Bot. Some man or other must présent wall : and let The throstle with his note so true, him have some plaster, or some lome, or some rough

The wren with little quill; cast, about him, to signify wall or let him hold his

Tita. What angel wakes me from my flowery bed ? fingers thus, and through that cranny shall Pyramus

[Waking. and Thisby whisper.

Bot. The finch, the sparrow, and the lark, Quin. If that may be, then all is well. Come, sit down, every mother's son, and rehearse your parts.

The plain-song cuckoo gray, Pyramus, you begin: when you have spoken your

Whose note full many a man doth mark,

And dares not answer nay;speech, enter into that brake; and so every one ac

for, indeed, who would set his wit to so foolish a bird : cording to his cue.

who would give a bird the lie, though he cry, cuckoo Enter Puck behind.

never so? Puck. What hen pen home-spuns have we swagger Tita. I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing again: ing here,

Mine ear is much enamour'd of thy pole, So near the cradle of the fairy queen ?

So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape; What, a play toward ? I'll be an auditor ;

And thy fair virtue's force perforce doth move me, An actor too perhaps, if I see cause.

On the first view, to say, to swear, I love thee. Quin. Speak, Pyramus :- Thisby, stand forth.

Bot. Methinks, mistress, you should have little reaPyr. Thisby, the powers of odious savours sweet, son for that : And yet, to say the truth, reason and love Quin. Odours, odours.

keep little conipany together now-a-days: The more Pyr. -Odours savours sweet :

the pity, that some honest neighbours will not make So doth thy breath, my dearest Thisby dear. them friends. Nay, I can gleek, upon occasion. But, hark, a voice! stay thou but here a while. Tita. Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful.

And by and by I will to thee appear. [Exit Pyr. Bot. Not so, neither: but if I had wit enough to get Puck. A stranger Pyramus than e'er play'd here! out of this wood, I have enough to serve mine own turn).

[ Aside, Exit. Tita. Out of this wood do not desire to go; This. Must I speak now?

Thou shalt remain here, whether thou wilt or po. Quir. Ay, marry, must you: for you must under I am a spirit, of no common rate; stand, he goes but to see a noise that he heard, and is The summer still doth tend upon my state, to come again.

And I do love thee: therefore, go with me; This. Most radiant Pyramus, most lily-white of hue, || I'll give the fairies to attend on thee

Of colour like the red rose on triumphant brier, And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, Most órisky juvenal, and eke most lovley Jew, And sing, while thou on pressed flowers dost sleep :

As true as truest horse, that yet would never tire, And I will purge thy mortal grossness so, I'll meet thee, Pyramus, at Ninny's tomb.

That thou shalt like an airy spirit go. Quin. Ninus' comb, man : Why you must not speak - Peas-blossom! Cobweb! Moth! and Mustard seed! that yet ; that you answer to Pyramus: you speak all

Enter four Fairics. your part at once, cues and all.-Pyramus, enter;

1 Fai. Ready. your cue is past ; it is, never tire.

2 Fri,

And I. Re-enter Puck, and Bottom zith an ass's head. 3 Fai.

And I. This. 0,-as true as trucst horse, that yet would 4 Fai.

Where shall we go? never tire.

Tita. Be kind and courteous to this gentleman ; Pyr. If I were fair, Thisby, I were only thine : Hop in his walks, and gambol in his eyes ;

Quin. O monstrous! O strange! we are haunted. Feed him with apricocks, and dewberries,
Fray, masters ! fiy, masters ! help! [Exeunt Clowns. With purple grapes, green figs, and mulberries ;

Puck. I'll follow you, I'll lead you about a round, The honey bags steal from the humble-bees,
Through bog, through bush, through lake, through | And, for night tapers, crop their waxen thighs,
brier ;

And light them at the fiery glow-worm's eyes, Sometime a horse I'll be, sometime a hound,

To have my love to bed, and to arise ; A hog, a headless bear, sometime a fire ;

And pluck the wings from painted butterflies, And neigh, and bark, and grunt, and roar, and burn,

To fan the moon-beams from his sleeping eyes : Like horse, hound, hog, bear, fire, at every turn. [Er. Nod to him, elves, and do him courtesies.

