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| <title>SCENE I. Athens. The palace of THESEUS. | |
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| <tr><td class="play" align="center">A Midsummer Night's Dream | |
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| <a href="/Shakespeare">Shakespeare homepage</A> | |
| | <A href="/Shakespeare/midsummer/">Midsummer Night's Dream</A> | |
| | Act 5, Scene 1 | |
| <br> | |
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| <H3>SCENE I. Athens. The palace of THESEUS.</H3> | |
| <p><blockquote> | |
| <i>Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, Lords and Attendants</i> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech1><b>HIPPOLYTA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=1>'Tis strange my Theseus, that these</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=2>lovers speak of.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech2><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=3>More strange than true: I never may believe</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=4>These antique fables, nor these fairy toys.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=5>Lovers and madmen have such seething brains,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=6>Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=7>More than cool reason ever comprehends.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=8>The lunatic, the lover and the poet</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=9>Are of imagination all compact:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=10>One sees more devils than vast hell can hold,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=11>That is, the madman: the lover, all as frantic,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=12>Sees Helen's beauty in a brow of Egypt:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=13>The poet's eye, in fine frenzy rolling,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=14>Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=15>And as imagination bodies forth</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=16>The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=17>Turns them to shapes and gives to airy nothing</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=18>A local habitation and a name.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=19>Such tricks hath strong imagination,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=20>That if it would but apprehend some joy,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=21>It comprehends some bringer of that joy;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=22>Or in the night, imagining some fear,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=23>How easy is a bush supposed a bear!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech3><b>HIPPOLYTA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=24>But all the story of the night told over,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=25>And all their minds transfigured so together,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=26>More witnesseth than fancy's images</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=27>And grows to something of great constancy;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=28>But, howsoever, strange and admirable.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech4><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=29>Here come the lovers, full of joy and mirth.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Enter LYSANDER, DEMETRIUS, HERMIA, and HELENA</i></p> | |
| <A NAME=30>Joy, gentle friends! joy and fresh days of love</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=31>Accompany your hearts!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech5><b>LYSANDER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=32>More than to us</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=33>Wait in your royal walks, your board, your bed!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech6><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=34>Come now; what masques, what dances shall we have,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=35>To wear away this long age of three hours</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=36>Between our after-supper and bed-time?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=37>Where is our usual manager of mirth?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=38>What revels are in hand? Is there no play,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=39>To ease the anguish of a torturing hour?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=40>Call Philostrate.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech7><b>PHILOSTRATE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=41> Here, mighty Theseus.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech8><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=42>Say, what abridgement have you for this evening?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=43>What masque? what music? How shall we beguile</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=44>The lazy time, if not with some delight?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech9><b>PHILOSTRATE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=45>There is a brief how many sports are ripe:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=46>Make choice of which your highness will see first.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Giving a paper</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech10><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=47>[Reads] 'The battle with the Centaurs, to be sung</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=48>By an Athenian eunuch to the harp.'</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=49>We'll none of that: that have I told my love,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=50>In glory of my kinsman Hercules.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Reads</i></p> | |
| <A NAME=51>'The riot of the tipsy Bacchanals,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=52>Tearing the Thracian singer in their rage.'</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=53>That is an old device; and it was play'd</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=54>When I from Thebes came last a conqueror.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Reads</i></p> | |
| <A NAME=55>'The thrice three Muses mourning for the death</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=56>Of Learning, late deceased in beggary.'</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=57>That is some satire, keen and critical,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=58>Not sorting with a nuptial ceremony.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Reads</i></p> | |
| <A NAME=59>'A tedious brief scene of young Pyramus</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=60>And his love Thisbe; very tragical mirth.'</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=61>Merry and tragical! tedious and brief!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=62>That is, hot ice and wondrous strange snow.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=63>How shall we find the concord of this discord?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech11><b>PHILOSTRATE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=64>A play there is, my lord, some ten words long,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=65>Which is as brief as I have known a play;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=66>But by ten words, my lord, it is too long,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=67>Which makes it tedious; for in all the play</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=68>There is not one word apt, one player fitted:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=69>And tragical, my noble lord, it is;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=70>For Pyramus therein doth kill himself.