A Midsummer Night's Dream and hang a pearl

Libretto di Benjamin Britten e di Peter Pears, da in every cowslip's ear

Shakespeare
Musica di Benjamin Britten (Puck appears suddenly.)

Cast: PUCK
OBERN (calling):
TITANIA How now spirits?
COBWEB
PEASEBLOSSOM (The Fairies scatter to the side.)
MUSTARDSEED
MOTH FAIRIES
TESEO Or I mistake your shape
HIPLITA and making quite,
HERMIA or are you not that shrewd
LISANDRO and knavish sprite
DEMETRIO call'd Robin Goodfellow:
ELENA are not you he that frights
BOTTOM the maidens of the villagery,
QUINCE skim milk, and sometimes
FLUTE labour in the quern
SNUG and bootless make
SNOUT the breathless housewife churn;
STARVELING and sometime make
PUCK the drink to bear no barm;
mislead night-wanderers,
laughing at their harm?
ACT I You do their work,
and they shall have good luck:
Those that Hobgoblin
Introduction call you and sweet Puck
(The wood. Deepening twilight.)
PUCK
(Enter Fairies, first group with Cobweb and But, room, fairy!
Mustardseed, second group with Peaseblossom here comes Oberon.
and Moth.)
FAIRIES
FAIRIES And here our mistress.
Over hill, over dale,
trough bush, through brier, COBWEB
over park, over pale, Would that he were gone!
through flood, through fire,
we do wander everywhere, (Enter, slowly Oberon and Tytania, with her train;
swifter than the moon's sphere; from opposite sides)
and we serve the fairy queen,
to dew her orbs upon the green. FAIRIES
Oberon is passing fell and wrath,
FOUR SOLO FAIRIES because that she,
Cowslips tall her pensioners be as her attendant hath a lovely boy,
in their gold coats spots you see; stolen from an Indian king;
those be rubies, fairy favours, and jealous Oberon
in those freckles live their savours. would have the child

ALL FAIRIES OBERON:

We must go seek Ill met by moonlight,
some dewdrops here proud Tytania
TYTANIA
Ill met by moonlight,
jealous Oberon!
Fairies, skip hence:
I have forsworn
his bed and company.
(The Fairies hide)
OBERON, TYTANIA
Therefore the winds
have suck'd up
from the sea contagious fogs.
Therefore the ox
hath stretch'd
his yoke in vain,
the fold stands empty
in the drowned field,
the crows are fatted
with the murrion flock;
the seasons alter:
the spring, the summer,
the childing autumn,
angry winter,
change their wonted liveries,
and the mazed world,
by their increase,
now knows not which is which:
and this same progeny
of evils comes from our debate,
from our dissension;
we are their parents and original,
we are.
OBERON
Do you amend it then;
it lies in you:
I do but beg
a little changeling boy,
to be my henchman.
TYTANIA
Set your heart at rest:
The fairy land buys not
the child of me.
His mother was a votaress
of my order:
But she, being mortal,
of that boy did die;
and for her sake
I will not part with him.
OBERON
Give me that boy
and I will go with thee.
TYTANIA
Not for thy fairy kingdom.
Fairies, away!
(Exit Tytania with her train.)
OBERON
Well, go thy way:
thou shalt not from this grove
till I torment thee for this injury.
My gentle Puck, come hither.
(Puck approaches Oberon.)
Thou rememberest
the herb I shew'd thee once;
the juice of it on sleeping
eye-lids laid will make or man
or woman madly dote upon
the next live creature that it sees.
Be it on lion, bear,
or wolf, or bull,
on meddling monkey,
or on busy ape.
Fetch me this herb,
and be thou here again,
ere the Leviathan can swim
a league.
PUCK
I'll put a girdle round
about the earth
in forty minutes.
(He flies off.)
OBERON
Having once this juice,
I'll watch Tytania,
when she is asleep,
and drop the liquor
of it in her eyes;
and ere I take this charm
from off ther sight I'll make
her render up her page to me.
(Oberon disappears. Enter Lysander and Hermia)
LYSANDER
How now, my love!
Why is your cheek so pale?
How chance the roses
there do fade so fast?
HERMIA
Belike for want of rain,
which I could well beteem them
from the tempest of my eyes. by his best arrow
with the golden head.
LYSANDER
Ay me! HERMIA, LYSANDER
for aught that I could ever read, I swear to thee
could ever hear by tale or history, by the simplicity
the course of true love of Venus' doves,
never did run smooth; but, by that which knitteth souls
either it was different in blood. and prospers loves,
and by that fire which burn'd
HERMIA, LYSANDER the Carthage queen,
O cross! when the false Troyan
Too high to be enthrall'd to low. under sail was seen,
Or else misgraffed by all the vows
in respect of years. that ever men have broke,
O spite! in number more
Too old to be engaged to young. than ever women spoke,
Or else it stood upon I swear, I swear...
the choice of friends.
O hell! (They slowly go out. Oberon appears)
To choose love by another's eyes.
If then true lovers OBERON
have been ever cross'd, Be it on lion, bear,
it stands as an edict in destiny. or wolf, or bull,
On meddling monkey, or on busy ape.
HERMIA But who comes here?
Then let us teach I am invisible; and I will overhear
our trial patience. their conference.

LYSANDER (Enter Demetrius. Helena pursuing him)

A good persuasion:
therefore, hear me, Hermia.
I have a widow aunt,
a dowager of great revenue,
and she hath no child;
from Athens is her house
remote seven leagues.
And she respects me as her only son.
There, gentle Hermia,
may I marry thee;
and to that place the sharp
Athenian law,
compelling thee
to marry with Demetrius,
annot pursue us.
If thou lovest me then,
there will I go with thee.
HERMIA
My good Lysander!,
if thou lov'st me
I swear to thee,
by Cupid's strongest bow.
LYSANDER
I swear to thee,
DEMETRIUS
I love thee not,
therefore pursue me not.
Where is Lysander and fair Hermia?
The one I'll slay,
the other slayeth me.
Thou told'st me
they were stolen unto this wood;
and here am I,
and wode within this wood,
because I cannot meet my Hermia.
Hence, get thee gone,
and follow me no more.
HELENA
You draw me,
you hard-hearted adamant;
leave you your power to draw,
and I shall have no power
to follow you.
DEMETRIUS
Do I entice you?
do I speak you fair?
Or, rather,
do I not in plainest truth with sweet musk-roses
tell you, I do not, and with eglantine:
nor I cannot love you? there sleeps Tytania
sometime of the night,
HELENA lull'd in these flowers
Even for that do I love you the more. with dances and delight;
I am your spaniel; and, Demetrius, and there the snake
the more you beat me, throws her enamell'd skin,
I will fawn on you; weed wide enough to wrap
use me but as your spaniel, a fairy in:
spurn me, strike me, and with the juice
neglect me, lose me; of this I'll streak her eyes,
only give me leave, and make her full
unworthy as I am, of hateful fantasies.
to follow thee. Take thou some of it,
and seek through this grove:
DEMETRIUS a sweet Athenian lady is in love
Tempt not too much with a disdainful youth:
the hatred of my spirit; anoint his eyes;
for I am sick when but do it when
I do look on thee. the next thing he espies
may be the lady:
HELENA thou shalt know the man
And I am sick when by the Athenian garments
I look not on thee. he hath on.