Bot. Why do they run away ? this is a knavery of 1 Fai. Hail, mortal! them, to make me afcard.

2 Fai.

Hail !
Re-enter Snout.

3 Fai.

Hail ! 4 Fai.

Hail! Snout. O Bottom! thou art changed! what do I

Bot. I cry your worslup's mercy, heartily-I beseech, see on thee? Boi. What do you see you see an ass's hend of

your worship's name.

Cob, Cobweb. your own; Do you?

Bot. I shall desire you of more acquaintance, good Re-enter Quince,

master Cobweb: If I cut my finger, I shall make bold Quin. Bless thee, Bottomu! bless thee! thou art with you.-Your name, honest gentleman ? translated.

[Erit. Peas. Peas-blossom. Bot. I see their knavery : this is to make an ass of Bot. I pray you, commend me to mistress Squash, me; to frighi me, if they could. But I will not stir your mother, and to master Peascod, your father. God from this place, do what they can: I will walk up and master Peas-blossom, I shall desire you of more acdown here, and I will sing, that they shall hear I am quaintanck: 100.-Your name, 1 beseech you, sir? not aliaid.

[Sings. Mus. Mustard seed. The ousel-cock, so black of hue,

W118. Good master Mustard-seed, I know your paWith orange-tunny bill,

tience well: that same cowardly, giant-like ox-berf

bath devoured many a gentleman of your house: I Her brother's noon-tide with the antipodes. promise you, your kindred hath made my eyes water It cannot be, but thou hast murder'd him; ERE DOW. I desire you more acquaintance, good master So should a murderer look; so dead, so grim. Mustard-seed.

Dem. So should the murder'd look; and so should I, Tita. Come, wait upon him ; lead bim to my bower. Pierc'd through the heart with your stein cruelty:

The moon, methinks, looks with a watery eye; Yet you, the murderer, look as bright, as clear,
And when she weeps, weeps every little flower, As yonder Venus in her glimmering sphere.
Lamenting some enforced chastity.

Her. What's this to my Lysander? where is he? Tie up my love's tongue, bring him silently. [E.. Ah, good Demetrius, wilt thou give him me ?

Dem. I had rather give his carcass to my hounds. SCENE II.- Another Part of the Wood. Enter Oberon.

Her. Out, dog! out, cur! thou driv'st me past the 05. I wonder, if Titania be awak'd;

bounds Then, what it was that next came in her eye, Of maiden's patience. Hast thou slain him then? Which she must dote on in extremity.

Henceforth be never number'd among men!
Enter Puck.

0! once tell true, tell true, even for my sake; Here comes my messenger.-How now, mad spirit?

Durst thou have lookd upon him, being awake? What night-rule bow about this haunted grove?

And hast thou kill'd him sleeping ? O brave touch! Puck. My mistress with a monster is in love. Could not a worm, an adder, do so much? Sear to her close and consecrated bower,

An adder did it; for with doubler tongue While she was in her dull and sleeping hour,

Than thine, thou serpent, nefer adder stung. A crew of patches, rude mechanicals,

Dem. You spend your passion on a mispris'd mood : That work for bread upon Athenian stalls,

I am not guilty of Lysander's blood; Were met together to rehearse a play,

Nor is he dead, for aught that I can tell. Intended for great Theseus' nuptial day.

Her. I pray thee, tell me then that he is well. The shallowest thick-skin of that barren sort,

Dem. An if I could, what should I get therefore?

Her. A privilege, never to see me more.Who Pyramus presented, in their sport

And from thy hated presence part I so: Forsook his scene, and entered in a brake:

See me no more, whether he be dead, or no. [Erit. When I did him at this advantage take,

Dem. There is no following her in this fierce vein : An as's now) I fixed on his head;

Here, therefore, for a while I will remain. Apon, his Thisbe must be answered,

So sorrow's heavinesss doth heavier grow And forth my mimic 'comes : When they him spy,

For debt that bankrupt sleep doth sorrow owe; As wild grese that the creeping fowler eye,

Which now, in some slight measure it will pay, Or russet-pated choughs, many in sort,

If for his tender here I make some stay. [Lies down. Rising and eawing at the gun's report

06. What hast thou done ? thou hast mistaken quite , Sever themselves, and madly sweep the sky;

And laid the love-juice, on some true-love's sight: So, at this sight, away his fellows fly:

Of thy misprision must perforce ensue And, at our stamp, here o'er and o'er one falls;

Some true-love turn’d, and not a false turn'd true. He murder cries, and help from Athens calls.

