A Midsommer nights Dreame.On the danke and durty ground.Pretty soule, she durst not lye
[705]
Neere this lacke‑loue, this kill‑curtesie.Churle, vpon thy eyes I throwAll the power this charme doth owe:When thou wak'st, let loue forbidSleepe his seate on thy eye‑lid.
[710]
So awake when I am gone:For I must now to
Oberon.
Exit.Enter Demetrius and Helena running.Hel.Stay, though thou kill me, sweete
Demetrius.
De.I charge thee hence, and do not haunt me thus.Hel.O wilt thou darkling leaue me? do not so.De.
[715]
Stay on thy perill, I alone will goe.Exit Demetrius.Hel.O I am out of breath, in this fond chace,The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace,Happy is
Hermia, wheresoere she lies;
For she hath blessed and attractiue eyes.
[720]
How came her eyes so bright? Not with salt teares.If so, my eyes are oftner washt then hers.No, no, I am as vgly as a Beare;For beasts that meete me, runne away for feare,Therefore no maruaile, though
Demetrius
[725]
Doe as a monster, flie my presence thus.What wicked and dissembling glasse of mine,Made me compare with
Hermias sphery eyne?
But who is here?
Lysander on the ground;
Deade or asleepe? I see no bloud, no wound,
[730]
Lysander, if you liue, good sir awake.
Lys.And run through fire I will for thy sweet sake.Transparent
Helena, nature her shewes art,
That through thy bosome makes me see thy heart.Where is
Demetrius? oh how fit a word
[735]
Is that vile name, to perish on my sword!Hel.Do not say so
Lysander, say not so:
What though he loue your
Hermia? Lord, what though?
Yet
Hermia still loues you; then be content.
Lys.Content with
Hermia? No, I do repent
[740]
The tedious minutes I with her haue spent.Not
Hermia, but
Helena now I loue;
Who will not change a Rauen for a Doue?The will of man is by his reason sway'd:And reason saies you are the worthier Maide.
[745]
Things growing are not ripe vntill their season;So I being yong, till now ripe not to reason,And touching now the point of humane skill,Reason becomes the Marshall to my will,And leades me to your eyes, where I orelooke
[750]
Loues stories, written in Loues richest booke.Hel.Wherefore was I to this keene mockery borne?When at your hands did I deserue this scorne?Ist not enough, ist not enough, yong man,That I did neuer, no nor neuer can,
[755]
Deserue a sweete looke from
Demetrius eye,
But you must flout my insufficiency?Good troth you do me wrong (good‑sooth you do)In such disdainfull manner, me to wooe.But fare you well; perforce I must confesse,
[760]
I thought you Lord of more true gentlenesse.Oh, that a Lady of one man refus'd,Should of another therefore be abus'd.Exit.Lys.She sees not
Hermia:
Hermia sleepe thou there,
And neuer maist thou come
Lysander neere;
For as a surfeit of the sweetest thingsThe deepest loathing to the stomacke brings:Or as the heresies that men do leaue,Are hated most of those that did deceiue:So thou, my surfeit, and my heresie,
[770]
Of all be hated; but the most of me;And all my powers addresse your loue and might,To honour
Helen, and to be her Knight.
Exit.Her.Helpe me
Lysander, helpe me; do thy best
To plucke this crawling serpent from my brest.
[775]
Aye me, for pitty; what a dreame was here?Lysander looke, how I do quake with feare:
Me‑thought a serpent eate my heart away,And yet sat smiling at his cruell prey.Lysander, what remoou'd?
Lysander, Lord,
[780]
What, out of hearing, gone? No sound, no word?Alacke where are you? speake and if you heare:Speake of all loues; I sound almost with feare.No, then I well perceiue you are not nye,Either death or you Ile finde immediately.Exit.
Actus Tertius.
[Act 3, Scene 1]
Enter the Clownes.Bot.
[785]
Are we all met?
Quin.
Pat, pat, and here's a maruailous conuenient
place for our rehearsall. This greene plot shall be our
stage, this hauthorne brake our tyring house, and we will
do it in action, as we will do it before the Duke.
Bot.
[790]
Peter quince?
Peter.
