Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. A Midsummer Night's Dream (1623 First Folio Edition)
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About the electronic version
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1623 First Folio Edition)
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
Creation of machine-readable version: Hugh Craig, University of Newcastle
Conversion to TEI.2-conformant markup: University of Virginia Library Electronic Text Center. ca. 150 kilobytes
This version available from the University of Virginia Library.
Charlottesville, Va.
Available from: Oxford Text Archive
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/modeng/modeng0.browse.html
1992
About the print version
A Midsummer Night's Dream
The First Folio of Shakespeare
William Shakespeare Editor Charlton Hinman The Norton Facsimile
W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
New York
1968 Prepared for the University of Virginia Library Electronic Text Center.
Published: 1623
1595-1596
English drama LCSH
Revisions to the electronic version
July 1996 corrector Catherine Tousignant, Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Added TEI header; updated tagging to conform to local practices
etextcenter@virginia.edu. Commercial use prohibited; all usage governed by our Conditions of Use: http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/conditions.html
Act I
1: Actus primus.
2: [ Enter Theseus, Hippolita, with others.]
3:
Theseus.
4: Now faire Hippolita, our nuptiall houre
5: Drawes on apace: foure happy daies bring in
6: Another Moon: but oh, me thinkes, how slow
7: This old Moon wanes; She lingers my desires
8: Like to a Step-dame, or a Dowager,
9: Long withering out a yong mans reuennew.
10:
Hip.
Foure daies wil quickly steep the[m]selues in nights
11: Foure nights wil quickly dreame away the time:
12: And then the Moone, like to a siluer bow,
13: Now bent in heauen, shal behold the night
14: Of our solemnities.
15:
The.
Go Philostrate,
16: Stirre vp the Athenian youth to merriments,
17: Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth,
18: Turne melancholy forth to Funerals:
19: The pale companion is not for our pompe,
20: Hippolita, I woo'd thee with my sword,
21: And wonne thy loue, doing thee iniuries:
22: But I will wed thee in another key,
23: With pompe, with triumph, and with reuelling.
24: [ Enter Egeus and his daughter Hermia, Lysander,
and Demetrius]
26:
Ege.
Happy be Theseus, our renowned Duke.
27:
The.
Thanks good Egeus: what's the news with thee?
28:
Ege.
Full of vexation, come I, with complaint
29: Against my childe, my daughter Hermia.
30: [ Stand forth Demetrius.]
31: My Noble Lord,
32: This man hath my consent to marrie her.
33: [ Stand forth Lysander.]
34: And my gracious Duke,
35: This man hath bewitch'd the bosome of my childe:
36: Thou, thou Lysander, thou hast giuen her rimes,
37: And interchang'd loue-tokens with my childe:
38: Thou hast by Moone-light at her window sung,
39: With faining voice, verses of faining loue,
40: And stolne the impression of her fantasie,
41: With bracelets of thy haire, rings, gawdes, conceits,
42: Knackes, trifles, Nose-gaies, sweet meats (messengers
43: Of strong preuailment in vnhardned youth)
44: With cunning hast thou filch'd my daughters heart,
45: Turn'd her obedience (which is due to me)
46: To stubborne harshnesse. And my gracious Duke,
47: Be it so she will not heere before your Grace,
48: Consent to marrie with Demetrius,
49: I beg the ancient priuiledge of Athens;
50: As she is mine, I may dispose of her;
51: Which shall be either to this Gentleman,
52: Or to her death, according to our Law,
53: Immediately prouided in that case.
54:
The.
What say you Hermia? be aduis'd faire Maide,
55: To you your Father should be as a God;
56: One that compos'd your beauties; yea and one
57: To whom you are but as a forme in waxe
58: By him imprinted: and within his power,
59: To leaue the figure, or disfigure it:
60: Demetrius is a worthy Gentleman.
61:
Her.
So is Lysander.
62:
The.
In himselfe he is.
63: But in this kinde, wanting your fathers voyce,
64: The other must be held the worthier.
65:
Her.
I would my father look'd but with my eyes.
66:
The.
Rather your eies must with his iudgment looke.
67:
Her.
I do entreat your Grace to pardon me.
68: I know not by what power I am made bold,
69: Nor how it may concerne my modestie
70: In such a presence heere to pleade my thoughts:
71: But I beseech your Grace, that I may know
72: The worst that may befall me in this case,
73: If I refuse to wed Demetrius.
74:
The.
Either to dye the death, or to abiure
75: For euer the society of men.
76: Therefore faire Hermia question your desires,
77: Know of your youth, examine well your blood,
78: Whether (if you yeeld not to your fathers choice)
79: You can endure the liuerie of a Nunne,
80: For aye to be in shady Cloister mew'd,
81: To liue a barren sister all your life,
82: Chanting faint hymnes to the cold fruitlesse Moone,
83: Thrice blessed they that master so their blood,
84: To vndergo such maiden pilgrimage,
85: But earthlier happie is the Rose distil'd,
86: Then that which withering on the virgin thorne,
87: Growes, liues, and dies, in single blessednesse.
88:
Her.
So will I grow, so liue, so die my Lord,
89: Ere I will yeeld my virgin Patent vp
90: Vnto his Lordship, whose vnwished yoake,
91: My soule consents not to giue soueraignty.
92:
The.
Take time to pause, and by the next new Moon
93: The sealing day betwixt my loue and me,
94: For euerlasting bond of fellowship:
95: Vpon that day either prepare to dye,
96: For disobedience to your fathers will,
97: Or else to wed Demetrius as hee would,
98: Or on Dianaes Altar to protest
99: For aie, austerity, and single life.
100:
Dem.
Relent sweet Hermia, and Lysander, yeelde
101: Thy crazed title to my certaine right.
102:
Lys.
You haue her fathers loue, Demetrius:
103: Let me haue Hermiaes: do you marry him.
104:
Egeus.
Scornfull Lysander, true, he hath my Loue;
105: And what is mine, my loue shall render him.
106: And she is mine, and all my right of her,
107: I do estate vnto Demetrius.
108:
Lys.
I am my Lord, as well deriu'd as he,
109: As well possest: my loue is more then his:
110: My fortunes euery way as fairely ranck'd
111: (If not with vantage) as Demetrius:
112: And (which is more then all these boasts can be)
113: I am belou'd of beauteous Hermia.
114: Why should not I then prosecute my right?
115: Demetrius, Ile auouch it to his head,
116: Made loue to Nedars daughter, Helena,
117: And won her soule: and she (sweet Ladie) dotes,
118: Deuoutly dotes, dotes in Idolatry,
119: Vpon this spotted and inconstant man.
120:
The.
I must confesse, that I haue heard so much,
121: And with Demetrius thought to haue spoke thereof:
122: But being ouer-full of selfe-affaires,
123: My minde did lose it. But Demetrius come,
124: And come Egeus, you shall go with me,
125: I haue some priuate schooling for you both.
126: For you faire Hermia, looke you arme your selfe,
127: To fit your fancies to your Fathers will;
128: Or else the Law of Athens yeelds you vp
129: (Which by no meanes we may extenuate)
130: To death, or to a vow of single life.
131: Come my Hippolita, what cheare my loue?
132: Demetrius and Egeus go along:
133: I must imploy you in some businesse
134: Against our nuptiall, and conferre with you
135: Of something, neerely that concernes your selues.
136:
Ege
With dutie and desire we follow you. [ Exeunt]
137: [ Manet Lysander and Hermia.]
138:
Lys.
How now my loue? Why is your cheek so pale?
139: How chance the Roses there do fade so fast?
140:
Her.
Belike for want of raine, which I could well
141: Beteeme them, from the tempest of mine eyes.
142:
Lys.
For ought that euer I could reade,
143: Could euer heare by tale or historie,
144: The course of true loue neuer did run smooth,
145: But either it was different in blood.
146:
Her.
O crosse! too high to be enthral'd to loue.
147:
Lys.
Or else misgraffed, in respect of yeares.
148:
Her.
O spight! too old to be ingag'd to yong.
149:
Lys.
Or else it stood vpon the choise of merit.
150:
Her.
O hell! to choose loue by anothers eie.
151:
Lys.
Or if there were a simpathie in choise,
152: Warre, death, or sicknesse, did lay siege to it;
153: Making it momentarie, as a sound:
154: Swift as a shadow, short as any dreame,
155: Briefe as the lightning in the collied night,
156: That (in a spleene) vnfolds both heauen and earth;
157: And ere a man hath power to say, behold,
158: The iawes of darkness do deuoure it vp:
159: So quicke bright things come to confusion.
160:
Her.
If then true Louers haue beene euer crost,
161: It stands as an edict in destinie:
162: Then let vs teach our triall patience,
163: Because it is a customarie crosse,
164: As due to loue, as thoughts, and dreames, and sighes,
165: Wishes and teares; poore Fancies followers.
166:
Lys.
A good perswasion; therefore heare me Hermia,
167: I haue a Widdow Aunt, a dowager,
168: Of great reuennew, and she hath no childe,
169: From Athens is her house remou'd seuen leagues,
170: And she respects me, as her onely sonne:
171: There gentle Hermia, may I marrie thee,
172: And to that place, the sharpe Athenian Law
173: Cannot pursue vs. If thou lou'st me, then
174: Steale forth thy Fathers house to morrow night:
175: And in the wood, a league without the towne,
176: (Where I did meete thee once with Helena.
177: To do obseruance for a morne of May)
178: There will I stay for thee.
179:
Her.
My good Lysander,
180: I sweare to thee, by Cupids strongest bow,
181: By his best arrow with the golden head,
182: By the simplicitie of Venus Doues,
183: By that which knitteth soules, and prospers loue,
184: And by that fire which burn'd the Carthage Queene,
185: When the false Troyan vnder saile was seene,
186: By all the vowes that euer men haue broke,
187: (In number more then euer women spoke)
188: In that same place thou hast appointed me,
189: To morrow truly will I meete with thee.
190:
Lys.
Keepe promise loue: looke here comes Helena.
191: [ Enter Helena.]
192:
Her.
God speede faire Helena, whither away?
193:
Hel.
Cal you me faire? that faire againe vnsay,
194: Demetrius loues you faire: O happie faire!
195: Your eyes are loadstarres, and your tongues sweete ayre
196: More tuneable then Larke to shepheards eare,
197: When wheate is greene, when hauthorne buds appeare,
198: Sicknesse is catching: O were fauor so,
199: Your words I catch, faire Hermia ere I go,
200: My eare should catch your voice, my eye, your eye,
201: My tongue should catch your tongues sweete melodie,
202: Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated,
203: The rest Ile giue to be to you translated.
204: O teach me how you looke, and with what art
205: You sway the motion of Demetrius hart.
206:
Her.
I frowne vpon him, yet he loues me still.
207:
Hel.
O that your frownes would teach my smiles
208: such skil.
209:
Her.
I giue him curses, yet he giues me loue.
210:
Hel.
O that my prayers could such affection mooue.
211:
Her.
The more I hate, the more he followes me.
212:
Hel.
The more I loue, the more he hateth me.
213:
Her.
His folly Helena is none of mine.
214:
Hel.
None but your beauty, wold that fault wer mine
215:
Her.
Take comfort: he no more shall see my face,
216: Lysander and my selfe will flie this place.
217: Before the time I did Lysander see,
218: Seem'd Athens like a Paradise to mee.
219: O then, what graces in my Loue do dwell,
220: That he hath turn'd a heauen into hell.
221:
Lys.
Helen, to you our mindes we will vnfold,
222: To morrow night, when Phoebe doth behold
223: Her siluer visage, in the watry glasse,
224: Decking with liquid pearle, the bladed grasse
225: (A time that Louers flights doth still conceale)
226: Through Athens gates, haue we deuis'd to steale.
227:
Her.
And in the wood, where often you and I,
228: Vpon faint Primrose beds, were wont to lye,
229: Emptying our bosomes, of their counsell sweld:
230: There my Lysander, and my selfe shall meete,
231: And thence from Athens turne away our eyes
232: To seeke new friends and strange companions,
233: Farwell sweet play-fellow, pray thou for vs,
234: And good lucke grant thee thy Demetrius.
235: Keepe word Lysander we must starue our sight,
236: From louers foode, till morrow deepe midnight.
237: [ Exit Hermia.]
238:
Lys.
I will my Hermia. Helena adieu,
239: As you on him, Demetrius dotes on you. [ Exit Lysander.]
240:
Hele.
How happy some, ore othersome can be?
241: Through Athens I am thought as faire as she.
242: But what of that? Demetrius thinkes not so:
243: He will not know, what all, but he doth know,
244: And as hee erres, doting on Hermias eyes;
245: So I, admiring of his qualities:
246: Things base and vilde, holding no quantity,
247: Loue can transpose to forme and dignity,
248: Loue lookes not with the eyes, but with the minde,
249: And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blinde.
250: Nor hath loues minde of any iudgement taste:
251: Wings and no eyes, figure, vnheedy haste.
252: And therefore is Loue said to be a childe,
253: Because in choise he is often beguil'd,
254: As waggish boyes in game themselues forsweare;
255: So the boy Loue is periur'd euery where.
256: For ere Demetrius lookt on Hermias eyne,
257: He hail'd downe oathes that he was onely mine.
258: And when this Haile some heat from Hermia felt,
259: So he dissolu'd, and showres of oathes did melt,
260: I will goe tell him of faire Hermias flight:
261: Then to the wood will he, to morrow night
262: Pursue her; and for his intelligence,
263: If I haue thankes, it is a deere expence:
264: But heerein meane I to enrich my paine,
265: To haue his sight thither, and backe againe. [ Exit.]
266: [ Enter Quince the Carpenter, Snug the Ioyner, Bottome the
Weauer, Flute the bellowes-mender, Snout the Tinker, and
Starueling the Taylor]
269:
Quin.
Is all our company heere?
270:
Bot.
You were best to call them generally, man by
271: man according to the scrip.
272:
Qui.