Puck. Then fate o'er-rules; that, one man holding Their sense, thus weak, lost with their fears, thus

troth, strong, Made senseless things begin to do them wrong:

A million fail, confounding oath on oath.

06. About the wood go swifter than the wind, For briers and thorns at their apparel smatch

And Helena of Athens look thou find: Some, sleeves; some, hats: from yielders all things

All fancy-siek she is, and pale of cheer catch.

With sighs of love, that cost the fresh blood dear: I led them on in this distracted fear,

By some illusion see thou bring her here; And left sweet Pyramus translated there :

I'll charm his eyes, against she do appear, When in that moment (so it came to pass)

Puck. I go, I go; look, how I go; Titania wak’d, and straightway lov'd an ass.

Swifter than arrow from the Tartar's bow. 05. This falls out better than I could devise.

[Exit.

06. Flower of this purple dye, But hast thou yet latch'd the Athenian's eyes

Hit with Cupid's archery, With the love juice, as I bid thee do?

Sink in apple of his eye! Prk. I took him sleeping, -that is finish'd too,

When his love he doth espy, And the Athenian woman by his side;

Let her shine as gloriously
That, when he wak’d, of force she must be ey'd.

As the Venus of the sky
Enter Demetrius and Hermia.

When thou wak'st, if she be by, 06. Stand close; this is the same Athenian.

Beg of her for remedy. Puck. This is the woman, but not this the man.

Re-enter Puck. Dem. O, why rebuke you him that loves you so?

Puck. Captain of our fairy band,
Lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe.

Helena is here at hand;
Her. Now I but chide, but I should use thee worse ; And the youth, mistook by me,
For thou, I fear, hast given me cause to curse.

Pleading for a lover's fee;
If thou hast slain Lysamier in his sleep,

Shall we their fond pageant see? Being o'er shoes in blood, plunge in the deep,

Lord, what fools these mortals be! And kill me too.

Ob. Stand aside: the noise they make The sin was not so true unto the day,

Will cause Demetrius to awake. As be to me: Would he have stol'n away

Puck. Then will two at once, woo one; From sleeping Hermia? I'll believe as soon,

That must needs be sport alone ; This whole earth inay be bord; and that the moon And those things do best please me, May through the centre cre«p, and so displeax

That beral preposterously.

:

Enter Lysander and Helena.

Her. What love could press Lysander from my side? Lys. Why should you think, that I should woo in Lys. Lysander's love, that would not let him 'bide, scorn ?

Fair Helena ; who more engilds the night Scorn and derision never come in tears :

Than all yon fiery oes and eyes of light. Look, when I vow, I weep; and vows so born, Why seek'st thou me? could not this make thee know, In their nativity all truth appears.

The hate I bear thee made me leave thee so? How can these things in me seem scorn to you,

Her. Yon speak not as you think ; it cannot be. Bearing the badge of faith, to prove them true? Hel. Lo, she is one of this confederacy! Hel. You do advance your cunning more and more.

Now I perceive they have conjoin'd, all three, When truth kills truth, O devilish-holy fray!

To fashion this false sport in spite of me.These vows are Hermia's ; Will you give her o'er? Injurious Hermia! most ungrateful maid !

Weigh oath with oath, and you will nothing weigh: Have you conspir’d, have you with these contrived Your vows, to her and me, put in two scales,

To bait me with this foul derision ? Will even weigh; and both as light as tales.