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=71>Which, when I saw rehearsed, I must confess,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=72>Made mine eyes water; but more merry tears</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=73>The passion of loud laughter never shed.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech12><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=74>What are they that do play it?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech13><b>PHILOSTRATE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=75>Hard-handed men that work in Athens here,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=76>Which never labour'd in their minds till now,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=77>And now have toil'd their unbreathed memories</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=78>With this same play, against your nuptial.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech14><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=79>And we will hear it.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech15><b>PHILOSTRATE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=80>No, my noble lord;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=81>It is not for you: I have heard it over,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=82>And it is nothing, nothing in the world;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=83>Unless you can find sport in their intents,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=84>Extremely stretch'd and conn'd with cruel pain,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=85>To do you service.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech16><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=86> I will hear that play;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=87>For never anything can be amiss,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=88>When simpleness and duty tender it.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=89>Go, bring them in: and take your places, ladies.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exit PHILOSTRATE</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech17><b>HIPPOLYTA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=90>I love not to see wretchedness o'er charged</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=91>And duty in his service perishing.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech18><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=92>Why, gentle sweet, you shall see no such thing.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech19><b>HIPPOLYTA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=93>He says they can do nothing in this kind.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech20><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=94>The kinder we, to give them thanks for nothing.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=95>Our sport shall be to take what they mistake:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=96>And what poor duty cannot do, noble respect</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=97>Takes it in might, not merit.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=98>Where I have come, great clerks have purposed</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=99>To greet me with premeditated welcomes;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=100>Where I have seen them shiver and look pale,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=101>Make periods in the midst of sentences,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=102>Throttle their practised accent in their fears</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=103>And in conclusion dumbly have broke off,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=104>Not paying me a welcome. Trust me, sweet,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=105>Out of this silence yet I pick'd a welcome;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=106>And in the modesty of fearful duty</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=107>I read as much as from the rattling tongue</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=108>Of saucy and audacious eloquence.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=109>Love, therefore, and tongue-tied simplicity</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=110>In least speak most, to my capacity.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Re-enter PHILOSTRATE</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech21><b>PHILOSTRATE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=111>So please your grace, the Prologue is address'd.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech22><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=112>Let him approach.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Flourish of trumpets</i></p> | |
| <p><i>Enter QUINCE for the Prologue</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech23><b>Prologue</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=113>If we offend, it is with our good will.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=114>That you should think, we come not to offend,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=115>But with good will. To show our simple skill,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=116>That is the true beginning of our end.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=117>Consider then we come but in despite.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=118>We do not come as minding to contest you,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=119>Our true intent is. All for your delight</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=120>We are not here. That you should here repent you,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=121>The actors are at hand and by their show</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=122>You shall know all that you are like to know.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech24><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=123>This fellow doth not stand upon points.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech25><b>LYSANDER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=124>He hath rid his prologue like a rough colt; he knows</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=125>not the stop. A good moral, my lord: it is not</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=126>enough to speak, but to speak true.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech26><b>HIPPOLYTA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=127>Indeed he hath played on his prologue like a child</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=128>on a recorder; a sound, but not in government.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech27><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=129>His speech, was like a tangled chain; nothing</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=130>impaired, but all disordered. Who is next?</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Enter Pyramus and Thisbe, Wall, Moonshine, and Lion</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech28><b>Prologue</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=131>Gentles, perchance you wonder at this show;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=132>But wonder on, till truth make all things plain.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=133>This man is Pyramus, if you would know;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=134>This beauteous lady Thisby is certain.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=135>This man, with lime and rough-cast, doth present</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=136>Wall, that vile Wall which did these lovers sunder;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=137>And through Wall's chink, poor souls, they are content</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=138>To whisper. At the which let no man wonder.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=139>This man, with lanthorn, dog, and bush of thorn,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=140>Presenteth Moonshine; for, if you will know,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=141>By moonshine did these lovers think no scorn</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=142>To meet at Ninus' tomb, there, there to woo.