a

nance.

true.

:

yonder's old coil a: home: it is proved, my lady Bene. And so am I, being else by faith enforc'd Hero hath been falsely accused, the prince and To call young Claudio to a reckoning for it. Claudio mightily abus'd ; and Don John is the au- Leon. Well, daughter, and you gentlewomen all, thor of all, who is fled and gone; will you come Withdraw into a chamber by yourselves; presently?

And, when I send for you, come hither mask'd : Beat. Will you go hear this news, signior? The prince and Claudio promis’d by this hour

Bene. I will live in thy heart, die in thy lap, and To visit me :- You know your office, brother; be buried in thy eyes; and, moreover, I will go with You must be father to your brother's daughter, thee to thy uncle's.

(Exeunt. | And give her to young Claudio. (Ereunt Ladies.

Ant. Which I will do with confirm'd counteSCENE III. The Inside of a Church.

Bene. Friar, I must entreat your pains, I think. Enter Don Pedro, CLAUDIO, and Attendants, with musick and tapers.

Friar. To do what, signior?

Bene. To bind me, or undo me, one of them. Claud. Is this the monument of Leonato ? Signior Leonato, truth it is, good signior, Alten. It is, my lord.

Your niece regards me with an eye of favour.
Claud. (Reads from a scroll.]

Leon. That eye my daughter lent her; 'Tis most
Done to death by slanderous tongues
Was the Hero that here lies :

Bene. And I do with an eye of love requite her.
Death, in guerdon of her wrongs,

Leon. The sight whereof, I think, you had from Gives her fame which never dies

me, So the life, that died with shame,

From Claudio, and the prince; But what's your Lives in death with glorious fame.

will?

Bene. Your answer, sir, is enigmatical :
Hang thou there upon the tomb, [affixing it.

But, for my will, my will is, your good will
Praising her when I am dumb.

May stand with ours, this day to be conjoin'd Now, musick, sound, and sing your solemn hymn. In the estate of honourable marriage;

In which, good friar, I shall desire your help.
SONG.

Leon. My heart is with your liking.
Pardon, Goddess of the night,

Friar.

And my help
Those that slew thy virgin knight ;

Here comes the prince, and Claudio.
For the which, with songs of woe,

Enter Don Pedro and CLAUDIO, with Attendants.
Round about her tomb they go.
Midnight, assist our moan ;

D. Pedro. Good morrow to this fair assembly.
Help us to sigh and

Leon. Good morrow, prince; good morrow,
groan,
Heavily, heavily :

Claudio ;
Graves, yawn, and yield your dead, We here attend you ; Are you yet determin'd
Till death be uttered,

To-day to marry with my brother's daughter ?
Heavily, heavily.

Claud. I'll hold my mind, were she an Ethiope. laud. Now unto thy bones good night!

Leon. Call her forth, brother, here's the friar ready.

(Erit ANTONIO Yearly will I'dɔ this rite. D. Pedro. Good morrow, masters; put your

D. Pedro. Good morrow, Benedick : Why, what's

the matter, torches out: The wolves have prey'd : and look, the gentle

That you have such a February face,

So full of frost, of storin, and cloudiness? day,

Claud. I think, he thinks upon the savage bull:Before the wheels of Phæbus, round about Dapples the drowsy east with spots of gray :

Tush, fear not, man, we'll tip thy horns with gold, Thanks to you all, and leave us ; fare you well.

And all Europa shall rejoice at thee;

As once Europa did at lusty Jove, Claud. Good morrow, masters ; each his several

When he would play the noble beast in love. way.

Bene. Bull Jore, sir, had an amiable low; D. Pedro. Come, let us hence, and put on other

And some such strange bull leap'd your father's cow, weeds; And then to Leonato's we will go.

And got a calf in that same noble feat,

Much like to you, for you have just his bleat. Claud. And, Hymen, now with luckier issue speeds,

Re-enter ANTONIO, with the Ladies masked. Than this, for whom we render'd up this woe!

Claud. For this I owe you : here come other [Ereunt.

reckonings. SCENE IV. - A Room in Leonato's House. Which is the lady must seize upon ? Enter LEONATO, ANTONIO, BENEDICK, BEATRICE,

Ant. This same is she, and I do give you her. URSULA, Friar, and HERO.

