    Must. What's your will?
    Clo. Nothing good Mounsieur, but to helpe Caualery
    Cobwebbe, to scratch. I must to the Barbers, Mounsieur.
    For me thinkes I am maruailes hairy about the face. And I
    1535am such a tender Asse, if my haire doe but tickle mee, I
    must scratch.
    Tita. What, wilt thou heare some musique, my sweete
    loue?
    Clo. I haue a reasonable good eare in musique. Lets
    1540haue the tongs, and the bones.
    Tyta. Or, say sweete loue, what thou desirest to eate.
    Clo. Truely a pecke of prouander. I could mounch your
    good dry Oates. Me thinkes, I haue a great desire to a bot-
    1545tle of hay. Good hay, sweete hay hath no fellow.
    Ty. I haue a venturous Fairy, that shall seeke the Squirils(hoord,
    And fetch thee newe nuts.
    1550Clo. I had rather haue a handfull, or two of dryed pease.
    But, I pray you, let none of your people stirre me: I haue an
    exposition of sleepe come vpon mee.
    Tyta. Sleepe thou, and I will winde thee in my armes.
    Faieries be gon, and be alwaies away.
    1555So doth the woodbine, the sweete Honisuckle,
    Gently entwist: the female Iuy so
    Enrings the barky fingers of the Elme.
    O