Here is the scrowle of euery mans name, which
273: is thought fit through all Athens, to play in our Enter-lude
274: before the Duke and the Dutches, on his wedding
275: day at night.
276:
Bot.
First, good Peter Quince, say what the play treats
277: on: then read the names of the Actors: and so grow on
278: to a point.
279:
Quin.
Marry our play is the most lamentable come-dy,
280: and most cruell death of Pyramus and Thisbie.
281:
Bot.
A very good peece of worke I assure you, and a
282: merry. Now good Peter Quince, call forth your Actors
283: by the scrowle. Masters spread your selues.
284:
Quince.
Answere as I call you. Nick Bottome the
285: Weauer.
286:
Bottome.
Ready; name what part I am for, and
287: proceed.
288:
Quince.
You Nicke Bottome are set downe for Py-ramus.
289: _
290:
Bot.
What is Pyramus, a louer, or a tyrant?
291:
Quin.
A Louer that kills himselfe most gallantly for
292: loue.
293:
Bot.
That will aske some teares in the true perfor-ming
294: of it: if I do it, let the audience looke to their eies:
295: I will mooue stormes; I will condole in some measure.
296: To the rest yet, my chiefe humour is for a tyrant. I could
297: play Ercles rarely, or a part to teare a Cat in, to make all
298: split the raging Rocks; and shiuering shocks shall break
299: the locks of prison gates, and Phibbus carre shall shine
300: from farre, and make and marre the foolish Fates. This
301: was lofty. Now name the rest of the Players. This
302: is Ercles vaine, a tyrants vaine: a louer is more condo-ling.
303: _
304:
Quin.
Francis Flute the Bellowes-mender.
305:
Flu.
Heere Peter Quince.
306:
Quin.
You must take Thisbie on you.
307:
Flut.
What is Thisbie, a wandring Knight?
308:
Quin.
It is the Lady that Pyramus must loue.
309:
Flut.
Nay faith, let not mee play a woman, I haue a
310: beard comming.
311:
Qui.
That's all one, you shall play it in a Maske, and
312: you may speake as small as you will.
313:
Bot.
And I may hide my face, let me play Thisbie too:
314: Ile speake in a monstrous little voyce; Thisne, Thisne, ah
315: Pyramus my louer deare, thy Thisbie deare, and Lady
316: deare.
317:
Quin.
No no, you must play Pyramus, and Flute, you
318: Thisby.
319:
Bot.
Well, proceed.
320:
Qu.
Robin Starueling the Taylor.
321:
Star.
Heere Peter Quince.
322:
Quince.
Robin Starueling, you must play Thisbies
323: mother?
324: Tom Snowt, the Tinker.
325:
Snowt.
Heere Peter Quince.
326:
Quin.
you, Pyramus father; my self, Thisbies father;
327: Snugge the Ioyner, you the Lyons part: and I hope there
328: is a play fitted.
329:
Snug.
Haue you the Lions part written? pray you if
330: be, giue it me, for I am slow of studie.
331:
Quin.
You may doe it extemporie, for it is nothing
332: but roaring.
333:
Bot.
Let mee play the Lyon too, I will roare that I
334: will doe any mans heart good to heare me. I will roare,
335: that I will make the Duke say, Let him roare againe, let
336: him roare againe.
337:
Quin.
If you should do it too terribly, you would
338: fright the Dutchesse and the Ladies, that they would
339: shrike, and that were enough to hang us all.
340:
All.
That would hang vs euery mothers sonne.
341:
Bottome.
I graunt you friends, if that you should
342: fright the Ladies out of their Wittes, they would
343: haue no more discretion but to hang vs: but I will ag-grauate
344: my voyce so, that I will roare you as gently as
345: any sucking Doue; I will roare and 'twere any Nightin-gale.
346: _
347:
Quin.
You can play no part but Piramus, for Pira-mus
348: is a sweet-fac'd man, a proper man as one shall see in
349: a summers day; a most louely Gentleman-like man, ther-fore
350: you must needs play Piramus.
351:
Bot.
Well, I will vndertake it. What beard were I
352: best to play it in?
353:
Quin.
Why, what you will.
354:
Bot.
I will discharge it, in either your straw-colour
355: beard, your orange tawnie beard, your purple in graine
356: beard, or your French-crowne colour'd beard, your per-fect
357: yellow.
358:
Quin.
Some of your French Crownes haue no haire
359: at all, and then you will play bare-fac'd. But masters here
360: are your parts, and I am to intreat you, request you, and
361: desire you, to con them by too morrow night: and meet
362: me in the palace wood, a mile without the Towne, by
363: Moone-light, there we will rehearse: for if we meete in
364: the Citie, we shalbe dog'd with company, and our deui-ses
365: knowne. In the meane time, I wil draw a bil of pro-perties,
366: such as our play wants. I pray you faile me not.
367:
Bottom.
We will meete, and there we may rehearse
368: more obscenely and couragiously. Take paines, be per-fect,
369: adieu.
370:
Quin.
At the Dukes oake we meete.
371:
Bot
Enough, hold or cut bow-strings. [ Exeunt]
Act II
372: Actus Secundus.
373: [ Enter a Fairie at one dore, and Robin good-fellow
at another]
375:
Rob.
How now spirit, whether wander you?
376:
Fai.
Ouer hil, ouer dale, through bush, through briar,
377: Ouer parke, ouer pale, through flood, through fire,
378: I do wander euerie where, swifter then y Moons sphere;
379: And I serue the Fairy Queene, to dew her orbs vpon the green.
380: The Cowslips tall, her pensioners bee,
381: In their gold coats, spots you see,
382: Those be Rubies, Fairie fauors,
383: In those freckles, liue their sauors,
384: I must go seeke some dew drops heere,
385: And hang a pearle in euery cowslips eare.
386: Farewell thou Lob of spirits, Ile be gon,
387: Our Queene and all her Elues come heere anon.
388:
Rob.
The King doth keepe his Reuels here to night,
389: Take heed the Queene come not within his sight,
390: For Oberon is passing fell and wrath,
391: Because that she, as her attendant, hath
392: A louely boy stolne from an Indian King,
393: She neuer had so sweet a changeling,
394: And iealous Oberon would haue the childe
395: Knight of his traine, to trace the Forrests wilde.
396: But she (perforce) with-holds the loued boy,
397: Crownes him with flowers, and makes him all her ioy.
398: And now they neuer meete in groue, or greene,
399: By fountaine cleere, or spangled star-light sheene,
400: But they do square, that all their Elues for feare
401: Creepe into Acorne cups and hide them there.
402:
Fai.
Either I mistake your shape and making quite,
403: Or else you are that shrew'd and knauish spirit
404: Cal'd Robin Good-fellow. Are you not hee,
405: That frights the maidens of the Villagree,
406: Skim milke, and sometimes labour in the querne,
407: And bootlesse make the breathlesse huswife cherne,
408: And sometime make the drinke to beare no barme,
409: Misleade night-wanderers, laughing at their harme,
410: Those that Hobgoblin call you, and sweet Pucke,
411: You do their worke, and they shall haue good lucke.
412: Are not you he?
413:
Rob.
Thou speak'st aright;
414: I am that merrie wanderer of the night:
415: I iest to Oberon, and make him smile,
416: When I a fat and bean-fed horse beguile,
417: Neighing in likenesse of a silly foale,
418: And sometime lurke I in a Gossips bole,
419: In very likenesse of a roasted crab:
420: And when she drinkes, against her lips I bob,
421: And on her withered dewlop poure the Ale.
422: The wisest Aunt telling the saddest tale,
423: Sometime for three-foot stoole, mistaketh me,
424: Then slip I from her bum, downe topples she,
425: And tailour cries, and fals into a coffe.
426: And then the whole quire hold their hips, and loffe,
427: And waxen in their mirth, and neeze, and sweare,
428: A merrier houre was neuer wasted there.
429: But roome Fairy, heere comes Oberon.
430:
Fair.
And heere my Mistris:
431: Would that he were gone.
432: [ Enter the King of Fairies at one doore with his traine,
and the Queene at another with hers]
434:
Ob.
Ill met by Moone-light.
435: Proud Tytania.
436:
Qu.
What, iealous Oberon? Fairy skip hence.
437: I haue forsworne his bed and companie.
438:
Ob.
Tarrie rash Wanton; am not I thy Lord?
439:
Qu.
Then I must be thy Lady: but I know
440: When thou wast stolne away from Fairy Land,
441: And in the shape of Corin, sate all day,
442: Playing on pipes of Corne, and versing loue
443: To amorous Phillida. Why art thou heere
444: Come from the farthest steepe of India?
445: But that forsooth the bouncing Amazon
446: Your buskin'd Mistresse, and your Warrior loue,
447: To Theseus must be Wedded; and you come,
448: To giue their bed ioy and prosperitie.
449:
Ob.
How canst thou thus for shame Tytania.
450: Glance at my credite, with Hippolita?
451: Knowing I know thy loue to Theseus?
452: Didst thou not leade him through the glimmering night
453: From Peregenia, whom he rauished?
454: And make him with faire Eagles breake his faith
455: With Ariadne, and Antiopa?
456:
Que.
These are the forgeries of iealousie,
457: And neuer since the middle Summers spring
458: Met we on hil, in dale, forrest, or mead,
459: By paued fountaine, or by rushie brooke,
460: Or in the beached margent of the sea,
461: To dance our ringlets to the whistling Winde,
462: But with thy braules thou hast disturb'd our sport.
463: Therefore the Windes, piping to vs in vaine,
464: As in reuenge, haue suck'd vp from the sea
465: Contagious fogges: Which falling in the Land,
466: Hath euerie petty Riuer made so proud,
467: That they haue ouer-borne their Continents.
468: The Oxe hath therefore stretch'd his yoake in vaine,
469: The Ploughman lost his sweat, and the greene Corne
470: Hath rotted, ere his youth attain'd a beard:
471: The fold stands empty in the drowned field,
472: And Crowes are fatted with the murrion flocke,
473: The nine mens Morris is fild vp with mud,
474: And the queint Mazes in the wanton greene,
475: For lacke of tread are vndistinguishable.
476: The humane mortals want their winter heere,
477: No night is now with hymne or caroll blest;
478: Therefore the Moone (the gouernesse of floods)
479: Pale in her anger, washes all the aire;
480: That Rheumaticke diseases doe abound.
481: And through this distemperature, we see
482: The seasons alter; hoared headed Frosts
483: Fall in the fresh lap of the crimson Rose,
484: And on old Hyems chinne and Icie crowne,
485: An odorous Chaplet of sweet Sommer buds
486: Is as in mockry set. The Spring, the Sommer,
487: The childing Autumne, angry Winter change
488: Their wonted Liueries, and the mazed world,
489: By their increase, now knowes not which is which;
490: And this same progeny of euills,
491: Comes from our debate, from our dissention,
492: We are their parents and originall.
493:
Ober.
Do you amend it then, it lies in you,
494: Why should Titania crosse her Oberon?
495: I do but beg a little changeling boy,
496: To be my Henchman.
497:
Qu.
Set your heart at rest,
498: The Fairy land buyes not the childe of me,
499: His mother was a Votresse of my Order,
500: And in the spiced Indian aire, by night
501: Full often hath she gossipt by my side,
502: And sat with me on Neptunes yellow sands,
503: Marking th' embarked traders on the flood,
504: When we haue laught to see the sailes conceiue,
505: And grow big bellied with the wanton winde:
506: Which she with pretty and with swimming gate,
507: Following (her wombe then rich with my yong squire)
508: Would imitate, and saile vpon the Land,
509: To fetch me trifles, and returne againe,
510: As from a voyage, rich with merchandize.
511: But she being mortall, of that boy did die,
512: And for her sake I doe reare vp her boy,
513: And for her sake I will not part with him.
514:
Ob.
How long within this wood intend you stay?
515:
Qu.
Perchance till after Theseus wedding day.
516: If you will patiently dance in our Round,
517: And see our Moone-light reuels, goe with vs;
518: If not, shun me and I will spare your haunts.
519:
Ob.
Giue me that boy, and I will goe with thee.
520:
Qu.
Not for thy Fairy Kingdome. Fairies away:
521: We shall chide downe right, if I longer stay. [ Exeunt.]
522:
Ob.
Wel, go thy way: thou shalt not from this groue,
523: Till I torment thee for this iniury.
524: My gentle Pucke come hither; thou remembrest
525: Since once I sat vpon a promontory,
526: And heard a Meare-maide on a Dolphins backe,
527: Vttering such dulcet and harmonious breath,
528: That the rude sea grew ciuill at her song,
529: And certaine starres shot madly from their Spheares,
530: To heare the Sea-maids musicke.
531:
Puc.
I remember.
532:
Ob.
That very time I say (but thou couldst not)
533: Flying betweene the cold Moone and the earth,
534: Cupid all arm'd; a certaine aime he tooke
535: At a faire Vestall, throned by the West,
536: And loos'd his loue-shaft smartly from his bow,
537: As it should pierce a hundred thousand hearts,
538: But I might see young Cupids fiery shaft
539: Quencht in the chaste beames of the watry Moone;
540: And the imperiall Votresse passed on,
541: In maiden meditation, fancy free.
542: Yet markt I where the bolt of Cupid fell.
543: It fell vpon a little westerne flower;
544: Before, milke-white: now purple with loues wound,
545: And maidens call it, Loue in idlenesse.
546: Fetch me that flower; the hearb I shew'd thee once,
547: The iuyce of it, on sleeping eye-lids laid,
548: Will make or man or woman madly dote
549: Vpon the next liue creature that it sees.
550: Fetch me this hearbe, and be thou heere againe,
551: Ere the Leuiathan can swim a league.
552:
Pucke.
Ile put a girdle about the earth, in forty mi-nutes.
553: _
554:
Ober.