Claud. Why, then she's mine : Sweet, let me see Friar. Did I not tell you she was innocent ? Leon. No, that you shall not, till you take her Leon. So are the prince and Claudio, who accus'd

hand her,

Before this friar, and swear to marry her. Upon the error that you heard debated :

Claud. Give me your hand before this holy friar; But Margaret was in some fault for this;

I am your husband, if you like of me. Although against her will, as it appears

Hero. And when I lived, I was your other wife: In the true course of all the question.

[Unmasking Ant. Well, I am glad that all things sort so well. And when you lov'd, you were my other husbanvi.

your face.

Claud. Another Hero ?

Beat. I would not deny you ; -- but, by this good Hero.

Nothing certainer : day, I yield upon great persuasion ; and, partly, One Hero died defil'd; but I do live,

to save your life, for I was told you were in a conAnd, surely as I live, I am a maid.

sumption. D. Pedro. The former Hero! Hero that is dead! Bene. Peace, I will stop your mouth. Leon. She died my lord, but whiles her slander

(K’issing her lived.

D. Pedro. How dost thou, Benedick the married Friar. All this amazement can I qualify;

man? When, after that the holy rites are ended,

Bene. I'll tell thee what, prince; a college of witI'll tell you largely of fair Hero's death :

crackers cannot fout me out of my humour: Dost Mean time, let wonder seem familiar,

thou think, I care for a smire, or an epigram? No: And to the chapel let us presently.

if a man will be beaten with brains, he shall wear Bene. Soft and fair, friar. Which is Beatrice? nothing handsome about him. In brief, since I do Beat. I answer to that name; [Unmasking.) | propose to marry, I will think nothing to any purWhat is your will?

pose that the world can say against it; and thereBene. Do not you love me?

fore never fout at me for what I have said against Beat.

No, no more than reason. it; for man is a giddy thing, and this is my concluBene. Why, then your uncle, and the prince, and sion. - For thy part, Claudio, I did think to have Claudio,

beaten thee; but in that thou art like to be my Have been deceived ; for they swore you did. kinsman, live unbruised, and love my cousin. Beat. Do not you love me?

Claud. I had well hoped, thou wouldst have deBene.

No, no more than reason. nied Beatrice, that I might have cudgelled thee out Beat. Why, then my cousin, Margaret, and of thy single life, to make thee a double dealer ; Ursula,

which, out of question, thou wilt be, if my cousin Are much deceiv'd; for they did swear, you did. do not look exceeding narrowly to thee. Bene. They swore that you were almost sick Bene. Come, come, we are friends: - let's have a

dance ere we are married, that we may lighten our Beat. They swore that you were well-nigh dead own hearts, and our wives' heels. for me.

Leon. We'll have dancing afterwards. Bene. 'Tis no such matter :- · Then you do not Bene. First, o' my word; therefore, play mu. love me?

sick. Beat. No, truly, but in friendly recompense. Prince, thou art sad; get thee a wife, get thee a Leon. Come, cousin, I am sure your love the wife : there is no staff more reverend than one tipped gentleman.

with horn. Claud. And I'll be sworn upon't, that he loves her; For here's a paper, written in his hand,

Enter a Messenger. A halting sonnet of his own pure brain,

Mess. My lord, your brother John is ta'en Fashion'd to Beatrice.

fight, Hero. And here's another.

And brought with armed men back to Messina. Writ in my cousin's hand, stolen from her pocket, Bene. Think not on him till to-morrow ; I'll deContaining her affection unto Benedick.

vise thee brave punishments for him. — Strike up, Bene. A miracle ! here's our own hands against pipers.

[Dance. our hearts! - Come, I will have thee; but, by this

| Eremrit. right, I take thee for pity.

for me.

MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

}

THESEUS, Duke of Athens.

Oberon, king of the fairies. VEgeus, father to Hermia.