DEMETRIUS (They disappear. Six rustics enter cautiously.)

I'll run from thee
and hide me in the brakes, QUINCE
and leave thee to the mercy Is all our company here?
of wild beasts.
ALL
(He goes out.) Ay, Ay.

HELENA BOTTOM
(running out) You were best to call them generally,
I'll follow you man by man, according to the script.
and make a heav'n of hell
to die upon the hand FLUTE
I love so well. First, good Peter Quince,
say what the play treats on.
OBERON
Fare thee well, nymph: QUINCE
ere he do leave this grove, Marry, our play is,
thou shalt fly him the most lamentable comedy,
and he shall seek thy love. and most cruel death
(Puck flies in.) of Pyramus and Thisby.
Welcome, wanderer!
Hast thou the flower there? ALL
(Puck gives Oberon the flower and lies at his Of Pyramus and Thisby.
feet.)
I know a bank where the wild BOTTOM
thyme blows, where oxlips A very good piece of work,
and the nodding violet grows, I assure you, and a merry.
quite over-canopied Now, good Peter Quince,
with luscious woodbine, call forth your actors
by the scroll. a wandering knight?
Masters, spread yourselves.
QUINCE
QUINCE It is the lady that Pyramus
Answer as I call you. Nick Bottom, must love.
the weaver.
FLUTE
BOTTOM Nay, faith,
Ready. let me not play a woman;
Name what part I am for, I have a beard coming.
and proceed.
QUINCE
QUINCE That's all one:
You, Nick Bottom, you shall play it in a mask,
are set down for Pyramus. and you may speak
as small as you will.
BOTTOM
What is Pyramus? BOTTOM
a lover, or a tyrant? An I may hide my face,
let me play Thisby too,
QUINCE I'll speak
A lover, that kills himself in a monstrous little voice.
most gallant for love. Thisne, thisne:"Ah, Pyramus,
lover dear! thy Thisby dear,
BOTTOM and lady dear!"
My chief humour is for a tyrant:
I could play Ercles rarely, QUINCE
or a part to tear a cat in, No, no; you must play Pyramus;
to make all split and, Flute, you Thisby.
the raging rocks;
and shivering shocks shall break BOTTOM
the locks of prison gates, Well, proceed.
and Phibbus' car shall shine
from far, and make FLUTE
and mar the foolish Fates. (practising to himself)
This was lofty! "Ah Pyramus, my lover dear,
Now name the rest thy Thisby dear, and Lady dear..."
of the players.
QUINCE
QUINCE Robin Starveling, the tailor.
Francis Flute,
the bellows-mender. STARVELING
Here, Peter Quince.
BOTTOM
This is Ercle's vein, QUINCE
a tyrant's vein; Robin Starveling,
a lover is more condoling. you must play Thisby's mother.
Tom Snout, the tinker.
FLUTE
Here, Peter Quince. SNOUT
Here, Peter Quince.
QUINCE
Flute, you must take Thisby on you. QUINCE
You, Pyramus' father;
FLUTE myself, Thisby's father;
What is Thisby? Snug, the joiner;
you, the lion's part;
and, I hope,
here is a play fitted.
SNUG
Have you the lion's part written?
pray you, if it be, give it me,
for I am slow of study.
QUINCE
You may do it extempore,
for it is nothing but roaring.
BOTTOM
Let me play the lion too:
I will roar,
that I will do any man's heart
good to hear me; I will roar,
that I will make the duke say
"Let him roar again,
let him roar again"
FLUTE
An you should do it too terribly,
you would fright the duchess
and the ladies,
that they would shriek;
and that were enough to hang us all.
QUINCE, STARVELING,
SNOUT, SNUG
That would hang us,
ev'ry mother's son.
FLUTE
Ev'ry mother's son!
BOTTOM
But I will aggravate my voice so,
that I will roar you as gently
as any sucking dove;
I will roar you an 'twere
any nightingale.
QUINCE
You can play no part but Pyramus;
for Pyramus is a sweet-faced man;
a proper man,
as one shall see in a summer's day;
a most lovely gentleman-like man;
therefore you must needs
play Pyramus.
BOTTOM
Well, I will undertake it.
(General satisfaction.)
QUINCE
But masters
here are your parts;
and I am to entreat you,
request you and desire you,
to con them by tonight;
there will we rehearse anon.
BOTTOM
We will meet;
and there we may rehearse
most obscenely and courageously.
Take pains; be perfect: adieu.
QUINCE
At the duke's oak
we meet.
ALL
Adieu.
(Exeunt. Enter Lysander and Hermia.)
LYSANDER:
Fair love, you faint
with wandering in the wood;
and to speak troth,
I have forgot our way;
we'll rest us, Hermia,
if you think it good,
and tarry
for the comfort of the day.
HERMIA
Be it so, Lysander;
find you out a bed;
for I upon this bank
will rest my head.
LYSANDER
One turf shall serve
as pillow for us both;
One heart, one bed,
two bosoms and one troth.
HERMIA
Nay, good Lysander;
my sake, my dear,
lie further off yet,
do not lie so near.
So far be distant;
and, good night, sweet friend;
Thy love ne'er alter
till thy sweet life end!
 (following)
LYSANDER, HERMIA O, I am out of breath
Amen to that fair prayer, in this fond chase!
say I; The more my prayer,
and then end life the lesser is my grace.
when I end loyalty! Happy is Hermia,
wheresoe'er she lies;
(They go to sleep. Enter Puck.) for she hath blessed
and attractive eyes.
PUCK Alas, I am as ugly as a bear;
Through the forest have I gone. for beasts
But Athenian found I none, that meet me
on whose eyes I might approve run away for fear;
this flower's force (She sees Lysander.)
in stirring love. But who is here?
Night and silence. Lysander! on the ground!
Who is here? Dead? or asleep?
(coming upon the sleeping Lysander) I see no blood, no wound.
Weeds of Athens he doth wear; Lysander if you live,
this is he, good sir, awake.
my master said,
despised the Athenian maid; LYSANDER
(He squeezes the juice on Lysander's eyes.) (Awaking)
Churl, upon thy eyes I throw And run through fire
all the power this charm doth owe. I will for thy sweet sake.
So awake when I am gone; Transparent Helena!
for I must now to Oberon. Nature shows art,
that through thy bosom
(Exit Puck.) makes me see thy heart.
Where is Demetrius?
HERMIA O, how fit a word
(in her sleep) is that vile name
Amen, amen to perish on my sword!
to that fair prayer, say I.
HELENA
(Enter Helena and Demetriud, running) Do not say so, Lysander;
say not so
HELENA what though he love your Hermia?
Stay, though thou kill me, Lord, what though?
sweet Demetrius. Yet Hermia still loves you;
then be content
DEMETRIUS
I charge thee, hence, LYSANDER
and do not haunt me thus. Content with Hermia! No;
I do repent the tedious minutes
HELENA I with her have spent.
O, wilt thou darkling leave me? Not Hermia but Helena I love;
do not so. who will not change a raven
for a dove?
DEMETRIUS
Stay, on thy peril: HELENA
I alone will go. Wherefore was I to this keen
mockery born?
(Running out) When at your hands did I deserve
this scorn?
HELENA Good troth, you do me wrong,
good sooth, you do, the clamorous owl that nightly
in such disdainful hoots and wonders
manner me to woo but fare you well; at our quaint spirits.
perforce I must confess Sing me now asleep;
(running out) then to your offices
I thought you lord of more and let me rest.
true gentleness.
SOLO FAIRIES
LYSANDER You spotted snakes
She sees not Hermia. with double tongue,
Hermia, sleep thou there; thorny hedgehogs, be not seen;
and never mayst thou come newts and blind-worms,
Lysander near! do no wrong,
Sleep thou there; come not near our fairy queen.
and, all my powers, Philomel, with melody
address your love and might sing in our sweet lullaby;
To honour Helen
and to be her knight! ALL FAIRIES
Lullaby,
(running out) never harm, nor spell nor charm,
come our lovely lady nigh;
HERMIA so, good night, with lullaby.
(wakes up, calling)
Lysander, help me, SOLO FAIRIES
what a dream was here! Weaving spiders, come not here
Lysander, look how I do quake hence, you long-legg'd spinners,
with fear; hence!
methought a serpent Beetles black, approach not near;
eat my heart away, worm nor snail, do no offence.
and you sat smiling Philomel, with melody...
at his cruel prey.
Lysander! what, removed? COBWEB
Lysander! lord! (whispered)
What, out of hearing? gone? Hence, away! now all is well;
no sound, no word? one aloof stand sentinel.
Alack, where are you? speak,
an if you hear; (Tytania sleeps. The Fairies, except one standing
speak, of all loves! sentry, slip out. Oberon appears.)
I swoon almost with fear.
(running out) OBERON
Lysander, Lord... (squeezing the juice from the
flower onto Tytania's eyelids.)
(Enter Tytania, with Cobweb, Peaseblossom, What thou seest
Mustardseed, Moth and Fairies.) when thou dost wake,
do it for thy true-love take,
TYTANIA love and languish for his sake;
Come, now a roundel be it ounce, or cat, or bear,
and a fairy song; pard, or boar with bristled hair,
then, for the third part in thine eye that shall appear
of a minute, hence; when thou wakest, it is thy dear;
some to kill cankers wake when some vile thing is near.
in the musk-rose buds,
some war with rere-mice (He slowly disappears and the ligjhts fade on the
for their leathern wings, sleeping Tytania.)
to make my small elves coats,
and some keep back
 FLUTE
I fear it, I promise you.
ACT II
BOTTOM
Therefore another Prologue
Introduction must tell them plainly
he is not a Lion
(The wood. Tytania lying asleep. Enter the six but Snug the joiner.
rustics.)
QUINCE
BOTTOM But there is two hard things;
Are we all met? that is, to bring the moonlight
into a chamber; for, you know,
THE OTHERS Pyramus and Thisby meet by moonlight.
Pat, pat, pat
STARVELING
QUINCE Doth the moon shine that night
And here's a marvellous convenient we play our play?
place for our rehearsal.
BOTTOM
BOTTOM A calendar,
Peter Quince? look in the almanac;
find out moonshine.
QUINCE
What sayest thou, bully Bottom? THE OTHERS
Moonshine, moonshine.
BOTTOM
There are things in this comedy QUINCE
that will never please. Then, there is another thing:
First, Pyramus must draw we must have a wall
a sword to kill himself; in the great chamber.
which the ladies cannot abide.
SNOUT
THE OTHERS You can never bring in a wall.
By'r lakin, a parlous fear.
ALL
FLUTE What say you, Bottom?
I believe we must leave the
killing out, when all is done. BOTTOM
Some man or other must present Wall,
BOTTOM and let him hold his fingers thus,
Not a whit: and through that cranny shall
I have a device to make all well. Pyramus and Thisby whisper.
Write me a prologue;
tell them, that I, THE OTHERS
Pyramus, am not Pyramus, Then all is well.
but Bottom the weaver:
this will put them out of fear. QUINCE
Come, sit down,
SNUG every mother's son,
Will not the ladies be afeard and rehearse your parts,
of the Lion? every one according to his cue.
Pyramus, you begin.
THE OTHERS
The Lion. (Puck flies in.)
PUCK that you answer to Pyramo:
What hempen home-spuns you speak all your part at once,
have we swaggering here, cues and all.
so near the cradle Pyramus enter:
the fairy queen? your cue is past;
it is, 'never tire'.
QUINCE
Speak, Pyramus. FLUTE
Thisby, stand forth. O, as true as truest horse,
that yet would never tire.
BOTTOM
Thisby, the flowers (Enter Puck and Bottom with an ass's head upon
of odious savours sweet... his shoulders.)