Hauing once this iuyce,
555: Ile watch Titania, when she is asleepe,
556: And drop the liquor of it in her eyes:
557: The next thing when she waking lookes vpon,
558: (Be it on Lyon, Beare, or Wolfe, or Bull,
559: On medling Monkey, or on busie Ape)
560: Shee shall pursue it, with the soule of loue.
561: And ere I take this charme off from her sight,
562: (As I can take it with another hearbe)
563: Ile make her render vp her Page to me.
564: But who comes heere? I am inuisible,
565: And I will ouer-heare their conference.
566: [ Enter Demetrius, Helena following him.]
567:
Deme.
I loue thee not, therefore pursue me not,
568: Where is Lysander, and faire Hermia?
569: The one Ile stay, the other stayeth me.
570: Thou toldst me they were stolne into this wood;
571: And heere am I, and wood within this wood,
572: Because I cannot meet my Hermia.
573: Hence, get thee gone, and follow me no more.
574:
Hel.
You draw me, you hard-hearted Adamant,
575: But yet you draw not Iron, for my heart
576: Is true as steele. Leaue you your power to draw,
577: And I shall haue no power to follow you.
578:
Deme.
Do I entice you? do I speake you faire?
579: Or rather doe I not in plainest truth,
580: Tell you I doe not, nor I cannot loue you?
581:
Hel.
And euen for that doe I loue thee the more;
582: I am your spaniell, and Demetrius,
583: The more you beat me, I will fawne on you.
584: Vse me but as your spaniell; spurne me, strike me,
585: Neglect me, lose me; onely giue me leaue
586: (Vnworthy as I am) to follow you.
587: What worser place can I beg in your loue,
588: (And yet a place of high respect with me)
589: Then to be vsed as you doe your dogge.
590:
Dem.
Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit,
591: For I am sicke when I do looke on thee.
592:
Hel.
And I am sicke when I looke not on you.
593:
Dem.
You doe impeach your modesty too much,
594: To leaue the Citty, and commit your selfe
595: Into the hands of one that loues you not,
596: To trust the opportunity of night.
597: And the ill counsell of a desert place,
598: With the rich worth of your virginity.
599:
Hel.
Your vertue is my priuiledge: for that
600: It is not night when I doe see your face.
601: Therefore I thinke I am not in the night,
602: Nor doth this wood lacke worlds of company,
603: For you in my respect are all the world.
604: Then how can it be said I am alone,
605: When all the world is heere to looke on me?
606:
Dem.
Ile run from thee, and hide me in the brakes,
607: And leaue thee to the mercy of wilde beasts.
608:
Hel.
The wildest hath not such a heart as you;
609: Runne when you will, the story shall be chang'd:
610: Apollo flies and Daphne holds the chase;
611: The Doue pursues the Griffin, the milde Hinde
612: Makes speed to catch the Tyger. Bootlesse speede,
613: When cowardise pursues, and valour flies.
614:
Demet.
I will not stay thy questions, let me go;
615: Or if thou follow me, doe not beleeue,
616: But I shall doe thee mischiefe in the wood.
617:
Hel.
I, in the Temple, in the Towne, and Field
618: You doe me mischiefe. Fye Demetrius,
619: Your wrongs doe set a scandall on my sexe:
620: We cannot fight for loue, as men may doe;
621: We should be woo'd, and were not made to wooe.
622: I follow thee, and make a heauen of hell,
623: To die vpon the hand I loue so well. [ Exit.]
624:
Ob.
Fare thee well Nymph, ere he do leaue this groue,
625: Thou shalt flie him, and he shall seeke thy loue.
626: Hast thou the flower there? Welcome wanderer.
627: [ Enter Pucke.]
628:
Puck.
I there it is.
629:
Ob.
I pray thee giue it me.
630: I know a banke where the wilde time blowes,
631: Where Oxslips and the nodding Violet growes,
632: Quite ouer-cannoped with luscious woodbine,
633: With sweet muske roses, and with Eglantine;
634: There sleepes Tytania, sometime of the night,
635: Lul'd in these flowers, with dances and delight:
636: And there the snake throwes her enammel'd skinne,
637: Weed wide enough to rap a Fairy in.
638: And with the iuyce of this Ile streake her eyes,
639: And make her full of hatefull fantasies.
640: Take thou some of it, and seek through this groue;
641: A sweet Athenian Lady is in loue
642: With a disdainefull youth: annoint his eyes,
643: But doe it when the next thing he espies,
644: May be the Lady. Thou shalt know the man,
645: By the Athenian garments he hath on.
646: Effect it with some care, that he may proue
647: More fond on her, then she vpon her loue;
648: And looke thou meet me ere the first Cocke crow.
649:
Pu
Feare not my Lord, your seruant shall do so. [ Exit.]
650: [ Enter Queene of Fairies, with her traine.]
651:
Queen.
Come, now a Roundell, and a Fairy song;
652: Then for the third part of a minute hence,
653: Some to kill Cankers in the muske rose buds,
654: Some warre with Reremise, for their leathern wings.
655: To make my small Elues coates, and some keepe backe
656: The clamorous Owle that nightly hoots and wonders
657: At our queint spirits: Sing me now asleepe,
658: Then to your offices, and let me rest.
659:
Fairies Sing.
660: You spotted Snakes with double tongue,
661: Thorny Hedgehogges be not seene,
662: Newts and blinde wormes do no wrong,
663: Come not neere our Fairy Queene.
664: Philomele with melodie,
665: Sing in your sweet Lullaby.
666: Lulla, lulla, lullaby, lulla, lulla, lullaby,
667: Neuer harme, nor spell, nor charme,
668: Come our louely Lady nye,
669: So good night with Lullaby.
670:
2.Fairy.
Weauing Spiders come not heere,
671: Hence you long leg'd Spinners, hence:
672: Beetles blacke approach not neere;
673: Worme nor Snayle doe no offence.
674: Philomele with melody, &c.
675:
1.Fairy.
Hence away, now all is well;
676: One aloofe, stand Centinell. [ Shee sleepes.]
677: [ Enter Oberon.]
678:
Ober.
What thou seest when thou dost wake,
679: Do it for thy true Loue take:
680: Loue and languish for his sake.
681: Be it Ounce, or Catte, or Beare,
682: Pard, or Boare with bristled haire,
683: In thy eye that shall appeare,
684: When thou wak'st, it is thy deare,
685: Wake when some vile thing is neere.
686: [ Enter Lisander and Hermia.]
687:
Lis.
Faire loue, you faint with wandring in y woods,
688: And to speake troth I haue forgot our way:
689: Wee'll rest vs Hermia, If you thinke it good,
690: And tarry for the comfort of the day.
691:
Her.
Be it so Lysander; finde you out a bed,
692: For I vpon this banke will rest my head.
693:
Lys.
One turfe shall serue as pillow for vs both,
694: One heart, one bed, two bosomes, and one troth.
695:
Her.
Nay good Lysander, for my sake my deere
696: Lie further off yet, doe not lie so neere.
697:
Lys.
O take the sence sweet, of my innocence,
698: Loue takes the meaning, in loues conference,
699: I meane that my heart vnto yours is knit,
700: So that but one heart can you make of it.
701: Two bosomes interchanged with an oath,
702: So then two bosomes, and a single troth.
703: Then by your side, no bed-roome me deny,
704: For lying so, Hermia, I doe not lye.
705:
Her.
Lysander riddles very prettily;
706: Now much beshrew my manners and my pride,
707: If Hermia meant to say, Lysander lied.
708: But gentle friend, for loue and courtesie
709: Lie further off, in humane modesty,
710: Such separation, as may well be said,
711: Becomes a vertuous batchelour, and a maide,
712: So farre be distant, and good night sweet friend;
713: Thy loue nere alter, till thy sweet life end.
714:
Lys.
Amen, amen, to that faire prayer, say I,
715: And then end life, when I end loyalty:
716: Heere is my bed, sleepe giue thee all his rest.
717:
Her.
With halfe that wish, the wishers eyes be prest.
718: [ Enter Pucke. They sleepe.]
719:
Puck.
Through the Forest haue I gone,
720: But Athenian finde I none,
721: One whose eyes I might approue
722: This flowers force in stirring loue.
723: Nigh and silence: who is heere?
724: Weedes of Athens he doth weare:
725: This is he (my master said)
726: Despised the Athenian maide:
727: And heere the maiden sleeping sound,
728: On the danke and durty ground.
729: Pretty soule, she durst not lye
730: Neere this lacke-loue, this kill-curtesie.
731: Churle, vpon thy eyes I throw
732: All the power this charme doth owe:
733: When thou wak'st, let loue forbid
734: Sleepe his seate on thy eye-lid.
735: So awake when I am gone:
736: For I must now to Oberon. [ Exit.]
737: [ Enter Demetrius and Helena running.]
738:
Hel.
Stay, though thou kill me, sweete Demetrius.
739:
De.
I charge thee hence, and do not haunt me thus.
740:
Hel.
O wilt thou darkling leaue me? do not so.
741:
De.
Stay on thy perill, I alone will goe.
742: [ Exit Demetrius.]
743:
Hel.
O I am out of breath, in this fond chace,
744: The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace,
745: Happy is Hermia, wheresoere she lies;
746: For she hath blessed and attractiue eyes.
747: How came her eyes so bright? Not with salt teares.
748: If so, my eyes are oftner washt then hers.
749: No, no, I am as vgly as a Beare;
750: For beasts that meete me, runne away for feare,
751: Therefore no maruaile, though Demetrius
752: Doe as a monster, flie my presence thus.
753: What wicked and dissembling glasse of mine,
754: Made me compare with Hermias sphery eyne?
755: But who is here? Lysander on the ground;
756: Deade or asleepe? I see no bloud, no wound,
757: Lysander, if you liue, good sir awake.
758:
Lys.
And run through fire I will for thy sweet sake.
759: Transparent Helena, nature her shewes art,
760: That through thy bosome makes me see thy heart.
761: Where is Demetrius? oh how fit a word
762: Is that vile name, to perish on my sword!
763:
Hel.
Do not say so Lysander, say not so:
764: What though he loue your Hermia? Lord, what though?
765: Yet Hermia still loues you; then be content.
766:
Lys.
Content with Hermia? no, I do repent
767: The tedious minutes I with her haue spent.
768: Not Hermia, but Helena now I loue;
769: Who will not change a Rauen for a Doue?
770: The will of man is by his reason sway'd:
771: And reason saies you are the worthier Maide.
772: Things growing are not ripe vntill their season;
773: So I being yong, till now ripe not to reason,
774: And touching now the point of humane skill,
775: Reason becomes the Marshall to my will.
776: And leades me to your eyes, where I orelooke
777: Loues stories, written in Loues richest booke.
778:
Hel.
Wherefore was I to this keene mockery borne?
779: When at your hands did I deserue this scorne?
780: Ist not enough, ist not enough, yong man,
781: That I did neuer, no nor neuer can,
782: Deserue a sweete looke from Demetrius eye,
783: But you must flout my insufficiency?
784: Good troth you do me wrong (good-sooth you do)
785: In such disdainfull manner, me to wooe.
786: But fare you well; perforce I must confesse,
787: I thought you Lord of more true gentlenesse.
788: Oh, that a Lady of one man refus'd,
789: Should of another therefore be abus'd. [ Exit.]
790:
Lys.
She sees not Hermia: Hermia sleepe thou there,
791: And neuer maist thou come Lysander neere;
792: For as a surfeit of the sweetest things
793: The deepest loathing to the stomacke brings:
794: Or as the heresies that men do leaue,
795: Are hated most of those that did deceiue:
796: So thou, my surfeit, and my heresie,
797: Of all be hated; but the most of me;
798: And all my powers addresse your loue and might,
799: To honour Helen, and to be her Knight. [ Exit.]
800:
Her.
Helpe me Lysander, helpe me; do thy best
801: To plucke this crawling serpent from my brest.
802: Aye me, for pitty; what a dreame was here?
803: Lysander looke, how I do quake with feare:
804: Me-thought a serpent eate my heart away,
805: And yet sat smiling at his cruell prey.
806: Lysander, What remoou'd? Lysander, Lord,
807: What, out of hearing, gone? No sound, no word?
808: Alacke where are you? speake and if you heare:
809: Speake of all loues; I sound almost with feare.
810: No, then I well perceiue you are not nye,
811: Either death or you Ile finde immediately. [ Exit.]
Act III
812: Actus Tertius.
813: [ Enter the Clownes.]
814:
Bot.
Are we all met?
815:
Quin.
Pat, pat, and here's a maruailous conuenient
816: place for our rehearsall. This greene plot shall be our
817: stage, this hauthorne brake our tyring house, and we will
818: do it in action, as we will do it before the Duke.
819:
Bot.
Peter Quince?
820:
Peter.
What saist thou, bully Bottome?
821:
Bot.
There are things in this Comedy of Piramus and
822: Thisby, that will neuer please. First, Piramus must draw a
823: sword to kill himselfe; which the Ladies cannot abide.
824: How answere you that?
825:
Snout.
Berlaken, a parlous feare.
826:
Star.
I beleeue we must leaue the killing out, when
827: all is done.
828:
Bot.
Not a whit, I haue a deuice to make all well.
829: Write me a Prologue, and let the Prologue seeme to say,
830: we will do no harme with our swords, and that Pyramus
831: is not kill'd indeede: and for the more better assurance,
832: tell them, that I Piramus am not Piramus, but Bottome the
833: Weauer; this will put them out of feare.
834:
Quin.
Well, we will haue such a Prologue, and it shall
835: be written in eight and sixe.
836:
Bot.
No, make it two more, let it be written in eight
837: and eight.
838:
Snout.
Will not the Ladies be afear'd of the Lyon?
839:
Star.
I feare it, I promise you.
840:
Bot.
Masters, you ought to consider with your selues, to
841: bring in (God shield vs) a Lyon among Ladies, is a most
842: dreadfull thing. For there is not a more fearefull wilde
843: foule then your Lyon liuing: and wee ought to looke
844: to it.