"TITANIA, queen of the fairies. "LYSANDER, 2

"Puck, or Robin-goodfellow, a fairy. in love with Hermia. ' DEMETRIUS, S

PEAS-BLOSSOM, "PHILOSTRATE, master of the revels to Theseus. COBWEB,

fairies. Quince, the carpenter.

-Мотн, Snug, the joiner.

MUSTARD-SEED, BOTTOM, the weaver.

Pyramus, "Flute, the bellows-mender.

Thisbe,

characters in the Interlude performed Snout, the linker.

Wall,

by the Clowns. STARVELING, the tailor.

| Moonshine,

- Lion, HIPPOLYTA, Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus.

Other Fairies attending their King and Queen. HERMIA, daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysandır. Attendants on Theseus and Hippolyta. HELENA, in love with Demetrius.

SCENE, - Athens, and a Wood not far from it.

ACT I.

SCENE I. — Athens. A Room in the Palace of Enter Egeus, Hermia, LYSANDER, and DEMETRITS. Theseks.

Ege. Happy be Theseus, our renowned duke! Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PhilosTRATE, and

The. Thanks, good Egeus: Wlat's the news with Attendants.

thee? The. Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour Ege. Full of vexation come I, with complaint Draws on apace; four happy days bring in Against my child, my daughter Hermia. Another moon: but, oh, methinks, how slow Stand forth, Demetrius ; — My noble lord, This old moon wanes ! she lingers my desires, This man hath my consent to marry her: Like to a step-dame, or a dowager,

Stand forth, Lysander ; - -and, my gracious duke, Long withering out a young man's revenue. This hath bewitch'd the bosom of my child : Hip. Four days will quickly steep themselves in Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes nights;

And interchang'd love-tokens with my child : Four nights will quickly dream away the time; Thou hast by moon-light at her window sung, And then the moon, like to a silver bow

With feigning voice, verses of feigning love; New bent in heaven, shall behold the night

And stol'n the impression of her fantasy Of our solemnities.

With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gawds, conceits, The. Go, Philostrate,

Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweet-meats; messengers Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments;

Of strong prevailment in unharden’d youth: Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth;

With cunning hast thou filch'd my daughter's heart; Turn melancholy forth to funerals,

Turn’d her obedience, which is due to me, The pale companion is not for our pomp.

To stubborn harshness: - And, my gracious duke

[Erit PhilosTRATE. Be it so she will not here before your grace Hippolyta, I woo'd thee with my sword,

Consent to marry with Demetrius, And won thy love, doing thee injuries ;

I beg the ancient privilege of Athens; But I will wed thee in another key,

As she is mine, I may dispose of her : With pomp, with triumph, and with revelling. Which shall be either to this gentleman,

pale ?

Or to her death ; according to our law,

And won her soul; and she, sweet lady, dotes, Immediately provided in that case.

Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry, The. What say you, Hermia? be advis’d, fair Upon this spotted and inconstant man. maid :

The. I must confess, that I have heard so much, To you your father should be as a god;

And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof; One that compos'd your beauties; yea, and one But, being over-full of self-affairs, To whom you are but as a form in wax,

My mind did lose it. — But, Demetrius, come; By him imprinted, and within his power

And come, Egeus; you shall go with me, To leave the figure, or disfigure it.

I have some private schooling for you both. Demetrius is a worthy gentleman.

For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself Her. So is Lysander.

To fit your fancies to your father's will ;
The.
In himself he is :

Or else the law of Athens yields you up
But, in this kind, wanting your father's voice, (Which by no means we may extenuate,)
The other must be held the worthier.

To death, or to a vow of single life. Her. I would, my father look'd but with my Come, my Hippolyta; What cheer, my love? eyes.

Demetrius, and Egeus, go along : The. Rather your eyes must with his judgment I must employ you in some business look.

Against our nuptial ; and confer with you Her. I do entreat your grace to pardon me. Of something nearly that concerns yourselves. I know not by what power I am made bold;

Ege. With duty, and desire, we follow you. Nor how it may concern my modesty,

(Exeunt Thes. Hır. Ege. Dem. and train. In such a presence here, to plead my thoughts : Lys. How now, my love? Why is your cheek so But I beseech your grace that I may know The worst that may befal me in this case,

How chance the roses there do fade so fast ? If I refuse to wed Demetrius.