QUINCE BOTTOM
Odours, odours. If I were fair, Thisby,
I were only thine.
BOTTOM
Odours savours sweet: (Puck flies off.)
So hath thy breath,
my dearest Thisby dear. THE OTHERS
But Hark, a voice! O monstrous! O strange!
stay thou but here awhile, we are haunted.
And by and by I will to thee appear. Pray, masters! fly, masters!
Help!
(Exit Bottom)
(Exeunt Quince, Snug, Flute, Snout, and
PUCK Starveling.)
I'll follow you,
I'll lead you about a round. BOTTOM
Why do they run away?
(He follows Bottom) this is a knavery
to make me afeard.
FLUTE
Must I speak now? (Flute reappears.)

QUINCE FLUTE
Ay, marry, must you; O Bottom, Bottom,
for you must understand thou art changed!
he goes but to see a noise what do I see on thee?
he heard and is to come again.
(Exit Flute.)
FLUTE
Most radiant Pyramus, BOTTOM:
most lily-white of hue, What do you see?
of colour like the red rose you see an asshead of your own,
on triumphant brier, do you?
most brisky juvenal
and eke most lovely Jew, (The rustics reappear from behind the trees.)
as true as truest horse
that yet would never tire, ALL
I'll meet thee, Pyramus, Bless thee, Bottom! bless thee!
at Ninny's tomb. thou art translated.