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=143>This grisly beast, which Lion hight by name,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=144>The trusty Thisby, coming first by night,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=145>Did scare away, or rather did affright;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=146>And, as she fled, her mantle she did fall,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=147>Which Lion vile with bloody mouth did stain.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=148>Anon comes Pyramus, sweet youth and tall,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=149>And finds his trusty Thisby's mantle slain:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=150>Whereat, with blade, with bloody blameful blade,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=151>He bravely broach'd is boiling bloody breast;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=152>And Thisby, tarrying in mulberry shade,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=153>His dagger drew, and died. For all the rest,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=154>Let Lion, Moonshine, Wall, and lovers twain</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=155>At large discourse, while here they do remain.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exeunt Prologue, Thisbe, Lion, and Moonshine</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech29><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=156>I wonder if the lion be to speak.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech30><b>DEMETRIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=157>No wonder, my lord: one lion may, when many asses do.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech31><b>Wall</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=158>In this same interlude it doth befall</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=159>That I, one Snout by name, present a wall;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=160>And such a wall, as I would have you think,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=161>That had in it a crannied hole or chink,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=162>Through which the lovers, Pyramus and Thisby,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=163>Did whisper often very secretly.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=164>This loam, this rough-cast and this stone doth show</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=165>That I am that same wall; the truth is so:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=166>And this the cranny is, right and sinister,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=167>Through which the fearful lovers are to whisper.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech32><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=168>Would you desire lime and hair to speak better?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech33><b>DEMETRIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=169>It is the wittiest partition that ever I heard</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=170>discourse, my lord.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Enter Pyramus</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech34><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=171>Pyramus draws near the wall: silence!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech35><b>Pyramus</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=172>O grim-look'd night! O night with hue so black!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=173>O night, which ever art when day is not!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=174>O night, O night! alack, alack, alack,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=175>I fear my Thisby's promise is forgot!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=176>And thou, O wall, O sweet, O lovely wall,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=177>That stand'st between her father's ground and mine!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=178>Thou wall, O wall, O sweet and lovely wall,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=179>Show me thy chink, to blink through with mine eyne!</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Wall holds up his fingers</i></p> | |
| <A NAME=180>Thanks, courteous wall: Jove shield thee well for this!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=181>But what see I? No Thisby do I see.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=182>O wicked wall, through whom I see no bliss!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=183>Cursed be thy stones for thus deceiving me!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech36><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=184>The wall, methinks, being sensible, should curse again.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech37><b>Pyramus</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=185>No, in truth, sir, he should not. 'Deceiving me'</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=186>is Thisby's cue: she is to enter now, and I am to</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=187>spy her through the wall. You shall see, it will</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=188>fall pat as I told you. Yonder she comes.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Enter Thisbe</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech38><b>Thisbe</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=189>O wall, full often hast thou heard my moans,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=190>For parting my fair Pyramus and me!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=191>My cherry lips have often kiss'd thy stones,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=192>Thy stones with lime and hair knit up in thee.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech39><b>Pyramus</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=193>I see a voice: now will I to the chink,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=194>To spy an I can hear my Thisby's face. Thisby!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech40><b>Thisbe</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=195>My love thou art, my love I think.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech41><b>Pyramus</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=196>Think what thou wilt, I am thy lover's grace;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=197>And, like Limander, am I trusty still.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech42><b>Thisbe</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=198>And I like Helen, till the Fates me kill.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech43><b>Pyramus</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=199>Not Shafalus to Procrus was so true.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech44><b>Thisbe</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=200>As Shafalus to Procrus, I to you.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech45><b>Pyramus</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=201>O kiss me through the hole of this vile wall!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech46><b>Thisbe</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=202>I kiss the wall's hole, not your lips at all.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech47><b>Pyramus</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=203>Wilt thou at Ninny's tomb meet me straightway?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech48><b>Thisbe</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=204>'Tide life, 'tide death, I come without delay.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exeunt Pyramus and Thisbe</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech49><b>Wall</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=205>Thus have I, Wall, my part discharged so;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=206>And, being done, thus Wall away doth go.