Her. Belike for want of rain ; which I could well The. Either to die the death, or to abjure Beteem them from the tempest of inine eyes. For ever the society of men.

Lys. Ah me! for ought that ever I could read, Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires, Could ever hear by tale or history, Know of your youth, examine well your blood, The course of true love never did run smooth : Whether, if you yield not to your father's choice, But, either it was different in blood; You can endure the livery of a nun;

Her. O croa! too high to be enthrall’d to low! For aye to be in shady cloister mew'd,

Lys. Or else misgraffed, in respect of years; To live a barren sister all your life,

Her. O spite! too old to be engag'd to young! Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon. Lys. Or else it stood upon the choice of friends Thrice blessed they, that master so their blood, Her. O hell! to choose love by another's eye! To undergo such maiden pilgrimage :

Lys. Or, if there were a sympathy in choice, But earthlier happy is the rose distillid,

War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it;
Than that, which, withering on the virgin thorn, Making it momentary as a sound,
Grows, lives, and dies, in single blessedness. Swift as a shadow, short as any dream ;

Her. So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord, Brief as the lightning in the collied night,
Ere I will yield my virgin patent up

That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth, Unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke

And ere a man hath power to say,

Behold! My soul consents not to give sovereignty.

The jaws of darkness do devour it up : The. Take time to pause; and, by the next new So quick bright things come to confusion.

Her. If then true lovers have been ever cross', (The sealing-day betwixt my love and me,

It stands as an edíct in destiny: For everlasting bond of fellowship,)

Then let us teach our trial patience, Upon that day either prepare to die,

Because it is a customary cross ; For disobedience to your father's will ;

As due to love, as thoughts and dreams, and sighs, Or else, to wed Demetrius, as he would :

Wishes, and tears, poor fancy's followers. Or on Diana's altar to protest,

Lys. A good persuasion ; therefore, hear me For aye, austerity and single life.

Hermia. Dem. Relent, sweet Hermia; And, Lysander, I have a widow aunt, a dowager yield

Of great revenue, and she hath no child ; Thy crazed title to my certain right.

From Athens is her house remote seven leagues ; Lys. You have her father's love, Demetrius; And she respects me as her only son. Let me have Hermia's : do you marry him. There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee;

Ege. Scornful Lysander ! true he hath my love ; And to that place the sharp Athenian law And what is mine iny love shall render him ; Cannot pursue us : If thou lov'st me then, And she is mine ; and all my right of her

Steal forth thy father's house to-morrow night ; I do estate unto Demetrius.

And in the wood, a league without the town, Lys. I am, my lord, as well deriv'd as he, Where I did meet thee once with Helena, As well possess'd; my love is more than his ; To do observance to a morn of May, My fortunes every way as fairly rank’d,

There will I stay for thee. If not with vantage, as Demetrius';

Her.

My good Lysander! And, which is more than all these boasts can be, I swear to thee by Cupid's strongest bow ; I am belov'd of beauteous Hermia :

By his best arrow with the golden head ; Why should not I then prosecute my right? By the sir. plicity of Venus' doves; Demetrius, I'll avouch it to his head,

By that which knitteth souls, and prospers loves; Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena,

And by that fire which burn'd the Carthage queerde

moon

pacity of

When the false Trojan under sail was seen ; Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; By all the vows that ever men have broke,

And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind. In number more than ever women spoke; - Nor hath love's mind of any judgement taste ; In that same place thou hast appointed me,

Wings, and no eyes, figure unheedy haste : To-morrow truly will I meet with thee.

And therefore is love said to be a child, Lys. Keep promise, love: Look, here comes Because in choice he is so oft beguild. Helena.

As waggish boys in game themselves forswear,

So the boy Love is perjur'd every where :
Enter HELENA.

For ere Demetrius look'd on Hermia's eyne, Her. God speed fair Helena! Whither away ? He hail'd down oaths, that he was only mine;

Hel. Call you me fair? that fair again unsay. And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt, Demetrius loves your fair : O happy fair !