What saist thou, bully
Bottome?
Bot.
There are things in this Comedy of
Piramusand
Thisby, that will neuer please. First,
Piramus must draw a
sword to kill himselfe; which the Ladies cannot abide.
[795]
How answere you that?
Snout.
Berlaken, a parlous feare.
Star.
I beleeue we must leaue the killing out, when
all is done.
Bot.
Not a whit, I haue a deuice to make all well.
[800]
Write me a Prologue, and let the Prologue seeme to say,
we will do no harme with our swords, and that
Pyramus
is not kill'd indeede: and for the more better assurance,
tell them, that I
Piramus am not
Piramus, but
Bottome the
Weauer; this will put them out of feare.
Quin.
[805]
Well, we will haue such a Prologue, and it shall
be written in eight and sixe.
Bot.
No, make it two more, let it be written in eight
and eight.
Snout.
Will not the Ladies be afear'd of the Lyon?
Star.
[810]
I feare it, I promise you.
Bot.
Masters, you ought to consider with your selues, to
bring in (God shield vs) a Lyon among Ladies, is a most
dreadfull thing. For there is not a more fearefull wilde
foule then your Lyon liuing: and wee ought to looke
[815]
to it.
Snout.
Therefore another Prologue must tell he is not
a Lyon.
Bot.
Nay, you must name his name, and halfe his face
must be seene through the Lyons necke, and he himselfe
[820]
must speake through, saying thus, or to the same defect;
Ladies, or faire Ladies, I would wish you, or I would
request
Actus Tertius.
[Act 3, Scene 1]
Enter the Clownes.Bot.
[785]
Are we all met?
Quin.
Pat, pat, and here's a maruailous conuenient
place for our rehearsall. This greene plot shall be our
stage, this hauthorne brake our tyring house, and we will
do it in action, as we will do it before the Duke.
Bot.
[790]
Peter quince?
Peter.
What saist thou, bully
Bottome?
Bot.
There are things in this Comedy of
Piramusand
Thisby, that will neuer please. First,
Piramus must draw a
sword to kill himselfe; which the Ladies cannot abide.
[795]
How answere you that?
Snout.
Berlaken, a parlous feare.
Star.
I beleeue we must leaue the killing out, when
all is done.
Bot.
Not a whit, I haue a deuice to make all well.
[800]
Write me a Prologue, and let the Prologue seeme to say,
we will do no harme with our swords, and that
Pyramus
is not kill'd indeede: and for the more better assurance,
tell them, that I
Piramus am not
Piramus, but
Bottome the
Weauer; this will put them out of feare.
Quin.
[805]
Well, we will haue such a Prologue, and it shall
be written in eight and sixe.
Bot.
No, make it two more, let it be written in eight
and eight.
Snout.
Will not the Ladies be afear'd of the Lyon?
Star.
[810]
I feare it, I promise you.
Bot.
Masters, you ought to consider with your selues, to
bring in (God shield vs) a Lyon among Ladies, is a most
dreadfull thing. For there is not a more fearefull wilde
foule then your Lyon liuing: and wee ought to looke
[815]
to it.
Snout.
Therefore another Prologue must tell he is not
a Lyon.
Bot.
Nay, you must name his name, and halfe his face
must be seene through the Lyons necke, and he himselfe
[820]
must speake through, saying thus, or to the same defect;
Ladies, or faire Ladies, I would wish you, or I would
request you, or I would entreat you, not to feare, not to
tremble: my life for yours. If you thinke I come hither
as a Lyon, it were pitty of my life. No, I am no such
[825]
thing, I am a man as other men are; and there indeed let
him name his name, and tell him plainly hee is
Snug the
ioyner.
Quin.
Well, it shall be so; but there is two hard
things, that is, to bring the Moone‑light into a cham
[830]
ber: for you know
Piramus and
Thisby meete by Moone‑
light.
Sn.
Doth the Moone shine that night wee play our
play?
Bot.
A Calender, a Calender, looke in the Almanack,
[835]
finde out Moone‑shine, finde out Moone‑shine.
Enter Pucke.Quin.
Yes, it doth shine that night.
Bot.