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exit</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech50><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=207>Now is the mural down between the two neighbours.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech51><b>DEMETRIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=208>No remedy, my lord, when walls are so wilful to hear</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=209>without warning.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech52><b>HIPPOLYTA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=210>This is the silliest stuff that ever I heard.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech53><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=211>The best in this kind are but shadows; and the worst</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=212>are no worse, if imagination amend them.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech54><b>HIPPOLYTA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=213>It must be your imagination then, and not theirs.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech55><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=214>If we imagine no worse of them than they of</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=215>themselves, they may pass for excellent men. Here</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=216>come two noble beasts in, a man and a lion.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Enter Lion and Moonshine</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech56><b>Lion</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=217>You, ladies, you, whose gentle hearts do fear</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=218>The smallest monstrous mouse that creeps on floor,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=219>May now perchance both quake and tremble here,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=220>When lion rough in wildest rage doth roar.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=221>Then know that I, one Snug the joiner, am</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=222>A lion-fell, nor else no lion's dam;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=223>For, if I should as lion come in strife</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=224>Into this place, 'twere pity on my life.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech57><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=225>A very gentle beast, of a good conscience.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech58><b>DEMETRIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=226>The very best at a beast, my lord, that e'er I saw.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech59><b>LYSANDER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=227>This lion is a very fox for his valour.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech60><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=228>True; and a goose for his discretion.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech61><b>DEMETRIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=229>Not so, my lord; for his valour cannot carry his</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=230>discretion; and the fox carries the goose.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech62><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=231>His discretion, I am sure, cannot carry his valour;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=232>for the goose carries not the fox. It is well:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=233>leave it to his discretion, and let us listen to the moon.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech63><b>Moonshine</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=234>This lanthorn doth the horned moon present;--</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech64><b>DEMETRIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=235>He should have worn the horns on his head.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech65><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=236>He is no crescent, and his horns are</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=237>invisible within the circumference.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech66><b>Moonshine</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=238>This lanthorn doth the horned moon present;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=239>Myself the man i' the moon do seem to be.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech67><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=240>This is the greatest error of all the rest: the man</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=241>should be put into the lanthorn. How is it else the</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=242>man i' the moon?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech68><b>DEMETRIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=243>He dares not come there for the candle; for, you</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=244>see, it is already in snuff.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech69><b>HIPPOLYTA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=245>I am aweary of this moon: would he would change!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech70><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=246>It appears, by his small light of discretion, that</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=247>he is in the wane; but yet, in courtesy, in all</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=248>reason, we must stay the time.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech71><b>LYSANDER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=249>Proceed, Moon.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech72><b>Moonshine</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=250>All that I have to say, is, to tell you that the</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=251>lanthorn is the moon; I, the man in the moon; this</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=252>thorn-bush, my thorn-bush; and this dog, my dog.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech73><b>DEMETRIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=253>Why, all these should be in the lanthorn; for all</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=254>these are in the moon. But, silence! here comes Thisbe.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Enter Thisbe</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech74><b>Thisbe</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=255>This is old Ninny's tomb. Where is my love?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech75><b>Lion</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=256>[Roaring] Oh--</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Thisbe runs off</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech76><b>DEMETRIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=257>Well roared, Lion.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech77><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=258>Well run, Thisbe.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech78><b>HIPPOLYTA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=259>Well shone, Moon. Truly, the moon shines with a</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=260>good grace.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>The Lion shakes Thisbe's mantle, and exit</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech79><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=261>Well moused, Lion.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech80><b>LYSANDER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=262>And so the lion vanished.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech81><b>DEMETRIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=263>And then came Pyramus.