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SONG OF THE FAIRY

From MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

VER hill, over dale,

Thorough bush, thorough brier,

Over park, over pale,

Thorough flood, thorough fire, I do wander everywhere, Swifter than the moon's sphere; And I serve the fairy queen, To dew her orbs upon the green; The cowslips tall her pensioners be; In their gold coats spots you see; These be rubies, fairy favoursIn those freckles live their savours. I must go seek some dewdrops here, And hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear.

THE APPROACH OF THE FAIRIES

From MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

OW the hungry lion roars,

Now

And the wolf behowls the moon;
Whilst the heavy ploughman snores,
All with weary task fordone.
Now the wasted brands do glow,

Whilst the scritch owl, scritching loud,
Puts the wretch that lies in woe,

In remembrance of a shroud.
Now it is the time of night

That the graves, all gaping wide,
Every one lets forth his sprite,
In the churchway paths to glide;
And we fairies, that do run,

By the triple Hecate's team,
From the presence of the sun,

Following darkness like a dream,
Now are frolic; not a mouse
Shall disturb this hallowed house;
I am sent with broom before,
To sweep the dust behind the door.

Through the house give glimmering light;
By the dead and drowsy fire,
Every elf and fairy sprite,

Hop as light as bird from brier;
And this ditty after me,
Sing and dance it trippingly.
First rehearse this song by rote,
To each word a warbling note,
Hand in hand, with fairy grace,
We will sing and bless this place.

A MADRIGAL

From THE PASSIONATE PILGRIM

CR

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

RABBED age and youth
Cannot live together:
Youth is full of pleasance,
Age is full of care;

Youth like summer morn,
Age like winter weather,
Youth like summer brave,
Age like winter bare;

Youth is full of sport,

Age's breath is short,

Youth is nimble, Age is lame;
Youth is hot and bold,

Age is weak and cold,

Youth is wild, and Age is tame:

Age, I do abhor thee,

Youth, I do adore thee;

O, my Love, my Love is young!
Age, I do defy thee-

O, sweet shepherd, hie thee,

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For methinks thou stay'st too long.

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WINTER

From LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

HEN icicles hang by the wall,

WHE

And Dick the shepherd blows his nail,

And Tom bears logs into the hall,

And milk comes frozen home in pail;
When blood is nipt, and ways be foul,
Then nightly sings the staring owl
Tuwhoo!

Tuwhit! tuwhoo! A merry note!
While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.

When all around the wind doth blow,

And coughing drowns the parson's saw, And birds sit brooding in the snow,

And Marian's nose looks red and raw; When roasted crabs hiss in the bowlThen nightly sings the staring owl Tuwhoo!

Tuwhit! tuwhoo! A merry note!

While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.

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