845:
Snout.
Therefore another Prologue must tell he is not
846: a Lyon.
847:
Bot.
Nay, you must name his name, and halfe his face
848: must be seene through the Lyons necke, and he himselfe
849: must speake through, saying thus, or to the same defect;
850: Ladies, or faire Ladies, I would wish you, or I would
851: request you, or I would entreat you, not to feare, not to
852: tremble: my life for yours. If you thinke I come hither
853: as a Lyon, it were pitty of my life. No, I am no such
854: thing, I am a man as other men are; and there indeed let
855: him name his name, and tell him plainly hee is Snug the
856: ioyner.
857:
Quin.
Well, it shall be so; but there is two hard
858: things, that is, to bring the Moone-light into a cham-ber:
859: for you know Piramus and Thisby meete by Moone-light.
860: _
861:
Sn.
Doth the Moone shine that night wee play our
862: play?
863:
Bot.
A Calender, a Calender, looke in the Almanack,
864: finde out Moone-shine, finde out Moone-shine.
865: [ Enter Pucke.]
866:
Quin.
Yes, it doth shine that night.
867:
Bot.
Why then may you leaue a casement of the great
868: chamber window (where we play) open, and the Moone
869: may shine in at the casement.
870:
Quin.
I, or else one must come in with a bush of thorns
871: and a lanthorne, and say he comes to disfigure, or to pre-sent
872: the person of Moone-shine. Then there is another
873: thing, we must haue a wall in the great Chamber; for Pi-ramus
874: and Thisby (saies the story) did talke through the
875: chinke of a wall.
876:
Sn.
You can neuer bring in a wall. What say you
877: Bottome?
878:
Bot.
Some man or other must present wall, and let
879: him haue some Plaster, or some Lome, or some rough
880: cast about him, to signifie wall; or let him hold his fin-gers
881: thus; and through that cranny shall Piramus and
882: Thisby whisper.
883:
Quin.
If that may be, then all is well. Come, sit
884: downe euery mothers sonne, and rehearse your parts.
885: Piramus, you begin; when you haue spoken your speech,
886: enter into that Brake, and so euery one according to his
887: cue.
888: [ Enter Robin.]
889:
Rob.
What hempen home-spuns haue we swagge-ring
890: here,
891: So neere the Cradle of the Faierie Queene?
892: What, a Play toward? Ile be an auditor,
893: An Actor too perhaps, if I see cause.
894:
Quin.
Speake Piramus: Thisby stand forth.
895:
Pir.
Thisby, the flowers of odious sauors sweete.
896:
Quin.
Odours, odours.
897:
Pir.
Odours sauors sweete,
898: So hath thy breath, my dearest Thisby deare.
899: But harke, a voyce: stay thou but here a while,
900: And by and by I will to thee appeare. [ Exit. Pir.]
901:
Puck.
A stranger Piramus, then ere plaid here.
902:
This.
Must I speake now?
903:
Pet.
I marry must you. For you must vnderstand he
904: goes but to see a noyse that he heard, and is to come a-gaine.
905: _
906:
Thys.
Most radiant Piramus, most Lilly white of hue,
907: Of colour like the red rose on triumphant bryer,
908: Most brisky Iuuenall, and eke most louely Iew,
909: As true as truest horse, that yet would neuer tyre,
910: Ile meete thee Piramus, at Ninnies toombe.
911:
Pet.
Ninus toombe man: why, you must not speake
912: that yet; that you answere to Piramus: you speake all
913: your part at once, cues and all. Piramus enter, your cue is
914: past; it is neuer tyre.
915:
Thys.
O, as true as truest horse, that yet would neuer
916: tyre:
917:
Pir.
If I were faire, Thisby I were onely thine.
918:
Pet.
O monstrous. O strange. We are hanted; pray
919: masters, flye masters, helpe.
920: [ The Clownes all Exit.]
921:
Puk.
Ile follow you, Ile leade you about a Round,
922: Through bogge, through bush, through brake, through bryer,
923: Sometime a horse Ile be, sometime a hound:
924: A hogge, a headlesse beare, sometime a fire,
925: And neigh, and barke, and grunt, and rore, and burne,
926: Like horse, hound, hog, beare, fire, at euery turne. [ Exit.]
927: [ Enter Piramus with the Asse head.]
928:
Bot.
Why do they run away? This is a knauery of
929: them to make me afeard. [ Enter Snowt.]
930:
Sn.
O Bottom, thou art chang'd; What doe I see on
931: thee?
932:
Bot.
What do you see? You see an Asse-head of your
933: owne, do you?
934: [ Enter Peter Quince.]
935:
Pet.
Blesse thee Bottome, blesse thee; thou art transla-ted.
936: [ Exit.]
937:
Bot.
I see their knauery; this is to make an asse of me,
938: to fright me if they could; but I will not stirre from
939: this place, do what they can. I will walke vp and downe
940: here, and I will sing that they shall heare I am not a-fraid.
941: _
942: The Woosell cocke, so blacke of hew,
943: With Orenge-tawny bill.
944: The Throstle, with his note so true,
945: The Wren and little quill.
946:
Tyta.
What Angell wakes me from my flowry bed?
947:
Bot.
The Finch, the Sparrow, and the Larke,
948: The plainsong Cuckow gray;
949: Whose note full many a man doth marke,
950: And dares not answere, nay.
951: For indeede, who would set his wit to so foolish a bird?
952: Who would giue a bird the lye, though he cry Cuckow,
953: neuer so?
954:
Tyta.
I pray thee gentle mortall, sing againe,
955: Mine eare is much enamored of thy note;
956: On the first view to say, to sweare I loue thee.
957: So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape.
958: And thy faire vertues force (perforce) doth moue me.
959:
Bot.
Me-thinkes mistresse, you should haue little
960: reason for that: and yet to say the truth, reason and
961: loue keepe little company together, now-adayes.
962: The more the pittie, that some honest neighbours will
963: not make them friends. Nay, I can gleeke vpon occa-sion.
964: _
965:
Tyta.
Thou art as wise, as thou art beautifull.
966:
Bot.
Not so neither: but if I had wit enough to get
967: out of this wood, I haue enough to serue mine owne
968: turne.
969:
Tyta.
Out of this wood, do not desire to goe,
970: Thou shalt remaine here, whether thou wilt or no.
971: I am a spirit of no common rate:
972: The Summer still doth tend vpon my state,
973: And I doe loue thee; therefore goe with me,
974: Ile giue thee Fairies to attend on thee;
975: And they shall fetch thee Iewels from the deepe,
976: And sing, while thou on pressed flowers dost sleepe:
977: And I will purge thy mortall grossenesse so,
978: That thou shalt like an airie spirit go.
979: [ Enter Pease-blossome, Cobweb, Moth, Mustard-seede,
and foure Fairies]
981:
Fai.
Ready; and I, and I, and I, Where shall we go?
982:
Tita.
Be kinde and curteous to this Gentleman,
983: Hop in his walkes, and gambole in his eies,
984: Feede him with Apricocks, and Dewberries,
985: With purple Grapes, greene Figs, and Mulberries,
986: The honie-bags steale from the humble Bees,
987: And for night-tapers crop their waxen thighes,
988: And light them at the fierie-Glow-wormes eyes,
989: To haue my loue to bed, and to arise:
990: And plucke the wings from painted Butterflies,
991: To fan the Moone-beames from his sleeping eies.
992: Nod to him Elues, and doe him curtesies.
993:
1.Fai.
Haile mortall, haile.
994:
2.Fai.
Haile.
995:
3.Fai.
Haile.
996:
Bot.
I cry your worships mercy hartily; I beseech
997: your worships name.
998:
Cob.
Cobweb.
999:
Bot.
I shall desire you of more acquaintance, good
1000: Master Cobweb: if I cut my finger, I shall make bold
1001: with you.
1002: Your name honest Gentleman?
1003:
Pease.
Pease Blossome.
1004:
Bot.
I pray you commend me to mistresse Squash,
1005: your mother, and to master Peascod your father. Good
1006: master Pease-blossome, I shal desire of you more acquain-tance
1007: to. Your name I beseech you sir?
1008:
Mus.
Mustard-seede.
1009:
Peas.
Pease-blossome.
1010:
Bot.
Good master Mustard seede, I know your pati-ence
1011: well: that same cowardly gyant-like Oxe beefe
1012: hath deuoured many a gentleman of your house. I pro-mise
1013: you, your kindred hath made my eyes water ere
1014: now. I desire you more acquaintance, good Master
1015: Mustard-seede.
1016:
Tita.
Come waite vpon him, lead him to my bower.
1017: The Moone me-thinks, lookes with a watrie eie,
1018: And when she weepes, weepe euerie little flower,
1019: Lamenting some enforced chastitie.
1020: Tye vp my louers tongue, bring him silently. [ Exit.]
1021: [ Enter King of Pharies, solus.]
1022:
Ob.
I wonder if Titania be awak't;
1023: Then what it was that next came in her eye,
1024: Which she must dote on, in extremitie.
1025: [ Enter Pucke.]
1026: Here comes my messenger: how now mad spirit,
1027: What night-rule now about this haunted groue?
1028:
Puck.
My Mistris with a monster is in loue,
1029: Neere to her close and consecrated bower,
1030: While she was in her dull and sleeping hower,
1031: A crew of patches, rude Mechanicals,
1032: That worke for bread vpon Athenian stals,
1033: Were met together to rehearse a Play,
1034: Intended for great Theseus nuptiall day:
1035: The shallowest thick-skin of that barren sort,
1036: Who Piramus presented, in their sport,
1037: Forsooke his Scene, and entred in a brake,
1038: When I did him at this aduantage take,
1039: An Asses nole I fixed on his head.
1040: Anon his Thisbie must be answered,
1041: And forth my Mimmick comes: when they him spie,
1042: As Wilde-geese, that the creeping Fowler eye,
1043: Or russed-pated choughes, many in sort
1044: (Rising and cawing at the guns report)
1045: Seuer themselues, and madly sweepe the skye:
1046: So at his sight, away his fellowes flye,
1047: And at our stampe, here ore and ore one fals;
1048: He murther cries, and helpe from Athens cals.
1049: Their sense thus weake, lost with their feares thus strong,
1050: Made senslesse things begin to do them wrong.
1051: For briars and thornes at their apparell snatch,
1052: Some sleeues, some hats, from yeelders all things catch,
1053: I led them on in this distracted feare,
1054: And left sweete Piramus translated there:
1055: When in that moment (so it came to passe)
1056: Tytania waked, and straightway lou'd an Asse.
1057:
Ob.
This fals out better then I could deuise:
1058: But hast thou yet lacht the Athenians eyes,
1059: With the loue iuyce, as I bid thee doe?
1060:
Rob.
I tooke him sleeping (that is finisht to)
1061: And the Athenian woman by his side,
1062: That when he wak't, of force she must be eyde.
1063: [ Enter Demetrius and Hermia.]
1064:
Ob.
Stand close, this is the same Athenian.
1065:
Rob.
This is the woman, but not this the man.
1066:
Dem.
O why rebuke you him that loues you so?
1067: Lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe.
1068:
Her.
Now I but chide, but I should vse thee worse.
1069: For thou (I feare) hast giuen me cause to curse,
1070: If thou hast slaine Lysander in his sleepe,
1071: Being oreshooes in bloud, plunge in the deepe, and kill
1072: me too:
1073: The Sunne was not so true vnto the day,
1074: As he to me. Would he haue stollen away,
1075: From sleeping Hermia? Ile beleeue as soone
1076: This whole earth may be bord, and that the Moone
1077: May through the Center creepe, and so displease
1078: Her brothers noonetide, with th' Antipodes.
1079: It cannot be but thou hast murdred him,
1080: So should a murtherer looke, so dead, so grim.
1081:
Dem.
So should the murderer looke, and so should I,
1082: Pierst through the heart with your stearne cruelty:
1083: Yet you the murderer lookes as bright as cleare,
1084: As yonder Venus in her glimmering spheare.
1085:
Her.
What's this to my Lysander? where is he?
1086: Ah good Demetrius, wilt thou giue him me?
1087:
Dem.
I'de rather giue his carkasse to my hounds.
1088:
Her.
Out dog, out cur, thou driu'st me past the bounds
1089: Of maidens patience. Hast thou slaine him then?
1090: Henceforth be neuer numbred among men.
1091: Oh, once tell true, euen for my sake,
1092: Durst thou a lookt vpon him, being awake?
1093: And hast thou kill'd him sleeping? O braue tutch:
1094: Could not a worme, an Adder do so much?
1095: An Adder did it: for with doubler tongue
1096: Then thine (thou serpent) neuer Adder stung.
1097:
Dem.
You spend your passion on a mispris'd mood,
1098: I am not guiltie of Lysanders blood:
1099: Nor is he dead for ought that I can tell.
1100:
Her.
I pray thee tell me then that he is well.
1101:
Dem.
And if I could, what should I get therefore?
1102:
Her.
A priuiledge, neuer to see me more;
1103: And from thy hated presence part I: see me no more
1104: Whether he be dead or no. [ Exit.]
1105:
Dem.
There is no following her in this fierce vaine,
1106: Here therefore for a while I will remaine.
1107: So sorrowes heauinesse doth heauier grow:
1108: For debt that bankrout slip doth sorrow owe,
1109: Which now in some slight measure it will pay,
1110: If for his tender here I make some stay. [ Lie downe.]
1111:
Ob.
What hast thou done? Thou hast mistaken quite
1112: And laid the loue iuyce on some true loues sight:
1113: Of thy misprision, must perforce ensue
1114: Some true loue turn'd, and not a false turn'd true.
1115:
Rob.
Then fate ore-rules, that one man holding troth,
1116: A million faile, confounding oath on oath.
1117:
Ob.
About the wood, goe swifter then the winde,
1118: And Helena of Athens looke thou finde.