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Enter Pyramus</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech82><b>Pyramus</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=264>Sweet Moon, I thank thee for thy sunny beams;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=265>I thank thee, Moon, for shining now so bright;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=266>For, by thy gracious, golden, glittering gleams,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=267>I trust to take of truest Thisby sight.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=268>But stay, O spite!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=269>But mark, poor knight,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=270>What dreadful dole is here!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=271>Eyes, do you see?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=272>How can it be?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=273>O dainty duck! O dear!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=274>Thy mantle good,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=275>What, stain'd with blood!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=276>Approach, ye Furies fell!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=277>O Fates, come, come,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=278>Cut thread and thrum;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=279>Quail, crush, conclude, and quell!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech83><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=280>This passion, and the death of a dear friend, would</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=281>go near to make a man look sad.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech84><b>HIPPOLYTA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=282>Beshrew my heart, but I pity the man.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech85><b>Pyramus</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=283>O wherefore, Nature, didst thou lions frame?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=284>Since lion vile hath here deflower'd my dear:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=285>Which is--no, no--which was the fairest dame</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=286>That lived, that loved, that liked, that look'd</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=287>with cheer.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=288>Come, tears, confound;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=289>Out, sword, and wound</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=290>The pap of Pyramus;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=291>Ay, that left pap,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=292>Where heart doth hop:</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Stabs himself</i></p> | |
| <A NAME=293>Thus die I, thus, thus, thus.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=294>Now am I dead,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=295>Now am I fled;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=296>My soul is in the sky:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=297>Tongue, lose thy light;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=298>Moon take thy flight:</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exit Moonshine</i></p> | |
| <A NAME=299>Now die, die, die, die, die.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Dies</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech86><b>DEMETRIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=300>No die, but an ace, for him; for he is but one.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech87><b>LYSANDER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=301>Less than an ace, man; for he is dead; he is nothing.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech88><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=302>With the help of a surgeon he might yet recover, and</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=303>prove an ass.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech89><b>HIPPOLYTA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=304>How chance Moonshine is gone before Thisbe comes</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=305>back and finds her lover?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech90><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=306>She will find him by starlight. Here she comes; and</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=307>her passion ends the play.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Re-enter Thisbe</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech91><b>HIPPOLYTA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=308>Methinks she should not use a long one for such a</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=309>Pyramus: I hope she will be brief.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech92><b>DEMETRIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=310>A mote will turn the balance, which Pyramus, which</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=311>Thisbe, is the better; he for a man, God warrant us;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=312>she for a woman, God bless us.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech93><b>LYSANDER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=313>She hath spied him already with those sweet eyes.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech94><b>DEMETRIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=314>And thus she means, videlicet:--</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech95><b>Thisbe</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=315> Asleep, my love?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=316>What, dead, my dove?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=317>O Pyramus, arise!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=318>Speak, speak. Quite dumb?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=319>Dead, dead? A tomb</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=320>Must cover thy sweet eyes.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=321>These My lips,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=322>This cherry nose,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=323>These yellow cowslip cheeks,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=324>Are gone, are gone:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=325>Lovers, make moan:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=326>His eyes were green as leeks.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=327>O Sisters Three,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=328>Come, come to me,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=329>With hands as pale as milk;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=330>Lay them in gore,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=331>Since you have shore</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=332>With shears his thread of silk.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=333>Tongue, not a word:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=334>Come, trusty sword;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=335>Come, blade, my breast imbrue:</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Stabs herself</i></p> | |
| <A NAME=336>And, farewell, friends;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=337>Thus Thisby ends:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=338>Adieu, adieu, adieu.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Dies</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech96><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=339>Moonshine and Lion are left to bury the dead.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech97><b>DEMETRIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=340>Ay, and Wall too.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech98><b>BOTTOM</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=341>[Starting up] No assure you; the wall is down that</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=342>parted their fathers. Will it please you to see the</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=343>epilogue, or to hear a Bergomask dance between two</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=344>of our company?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech99><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=345>No epilogue, I pray you; for your play needs no</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=346>excuse. Never excuse; for when the players are all</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=347>dead, there needs none to be blamed. Marry, if he</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=348>that writ it had played Pyramus and hanged himself</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=349>in Thisbe's garter, it would have been a fine</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=350>tragedy: and so it is, truly; and very notably</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=351>discharged. But come, your Bergomask: let your</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=352>epilogue alone.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>A dance</i></p> | |