QUINCE: (They desappear.)

Why, you must not speak that yet;
BOTTOM COBWEB
I see their knavery: (enters.)
this is to make an ass of me; And I.
to fright me, if they could.
But I will not stir from this place, TYTANIA
and I will sing, that they shall hear Moth!
I am not afraid.
(Singing) MOTH
The woosell cock, so black of hue, (enters.)
with orange-tawny bill, And I.
the throstle with his note so true,
the wren with little quill,... TYTANIA
Mustardseed!
TYTANIA
(awaking) MUSTARDSEED
What angel wakes me (enters.)
from my flowery bed? And I.

BOTTOM FOUR SOLO FAIRIES

The finch, the sparrow and the lark,
the plain-song cuckoo gray,
whose note full many a man doth mark,
and dares not answer nay.
TYTANIA
I pray thee, gentle mortal,
sing again:
Mine ear is much enamour'd
of thy note; so is mine eye
enthralled to thy shape;
thou art as wise as
thou art beautiful.
BOTTOM
Not so, neither:
but if I had wit enough to get out
of this wood...
Whre shall we go?
TYTANIA
Be kind and courteous
to this gentleman; hop in his walks
and gambol in his eyes;
feed him with apricocks
and dewberries,
with purple grapes, green figs,
and mulberries; the honey-bags
steal from the humble-bees,
and for night-tapers crop
their waxen thighs
and light them at the fiery
glow-worm's eyes,
to have my love to bed and to arise;
nod to him, elves,
and do him courtesies.

TYTANIA FOUR SOLO FAIRIES

Out of this wood do not desire to go: (bow deeply to Bottom)
Thou shalt remain here, Hail, mortal, hail!
whether thou wilt or no.
I am a spirit of no common rate; BOTTOM:
the summer still doth tend I cry your worship's mercy,
upon my state; your mercy, heartily.
I'll give thee Fairies
to attend on thee; FOUR SOLO FAIRIES
Peaseblossom! Hail, mortal, hail!

PEASEBLOSSOM BOTTOM
(enters.) I cry your worship's mercy.
Ready I beseech your worship's name.

TYTANIA COBWEB
Cobweb! Cobweb.
Hail, mortal, hail!
BOTTOM BOTTOM
I shall desire you Scratch my head Peaseblossom.
of more acquaintance, (Peaseblossom scratches Bottom's head.)
good Master Cobweb. Where's Monsieur Cobweb?
Your name, honest gentleman?
COBWEB
PEASEBLOSSOM Ready.
Peaseblossom.
Hail, mortal, hail! (He goes to Bottom.)

BOTTOM BOTTOM
I pray you, commend me Monsieur Cobweb,
to Mistress Squash, get you your weapons in your hand,
your mother, and kill me a red-hipped humble-bee,
and to Master Peascod, your father. and good Monsieur,
Your name, bring me the honey-bag.
I beseech you, sir? (Cobweb finds a bee, catches it and takes the
honey to Bottom.)
MUSTARDSEED Where's Monsieur Mustard-seed?
Mustardseed.
Hail, mortal, hail! MUSTARDSEED
Ready.
FOUR SOLO FAIRIES
Hail, mortal, hail! BOTTOM
Give me your neaf,
BOTTOM Monsieur Mustardseed.
Your kindred hath made (Mustardseed shakes his hand violently.)
my eyes water ere now, Pray you, leave your courtesy,
good master Mustardseed. good Monsieur.
I desire you more acquaintance.
Your name, sir? MUSTARDSEED
What's your will?
MOTH
(comes forward) BOTTOM
Mo... Nothing, good monsieur,
but to help Cavalery Cobweb
TYTANIA to scratch.
(interrupting) (Mustardseed helps Cobweb to
Come, sit thee down upon scratch Bottom's head.)
this flowery bed, I am such a tender ass,
while I thy amiable cheeks do coy, if my hair do but tickle me,
and stick musk-roses I must scratch.
in thy sleek smooth head, Where's Monsieur Moth?
and kiss thy fair large ears,
my gentle joy. MOTH
I'm he...
(Tytania and Bottom settle down on the bank.)
TYTANIA
BOTTOM What, wilt thou hear some music,
Where's Peaseblossom? my sweet love?

PEASEBLOSSOM BOTTOM
Ready. I have a reas'nable
good ear in music.
(He goes to Bottom.) La la la la...
Let's have the tongs and the bones. DEMETRIUS
(The Fairies take their instruments and start to O, why rebuke you him
play.) that loves you so?
Ah! Ah! I have a reas'nable
good ear in music. HERMIA
(Bottom gets up and begins to dance.) If thou hast slain Lysander
La la la la! in his sleep,
(He yawns.) plunge in the deep,
But, I pray you, and kill me too.
let none of your people stir me: Ah, good Demetrius,
I have an exposition wilt thou give him me?
of sleep come upon me.
DEMETRIUS
TYTANIA I had rather give
Sleep thou, and I will his carcass to my hounds.
wind thee in my arms.
Fairies, begone, HERMIA
and be all ways away. Out, dog, out, cur,
(The Fairies disappear.) oh hast thou slain him, then?
So doth the woodbine
the sweet honeysuckle DEMETRIUS
gently entwist; I am not guilty
the female ivy so enrings of Lysander's blood.
the barky fingers of the elm.
How I love thee! HERMIA
how I dote on thee! I pray thee,
tell me then that he is well.
(They sleep, and it grows dark. Enter Oberon and
Puck.) DEMETRIUS
An if I could,
OBERON what should I get therefore?
How now, mad spirit!
What night-rule now HERMIA
about this haunted grove? A privilege never to see me more.
And from thy hated presence part
PUCK I so. See me no more,
See, see, my mistress whether he be dead or no.
with a monster is in love.
(Exit.)
OBERON
This falls out better than DEMETRIUS
I could devise. There is no following her
But hast thou yet latch'd in this fierce vein:
the Athenian's eyes Here therefore for a while
with the love-juice, I will remain.
as I did bid thee do? So sorrow's heaviness
(Enter Hermia and Demetrius.) doth heavier grow
Stand close:
this is the same Athenian. (He lies down.)

PUCK OBERON
This is the woman, What hast thou done?
but not this the man. thou hast mistaken quite
and laid the love-juice
(Oberon and Puck listen.) on some true-love's sight:
About the wood go swifter
than the wind, O Helena, goddess, nymph,
and Helena of Athens look thou find. perfect, divine!
To what, my love,
PUCK shall I compare thine eyne?
I go, I go; look how I go, Crystal is muddy.
swifter than arrow O, how ripe in show thy lips,
from the Tartar's bow. those kissing cherries,
tempting grow!
(He flies off.) That pure congealed white,
high Taurus' snow,
OBERON fann'd with the eastern wind,
Flower of this purple dye, turns to a crow when thou hold'st up
hit with Cupid's archery, thy hand: O, let me kiss
sink in apple of his eye. this princess of pure white,
When his love he doth espy, this seal of bliss!
let her shine as gloriously O Helen!
as the Venus of the sky.
When thou wakest, if she be by, HELENA
beg of her for remedy. O spite!