1119: All fancy sicke she is, and pale of cheere,
1120: With sighes of loue, that costs the fresh bloud deare.
1121: By some illusion see thou bring her heere,
1122: Ile charme his eyes against she doth appeare.
1123:
Robin.
I go, I go, looke how I goe,
1124: Swifter then arrow from the Tartars bowe. [ Exit.]
1125:
Ob.
Flower of this purple die,
1126: Hit with Cupids archery,
1127: Sinke in apple of his eye,
1128: When his loue he doth espie,
1129: Let her shine as gloriously
1130: As the Venus of the sky.
1131: When thou wak'st if she be by,
1132: Beg of her for remedy.
1133: [ Enter Pucke.]
1134:
Puck.
Captaine of our Fairy band,
1135: Helena is heere at hand,
1136: And the youth, mistooke by me,
1137: Pleading for a Louers fee.
1138: Shall we their fond Pageant see?
1139: Lord, what fooles these mortals be!
1140:
Ob.
Stand aside: the noyse they make,
1141: Will cause Demetrius to awake.
1142:
Puck.
Then will two at once wooe one,
1143: That must needs be sport alone:
1144: And those things doe best please me,
1145: That befall preposterously.
1146: [ Enter Lysander and Helena.]
1147:
Lys.
Why should you think y I should wooe in scorn?
1148: Scorne and derision neuer comes in teares:
1149: Looke when I vow I weepe; and vowes so borne,
1150: In their natiuity all truth appeares.
1151: How can these things in me, seeme scorne to you?
1152: Bearing the badge of faith to proue them true.
1153:
Hel.
You doe aduance your cunning more & more,
1154: When truth kils truth, O diuelish holy fray!
1155: These vowes are Hermias. Will you giue her ore?
1156: Weigh oath with oath, and you will nothing weigh.
1157: Your vowes to her, and me, (put in two scales)
1158: Will euen weigh, and both as light as tales.
1159:
Lys.
I had no iudgement, when to her I swore.
1160:
Hel.
Nor none in my minde, now you giue her ore.
1161:
Lys
Demetrius loues her, and he loues not you. [ Awa.]
1162:
Dem.
O Helen, goddesse, nimph, perfect, diuine,
1163: To what, my loue, shall I compare thine eyne!
1164: Christall is muddy, O how ripe in show,
1165: Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow!
1166: That pure congealed white, high Taurus snow,
1167: Fan'd with the Easterne winde, turnes to a crow,
1168: When thou holdst vp thy hand. O let me kisse
1169: This Princesse of pure white, this seale of blisse.
1170:
Hell.
O spight! O hell! I see you are all bent
1171: To set against me, for your merriment:
1172: If you were ciuill, and knew curtesie,
1173: You would not doe me thus much iniury.
1174: Can you not hate me, as I know you doe,
1175: But you must ioyne in soules to mocke me to?
1176: If you are men, as men you are in show,
1177: You would not vse a gentle Lady so;
1178: To vow, and sweare, and superpraise my parts,
1179: When I am sure you hate me with your hearts.
1180: You both are Riuals, and loue Hermia;
1181: And now both Riuals to mocke Helena.
1182: A trim exploit, a manly enterprize,
1183: To coniure teares vp in a poore maids eyes,
1184: With your derision; none of noble sort,
1185: Would so offend a Virgin, and extort
1186: A poore soules patience, all to make you sport,
1187:
Lysa.
You are vnkind Demetrius; be not so,
1188: For you loue Hermia; this you know I know;
1189: And here with all good will, with all my heart,
1190: In Hermias loue I yeeld you vp my part;
1191: And yours of Helena, To me bequeath,
1192: Whom I do loue, and will do to my death.
1193:
Hel.
Neuer did mockers wast more idle breth.
1194:
Dem.
Lysander, keep thy Hermia, I will none:
1195: If ere I lou'd her, all that loue is gone.
1196: My heart to her, but as guest-wise soiourn'd,
1197: And now to Helen it is home return'd,
1198: There to remaine.
1199:
Lys.
It is not so.
1200:
De.
Disparage not the faith thou dost not know,
1201: Lest to thy perill thou abide it deare.
1202: Looke where thy Loue comes, yonder is thy deare.
1203: [ Enter Hermia.]
1204:
Her.
Dark night, that from the eye his function takes,
1205: The eare more quicke of apprehension makes,
1206: Wherein it doth impaire the seeing sense,
1207: It paies the hearing double recompence.
1208: Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander found,
1209: Mine eare (I thanke it) brought me to that sound.
1210: But why vnkindly didst thou leaue me so?
1211:
Lysan.
Why should hee stay whom Loue doth presse to go?
1212:
Her.
What loue could presse Lysander from my side?
1213:
Lys.
Lysanders loue (that would not let him bide)
1214: Faire Helena; who more engilds the night,
1215: Then all yon fierie oes, and eies of light.
1216: Why seek'st thou me? Could not this make thee know,
1217: The hate I bare thee, made me leaue thee so?
1218:
Her.
You speake not as you thinke; it cannot be.
1219:
Hel.
Loe, she is one of this confederacy,
1220: Now I perceiue they haue conioyn'd all three,
1221: To fashion this false sport in spight of me.
1222: Iniurous Hermia, most vngratefull maid,
1223: Haue you conspir'd, haue you with these contriu'd
1224: To baite me, with this foule derision?
1225: Is all the counsell that we two haue shar'd,
1226: The sisters vowes, the houres that we haue spent,
1227: When wee haue chid the hasty footed time,
1228: For parting vs; O, is all forgot?
1229: All schooledaies friendship, child-hood innocence?
1230: We Hermia, like two Artificiall gods,
1231: Haue with our needles, created both one flower,
1232: Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,
1233: Both warbling of one song, both in one key:
1234: As if our hands, our sides, voices, and mindes
1235: Had beene incorporate. So we grew together,
1236: Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,
1237: But yet a vnion in partition,
1238: Two louely berries molded on one stem,
1239: So with two seeming bodies, but one heart,
1240: Two of the first life coats in Heraldry,
1241: Due but to one and crowned with one crest.
1242: And will you rent our ancient loue asunder,
1243: To ioyne with men in scorning your poore friend?
1244: It is not friendly, 'tis not maidenly.
1245: Our sexe as well as I, may chide you for it,
1246: Though I alone doe feele the iniurie.
1247:
Her.
I am amazed at your passionate words,
1248: I scorne you not; It seemes that you scorne me.
1249:
Hel.
Haue you not set Lysander, as in scorne
1250: To follow me, and praise my eies and face?
1251: And made your other loue, Demetrius
1252: (Who euen but now did spurne me with his foote)
1253: To call me goddesse, nimph, diuine, and rare,
1254: Precious, celestiall? Wherefore speakes he this
1255: To her he hates? and wherefore doth Lysander
1256: Denie your loue (so rich within his soule)
1257: And tender me (forsooth) affection,
1258: But by your setting on, by your consent?
1259: What though I be not so in grace as you,
1260: So hung vpon with loue, so fortunate?
1261: (But miserable most, to loue vnlou'd)
1262: This you should pittie, rather then despise.
1263:
Her.
I vnderstand not what you meane by this.
1264:
Hel.
I, doe, perseuer, counterfeit sad lookes,
1265: Make mouthes vpon me when I turne my backe,
1266: Winke each at other, hold the sweete iest vp:
1267: This sport well carried, shall be chronicled.
1268: If you haue any pittie, grace, or manners,
1269: You would not make me such an argument:
1270: But fare ye well, 'tis partly mine owne fault,
1271: Which death or absence soone shall remedie.
1272:
Lys.
Stay gentle Helena, heare my excuse,
1273: My loue, my life, my soule, faire Helena.
1274:
Hel.
O excellent!
1275:
Her.
Sweete, do not scorne her so.
1276:
Dem.
If she cannot entreate, I can compell.
1277:
Lys.
Thou canst compell, no more then she entreate.
1278: Thy threats haue no more strength then her weak praise.
1279: Helen, I loue thee, by my life I doe;
1280: I sweare by that which I will lose for thee,
1281: To proue him false, that saies I loue thee not.
1282:
Dem.
I say, I loue thee more then he can do.
1283:
Lys.
If thou say so, with-draw and proue it too.
1284:
Dem.
Quick, come.
1285:
Her.
Lysander, whereto tends all this?
1286:
Lys.
Away, you Ethiope.
1287:
Dem.
No, no, Sir, seeme to breake loose;
1288: Take on as you would follow,
1289: But yet come not: you are a tame man, go.
1290:
Lys.
Hang off thou cat, thou bur; vile thing let loose,
1291: Or I will shake thee from me like a serpent.
1292:
Her.
Why are you growne so rude?
1293: What change is this sweete Loue?
1294:
Lys.
Thy loue? out tawny Tartar, out;
1295: Out loathed medicine; O hated poison hence.
1296:
Her.
Do you not iest?
1297:
Hel.
Yes sooth, and so do you.
1298:
Lys.
Demetrius: I will keepe my word with thee.
1299:
Dem.
I would I had your bond: for I perceiue
1300: A weake bond holds you; Ile not trust your word.
1301:
Lys.
What, should I hurt her, strike her, kill her dead?
1302: Although I hate her, Ile not harme her so.
1303:
Her.
What, can you do me greater harme then hate?
1304: Hate me, wherefore? O me, what newes my Loue?
1305: Am not I Hermia? Are not you Lysander?
1306: I am as faire now, as I was ere while.
1307: Since night you lou'd me: yet since night you left me.
1308: Why then you left me (O the gods forbid)
1309: In earnest, shall I say?
1310:
Lys.
I, by my life;
1311: And neuer did desire to see thee more.
1312: Therefore be out of hope, of question, of doubt;
1313: Be certaine, nothing truer: 'tis no iest,
1314: That I do hate thee, and loue Helena.
1315:
Her.
O me, you iugler, you canker blossome,
1316: You theefe of loue; What, haue you come by night,
1317: And stolne my loues heart from him?
1318:
Hel.
Fine yfaith:
1319: Haue you no modesty, no maiden shame,
1320: No touch of bashfulnesse? What, will you teare
1321: Impatient answers from my gentle tongue?
1322: Fie, fie, you counterfeit, you puppet, you.
1323:
Her.
Puppet? why so? I, that way goes the game.
1324: Now I perceiue that she hath made compare
1325: Betweene our statures, she hath vrg'd her height,
1326: And with her personage, her tall personage,
1327: Her height (forsooth) she hath preuail'd with him.
1328: And are you growne so high in his esteeme,
1329: Because I am so dwarfish, and so low?
1330: How low am I, thou painted May-pole? Speake,
1331: How low am I? I am not yet so low,
1332: But that my nailes can reach vnto thine eyes.
1333:
Hel.
I pray you though you mocke me, gentlemen,
1334: Let her not hurt me; I was neuer curst:
1335: I haue no gift at all in shrewishnesse;
1336: I am a right maide for my cowardize;
1337: Let her not strike me: you perhaps may thinke,
1338: Because she is something lower then my selfe,
1339: That I can match her.
1340:
Her.
Lower? harke againe.
1341:
Hel.
Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me,
1342: I euermore did loue you Hermia,
1343: Did euer keepe your counsels, neuer wronged you,
1344: Saue that in loue vnto Demetrius,
1345: I told him of your stealth vnto this wood.
1346: He followed you, for loue I followed him,
1347: But he hath chid me hence, and threatned me
1348: To strike me, spurne me, nay to kill me too;
1349: And now, so you will let me quiet go,
1350: To Athens will I beare my folly backe,
1351: And follow you no further. Let me go.
1352: You see how simple, and how fond I am.
1353:
Her.
Why get you gone: who ist that hinders you?
1354:
Hel.
A foolish heart, that I leaue here behinde.
1355:
Her.
What, with Lysander?
1356:
Her.
With Demetrius.
1357:
Lys.
Be not afraid, she shall not harme thee Helena.
1358:
Dem.
No sir, she shall not, though you take her part.
1359:
Hel.
O when she's angry, she is keene and shrewd,
1360: She was a vixen when she went to schoole,
1361: And though she be but little, she is fierce.
1362:
Her.
Little againe? Nothing but low and little?
1363: Why will you suffer her to flout me thus?
1364: Let me come to her.
1365:
Lys.
Get you gone you dwarfe,
1366: You minimus, of hindring knot-grasse made,
1367: You bead, you acorne.
1368:
Dem.
You are too officious,
1369: In her behalfe that scornes your seruices.
1370: Let her alone, speake not of Helena,
1371: Take not her part. For if thou dost intend
1372: Neuer so little shew of loue to her,
1373: Thou shalt abide it.
1374:
Lys.
Now she holds me not,
1375: Now follow if thou dar'st, to try whose right,
1376: Of thine or mine is most in Helena.
1377:
Dem.
Follow? Nay, Ile goe with thee cheeke by
1378: iowle. [ Exit Lysander and Demetrius.]
1379:
Her.
You Mistris, all this coyle is long of you.
1380: Nay, goe not backe.
1381:
Hel.
I will not trust you I,
1382: Nor longer stay in your curst companie.
1383: Your hands then mine, are quicker for a fray,
1384: My legs are longer though to runne away.
1385: [ Enter Oberon and Pucke.]
1386:
Ob.
This is thy negligence, still thou mistak'st,
1387: Or else committ'st thy knaueries willingly.
1388:
Puck.
Beleeue me, King of shadowes, I mistooke,
1389: Did not you tell me, I should know the man,
1390: By the Athenian garments he hath on?
1391: And so farre blamelesse proues my enterprize,
1392: That I haue nointed an Athenians eies,
1393: And so farre am I glad, it so did sort,
1394: As this their iangling I esteeme a sport.
1395:
Ob.
Thou seest these Louers seeke a place to fight,
1396: Hie therefore Robin, ouercast the night,
1397: The starrie Welkin couer thou anon,
1398: With drooping fogge as blacke as Acheron,
1399: And lead these testie Riuals so astray,
1400: As one come not within anothers way.