| <A NAME=353>The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=354>Lovers, to bed; 'tis almost fairy time.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=355>I fear we shall out-sleep the coming morn</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=356>As much as we this night have overwatch'd.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=357>This palpable-gross play hath well beguiled</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=358>The heavy gait of night. Sweet friends, to bed.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=359>A fortnight hold we this solemnity,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=360>In nightly revels and new jollity.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exeunt</i></p> | |
| <p><i>Enter PUCK</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech100><b>PUCK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=361> Now the hungry lion roars,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=362>And the wolf behowls the moon;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=363>Whilst the heavy ploughman snores,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=364>All with weary task fordone.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=365>Now the wasted brands do glow,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=366>Whilst the screech-owl, screeching loud,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=367>Puts the wretch that lies in woe</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=368>In remembrance of a shroud.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=369>Now it is the time of night</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=370>That the graves all gaping wide,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=371>Every one lets forth his sprite,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=372>In the church-way paths to glide:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=373>And we fairies, that do run</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=374>By the triple Hecate's team,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=375>From the presence of the sun,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=376>Following darkness like a dream,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=377>Now are frolic: not a mouse</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=378>Shall disturb this hallow'd house:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=379>I am sent with broom before,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=380>To sweep the dust behind the door.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Enter OBERON and TITANIA with their train</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech101><b>OBERON</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=381> Through the house give gathering light,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=382>By the dead and drowsy fire:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=383>Every elf and fairy sprite</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=384>Hop as light as bird from brier;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=385>And this ditty, after me,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=386>Sing, and dance it trippingly.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech102><b>TITANIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=387>First, rehearse your song by rote</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=388>To each word a warbling note:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=389>Hand in hand, with fairy grace,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=390>Will we sing, and bless this place.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Song and dance</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech103><b>OBERON</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=391>Now, until the break of day,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=392>Through this house each fairy stray.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=393>To the best bride-bed will we,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=394>Which by us shall blessed be;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=395>And the issue there create</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=396>Ever shall be fortunate.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=397>So shall all the couples three</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=398>Ever true in loving be;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=399>And the blots of Nature's hand</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=400>Shall not in their issue stand;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=401>Never mole, hare lip, nor scar,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=402>Nor mark prodigious, such as are</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=403>Despised in nativity,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=404>Shall upon their children be.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=405>With this field-dew consecrate,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=406>Every fairy take his gait;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=407>And each several chamber bless,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=408>Through this palace, with sweet peace;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=409>And the owner of it blest</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=410>Ever shall in safety rest.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=411>Trip away; make no stay;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=412>Meet me all by break of day.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exeunt OBERON, TITANIA, and train</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech104><b>PUCK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=413>If we shadows have offended,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=414>Think but this, and all is mended,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=415>That you have but slumber'd here</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=416>While these visions did appear.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=417>And this weak and idle theme,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=418>No more yielding but a dream,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=419>Gentles, do not reprehend:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=420>if you pardon, we will mend:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=421>And, as I am an honest Puck,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=422>If we have unearned luck</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=423>Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=424>We will make amends ere long;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=425>Else the Puck a liar call;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=426>So, good night unto you all.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=427>Give me your hands, if we be friends,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=428>And Robin shall restore amends.</A><br> | |