(Puck flies in.) DEMETRIUS

Goddess!
PUCK
Captain of our fairy band, HELENA
Helena is here at hand; O Hell!
and the youth,
mistook by me, DEMETRIUS
shall we their fond pageant see? Nymph, perfect, divine!
Lord, what fools these mortals be!
HELENA
(Enter Helena, Lysander following. Oberon and I see you all are bent
Puck stand aside.) To set against me
for your merriment.
LYSANDER
Why should you think that DEMETRIUS
I should woo in scorn? (To Lysander)
Look, where thy love comes;
HELENA yonder is thy dear.
These vows are Hermia's.
Will you give her o'er? HERMIA
(entering)
LYSANDER Ah, Lysander,
I had no judgment when to her why unkindly didst
I swore. thou leave me so?

HELENA HELENA
Nor none, in my mind, Injurious Hermia!
now you give her o'er. most ungrateful maid!
Have you conspired,
LYSANDER have you with these contrived
Demetrius loves her, to bait me with this foul derision?
and he loves not you. Is all the counsel that
we two have shared,
(Demetrius awakes.) the sisters' vows,
the hours that we have spent,
DEMETRIUS when we have chid
the hasty-footed time I can compel.
for parting us, O, is it all forgot?
All school-days' friendship, LYSANDER
childhood innocence? Thou canst compel no more
We, Hermia, like two artificial gods, than she entreat:
have with our needles created
both one flower, DEMETRIUS
both on one sampler, I say I love thee more
sitting on one cushion, than he can do.
both warbling of one song,
both in one key; LYSANDER
two lovely berries moulded If thou say so, withdraw,
on one stem; and prove it too.
so, with two seeming bodies,
but one heart; DEMETRIUS
and will you rent Quick, come!
our ancient love asunder,
to join with men HERMIA
in scorning your poor friend? (holds Lysander)
It is not friendly, Lysander,
'tis not maidenly: whereto tends all this?

HERMIA LYSANDER
I am amazed Away, you Ethiope!
at your passionate words.
I scorn you not: DEMETRIUS
it seems that you scorn me. No, no; sir, seem to break loose;
You are a tame man, go!
HELENA
Ay, do, persever, LYSANDER
counterfeit sad looks, Hang off, thou cat, thou burr!
make mouths upon me when vile thing, let loose,
I turn my back; or I will shake thee
wink each at other; from me like a serpent!
hold the sweet jest up:
(as if going) HERMIA
But fare ye well: Why are you grown so rude?
'tis partly my own fault; what change is this? Sweet love?
which death or absence
soon shall remedy. DEMETRIUS
Seems to break loose;
LYSANDER take on as you would follow.
Stay, gentle Helena;
hear my excuse: LYSANDER
My love, my life my soul, Thy love!
fair Helena! out, tawny Tartar, out!

HELENA HERMIA
O excellent! Sweet love.

HERMIA DEMETRIUS
(to Lysander) You are a tame man, go!
Sweet, do not scorn her so.
LYSANDER
DEMETRIUS Out, loathed medicine!
If she cannot entreat, hated potion, hence!
 between our statures;
HERMIA she hath urged her height;
Do you not jest? and with her personage,
her tall personage,
HELENA her height, forsooth,
Yes, sooth; and so do you. she hath prevail'd with him.
And are you grown so high
LYSANDER in his esteem;
Demetrius, I will keep because I am so dwarfish and so low?
my word with thee. How low am I,
thou painted Maypole? speak;
DEMETRIUS How low am I? I am not yet so low
I would I had your bond; but that my nails can reach
I'll not trust your word. unto thine eyes.

LYSANDER HELENA
What, should I hurt her, I pray you, though you mock me,
strike her, kill her dead? gentlemen, let her not hurt me;
Although I hate her, you may perhaps think,
I'll not harm her so. because she is something lower
than myself,
HERMIA that I can match her.
What, can you do me
greater harm than hate? HERMIA
Am not I Hermia? Lower? Lower?
are not you Lysander? Hark, again!
(To Helena)
O me! you juggler! HELENA
you canker-blossom! O, when she's angry,
You thief of love! she is keen and shrewd!
She was a vixen when
DEMETRIUS she went to school;
Lysander, keep thy Hermia; and though she be but little,
I will none: she is fierce...
If e'er I loved her,
all that love is gone. HERMIA
Little again!
LYSANDER
Ay, by my life; HELENA
be certain 'tis no jest, ...she is fierce.
That I do hate thee and love Helena.
HERMIA
HELENA Nothing but low and little?
You both are rivals,
and love Hermia; HELENA
And now both rivals, Get you gone, you dwarf.
to mock
(furious to Hermia) HERMIA
Fie, fie! you counterfeit, Hark again!
you puppet, you!
HELENA
HERMIA You minimus,
Puppet? why so? of hindering knot-grass made.
ay, that way goes the game.
Now I perceive that HERMIA
she hath made compare (to Lysander)
Why will you suffer her
to flout me thus? HERMIA
Nay, go not back.
HELENA
You bead! HELENA
I will not trust you, I...
HERMIA
Hark again! HELENA, HERMIA
...Nor longer stay
HELENA in your curst company.
You acorn!
HERMIA
HERMIA Nay, go not back.
Let me come to her!
HELENA
HELENA Your hands than mine are quicker
You bead! for a fray,
my legs are longer though,
HERMIA to run away.
Why will you suffer her to flout me?
(Helena goes out, followed by Hermia. Oberon
HELENA comes forward in a rage, dragging Puck.)
Get you gone, you dwarf.
PUCK
LYSANDER Ow! Oh! Ow!
Be not afraid;
she shall not harm thee, Helena. OBERON
This is thy negligence:
DEMETRIUS still thou mistakest,
No, sir, she shall not, or else committ'st
though you take her part. thy knaveries wilfully.