So he dissolv’d, and showers of oaths did melt. Your eyes are lode-stars; and your tongue's sweet I will go tell him of fair Hermia's flight : air

Then to the wood will he, to-morrow night, More tuneable than lark to shepherd's ear,

Pursue her; and for this intelligence When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear. If I have thanks, it is a dear expence : Sickness is catching ; 0, were favour so!

But herein mean I to enrich my pain,
Your's would I catch, fair Hermia, ere I go; To have his sight thither and back again. [Ent.
My ear should catch your voice, my eye your eye,
My tongue should catch your tongue's sweet

SCENE II.
· The same.

Room in a Cottage.
melody.
Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated, Enter Snug, BOTTOM, FLUTE, SNOUT, QUInce, and
The rest I'll give to be to you translated.

STARVELING. 0, teach me how you look; and with what art You sway the motion of Demetrius' heart.

Quin. Is all our company here? Her. I frown upon him, yet he loves me still.

Bot. You were best to call them generally, man Hel. O, that your frowns would teach my smiles by man, according to the scrip. such skill!

Quin. Here is the scroll of every man's name, Her. I give him curses, yet he gives me love.

which is thought fit, through all Athens, to play in Hel. O, that my prayers could such affection

our interlude before the duke and duchess, on his move!

wedding-day at night. Her. The more I hate, the more he follows me.

Bot. First, good Peter Quince, say what the play Hel. The more I love, the more he hateth me.

treats on; then read the names of the actors; and Her. His folly, Helena, is no fault of mine. so grow to a point. Hel. None, but your beauty; 'Would that fault

Quin. Marry, our play is - The most lamentable were mine!

comedy, and most cruel death of Pyramus and Her. Take comfort; he no more shall see my face; Thisby. Lysander and myself will fly this place.

Bot. A very good piece of work, I assure you, Before the time I did Lysander see,

and a merry. —

Now, good Peter Quince, call forth Seem'd Athens as a paradise to me:

your actors by the scroll : Masters, spread yourselves. O then, what graces in my love do dwell,

Quin. Answer, as I call you. - Nick Bottom, the That he hath turn'd a heaven unto hell ! Lys. Helen, to you our minds we will unfold :

Bot. Ready. Name what part I am for, and To-morrow night when Phæbe doth behold proceed. Her silver visage in the wat’ry glass,

Quin. You, Nick Bottom, are set down for PyDecking with liquid pearl the bladed grass, (A time that lovers' flights doth still conceal,)

Bot. What is Pyramus ? a lover, or a tyrant? Through Athen's gates have we devis'd to steal.

Quin. A lover, that kills himself most gallantly Her. And in the wood, where often you and I

for love. Upon faint primrose beds were wont to lie,

Bot. That will ask some tears in the true perEmptying our bosoms of their counsel sweet; forming of it: If I do it, let the audience look to There my Lysander and myself shall meet:

I will move storms, I will condole in And thence, from Athens, turn away our eyes,

some measure. To the rest :— Yet my chief humour To seek new friends and stranger companies.

is for a tyrant: I could play Ercles rarely, or a part Farewell, sweet playfellow; pray thou for us,

to tear a cat in, to make all split. And good luck grant thee thy Demetrius!.

“ The raging rocks, Keep word, Lysander: we must starve our sight From lovers' food, till morrow deep midnight.

“ With shivering shocks,

“ Shall break the locks [Erit Herm.

“ Of prison-gates : Lys. I will, my Hermia. Helena adieu :

" And Phibbus' car As you on him, Demetrius dote on you !

“ Shall shine from far, [Exit Lys.

• And make and mar Hel. How happy some, o'er other some can be !

" The foolish fates." Through Athens I am thought as fair as she. But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so ; This was lofty! - Now name the rest of the players. He will not know what all but he do know.

- This is Ercles’ vein, a tyrant's vein ; a lover is And as he errs, doting on Hermia's eyes,

more condoling. So I, admiring of his qualities.

Quin. Francis Flute, the bellows-mender. Things base and vile, holding no quantity,

Fiv. Here, Peter Quince. Love can transpose to form and dignity.

Guin. You must take Thisby on you

weaver.

ramus.

their eyes ;

a