Is all the counsel that we two have shard,
Lys. I had no judgement, when to her I swore. The sisters' vows, the hours that we have spent,
Hel. Nor none, in my mind, now you give her o'er. When we have chid the hasty-footed time
Lys. Demetrius loves her, and he loves not you. For parting 13,-0, and is all forgot ?
Dem. [ Arvaking.] O Helen, goddess, nymph, per All school-days' friendship, childhood innocence ?
fect, divine !

We, Hermia, like two artificial gods,
To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne? Have with our neelds created both one flower;
Crystal is muddy. O, kow ripe in show

Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,
Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow! Both warbling of one song, both in one key;
That pure congealed white, high Taurus' snow, As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds,
Fannd with the eastern wind, turns to a crow, Had been incorporate. So we grew together,
When thou hold'st up thy hand: 0 let me kiss Like to a double cherry, seeming parted;
This princess of pure white, this seal of buiss.

But yet a union in partition,
Hel. O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent Two lovely berries moulded on one stem :
To set against me, for your merriment.

So, with two seeining bodies, but one heart;
If you were civil, and knew courtesy,

Two of the first, like coats in heraldry, You would not do me thus much injury.

Due but to one, and crowned with one crest. Can you not bate me, as I know you do,

And will you rent our ancient love asunder, But you must join, in sculs, to mock me too ?

To join with men in scorning your poor friend? If you were men, as men you are in show,

It is not friendly, 'tis not maidenly: You would not use a gentle lady so;

Our ses, as well as I, may chide you for it; To vow, and swear, and superpraise my parts, Though I alone do feel the injury. When, I am sure, you hate me with your hearts. Her. I am amazed at your passionate words: You both are rivals, and love Hermia ;

I scorn you not; it seems that you scorn me. And now both rivals, to mock Helena :

Hel. Have you not set Lysander, as in scorn, A trim exploit, a manly enterprise,

To follow me, and praise my eyes and face ? To conjure tears up in a poor maid's eyes,

And made your other love, Demetrius, With your derision! none, of noble sort,

(Who even but now did spurn me with his foot.) Would so offend a virgin ; and extort

To call me goddess, nymph, divine, and rare, A poor soul's patience, all to nrake you sport. Precious, celestial ? Wherefore speaks he this

Lys. You are unkind, Demetrius; be rot so; To ber he hates? and wherefore doth Lysander For you love Hermia ; this, you know, I know :

Deny your love, so rich within his soul,
And here, with all good will, with all my heart, And tender me, forsooth, affection ;
In Hermia's love I yield you up my part ;

But by your setting on, by your consent?
And yours of Helena to me bequeath,

What though I be not so in grace as you, Whom I do love, and will do to my death.

So hung upon with love, so fortunate; Hel. Never did mockers waste more idle breath. But miserable most, to love unlov'd ?

Dem. Lysander, keep thy Hermia ; I will none: This you should pity, rather than despise. If e'er I lov'd her, all that love is gone.

Her. I understand not what you mean by this. My heart with her, but as guest-wise, sojourn'd:

Hel. Ay, do, persever, counterfeit sad looks, And now to Helen it is home returnd,

Make mow's upon me, when I turn my back; There to remain.

Wink at each other; hold the sweet jest up: Lys. Helen, it is not so.

This sport, well carried, shall be chronicled. Dem. Disparage not the faith thou dost not know, If you have any pity, giace, or manners, Lest, to thy peril, thou aby it dear.

You would not make me such an argument. --Look, where thy love comes; yonder is thy dear. But, fare ye well: 'tis partly mine own fault; Enter Hermia.

Which death, or absence, soon shall remedy. Her. Dark night, that from the eye his function

Lys. Stay gentle Helena ; hear my excuse; takes,

My love, my life, my soul, fair Helena! The ear more quick of apprehension makes ;

Hel. O excellent! Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense,

Her

Sweet, do not seora her so. It pays the hearing double recompense :

Dem. If she cannot entreat, I can compel. Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander, found;

Lys. Thou canst compel no more than she entreat ; Mine ear, I thank it, brought me to thy sound. Thy threats have no more strength, than her weak But why unkindly didst thou leave me so?

prayers.-Lys. Why should be stay, whom love doth press | Helen, I love thee; by my life, I do; to 502

I snear by that which I will lose for thee,