LYSANDER
You are too officious
in her behalf that scorns
your services.
DEMETRIUS
Let her alone: speak not of Helena.
LYSANDER
Now follow, if thou darest.
DEMETRIUS
Nay, I'll go with thee,
cheek by jowl...
LYSANDER, DEMETRIUS
...to try whose right,
or thine or mine is most in Helena.
(Exeunt Lysander and Demetrius.)
HELENA, HERMIA
You, mistress,
all this coil is 'long of you.
PUCK
Believe me, king of shadows,
I mistook...
(Oberon shakes him.)
I mistook... Ah!
OBERON
Thou see'st these lovers seek
a place to fight:
hie therefore, Robin,
overcast the night;
and lead these testy rivals so astray
as one come not within
another's way.
Till o'er their brows
death-counterfeiting sleep
with leaden legs
and batty wings doth creep:
then crush this herb
into Lysander's eye;
when they next wake,
all this derision
shall seem a dream
and fruitless vision,
haste, Robin, haste;
make no delay:
we may effect this business
yet ere day.
(Oberon goes out)
PUCK
Up and down, up and down,
I will lead them up and down:
I am fear'd in field and town:
Goblin, lead them up and down.
Up and down, up and down,
Here comes one.
LYSANDER
When I come where he calls,
then he is gone.
And I am I fall'n
in dark uneven way,
and here will rest me.
Come, thou gentle day!
(He lies down.)
For if but once thou show me
thy grey light,
I'll find Demetrius
and revenge this spite.
(He sleeps. Enter Puck.)

LYSANDER PUCK
(Enters, calling) Ho, ho!
Where art thou, proud Demetrius? Coward, why comest thou not?
speak thou now.
DEMETRIUS
PUCK (calling in off)
(imitating Demetrius) Abide me, if thou darest.
Here, villain; Where art thou now?
drawn and ready.
Where art thou? PUCK
Follow me, Come hither: I am here.
then to plainer ground.
(Enter Demetrius)
DEMETRIUS
(calling) DEMETRIUS
Lysander! speak again: Nay, then, thou mock'st me.
Thou runaway, thou coward, Thou shalt buy this dear,
art thou fled? if ever I thy face by daylight see:
now, go thy way.
PUCK Faintness constraineth me
(imitating Lysander) to measure out my length
Art bragging to the stars on this cold bed.
and wilt not come? (He lies down.)
By day's approach look
DEMETRIUS to be visited.
Yea, art thou there?
(He sleeps. Enter Helena.)
PUCK
Follow my voice: HELENA
we'll try no manhood here. O weary night,
o long and tedious night,
(Exeunt. Enter Lysander.) abate thy hours! Shine comforts
from the east, and sleep,
LYSANDER that sometimes
He goes before me shuts up sorrow's eye,
and still dares me on: steal me awhile
from mine own company.
PUCK
(distant) (She sleeps.)
Lysander!
PUCK
Yet but three? Come one more; see'st thou this sweet sight?
two of both kinds make up four. Her dotage now I do begin to pity.
(Enter Hermia.) And now I have the boy,
Here she comes, I will undo
curst and sad: this hateful imperfection
Cupid is a knavish lad, of her eyes:
thus to make poor females mad. Be as thou wast wont to be;
see as thou wast wont to see:
HERMIA Dian's bud o'er Cupid's flower
Never so weary, hath such force and blessed power.
never so in woe, Be as thou wast wont to be;
Bedabbled with the dew now, my Tytania; wake you,
and torn with briers, my sweet queen.
I can no further crawl,
no further go; (Tytania wakes.)
My legs can keep no pace
with my desires. TYTANIA
Here will I rest me till My Oberon!
the break of day. what visions have I seen!
Heavens shield Lysander, Methought I was enamour'd
if they mean a fray! of an ass.

(She sleeps. The Fairies come in very stealthily.) OBERON

There lies your love.
FAIRIES
On the ground, sleep sound: TYTANIA
he'll apply to your eye, How came these things to pass?
gentle lover, remedy. O, how mine eyes do loathe
When thou wakest, thou takest his visage now!
true delight in the sight
of thy former lady's eye: OBERON
and the country proverb known, Silence awhile.
in your waking shall be shown: Robin, take off this head.
Jack shall have Jill; Tytania, music call;
nought shall go ill; and strike more dead than common
the man shall have his mare again, sleep of all these five the sense.
and all shall be well.
(Puck removes the ass's head.)
(Exeunt Fairies. Puck squeezes the juice on
Lysander's eyes and goes out.) TYTANIA
Music, ho! music,
such as charmeth sleep!

(Enter some Fairies.)

ACT III
OBERON
Sound, music! Come, my queen,
Introduction take hands with me,
and rock the ground whereon
(The wood, early next morning. Tytania with these sleepers be.
Bottom, and the four lovers lie asleep. Puck and (They dance.)
Oberon appear.) Now thou and I are new in amity
and will to-morrow midnight
OBERON solemnly dance in Duke Theseus'
(observing Tytania) house triumphantly,
My gentle Robin; And bless it to all fair prosperity.
There shall the pairs
of faithful lovers be wedded, BOTTOM
with Theseus, all in jollity. (slowly waking)
When my cue comes,
PUCK call me, and I will answer:
Fairy king, attend, and mark: my next is, 'Most fair Pyramus.'
I do hear the morning lark. Heigh-ho! Peter Quince! Flute,
the bellows-mender?
(He disappears. Oberon, Tytania and the Fairies Snout, the tinker? Starveling?
disappear, still dancing. Distant horns.) God's my life, stolen hence,
and left me asleep!
DEMETRIUS I have had a dream, past the wit
(waking) of man to say what dream it was.
Helena! Methought I was,
there is no man can tell what.
LYSANDER Methought I was,
(waking) and methought I had.
Hermia! But man is but a patched fool,
if he will offer to say
HELENA what methought I had.
(waking) The eye of man hath not heard,
Demetrius! the ear of man hath not seen,
man's hand is not able to taste,
HERMIA his tongue to conceive,
(waking) nor his heart to report,
Lysander! what my dream was. My dream!
I will get Peter Quince
ALL FOUR the carpenter to write
We are awake! a ballad of this dream,
and it shall be called
HELENA Bottom's Dream,
And I have found Demetrius because it hath no Bottom;
like a jewel, mine own, and I will sing it
and not mine own. in the latter end of a play,
before the duke.
DEMETRIUS Peradventure,
And I have found fair Helen to make it the more gracious,
like a jewel, mine own, I shall sing it at her death.
and not mine own.
(Exit. Enter Quince, Flute, Snout and Starveling,
HERMIA gloomily.)
And I have found Lysander
like a jewel, QUINCE
mine own, and not mine own. Have you sent to Bottom's house?
is he come home yet?
LYSANDER
And I have found sweet Hermia STARVELING
like a jewel, He cannot be heard of.
mine own, and not mine own. Out of doubt he is transported.

ALL FOUR FLUTE

Why then we are awake; let's go If he come not,
And by the way let us recount then the play is marred:
our dreams. it goes not forward, doth it?

(The lovers go out.) STARVELING

It is not possible: Where are these hearts?
you have not a man in all
Athens able to discharge THE OTHERS
Pyramus but he. most courageous day! Bottom!