Why then may you leaue a casement of the great
chamber window (where we play) open, and the Moone
may shine in at the casement.
Quin.
[840]
I, or else one must come in with a bush of thorns
and a lanthorne, and say he comes to disfigure, or to pre
sent the person of Moone‑shine. Then there is another
thing, we must haue a wall in the great Chamber; for
Pi
ramus
and
Thisby (saies the story
) did talke through the
[845]
chinke of a wall.
Sn.
You can neuer bring in a wall. What say you
Bottome?
Bot.
Some man or other must present wall, and let
him haue some Plaster, or some Lome, or some rough
[850]
cast about him, to signifie wall; or let him hold his fin
gers thus; and through that cranny, shall
Piramus and
Thisby whisper.
Quin.
If that may be, then all is well. Come, sit
downe euery mothers sonne, and rehearse your parts.
[855]
Piramus, you begin; when you haue spoken your speech,
enter into that Brake, and so euery one according to his
cue.
Enter Robin.Rob.What hempen home‑spuns haue we swagge
ring here,
So neere the Cradle of the Faierie Queene?
[860]
What, a Play toward? Ile be an auditor,An Actor too perhaps, if I see cause.Quin.
Speake
Piramus:Thisby stand forth.
Pir.Thisby, the flowers of odious sauors sweete.
Quin.
Odours, odours.
Pir.
[865]
Odours sauors sweete,So hath thy breath, my dearest
Thisby deare.
But harke, a voyce: stay thou but here a while,And by and by I will to thee appeare.Exit.Pir.Puck.A stranger
Piramus, then ere plaid here.
This.
[870]
Must I speake now?
Pet.
I marry must you. For you must vnderstand he
goes but to see a noyse that he heard, and is to come a
gaine.
Thys.Most radiant
Piramus, most Lilly white of hue,
[875]
Of colour like the red rose on triumphant bryer,Most brisky Iuuenall, and eke most louely Iew,As true as truest horse, that yet would neuer tyre,Ile meete thee
Piramus, at
Ninnies toombe.
Pet.
Ninus toombe man: why, you must not speake
[880]
that yet; that you answere to
Piramus: you speake all
your part at once, cues and all.
Piramus enter, your cue is
past; it is neuer tyre.
Thys.O, as true as truest horse, that yet would neuer
tyre:
Pir.If I were faire,
Thisby I were onely thine.
Pet.
[885]
O monstrous. O strange. We are hanted; pray
masters, flye masters, helpe.
The Clownes all Exit.Puk.Ile follow you, Ile leade you about a Round,Through bogge, through bush, through brake, through
(bryer,
Sometime a horse Ile be, sometime a hound:
[890]
A hogge, a headlesse beare, sometime a fire,And neigh, and barke, and grunt, and rore, and burne,Like horse, hound, hog, beare, fire, at euery turne.Exit.Enter Piramus with the Asse head.Bot.
Why do they run away? This is a knauery of
them to make me afeard.
Enter Snowt.Sn.
[895]
O
Bottom, thou art chang'd; What doe I see on
thee?
Bot.
What do you see? You see an Asse‑head of your
owne, do you?
Enter Peter Quince.Pet.
Blesse thee
Bottome, blesse thee; thou art transla
[900]
ted.
Exit.Bot.
I see their knauery; this is to make an asse of me,
to fright me if they could; but I will not stirre from
this place, do what they can. I will walke vp and downe
here, and I will sing that they shall heare I am not a
[905]
fraid.
The Woosell cocke, so blacke of hew,With Orenge‑tawny bill.The Throstle, with his note so true,The Wren and little quill.Tyta.
[910]
What Angell wakes me from my flowry bed?Bot.The Finch, the Sparrow, and the Larke,The plainsong Cuckow gray;Whose note full many a man doth marke,And dares not answere, nay.
[915]
For indeede, who would set his wit to so foolish a bird?
Who would giue a bird the lye, though he cry Cuckow,
neuer so?
Tyta.I pray thee gentle mortall, sing againe,Mine eare is much enamored of thy note;
[920]
On the first view to say, to sweare I loue thee.So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape.And thy faire vertues force (perforce) doth moue me.Bot.