1401: Like to Lysander, sometime frame thy tongue,
1402: Then stirre Demetrius vp with bitter wrong;
1403: And sometime raile thou like Demetrius;
1404: And from each other looke thou leade them thus,
1405: Till ore their browes, death-counterfeiting, sleepe
1406: With leaden legs, and Battie-wings doth creepe:
1407: Then crush this hearbe into Lysanders eie,
1408: Whose liquor hath this vertuous propertie,
1409: To take from thence all error, with his might,
1410: and make his eie-bals role with wonted sight.
1411: When they next wake, all this derision
1412: Shall seeme a dreame, and fruitless vision,
1413: And backe to Athens shall the Louers wend
1414: With league, whose date till death shall neuer end.
1415: Whiles I in this affaire do thee imploy,
1416: Ile to my Queene, and beg her Indian Boy;
1417: And then I will her charmed eie release
1418: From monsters view, and all things shall be peace.
1419:
Puck.
My Fairie Lord, this must be done with haste,
1420: For night-swift Dragons cut the Clouds full fast,
1421: And yonder shines Auroras harbinger;
1422: At whose approach Ghosts wandring here and there,
1423: Troope home to Church-yards; damned spirits all,
1424: That in crosse-waies and flouds haue buriall,
1425: Alreadie to their wormie beds are gone;
1426: For feare least day should looke their shames vpon,
1427: They wilfully themselues exile from light,
1428: And must for aye consort with blacke browd night.
1429:
Ob.
But we are spirits of another sort:
1430: I, with the mornings loue haue oft made sport,
1431: And like a Forrester, the groues may tread,
1432: Euen till the Easterne gate all fierie red,
1433: Opening on Neptune, With faire blessed beames,
1434: Turnes into yellow gold, his salt greene streames.
1435: But not withstanding haste, make no delay:
1436: We may effect this businesse, yet ere day.
1437:
Puck.
Vp and downe, vp and downe, I will leade
1438: them vp and downe: I am fear'd in field and towne.
1439: Goblin, lead them vp and downe: here comes one.
1440: [ Enter Lysander.]
1441:
Lys.
Where art thou, proud Demetrius?
1442: Speake thou now.
1443:
Rob.
Here villaine, drawne & readie. Where art thou?
1444:
Lys.
I will be with thee straight.
1445:
Rob.
Follow me then to plainer ground.
1446: [ Enter Demetrius.]
1447:
Dem.
Lysander, speake againe;
1448: Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled?
1449: Speake in some bush: Where dost thou hide thy head?
1450:
Rob.
Thou coward, art thou bragging to the stars,
1451: Telling the bushes that thou look'st for wars,
1452: And wilt not come? Come recreant, come thou childe,
1453: Ile whip thee with a rod. He is defil'd
1454: That drawes a sword on thee.
1455:
Dem.
Yea, art thou there?
1456:
Ro
Follow my voice, we'l try no manhood here. [ Exit.]
1457:
Lys.
He goes before me, and still dares me on,
1458: When I come where he cals, then he's gone.
1459: The Villaine is much lighter heel'd then I:
1460: I followed fast, but faster he did flye; [ shifting places.]
1461: That fallen am I in darke vneuen way,
1462: And here wil rest me. Come thou gentle day: [ lye down.]
1463: For if but once thou shew me thy gray light,
1464: Ile finde Demetrius, and reuenge this spight.
1465: [ Enter Robin and Demetrius.]
1466:
Rob.
Ho, ho, ho; coward, why com'st thou not?
1467:
Dem.
Abide me, if thou dar'st. For well I wot,
1468: Thou runst before me, shifting euery place,
1469: And dar'st not stand, nor looke me in the face.
1470: Where art thou?
1471:
Rob.
Come hither, I am here.
1472:
Dem.
Nay then thou mock'st me; thou shalt buy this
1473: deere,
1474: If euer I thy face by day-light see.
1475: Now goe thy way: faintnesse constraineth me,
1476: To measure out my length on this cold bed,
1477: By daies approach looke to be visited.
1478: [ Enter Helena.]
1479:
Hel.
O weary night, O long and tedious night,
1480: Abate thy houres, shine comforts from the East,
1481: That I may backe to Athens by day-light,
1482: From these that my poore companie detest;
1483: And sleepe that sometime shuts vp sorrowes eie,
1484: Steale me a while from mine owne companie. [ Sleepe.]
1485:
Rob.
Yet but three? Come one more,
1486: Two of both kindes makes vp foure.
1487: Here she comes, curst and sad,
1488: Cupid is a knauish lad,
1489: [ Enter Hermia.]
1490: Thus to make poore females mad.
1491:
Her.
Neuer so wearie, neuer so in woe,
1492: Bedabbled with the dew, and torne with briars,
1493: I can no further crawle, no further goe;
1494: My legs can keepe no pace with my desires.
1495: Here will I rest me till the breake of day,
1496: Heauens shield Lysander, if they meane a fray.
1497:
Rob.
On the ground sleepe sound,
1498: Ile apply your eie gentle louer, remedy.
1499: When thou wak'st, thou tak'st
1500: True delight in the sight of thy former Ladies eye,
1501: And the Country Prouerb knowne,
1502: That euery man should take his owne,
1503: In your waking shall be showne.
1504: Iacke shall haue Iill, nought shall goe ill.
1505: The man shall haue his Mare againe, and all shall bee
1506: well.
1507: [ They sleepe all the Act.]
Act IV
1508: Actus Quartus.
1509: [ Enter Queene of Fairies, and Clowne, and Fairies, and the
King behinde them]
1511:
Tita.
Come, sit thee downe vpon this flowry bed,
1512: While I thy amiable cheekes doe coy,
1513: And sticke muske roses in thy sleeke smoothe head,
1514: And kisse thy faire large eares, my gentle ioy.
1515:
Clow.
Where's Peaseblossome?
1516:
Peas.
Ready.
1517:
Clow.
Scratch my head, Pease-blossome. Wher's Moun-sieuer
1518: Cobweb.
1519:
Cob.
Ready.
1520:
Clowne.
Mounsieur Cobweb, good Mounsier get your
1521: weapons in your hand, & kill me a red hipt humble-Bee,
1522: on the top of a thistle; and good Mounsieur bring mee
1523: the hony bag. Doe not fret your selfe too much in the
1524: action, Mounsieur; and good mounsieur haue a care the
1525: hony bag breake not, I would be loth to haue you ouer-flowne
1526: with a hony-bag signiour. Where's Mounsieur
1527: Mustardseed?
1528:
Mus.
Ready.
1529:
Clo.
Giue me your neafe, Mounsieur Mustardseed.
1530: Pray you leaue your courtesie good Mounsieur.
1531:
Mus.
What's your will?
1532:
Clo.
Nothing good Mounsieur, but to help Caualery
1533: Cobweb to scratch. I must to the Barbers Mounsieur, for
1534: me-thinkes I am maruellous hairy about the face. And I
1535: am such a tender asse, if my haire do but tickle me, I must
1536: scratch.
1537:
Tita.
What, wilt thou heare some musicke, my sweet
1538: loue.
1539:
Clow.
I haue a reasonable good eare in musicke. Let
1540: vs haue the tongs and the bones.
1541: [ Musicke Tongs, Rurall Musicke.]
1542:
Tita.
Or say sweete Loue, what thou desirest to eat.
1543:
Clowne.
Truly a pecke of Prouender; I could munch
1544: your good dry Oates. Me-thinkes I haue a great desire
1545: to a bottle of hay: good hay, sweete hay hath no fel-low.
1546: _
1547:
Tita.
I haue a venturous Fairy,
1548: That shall seeke the Squirrels hoard,
1549: And fetch thee new Nuts.
1550:
Clown.
I had rather haue a handfull or two of dried
1551: pease. But I pray you let none of your people stirre me, I
1552: haue an exposition of sleepe come vpon me.
1553:
Tyta.
Sleepe thou, and I will winde thee in my arms,
1554: Fairies be gone, and be alwaies away.
1555: So doth the woodbine, the sweet Honisuckle,
1556: Gently entwist; the female Iuy so
1557: Enrings the barky fingers of the Elme.
1558: O how I loue thee! how I dote on thee!
1559: [ Enter Robin goodfellow and Oberon.]
1560:
Ob.
Welcome good Robin:
1561: Seest thou this sweet sight?
1562: Her dotage now I doe begin to pitty.
1563: For meeting her of late behinde the wood,
1564: Seeking sweet sauours for this hatefull foole,
1565: I did vpbraid her, and fall out with her.
1566: For she his hairy temples then had rounded,
1567: With coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers.
1568: And that same dew which somtime on the buds,
1569: Was wont to swell like round and orient pearles;
1570: Stood now within the pretty flouriets eyes,
1571: Like teares that did their owne disgrace bewaile.
1572: When I had at my pleasure taunted her,
1573: And she in milde termes beg'd my patience,
1574: I then did aske of her, her changeling childe,
1575: Which straight she gaue me, and her fairy sent
1576: To beare him to my Bower in Fairy Land.
1577: And now I haue the Boy, I will vndoe
1578: This hatefull imperfection of her eyes.
1579: And gentle Pucke, take this transformed scalpe,
1580: From off the head of this Athenian swaine;
1581: That he awaking when the other doe,
1582: May all to Athens backe againe repaire,
1583: And thinke no more of this nights accidents,
1584: But as the fierce vexation of dreame.
1585: But first I will release the Fairy Queene.
1586: Be thou as thou wast wont to be;
1587: See as thou wast wont to see.
1588: Dians bud, or Cupids flower,
1589: Hath such force and blessed power.
1590: Now my Titania wake you my sweet Queene.
1591:
Tita.
My Oberon, what visions haue I seene!
1592: Me-thought I was enamoured of an asse.
1593:
Ob.
There lies your loue.
1594:
Tita.
How came these things to passe?
1595: Oh, how mine eyes doth loath this visage now!
1596:
Ob.
Silence a while. Robin take off his head:
1597: Titania, musick call, and strike more dead
1598: Then common sleepe; of all these, fine the sense.
1599:
Tita.
Musicke, ho musicke, such as charmeth sleepe.
1600: [ Musick still.]
1601:
Rob.
When thou wak'st, with thine owne fooles eies
1602: peepe.
1603:
Ob.
Sound musick; come my Queen, take hands with me
1604: And rocke the ground whereon these sleepers be.
1605: Now thou and I new in amity,
1606: And will to morrow midnight, solemnly
1607: Dance in Duke Theseus house triumphantly,
1608: And blesse it to all faire posterity.
1609: There shall the paires of faithfull Louers be
1610: Wedded, with Theseus, all in iollity.
1611:
Rob.
Faire King attend, and marke,
1612: I doe heare the morning Larke,
1613:
Ob.
Then my Queene in silence sad,
1614: Trip we after the nights shade;
1615: We the Globe can compasse soone,
1616: Swifter then the wandering Moone.
1617:
Tita.
Come my Lord, and in our flight,
1618: Tell me how it came this night,
1619: That I sleeping heere was found,
1620: [ Sleepers Lye still.]
1621: With these mortals on the ground. [ Exeunt.]
1622: [ Winde Hornes.]
1623: [ Enter Theseus, Egeus, Hippolita and all his traine.]
1624:
Thes.
Goe one of you, finde out the Forrester,
1625: For now our obseruation is perform'd;
1626: And since we haue the vaward of the day,
1627: My Loue shall heare the musicke of my hounds.
1628: Vncouple in the Westerne valley, let them goe;
1629: Dispatch I say, and finde the Forrester.
1630: We will faire Queene, vp to the Mountains top,
1631: And marke the musicall confusion
1632: Of hounds and eccho in coniunction.
1633:
Hip.
I was with Hercules and Cadmus once.
1634: When in a wood of Creete they bayed the Beare
1635: With hounds of Sparta; neuer did I heare
1636: Such gallant chiding. For besides the groues,
1637: The skies, the fountaines, euery region neere,
1638: Seeme all one mutuall cry. I neuer heard
1639: So musicall a discord, such sweet thunder.
1640:
Thes.
My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kinde,
1641: So flew'd, so sanded, and their heads are hung
1642: With eares that sweepe away the morning dew,
1643: Crooke kneed, and dew-lapt, like Thessalian Buls,
1644: Slow in pursuit, but match'd in mouth like bels,
1645: Each vnder each. A cry more tuneable
1646: Was neuer hallowed to, nor cheer'd with horne,
1647: In Creete, in Sparta, nor in Thessaly;
1648: Iudge when you heare. But soft, what nimphs are these?
1649:
Egeus.
My Lord, this is my daughter heere asleepe,
1650: And this Lysander, this Demetrius is,
1651: This Helena, olde Nedars Helena,
1652: I wonder of this being heere together.
1653:
The.
No doubt they rose vp early, to obserue
1654: The right of May; and hearing our intent,
1655: Came heere in grace of our solemnity.
1656: But speake Egeus, is not this the day
1657: That Hermia should giue answer of her choice?
1658:
Egeus.
It is, my Lord.
1659:
Thes.
Goe bid the hunts-men wake them with their
1660: hornes.
1661: [ Hornes and they wake.]
1662: [ Shout within, they all start vp.]
1663:
Thes.
Good morrow friends: Saint Valentine is past,
1664: Begin these wood birds but to couple now?
1665:
Lys.
Pardon my Lord.
1666:
Thes.
I pray you all stand vp.
1667: I know you two are Riuall enemies.
1668: How comes this gentle concord in the world,
1669: That hatred is so farre from iealousie,
1670: To sleepe by hate, and feare no enmity.
1671:
Lys.
My Lord, I shall reply amazedly,
1672: Halfe sleepe, halfe waking. but as yet, I sweare,
1673: I cannot truly say how I came heere.
1674: But as I thinke (for truly would I speake)
1675: And now I doe bethinke me, so it is;
1676: I came with Hermia hither. Our intent
1677: Was to be gone from Athens, where we might be
1678: Without the perill of the Athenian Law.