SNOUT
No, he hath simply the best
wit of any handicraft man in Athens.
QUINCE:
Yes, and the best person too.
(Enter Snug.)
SNUG
Masters, the duke is coming
from the temple.
If our sport had gone forward,
we had all been made men.
FLUTE
sweet bully Bottom!
Thus hath he lost
sixpence a day during his life;
he could not have
'scaped sixpence a day:
an the duke had not given him
sixpence a day for playing Pyramus,
I'll be hanged;
he would have deserved it:
sixpence a day in Pyramus,
or nothing.
SNOUT
He could not have scaped it.
QUINCE
Sixpence.
STARVELING
He could not have scaped it.
QUINCE, SNOUT, STARVELING
Sixpence or nothing a day.
BOTTOM:
Masters,
I am to discourse wonders:
but ask me not what.
THE OTHERS
Let us hear, sweet Bottom.
BOTTOM:
Not a word of me.
All that I will tell you is,
that the duke hath dined
and our play is preferred.
THE OTHERS
Our play is preferred.
Most dear actors get
your apparel together,
good strings to your beards,
new ribbons to your pumps;
and every man look o'er his part.
Let Thisby have clean linen;
let not the lion
pare his nails;
eat no onions no garlic,
no onions,
that all may say:
It is a sweet comedy.
BOTTOM:
No more words,
no more words.
THE OTHERS
It is a sweet comedy
BOTTOM
(pushes them out)
To the Palace, go, away.

SNUG: THE OTHERS

He could not have scaped it. It is a sweet comedy.

BOTTOM BOTTOM
(entering) Go, go away, go!
Where are these lads?
(They all leave excitedly. The lights go down on
THE OTHERS the wood and up again in Theseus' palace. Enter
Bottom! Theseus and Hippolyta with their court.)

BOTTOM: Orchestral March

 My lord, fair Helen told me
THESEUS of their stealth,
Now, fair Hippolyta, of this their purpose hither
our nuptial hour draws on apace; to this wood;
this happy day bring in and I in fury hither follow'd them,
Another moon: Fair Helena in fancy following me.
but, O, methinks, how slow But, my good lord...
this old moon wanes!
she lingers my desires, THESEUS
like to a step-dame or a dowager Fair lovers,
long withering out of this discourse
a young man's revennew. we more will hear anon.
Hermia, I will overbear
HIPPOLYTA your father's will;
This day will quickly steep for in the temple by and by with us
itself in night; These couples shall eternally
This night will quickly dream be knit.
away the time;
And then the moon, THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA
like to a silver bow Joy, gentle friends!
New-bent in heaven, Joy and fresh days of love
shall behold the night accompany your hearts!
Of our solemnities.
(The lovers embrace.)
THESEUS
Hippolyta, THESEUS
I woo'd thee with my sword, Come now; what masques,
and won thy love, what dances shall we have,
doing thee injuries; To wear away this long age
but I will wed thee in another key, of three hours
with pomp, with triumph between our after-supper,
and with revelling. and bed-time?

(Enter Lysander, Demetrius, Helena and Hermia. (Enter Quince with play bill. He hands it to
They kneel to Theseus) Hippolyta and bows.)

ALL FOUR HIPPOLYTA

Pardon, my Lord. (reading)
A tedious brief scene
THESEUS of young Pyramus
I pray you all stand up. and his love Thisby;
(They rise.) very tragical mirth.
I know you two
are rival enemies: DEMETRIUS
How comes this gentle concord Merry and tragical?
in the world? tedious and brief?

LYSANDER LYSANDER
My lord, I shall reply amazedly, That is, hot ice
I went with Hermia hither: and wondrous strange snow.
our intent was to be gone
from Athens, where we might, THESEUS
without the peril What are they that do play it?
of the Athenian law.
HIPPOLYTA
DEMETRIUS Hard-handed men
that work in Athens here,
which never labour'd
in their minds till now.
THESEUS
I will hear that play.
(Exit Quince.)
For never anything can be amiss,
when simpleness
and duty tender it.
Take your places, ladies.
(Enter the rustics.)
RUSTICS
If we offend,
it is with our good will.
That you should think,
we come not to offend,
but with good will.
To show our simple skill,
that is the true beginning
of our end.
Consider then we come
but in despite.
We do not come
as minding to content you,
our true intent is.
All for your delight
we are not here.
That you should here repent you,
the actors are at hand
and by their show you shall know
all that you are like to know.
THESEUS
This fellow doth not stand
upon points.
HIPPOLYTA
Their speech was like
a tangled chain,
nothing impaired,
but all disordered.
LYSANDER
They hath rid his prologue
like a rough colt;
they knows not the stop.
DEMETRIUS
Indeed they hath played
on his prologue like
a child on a recorder.
HELENA
A sound, but not in government.
HERMIA
It is not enough to speak,
but to speak true.
PROLOGUE (Quince)
Gentles... Gentles...
THESEUS
Who is next?
PROLOGUE
Gentles, perchance you wonder
at this show; but wonder on,
till truth make all things plain.
This man is Pyramus,
if you would know;
this beauteous lady
Thisby is certain.
This man, with lime and rough-cast,
doth present Wall,
that vile Wall which did
these lovers sunder;
this man, with lanthorn, dog,
and bush of thorn,
presenteth Moonshine;
this grisly beast,
is Lion hight by name.
For all the rest,
let Lion, Moonshine, Wall,
and lovers twain at large discourse,
while here they do remain.
(Exeunt all but Wall.)
HELENA
I wonder if the lion be to speak.
DEMETRIUS
No wonder, my lord:
one lion may,
when many asses do.
WALL (Snout)
In this same interlude
it doth befall that I,
one Snout by name, present a wall;
and such a wall,
as I would have you think,
that had in it
a crannied hole or chink,
(He holds up two fingers.)
And this the cranny is,
right and sinister,
through which
the fearful lovers are to whisper.
HERMIA
Would you desire lime
and hair to sing better?
LYSANDER
It is the wittiest partition
that ever I heard discourse.
THESEUS
Pyramus draws near the wall:
silence!
Wall, full often hast
thou heard my moans,
for parting my fair Pyramus and me!
My cherry lips have often
kiss'd thy stones,
thy stones with lime
and hair knit up in thee.
PYRAMUS
I see a voice:
now will I to the chink,
to spy an I can hear
my Thisby's face. Thisby!

(Enter Pyramus.) THISBY

PYRAMUS
(Bottom)
Grim-look'd night!
O night with hue so black! night,
which ever art when day is not!
night, O night!
alack, alack, alack,
I fear my Thisby's
promise is forgot!
And thou, o wall, o sweet,
o lovely wall,
that stand'st between her father's
ground and mine!
Thou wall, o wall,
o sweet and lovely wall,
show me thy chink,
to blink through with mine eye!
Thanks, courteous wall:
Jove shield thee well for this!
But what see I? No Thisby do I see.
Wicked wall, through whom
I see no bliss!
Cursed be thy stones
for thus deceiving me!
THESEUS
The wall, methinks,
being sensible,
should curse again.
My love thou art, my love I think.
PYRAMUS
Think what thou wilt,
I am thy lover's grace.
THISBY
My love thou art, my love I think.
PYRAMUS
Think what thou wilt:
O, kiss me through the hole
of this vile wall!
kiss me.
(They kiss.)
THISBY
I kiss the wall's hole,
not your lips at all.
PYRAMUS
Oh, wilt thou at Ninny's tomb
meet me straightway?
(Exit.)
THISBY
'Tide life, tide death,
I come without delay.