Me‑thinkes mistresse, you should haue little
reason for that: and yet to say the truth, reason and
[925]
loue keepe little company together, now‑adayes.
The more the pittie, that some honest neighbours will
not make them friends. Nay, I can gleeke vpon occa
sion.
Tyta.Thou art as wise, as thou art beautifull.Bot.
[930]
Not so neither: but if I had wit enough to get
out of this wood, I haue enough to serue mine owne
turne.
Tyta.Out of this wood, do not desire to goe,Thou shalt remaine here, whether thou wilt or no.
[935]
I am a spirit of no common rate:The Summer still doth tend vpon my state,And I doe loue thee; therefore goe with me,Ile giue thee Fairies to attend on thee;And they shall fetch thee Iewels from the deepe,
[940]
And sing, while thou on pressed flowers dost sleepe:And I will purge thy mortall grossenesse so,That thou shalt like an airie spirit go.Enter Pease‑blossome, Cobweb, Moth, Mustard‑
seede, and foure Fairies.
Fai.
Ready; and I, and I, and I, Where shall we go?
Tita.Be kinde and curteous to this Gentleman,
[945]
Hop in his walkes, and gambole in his eies,Feede him with Apricocks, and Dewberries,With purple Grapes, greene Figs, and Mulberries,The honie‑bags steale from the humble Bees,And for night‑tapers crop their waxen thighes,
[950]
And light them at the fierie‑Glow‑wormes eyes,To haue my loue to bed, and to arise:And plucke the wings from painted Butterflies,To fan the Moone‑beames from his sleeping eies.Nod to him Elues, and doe him curtesies.1. Fai.
[955]
Haile mortall, haile.
2. Fai.
Haile.
3. Fai.
Haile.
Bot.
I cry your worships mercy hartily; I beseech
your worships name.
Cob.
[960]
Cobweb.
Bot.
I shall desire you of more acquaintance, good
Master
Cobweb: if I cut my finger, I shall make bold
with you.
Your name honest Gentleman?
Peas.
[965]
Pease blossome.Bot.
I pray you commend mee to mistresse
Squash,
your mother, and to master
Peascod your father. Good
master
Pease‑blossome, I shal desire of you more acquain
tance to. Your name I beseech you sir?
Mus.
[970]
Mustard‑seede.
Peas.
Pease‑blossome.
Bot.
Good master
Mustard seede, I know your pati
ence well: that same cowardly gyant‑like Oxe beefe
hath deuoured many a gentleman of your house. I pro
[975]
mise you, your kindred hath made my eyes water ere
now. I desire you more acquaintance, good Master
Mustard‑seede.
Tita.Come waite vpon him, lead him to my bower.The Moone me‑thinks, lookes with a watrie eie,
[980]
And when she weepes, weepe euerie little flower,Lamenting some enforced chastitie.Tye vp my louers tongue, bring him silently.Exit.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<div type="scene" n="1">
<head rend="italic center">Actus Tertius.</head>
<head type="supplied">[Act 3, Scene 1]</head>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter the Clownes.</stage>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Bot.</speaker>
<p n="785">Are we all met?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-qui">
<speaker rend="italic">Quin.</speaker>
<p n="786">Pat, pat, and here's a maruailous conuenient
<lb n="787"/>place for our rehearsall. This greene plot shall be our
<lb n="788"/>stage, this hauthorne brake our tyring house, and we will
<lb n="789"/>do it in action, as we will do it before the Duke.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Bot.</speaker>
<p n="790">
<hi rend="italic">Peter quince</hi>?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-qui">
<speaker rend="italic">Peter.</speaker>
<p n="791">What saist thou, bully<hi rend="italic">Bottome</hi>?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Bot.</speaker>
<p n="792">There are things in this Comedy of<hi rend="italic">Piramus</hi>and
<lb n="793"/>
<hi rend="italic">Thisby</hi>, that will neuer please. First,<hi rend="italic">Piramus</hi>must draw a
<lb n="794"/>sword to kill himselfe; which the Ladies cannot abide.