1679:
Ege.
Enough, enough, my Lord: you haue enough;
1680: I beg the Law, the Law, vpon his head:
1681: They would have stolne away, they would Demetrius,
1682: Thereby to haue defeated you and me:
1683: You of your wife, and me of my consent;
1684: Of my consent, that she should be your wife.
1685:
Dem.
My Lord, faire Helen told me of their stealth,
1686: Of this their purpose hither, to this wood,
1687: And I in furie hither followed them;
1688: Faire Helena, in fancy followed me.
1689: But my good Lord, I wot not by what not by what power,
1690: (But by some power it is) my loue
1691: To Hermia (melted as the snow)
1692: Seems to me now as the remembrance of an idle gaude,
1693: Which in my childehood I did doat vpon:
1694: And all the faith, the vertue of my heart,
1695: The obiect and the pleasure of mine eye,
1696: Is onely Helena. To her, my Lord,
1697: Was I betroth'd, ere I see Hermia,
1698: But like a sickenesse did I loath this food,
1699: But as in health, come to my naturall taste,
1700: Now doe I wish it, loue it, long for it,
1701: And will for euermore be true to it.
1702:
Thes.
Faire Louers, you are fortunately met;
1703: Of this discourse we shall heare more anon.
1704: Egeus, I will ouer-beare your will;
1705: For in the Temple, by and by with vs,
1706: These couples shall eternally be knit.
1707: And for the morning now is something worne,
1708: Our purpos'd hunting shall be set aside.
1709: Away, with vs to Athens; three and three,
1710: Wee'll hold a feast in great solemnitie.
1711: Come Hippolita. [ Exit Duke and Lords.]
1712:
Dem.
These things seeme small & vndistinguishable,
1713: Like farre off mountaines turned into Clouds.
1714:
Her.
Me-thinks I see these things with parted eye,
1715: When euery thing seemes double.
1716:
Hel.
So me-thinkes:
1717: And I haue found Demetrius, like a iewell,
1718: Mine owne, and not mine owne.
1719:
Dem.
It seemes to mee,
1720: That yet we sleepe, we dreame. Do not you thinke,
1721: The Duke was heere, and bid vs follow him?
1722:
Her.
Yea, and my Father.
1723:
Hel.
And Hippolita.
1724:
Lys.
And he bid vs follow to the Temple.
1725:
Dem.
Why then we are awake; lets follow him, and
1726: by the way let vs recount our dreames.
1727: [ Bottome wakes]
[ Exit Louers.]
1728:
Clo.
When my cue comes, call me, and I will answer.
1729: My next is, most faire Piramus. Hey ho. Peter Quince?
1730: Flute the bellowes-mender? Snout the tinker? Starue-ling?
1731: Gods my life! Stolne hence, and left me asleepe: I
1732: haue had a most rare vision. I had a dreame, past the wit
1733: of man, to say, what dreame it was. Man is but an Asse,
1734: if he goe about to expound this dreame. Me-thought I
1735: was, there is no man can tell what. Me-thought I was,
1736: and me-thought I had. But man is but a patch'd foole,
1737: if he will offer to say, what me-thought I had. The eye of
1738: man hath not heard, the eare of man hath not seen, mans
1739: hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceiue, nor his
1740: heart to report, what my dreame was. I will get Peter
1741: Quince to write a ballet of this dreame, it shall be called
1742: Bottomes Dreame, because it hath no bottome; and I will
1743: sing it in the latter end of a play, before the Duke. Per-aduenture,
1744: to make it the more gracious, I shall sing it
1745: at her death. [ Exit.]
1746: [ Enter Quince, Flute, Thisbie, Snout, and Starueling.]
1747:
Quin.
Haue you sent to Bottomes house? Is he come
1748: home yet?
1749:
Staru.
He cannot be heard of. Out of doubt hee is
1750: transported.
1751:
This.
If he come not, then the play is mar'd. It goes
1752: not forward, doth it?
1753:
Quin.
It is not possible: you haue not a man in all
1754: Athens, able to discharge Piramus but he.
1755:
This.
No, hee hath simply the best wit of any handy-craft
1756: man in Athens.
1757:
Quin.
Yea, and the best person too, and hee is a very
1758: Paramour, for a sweet voyce.
1759:
This.
You must say, Paragon. A Paramour is (God
1760: blesse vs) a thing of nought.
1761: [ Enter Snug the Ioyner.]
1762:
Snug.
Masters, the Duke is comming from the Tem-ple,
1763: and there is two or three Lords & Ladies more mar-ried.
1764: If our sport had gone forward, we had all bin made
1765: men.
1766:
This.
O sweet bully Bottome: thus hath he lost sixe-pence
1767: a day, during his life; he could not haue scaped six-pence
1768: a day. And the Duke had not giuen him sixpence
1769: a day for playing Piramus, Ile be hang'd. He would haue
1770: deserued it. Sixpence a day in Piramus, or nothing.
1771: [ Enter Bottome.]
1772:
Bot.
Where are these Lads? Where are these hearts?
1773:
Quin.
Bottome, o most couragious day! O most hap-pie
1774: houre!
1775:
Bot.
Masters, I am to discourse wonders; but ask me
1776: not what. For if I tell you, I am no true Athenian. I
1777: will tell you euery thing as it fell out.
1778:
Qu.
Let vs heare, sweet Bottome.
1779:
Bot.
Not a word of me: all that I will tell you, is, that
1780: the Duke hath dined. Get your apparell together, good
1781: strings to your beards, new ribbands to your pumps,
1782: meete presently at the Palace, euery man looke ore his
1783: part: for the short and the long is, our play is preferred:
1784: In any case let Thisby haue cleane linnen: and let not him
1785: that playes the Lion, paire his nailes, for they shall hang
1786: out for the Lions clawes. And most deare Actors, eate
1787: no Onions, nor Garlicke; for wee are to vtter sweete
1788: breath, and I doe not doubt but to heare them say, it is a
1789: sweet Comedy. No more words: away, go away.
1790: [ Exeunt.]
Act V
1791: Actus Quintus.
1792: [ Enter Theseus, Hippolita, Egeus and his Lords.]
1793:
Hip.
'Tis strange my Theseus, y these louers speake of.
1794:
The.
More strange then true. I neuer may beleeue
1795: These anticke fables, nor these Fairy toyes,
1796: Louers and mad men haue such seething braines,
1797: Such shaping phantasies, that apprehend more
1798: Then coole reason euer comprehends.
1799: The Lunaticke, the Louer, and the Poet,
1800: Are of imagination all compact.
1801: One sees more diuels then vaste hell can hold;
1802: That is the mad man. The Louer, all as franticke,
1803: Sees Helens beauty in a brow of Egipt.
1804: The Poets eye in a fine frenzy rolling, doth glance
1805: From heauen to earth, from earth to heauen.
1806: And as imagination bodies forth the forms of things
1807: Vnknowne; the Poets pen turnes them to shapes,
1808: And giues to aire nothing, a locall habitation,
1809: And a name. Such tricks hath strong imagination,
1810: That if it would but apprehend some ioy,
1811: It comprehends some bringer of that ioy.
1812: Or in the night, imagining some feare,
1813: Howe easie is a bush suppos'd a Beare?
1814:
Hip.
But all the storie of the night told ouer,
1815: And all their minds transfigur'd so together,
1816: More witnesseth than fancies images,
1817: And growes to something of great constancie;
1818: But howsoeuer, strange, and admirable.
1819: [ Enter louers, Lysander, Demetrius, Hermia,
and Helena]
1821:
The.
Heere come the louers, full of ioy and mirth:
1822: Ioy, gentle friends, ioy and fresh dayes
1823: Of loue accompany your hearts.
1824:
Lys.
More then to vs, waite in your royall walkes,
1825: your boord, your bed.
1826:
The.
Come now, what maskes, what dances shall
1827: we haue,
1828: To weare away this long age of three houres,
1829: Between our after supper, and bed-time?
1830: Where is our vsuall manager of mirth?
1831: What Reuels are in hand? Is there no play,
1832: To ease the anguish of a torturing houre?
1833: Call Egeus.
1834:
Ege.
Heere mighty Theseus.
1835:
The.
Say, what abridgement haue you for this eue-ning?
1836: _
1837: What maske? What musicke? How shall we beguile
1838: The lazie time, if not with some delight?
1839:
Ege.
There is a breefe how many sports are rife:
1840: Make choise of which your Highnesse will see first.
1841:
Lis.
The battell with the Centaurs to be sung
1842: By an Athenian Eunuch, to the Harpe.
1843:
The.
Wee'l none of that. That haue I told my Loue
1844: In glory of my kinsman Hercules.
1845:
Lis.
The riot of the tipsie Bachanals,
1846: Tearing the Thracian singer, in their rage?
1847:
The.
That is an old deuice, and it was plaid
1848: When I from Thebes came last a Conqueror.
1849:
Lis.
The thrice three Muses, mourning for the death
1850: of learning, late deceast in beggerie.
1851:
The.
That is some Satire keene and criticall,
1852: Not sorting with a nuptiall ceremonie.
1853:
Lis.
A tedious breefe Scene of yong Piramus,
1854: And his loue Thisby; very tragicall mirth.
1855:
The.
Merry and tragicall? Tedious, and briefe? That
1856: is, hot ice, and wondrous strange snow. How shall wee
1857: finde the concord of this discord?
1858:
Ege.
A play there is, my Lord, some ten words long,
1859: Which is as breefe, as I haue knowne a play;
1860: But by ten words, my Lord, it is too long;
1861: Which makes it tedious. For in all the play,
1862: There is not one word apt, one Player fitted.
1863: And tragicall my noble Lord it is: for Piramus
1864: Therein doth kill himselfe. Which when I saw
1865: Rehearst, I must confesse, made mine eyes water:
1866: But more merrie teares, the passion of loud laughter
1867: Neuer shed.
1868:
Thes.
What are they that do play it?
1869:
Ege.
Hard handed men, that worke in Athens heere,
1870: Which neuer labour'd in their mindes till now;
1871: And now haue toyled their vnbreathed memories
1872: With this same play, against your nuptiall.
1873:
The.
And we will heare it.
1874:
Hip.
No my noble Lord, it is not for you. I haue heard
1875: It ouer, and it is nothing, nothing in the world;
1876: Vnless you can finde sport in their intents,
1877: Extreamely stretched, and cond with cruell paine,
1878: To doe you seruice.
1879:
Thes.
I will heare that play. For neuer any thing
1880: Can be amisse, when simplenesse and duty tender it.
1881: Goe bring them in, and take your places, Ladies.
1882:
Hip.
I loue not to see wretchednesse orecharged;
1883: And duty in his seruice perishing.
1884:
Thes.
Why gentle sweet, you shall see no such thing.
1885:
Hip.
He saies, they can doe nothing in this kinde.
1886:
Thes.
The kinder we, to giue them thanks for nothing
1887: Our sport shall be, to take what they mistake;
1888: And what poore duty cannot doe, noble respect
1889: Takes it in might, not merit.
1890: Where I haue come, great Clearkes haue purposed
1891: To greete me with premeditated welcomes;
1892: Where I haue seene them shiuer and looke pale,
1893: Make periods in the midst of sentences,
1894: Throttle their practiz'd accent in their feares,
1895: And in conclusion, dumbly haue broke off,
1896: Not paying me a welcome. Trust me sweete,
1897: Out of this silence yet, I pickt a welcome:
1898: And in the modesty of fearefull duty,
1899: I read as much, as from the ratling tongue
1900: Of saucy and audacious eloquence.
1901: Loue therefore, and tongue-tide simplicity,
1902: In least, speake most, to my capacity.
1903:
Egeus.
So please your Grace, the Prologue is addrest.
1904:
Duke
Let him approach. [ Flor. Trum.]
1905: [ Enter the Prologue. Quince.]
1906:
Pro.
If we offend, it is with our good will.
1907: That you should thinke, we come not to offend,
1908: But with good will. To shew our simple skill,
1909: That is the true beginning of our end.
1910: Consider then, we come but in despight.
1911: We do not come, as minding to content you,
1912: Our true intent is. All for your delight,
1913: We are not heere. That you should here repent you,
1914: The Actors are at hand; and by their show,
1915: You shall know all, that you are like to know.
1916:
Thes.
This fellow doth not stand vpon points.
1917:
Lys.
He hath rid his Prologue, like a rough Colt: he
1918: knowes not the stop. A good morall my lord. it is not
1919: enough to speake, but to speake true.
1920:
Hip.
Indeed hee hath plaid on his Prologue, like a
1921: childe on a Recorder, a sound, but not in gouernment.
1922:
Thes.
His speech was like a tangled chaine: nothing
1923: impaired, but all disordered. Who is next?
1924: [ Tawyer with a Trumpet before them.]
1925: [ Enter Pyramus and Thisby, Wall, Moone-shine, and Lyon.]
1926:
Prol.
Gentles, perchance you wonder at this show,
1927: But wonder on, till truth make all things plaine.
1928: This man is Piramus, if you would know;
1929: This beauteous Lady, Thisby is certaine.
1930: This man, with lyme and rough-cast, doth present
1931: Wall, that vile wall, which did these louers sunder:
1932: And through walls chink (poor soules) they are content
1933: To whisper. At the which, let no man wonder.
1934: This man, with Lanthorne, dog, and bush of thorne,
1935: Presenteth moone-shine. For if you will know,
1936: By moone-shine did these Louers thinke no scorne
1937: To meet at Ninus toombe, there, there to wooe:
1938: This grizly beast (which Lyon hight by name)
1939: The trusty Thisby, comming first by night,
1940: Did scarre away, or rather did affright:
1941: And as she fled, her mantle she did fall;
1942: Which Lyon vile with bloody mouth did staine.