BOTTOM (Exit.)
(to theseus)
No, in truth, sir, he should not. WALL
"Deceiving me" is Thisby's cue; Thus have I, Wall,
yonder she comes. my part discharged so;
and, being done,
(Enter Thisby.) thus Wall away doth go,
away, away, away doth go.
THISBY
(Flute) (Exit.)
 DEMETRIUS
HIPPOLYTA He dares not come there
This is the silliest stuff for the candle.
that ever I heard.
THESEUS
THESEUS Proceed Moon.
The best in this kind are
but shadows; MOONSHINE
and the worst are no worse, All I have o tell you
if imagination amend them. that this lanthorn is the moon;
Here come two noble beasts in, I, the man i'th' Moon;
a man and a lion. this thorn-bush,
my thorn-bush;
(Enter Lion and Moonshine.) and this dog, my dog.

LION (Snug) HIPPOLYTA

You, ladies, you,
whose gentle hearts do fear,
the smallest monstrous mouse
that creeps on floor,
should know that I,
one Snug the joiner, am a lion-fell,
nor else no lion's dam.
I am weary of this moon:
would he would change!
ALL
But silence; here comes Thisby.
(Enter Thisby.)

HERMIA THISBY
A very gentle beast, This is old Ninny's tomb.
and of a good conscience. Where is my love?

DEMETRIUS LION
The very best at a beast Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!
that e'er I saw.
(Lion chases Thisby out. She drops her mantle.)
THESEUS
But let us listen to the Moon. DEMETRIUS
Well roared, Lion.
MOONSHINE
(Starveling) THESEUS
This lanthorn doth Well run, Thisby.
the horned moon present.
LYSANDER
LYSANDER Well moused, Lion.
He should have worn
the horns on his head. HIPPOLYTA
Well run, Thisby.
MOONSHINE
I, myself the man i' th' HELENA
Moon do seem to be. Well shone, Moon.

THESEUS (Enter Pyramus.)

The man should be put
into the lanthorn. PYRAMUS
How is it else the man i'th' Moon? Sweet Moon,
I thank thee for thy sunny beams;
MOONSHINE I thank thee, Moon,
This lanthorn doth the horn... for shining now so bright;
but stay, O spite!
But mark, poor knight,
what dreadful dole is here?
Eyes, do you see?
How can it be!
dainty duck! O dear!
Thy mantle good,
what, stain'd with blood!
Approach, ye Furies fell!
Fates, come, come,
cut thread and thrum;
quail, crush, conclude, and quell!
HIPPOLYTA
Beshrew my heart,
but I pity the man.
PYRAMUS
wherefore, Nature,
didst thou lions frame?
Since lion vile hath here
deflower'd my dear which is:
no, no, which was the fairest dame
that lived, that loved, that liked,
that look'd with cheer.
Come, tears, confound;
out, sword, and wound
the pap of Pyramus;
thus die I, thus, thus, thus.
Now am I dead,
now am I fled;
my soul is in the sky:
tongue, lose thy light;
Moon take thy flight:
(Exit Moonshine.)
Now die, die, die, die, die.
(He dies.)
DEMETRIUS
With the help of a surgeon
he might yet recover,
and prove an ass.
(Enter Thisby.)
THESEUS
Here Thisby comes,
and her passion ends the play.
HIPPOLYTA
I hope she will be brief.
THISBY
Asleep, my love?
What, dead, my dove?
Pyramus, arise!
Speak, speak. Quite dumb?
Dead, dead? A tomb
must cover thy sweet eyes.
These lily lips, this cherry nose,
these yellow cowslip cheeks,
are gone, are gone:
Lovers, make moan:
His eyes were green as leeks.
Tongue, not a word:
Come, trusty sword;
come, blade, my breast imbrue:
And, farewell, friends;
thus Thisby ends:
(She stabs herself.)
Adieu, adieu, adieu.
THESEUS
Moonshine and Lion are left
to bury the dead.
LYSANDER
Ay, and Wall too.
BOTTOM
(raising himself)
No, I assure you;
the wall is down that
parted their fathers.
(Bottom and Flute get up.)
Will it please you
to see the epilogue,
or to hear a Bergomask dance?
THESEUS
No epilogue,
I pray you;
for your play needs no excuse.
Come, your Bergomask:
(The other Rustics come in and arrange
themselves for the dance. They dance. Midnight
sounds. The rustics stop dancing, bow deeply to
the Duke. Hippolyta and the court, and leave. The
others rise.)
THESEUS
The iron tongue
of midnight hath told twelve:
Lovers, to bed;
'tis almost fairy time.
I fear we shall out-sleep
the coming morn as much as
we this night have overwatch'd.
Sweet friends, to bed.
ALL
Sweet friends, to bed.
(Enter Cobweb, Mustarseed, Peaseblossom, and
Moth.)
FOUR SOLO FAIRIES
Now the hungry lion roars,
and the wolf behowls the moon;
whilst the heavy ploughman snores,
all with weary task fordone.
Now the wasted brands do glow,
whilst the screech-owl,
screeching 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 church-way 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 hallow'd house.
(Puck arrives with a broom and chases the
Fairies.)
PUCK
I am sent with broom before,
to sweep the dust
behind the door.
(Oberon and Tytania and the other Fairies
appear.)
OBERON
Through the house give
glimmering light,
every elf and fairy sprite
sing this ditty, after me,
sing, and dance it trippingly.
TYTANIA
First, rehearse your song by rote
to each word
a warbling note.
BOTH
Hand in hand, with fairy grace,
Will we sing, and bless this place.
OBERON, TYTANIA, FAIRIES
Now, until the break of day,
through this house each fairy stray.
To the best bride-bed will we,
which by us shall blessed be;
and the issue there create
ever shall be fortunate.
So shall all the couples three
ever true in loving be.
With this field-dew consecrate,
every fairy take his gait;
and each several chamber bless,
through this palace,
with sweet peace;
ever shall in safety rest,
and the owner of it blest.
OBERON
Trip away; make no stay;
meet me all by break of day.
(Exeunt all but Puck.)
PUCK
If we shadows have offended,
think but this,
and all is mended,
that you have but slumber'd here
while these visions did appear.
Gentles, do not reprehend:
If you pardon,
we will mend:
Else the Puck a liar call;
so, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands,
if we be friends,
and Robin shall restore amends.
(He claps his hands.)
THE E ND