<lb n="795"/>How answere you that?</p>
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<sp who="#F-mnd-sno">
<speaker rend="italic">Snout.</speaker>
<p n="796">Berlaken, a parlous feare.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-sta">
<speaker rend="italic">Star.</speaker>
<p n="797">I beleeue we must leaue the killing out, when
<lb n="798"/>all is done.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Bot.</speaker>
<p n="799">Not a whit, I haue a deuice to make all well.
<lb n="800"/>Write me a Prologue, and let the Prologue seeme to say,
<lb n="801"/>we will do no harme with our swords, and that<hi rend="italic">Pyramus</hi>
<lb n="802"/>is not kill'd indeede: and for the more better assurance,
<lb n="803"/>tell them, that I<hi rend="italic">Piramus</hi>am not<hi rend="italic">Piramus</hi>, but<hi rend="italic">Bottome</hi>the
<lb n="804"/>Weauer; this will put them out of feare.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-qui">
<speaker rend="italic">Quin.</speaker>
<p n="805">Well, we will haue such a Prologue, and it shall
<lb n="806"/>be written in eight and sixe.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Bot.</speaker>
<p n="807">No, make it two more, let it be written in eight
<lb n="808"/>and eight.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-sno">
<speaker rend="italic">Snout.</speaker>
<p n="809">Will not the Ladies be afear'd of the Lyon?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-sta">
<speaker rend="italic">Star.</speaker>
<p n="810">I feare it, I promise you.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Bot.</speaker>
<p n="811">Masters, you ought to consider with your selues, to
<lb n="812"/>bring in (God shield vs) a Lyon among Ladies, is a most
<lb n="813"/>dreadfull thing. For there is not a more fearefull wilde
<lb n="814"/>foule then your Lyon liuing: and wee ought to looke
<lb n="815"/>to it.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-sno">
<speaker rend="italic">Snout.</speaker>
<p n="816">Therefore another Prologue must tell he is not
<lb n="817"/>a Lyon.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Bot.</speaker>
<p n="818">Nay, you must name his name, and halfe his face
<lb n="819"/>must be seene through the Lyons necke, and he himselfe
<lb n="820"/>must speake through, saying thus, or to the same defect;
<lb n="821"/>Ladies, or faire Ladies, I would wish you, or I would<pb facs="FFimg:axc0172-0.jpg" n="152"/>
<cb n="1"/>
<lb n="822"/>request you, or I would entreat you, not to feare, not to
<lb n="823"/>tremble: my life for yours. If you thinke I come hither
<lb n="824"/>as a Lyon, it were pitty of my life. No, I am no such
<lb n="825"/>thing, I am a man as other men are; and there indeed let
<lb n="826"/>him name his name, and tell him plainly hee is<hi rend="italic">Snug</hi>the
<lb n="827"/>ioyner.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-qui">
<speaker rend="italic">Quin.</speaker>
<p n="828">Well, it shall be so; but there is two hard
<lb n="829"/>things, that is, to bring the Moone‑light into a cham
<lb n="830"/>ber: for you know<hi rend="italic">Piramus</hi>and<hi rend="italic">Thisby</hi>meete by Moone‑
<lb n="831"/>light.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-sno">
<speaker rend="italic">Sn.</speaker>
<p n="832">Doth the Moone shine that night wee play our
<lb n="833"/>play?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Bot.</speaker>
<p n="834">A Calender, a Calender, looke in the Almanack,
<lb n="835"/>finde out Moone‑shine, finde out Moone‑shine.</p>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Pucke.</stage>
<sp who="#F-mnd-qui">
<speaker rend="italic">Quin.</speaker>
<p n="836">Yes, it doth shine that night.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Bot.</speaker>
<p n="837">Why then may you leaue a casement of the great
<lb n="838"/>chamber window (where we play) open, and the Moone
<lb n="839"/>may shine in at the casement.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-qui">
<speaker rend="italic">Quin.</speaker>
<p n="840">I, or else one must come in with a bush of thorns
<lb n="841"/>and a lanthorne, and say he comes to disfigure, or to pre
<lb n="842"/>sent the person of Moone‑shine. Then there is another
<lb n="843"/>thing, we must haue a wall in the great Chamber; for<hi rend="italic">Pi
<lb n="844"/>ramus</hi>and<hi rend="italic">Thisby</hi>(saies the story<hi rend="italic">)</hi>did talke through the
<lb n="845"/>chinke of a wall.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-sno">
<speaker rend="italic">Sn.</speaker>
<p n="846">You can neuer bring in a wall. What say you
<lb n="847"/>
<hi rend="italic">Bottome</hi>?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Bot.</speaker>
<p n="848">Some man or other must present wall, and let
<lb n="849"/>him haue some Plaster, or some Lome, or some rough
<lb n="850"/>cast about him, to signifie wall; or let him hold his fin
<lb n="851"/>gers thus; and through that cranny, shall<hi rend="italic">Piramus</hi>and
<lb n="852"/>Thisby whisper.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-qui">
<speaker rend="italic">Quin.</speaker>
<p n="853">If that may be, then all is well. Come, sit
<lb n="854"/>downe euery mothers sonne, and rehearse your parts.