1943: Anon comes Piramus, sweet youth and tall,
1944: And findes his Thisbies Mantle slaine;
1945: Whereat, with blade, with bloody blamefull blade,
1946: He brauely broacht his boiling bloudy breast,
1947: And Thisby, tarrying in Mulberry shade,
1948: His dagger drew, and died. For all the rest,
1949: Let Lyon, Moone-shine, Wall, and Louers twaine,
1950: At large discourse, while here they doe remaine.
1951: [ Exit all but Wall.]
1952:
Thes.
I wonder if the Lion be to speake.
1953:
Deme.
No wonder, my Lord: one Lion may, when
1954: many Asses doe.
1955: [ Exit Lyon, Thisbie, and Mooneshine.]
1956:
Wall.
In this same Interlude, it doth befall,
1957: That I, one Snowt (by name) present a wall:
1958: And such a wall, as I would haue you thinke,
1959: That had in it a crannied hole or chinke:
1960: Through which the Louers, Piramus and Thisbie
1961: Did whisper often, very secretly.
1962: This loame, this rough-cast, and this stone doth shew,
1963: That I am that same Wall; the truth is so.
1964: And this the cranny is, right and sinister,
1965: Through which the fearfull Louers are to whisper.
1966:
Thes.
Would you desire Lime and Haire to speake
1967: better?
1968:
Deme.
It is the wittiest partition, that euer I heard
1969: discourse, my Lord.
1970:
Thes.
Pyramus drawes neere the Wall, silence.
1971: [ Enter Pyramus.]
1972:
Pir.
O grim lookt night, o night with hue so blacke,
1973: O night, which euer art, when day is not:
1974: O night, o night, alacke, alacke, alacke,
1975: I feare my Thisbies promise is forgot.
1976: And thou o wall, thou sweet and louely wall,
1977: That stands between her fathers ground and mine,
1978: Thou wall, o Wall, o sweet and louely wall,
1979: Shew me thy chinke, to blinke through with mine eine.
1980: Thankes courteous wall. Ioue shield thee well for this.
1981: But what see I? No Thisbie doe I see.
1982: O wicked wall, through whom I see no blisse,
1983: Curst be thy stones for thus deceiuing mee.
1984:
Thes.
The wall me-thinkes being sensible, should
1985: curse againe.
1986:
Pir.
No in truth sir, he should not. Deceiuing me,
1987: Is Thisbies cue; she is to enter, and I am to spy
1988: Her through the wall. You shall see it will fall.
1989: [ Enter Thisbie.]
1990: Pat as I told you; yonder she comes.
1991:
This.
O wall, full often hast thou heard my mones,
1992: For parting my faire Piramus, and me
1993: My cherry lips haue often kist thy stones;
1994: Thy stones with Lime and Haire knit vp in thee.
1995:
Pyra.
I see a voyce; now will I to the chinke,
1996: To spy and I can heare my Thisbies face. Thisbie?
1997:
This.
My Loue thou art, my Loue I thinke.
1998:
Pir.
Thinke what thou wilt, I am thy Louers grace,
1999: And like Limander am I trusty still.
2000:
This.
And like Helen till the Fates me kill.
2001:
Pir.
Not Shafalus to Procrus was so true.
2002:
This.
As Shafalus to Procrus, I to you.
2003:
Pir.
O kisse me through the hole of this vile wall.
2004:
This.
I kisse the wals hole, not your lips at all.
2005:
Pir.
Wilt thou at Ninnies tombe meete me straight
2006: way?
2007:
This.
Tide life, tide death, I come without delay.
2008:
Wall.
Thus haue I Wall, my part discharged so;
2009: And being done, thus Wall away doth go. [ Exit Clow.]
2010:
Du.
Now is the morall downe between the two
2011: Neighbours.
2012:
Dem.
No remedie my Lord, when Wals are so wil-full,
2013: to heare without warning.
2014:
Dut.
This is the silliest stuffe that ere I heard.
2015:
Du.
The best in this kind are but shadowes, and the
2016: worst are no worse, if imagination amend them.
2017:
Dut.
It must be your imagination then, & not theirs.
2018:
Duk.
If wee imagine no worse of them then they of
2019: themselues, they may passe for excellent men. Here com
2020: two noble beasts, in a man and a Lion.
2021: [ Enter Lyon and Moone-shine.]
2022:
Lyon.
You Ladies, you (whose gentle harts do feare
2023: The smallest monstrous mouse that creepes on floore)
2024: May now perchance, both quake and tremble heere,
2025: When Lion rough in wildest rage doth roare.
2026: Then know that I, one Snug the Ioyner am
2027: A Lion fell, nor else no Lions dam:
2028: For if I should as Lion come in strife
2029: Into this place, 'twere pittie of my life.
2030:
Du.
A verie gentle beast, and of good conscience.
2031:
Dem.
The verie best at a beast, my Lord, y ere I saw.
2032:
Lis.
This Lion is a verie Fox for his valor.
2033:
Du.
True, and a Goose for his discretion.
2034:
Dem.
Not so my Lord: for his valor cannot carrie
2035: his discretion, and the fox carries the Goose.
2036:
Du.
His discretion I am sure cannot carrie his valor:
2037: for the Goose carries not the Fox. It is well; leaue it to
2038: his discretion, and let vs hearken to the Moone.
2039:
Moone.
This Lanthorne doth the horned Moone pre-sent.
2040: _
2041:
De.
He should haue worne the hornes on his head.
2042:
Du.
Hee is no crescent, and his hornes are inuisible,
2043: within the circumference.
2044:
Moon.
This lanthorne doth the horned Moone pre-sent:
2045: My selfe, the man i'th Moone doth seeme to be.
2046:
Du.
This is the greatest error of all the rest; the man
2047: Should be put into the Lanthorne. How is it els the man
2048: i'th Moone?
2049:
Dem.
He dares not come there for the candle.
2050: For you see, it is already in snuffe.
2051:
Dut.
I am wearie of this Moone; would he would
2052: change.
2053:
Du.
It appeares by his smal light of discretion, that
2054: he is in the wane: but yet in courtesie, in all reason, we
2055: must stay the time.
2056:
Lys.
Proceed Moone.
2057:
Moon.
All that I haue to say, is to tell you, that the
2058: Lanthorne is the Moone; I, the man in the Moone; this
2059: thorne bush; my thorne bush; and this dog, my dog.
2060:
Dem.
Why all these should be in the Lanthorne: for
2061: they are in the Moone. But silence, heere comes Thisby.
2062: [ Enter Thisby.]
2063:
This.
This is old Ninnies tombe: where is my loue?
2064:
Lyon.
Oh.
2065: [ The Lion roares, Thisby runs off.]
2066:
Dem.
Well roar'd Lion.
2067:
Du.
Well run Thisby.
2068:
Dut.
Well shone Moone.
2069: Truly the Moone shines with a good grace.
2070:
Du.
Wel mouz'd Lion.
2071:
Dem.
And then came Piramus.
2072:
Lys.
And so the Lion vanisht.
2073: [ Enter Piramus.]
2074:
Pyr.
Sweet Moone, I thank thee for thy sunny beames,
2075: I thanke thee Moone, for shining now so bright:
2076: For by thy gracious, golden, glittering beames,
2077: I trust to taste of truest Thisbies sight.
2078: But stay: O spight! but marke, poore Knight,
2079: What dreadful dole is heere?
2080: Eyes do you see! How can it be!
2081: O dainty Ducke: O Deere!
2082: Thy mantle good; what staind with blood!
2083: Approch you furies fell:
2084: O Fates! come, come: Cut thred and thrum,
2085: Quaile, crush, conclude, and quell.
2086:
Du.
This passion, and the death of a deare friend,
2087: Would go neere to make a man looke sad.
2088:
Dut.
Beshrew my heart, but I pittie the man.
2089:
Pir.
O wherefore Nature, did'st thou Lions frame?
2090: Since lion vilde hath heere deflour'd my deere:
2091: Which is: no, no, which was the fairest Dame
2092: That liu'd, that lou'd, that like'd, that look'd with cheere.
2093: Come teares, confound: Out sword, and wound
2094: The pap of Piramus:
2095: I, that left pap, where heart doth hop;
2096: Thus dye I, thus, thus, thus.
2097: Now am I dead, now am I fled, my soule is in the sky,
2098: Tongue lose thy light, Moone take thy flight,
2099: Now dye, dye, dye, dye, dye.
2100:
Dem.
No Die, but an ace for him; for he is but one.
2101:
Lis.
Lesse then an ace man. For he is dead, he is no-thing.
2102: _
2103:
Du.
With the helpe of a Surgeon, he might yet reco-uer,
2104: and proue an Asse.
2105:
Dut.
How chance Moone-shine is gone before?
2106: Thisby comes backe, and findes her Louer.
2107: [ Enter Thisby.]
2108:
Duke.
She wil finde him by starre-light.
2109: Heere she comes, and her passion ends the play.
2110:
Dut.
Me thinkes shee should not vse a long one for
2111: such a Piramus: I hope she will be breefe.
2112:
Dem.
A Moth wil turne the ballance, which Piramus
2113: which Thisby is the better.
2114:
Lys.
She hath spyed him already, with those sweete eyes.
2115:
Dem.
And thus she meanes, videlicit.
2116:
This.
Asleepe my Loue? What, dead my Doue?
2117: O Piramus arise:
2118: Speake, speake. Quite dumbe? Dead, dead? A tombe
2119: Must couer thy sweet eyes.
2120: These Lilly Lips, this cherry nose,
2121: These yellow Cowslip cheekes
2122: Are gone, are gone: Louers make mone:
2123: His eyes were greene as Leekes.
2124: O Sisters three, come, come to mee,
2125: With hands as pale as Milke,
2126: Lay them in gore, since you haue shore
2127: with sheeres, his thred of silke.
2128: Tongue not a word: Come trusty sword:
2129: Come blade, my brest imbrue:
2130: And farwell friends, thus Thisbie ends;
2131: Adieu, adieu, adieu.
2132:
Duk.
Moone-shine & Lion are left to burie the dead.
2133:
Deme.
I, and Wall too.
2134:
Bot.
No, I assure you, the wall is downe, that parted
2135: their Fathers. Will it please you to see the Epilogue, or
2136: to heare a Bergomask dance, betweene two of our com-pany?
2137: _
2138:
Duk.
No Epilogue, I pray you; for your play needs
2139: no excuse. Neuer excuse; for when the plaiers are all
2140: dead, there need none to be blamed. Marry, if hee that
2141: writ it had plaid Piramus, and hung himselfe in Thisbies
2142: garter, it would haue beene a fine Tragedy: and so it is
2143: truely, and very notably discharg'd. but come, your
2144: Burgomaske; let your Epilogue alone.
2145: The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelue.
2146: Louers to bed, 'tis almost Fairy time.
2147: I feare we shall out-sleepe the comming morne,
2148: As much as we this night haue ouer-watcht.
2149: This palpable grosse play hath well beguil'd
2150: The heauy gate of night. Sweet friends to bed.
2151: A fortnight hold we this solemnity.
2152: In nightly Reuels; and new iollitie. [ Exeunt.]
2153: [ Enter Pucke.]
2154:
Puck.
Now the hungry Lyons rores,
2155: And the Wolfe beholds the Moone:
2156: Whilest the heauy ploughman snores,
2157: All with weary taske fore-done.
2158: Now the wasted brands doe glow,
2159: Whil'st the scritch-owle, scritching loud,
2160: Puts the wretch that lies in woe,
2161: In remembrance of a shrowd.
2162: Now it is the time of night,
2163: That the graues, all gaping wide,
2164: Euery one lets forth his spright,
2165: In the Church-way paths to glide,
2166: And we Fairies, that do runne,
2167: By the triple Hecates teame,
2168: From the presence of the Sunne,
2169: Following darkenesse like a dreame,
2170: Now are frollicke; not a Mouse
2171: Shall disturbe this hallowed house.
2172: I am sent with broome before,
2173: To sweep the dust behinde the doore.
2174: [ Enter King and Queene of Fairies, with their traine.]
2175:
Ob.
Through the house giue glimmering light,
2176: By the dead and drowsie fier,
2177: Euerie Elfe and Fairie spright,
2178: Hop as light as bird from brier,
2179: And this Ditty after me, sing and dance it trippinglie,
2180:
Tita.
First rehearse this song by roate,
2181: To each word a warbling note.
2182: Hand in hand, with Fairie grace,
2183: Will we sing and blesse this place.
2184: [ The Song.]
2185: Now vntill the breake of day,
2186: Through this house each Fairy stray.
2187: To the best Bride-bed will we,
2188: Which by vs shall blessed be:
2189: And the issue there create,
2190: Euer shall be fortunate:
2191: So shall all the couples three,
2192: Euer true in louing be:
2193: And the blots of Natures hand,
2194: Shall not in their issue stand.
2195: Neuer mole, harelip, nor scarre,
2196: nor mark prodigious, such as are
2197: Despised in Natiuitie,
2198: Shall vpon their children be.
2199: With this field dew consecrate,
2200: Euery Fairy take his gate,
2201: And each seuerall chamber blesse,
2202: Through this Pallace with sweet peace,
2203: Euer shall in safety rest.
2204: And the owner of it blest.
2205: Trip away, make no stay;
2206: Meet me all by breake of day.
2207:
Robin.
If we shadowes haue offended,
2208: Thinke but this (and all is mended)
2209: That you haue but slumbred heere,
2210: While these Visions did appeare.
2211: And this weake and idle theame,
2212: No more yeelding but a dreame,
2213: Gentles, doe not reprehend.
2214: If you pardon, we will mend.
2215: And as I am an honest Pucke,
2216: If we haue vnearned lucke,
2217: Now to scape the Serpents tongue,
2218: We will make amends ere long:
2219: Else the Pucke a lyar call.
2220: So good night vnto you all.
2221: Giue me your hands, if we be friends,
2222: And Robin shall restore amends.
2223: FINIS.
2224: A
2225: MIDSOMMER
2226: Nights Dreame