<lb n="855"/>
<hi rend="italic">Piramus</hi>, you begin; when you haue spoken your speech,
<lb n="856"/>enter into that Brake, and so euery one according to his
<lb n="857"/>cue.</p>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Robin.</stage>
<sp who="#F-mnd-puc">
<speaker rend="italic">Rob.</speaker>
<l n="858">What hempen home‑spuns haue we swagge
<lb/>ring here,</l>
<l n="859">So neere the Cradle of the Faierie Queene?</l>
<l n="860">What, a Play toward? Ile be an auditor,</l>
<l n="861">An Actor too perhaps, if I see cause.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-qui">
<speaker rend="italic">Quin.</speaker>
<p n="862">Speake<hi rend="italic">Piramus:</hi>
<hi rend="italic">Thisby</hi>stand forth.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Pir.</speaker>
<l n="863">
<hi rend="italic">Thisby</hi>, the flowers of odious sauors sweete.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-qui">
<speaker rend="italic">Quin.</speaker>
<p n="864">Odours, odours.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Pir.</speaker>
<l n="865">Odours sauors sweete,</l>
<l n="866">So hath thy breath, my dearest<hi rend="italic">Thisby</hi>deare.</l>
<l n="867">But harke, a voyce: stay thou but here a while,</l>
<l n="868">And by and by I will to thee appeare.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit.Pir.</stage>
<sp who="#F-mnd-puc">
<speaker rend="italic">Puck.</speaker>
<l n="869">A stranger<hi rend="italic">Piramus</hi>, then ere plaid here.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-flu">
<speaker rend="italic">This.</speaker>
<p n="870">Must I speake now?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-qui">
<speaker rend="italic">Pet.</speaker>
<p n="871">I marry must you. For you must vnderstand he
<lb n="872"/>goes but to see a noyse that he heard, and is to come a
<lb n="873"/>gaine.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-flu">
<speaker rend="italic">Thys.</speaker>
<l n="874">Most radiant<hi rend="italic">Piramus</hi>, most Lilly white of hue,</l>
<l n="875">Of colour like the red rose on triumphant bryer,</l>
<l n="876">Most brisky Iuuenall, and eke most louely Iew,</l>
<l n="877">As true as truest horse, that yet would neuer tyre,</l>
<l n="878">Ile meete thee<hi rend="italic">Piramus</hi>, at<hi rend="italic">Ninnies</hi>toombe.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-qui">
<speaker rend="italic">Pet.</speaker>
<p n="879">
<hi rend="italic">Ninus</hi>toombe man: why, you must not speake
<lb n="880"/>that yet; that you answere to<hi rend="italic">Piramus</hi>: you speake all
<lb n="881"/>your part at once, cues and all.<hi rend="italic">Piramus</hi>enter, your cue is
<lb n="882"/>past; it is neuer tyre.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-flu">
<speaker rend="italic">Thys.</speaker>
<l n="883">O, as true as truest horse, that yet would neuer
<lb/>tyre:</l>
</sp>
<cb n="2"/>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Pir.</speaker>
<l n="884">If I were faire,<hi rend="italic">Thisby</hi>I were onely thine.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-qui">
<speaker rend="italic">Pet.</speaker>
<p n="885">O monstrous. O strange. We are hanted; pray
<lb n="886"/>masters, flye masters, helpe.</p>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">The Clownes all Exit.</stage>
<sp who="#F-mnd-puc">
<speaker rend="italic">Puk.</speaker>
<l n="887">Ile follow you, Ile leade you about a Round,</l>
<l n="888">Through bogge, through bush, through brake, through
<lb rend="turnunder"/>
<pc type="turnunder">(</pc>bryer,</l>
<l n="889">Sometime a horse Ile be, sometime a hound:</l>
<l n="890">A hogge, a headlesse beare, sometime a fire,</l>
<l n="891">And neigh, and barke, and grunt, and rore, and burne,</l>
<l n="892">Like horse, hound, hog, beare, fire, at euery turne.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Piramus with the Asse head.</stage>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Bot.</speaker>
<p n="893">Why do they run away? This is a knauery of
<lb n="894"/>them to make me afeard.</p>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Snowt.</stage>
<sp who="#F-mnd-sno">
<speaker rend="italic">Sn.</speaker>
<p n="895">O<hi rend="italic">Bottom</hi>, thou art chang'd; What doe I see on
<lb n="896"/>thee?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Bot.</speaker>
<p n="897">What do you see? You see an Asse‑head of your
<lb n="898"/>owne, do you?</p>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Peter Quince.</stage>
<sp who="#F-mnd-qui">
<speaker rend="italic">Pet.</speaker>
<p n="899">Blesse thee<hi rend="italic">Bottome</hi>, blesse thee; thou art transla
<lb n="900"/>ted.</p>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Bot.</speaker>
<p n="901">I see their knauery; this is to make an asse of me,
<lb n="902"/>to fright me if they could; but I will not stirre from
<lb n="903"/>this place, do what they can. I will walke vp and downe
<lb n="904"/>here, and I will sing that they shall heare I am not a
<lb n="905"/>fraid.</p>
<l n="906">The Woosell cocke, so blacke of hew,</l>
<l n="907">With Orenge‑tawny bill.</l>
<l n="908">The Throstle, with his note so true,</l>
<l n="909">The Wren and little quill.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-tit">
<speaker rend="italic">Tyta.</speaker>
<l n="910">What Angell wakes me from my flowry bed?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Bot.</speaker>
<l n="911">The Finch, the Sparrow, and the Larke,</l>
<l n="912">The plainsong Cuckow gray;</l>
<l n="913">Whose note full many a man doth marke,</l>
<l n="914">And dares not answere, nay.</l>
<p n="915">For indeede, who would set his wit to so foolish a bird?
<lb n="916"/>Who would giue a bird the lye, though he cry Cuckow,
<lb n="917"/>neuer so?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-tit">
<speaker rend="italic">Tyta.</speaker>
<l n="918">I pray thee gentle mortall, sing againe,</l>
<l n="919">Mine eare is much enamored of thy note;</l>
<l n="920">On the first view to say, to sweare I loue thee.</l>
<l n="921">So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape.</l>
<l n="922">And thy faire vertues force (perforce) doth moue me.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Bot.</speaker>
<p n="923">Me‑thinkes mistresse, you should haue little
<lb n="924"/>reason for that: and yet to say the truth, reason and
<lb n="925"/>loue keepe little company together, now‑adayes.
<lb n="926"/>The more the pittie, that some honest neighbours will
<lb n="927"/>not make them friends. Nay, I can gleeke vpon occa
<lb n="928"/>sion.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-tit">
<speaker rend="italic">Tyta.</speaker>
<l n="929">Thou art as wise, as thou art beautifull.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Bot.</speaker>
<p n="930">Not so neither: but if I had wit enough to get
<lb n="931"/>out of this wood, I haue enough to serue mine owne
<lb n="932"/>turne.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-tit">
<speaker rend="italic">Tyta.</speaker>
<l n="933">Out of this wood, do not desire to goe,</l>
<l n="934">Thou shalt remaine here, whether thou wilt or no.</l>
<l n="935">I am a spirit of no common rate:</l>
<l n="936">The Summer still doth tend vpon my state,</l>
<l n="937">And I doe loue thee; therefore goe with me,</l>
<l n="938">Ile giue thee Fairies to attend on thee;</l>
<l n="939">And they shall fetch thee Iewels from the deepe,</l>
<l n="940">And sing, while thou on pressed flowers dost sleepe:</l>
<l n="941">And I will purge thy mortall grossenesse so,</l>
<l n="942">That thou shalt like an airie spirit go.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Pease‑blossome, Cobweb, Moth, Mustard‑
<lb/>seede, and foure Fairies.</stage>
<sp who="#F-mnd-fai">
<speaker rend="italic">Fai.</speaker>
<p n="943">Ready; and I, and I, and I, Where shall we go?</p>
</sp>
<pb facs="FFimg:axc0173-0.jpg" n="153"/>
<cb n="1"/>
<sp who="#F-mnd-tit">
<speaker rend="italic">Tita.</speaker>
<l n="944">Be kinde and curteous to this Gentleman,</l>
<l n="945">Hop in his walkes, and gambole in his eies,</l>
<l n="946">Feede him with Apricocks, and Dewberries,</l>
<l n="947">With purple Grapes, greene Figs, and Mulberries,</l>
<l n="948">The honie‑bags steale from the humble Bees,</l>
<l n="949">And for night‑tapers crop their waxen thighes,</l>
<l n="950">And light them at the fierie‑Glow‑wormes eyes,</l>
<l n="951">To haue my loue to bed, and to arise:</l>
<l n="952">And plucke the wings from painted Butterflies,</l>
<l n="953">To fan the Moone‑beames from his sleeping eies.</l>
<l n="954">Nod to him Elues, and doe him curtesies.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-fai.1">
<speaker rend="italic">1. Fai.</speaker>
<p n="955">Haile mortall, haile.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-fai.2">
<speaker rend="italic">2. Fai.</speaker>
<p n="956">Haile.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-fai.3">
<speaker rend="italic">3. Fai.</speaker>
<p n="957">Haile.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Bot.</speaker>
<p n="958">I cry your worships mercy hartily; I beseech
<lb n="959"/>your worships name.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-cob">
<speaker rend="italic">Cob.</speaker>
<p n="960">
<hi rend="italic">Cobweb</hi>.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Bot.</speaker>
<p n="961">I shall desire you of more acquaintance, good
<lb n="962"/>Master<hi rend="italic">Cobweb</hi>: if I cut my finger, I shall make bold
<lb n="963"/>with you.
<lb n="964"/>Your name honest Gentleman?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-pea">
<speaker rend="italic">Peas.</speaker>
<l n="965">
<hi rend="italic">Pease blossome.</hi>
</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Bot.</speaker>
<p n="966">I pray you commend mee to mistresse<hi rend="italic">Squash</hi>,
<lb n="967"/>your mother, and to master<hi rend="italic">Peascod</hi>your father. Good
<lb n="968"/>master<hi rend="italic">Pease‑blossome</hi>, I shal desire of you more acquain
<lb n="969"/>tance to. Your name I beseech you sir?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-mus">
<speaker rend="italic">Mus.</speaker>
<p n="970">
<hi rend="italic">Mustard‑seede</hi>.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-pea">
<speaker rend="italic">Peas.</speaker>
<p n="971">
<hi rend="italic">Pease‑blossome</hi>.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-bot">
<speaker rend="italic">Bot.</speaker>
<p n="972">Good master<hi rend="italic">Mustard seede</hi>, I know your pati
<lb n="973"/>ence well: that same cowardly gyant‑like Oxe beefe
<lb n="974"/>hath deuoured many a gentleman of your house. I pro
<lb n="975"/>mise you, your kindred hath made my eyes water ere
<lb n="976"/>now. I desire you more acquaintance, good Master
<lb n="977"/>
<hi rend="italic">Mustard‑seede</hi>.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-tit">
<speaker rend="italic">Tita.</speaker>
<l n="978">Come waite vpon him, lead him to my bower.</l>
<l n="979">The Moone me‑thinks, lookes with a watrie eie,</l>
<l n="980">And when she weepes, weepe euerie little flower,</l>
<l n="981">Lamenting some enforced chastitie.</l>
<l n="982">Tye vp my louers tongue, bring him silently.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
</div>
