you, sir?

Re-enter Snout.

| To fan the moon-beams from his sleeping eyes :

Nod to him, elves, and do him courtesies. Snout. O Bottom, thou art changed! what do I

1 Fai. Hail, mortal! see on thee?

2 Fai. Hail! Bot. What do you see? you see an ass's head of

3 Fai. Hail! your own; Do you?

4 Fai. Hail ! Re-enter QUINCE.

Bot. I cry your worship’s mercy, heartily. - 1 Quin. Bless thee, Bottom! bless thee! thou art

beseech, your worship's name. translated.

Cob. Cobweb.

[Erit. Bot. I see their knavery: this is to make an ass

But. I shall desire you of more acquaintance, of me; to fright me, if they could. But I will not good master Cobweb : If I cut my finger, I shall

make bold with you. stir from this place, do what they can : I will walk

- Your name, honest gentle

man? up and down here, and I will sing, that they shall

Peas. Peas-blossom. ear I am not afraid.

[Sings.

Bot. I pray you, commend me to mistress Squash, The ousel-cock, so black of hue,

your mother, and to master Peas-cod, your father. With orange-tawney bill,

Good master Peas-blossom, I shall desire you of The throstle with his note so true,

more acquaintance too. - Your name, I beseech The wren with little quill ; Tita. What angel wakes me from my flowery Mus. Mustard-seed. bed?

[Waking.

Bot. Good master Mustard seed, I know your

patience well : that same cowardly, giant-like oxBot. The finch, the sparrow, and the lark,

beef hath devoured many a gentleman of your The plain-song cuckoo gray,

house : I promise you, your kindred hath made my Whose note full many a man doth mark, And dares not answer, nay;

eyes water ere now. I desire you more acquaint

ance, good master Mustard-seed. for, indeed, who would set his wit to so foolish a Tita. Come, wait upon him; lead him to my bird ? who would give a bird the lie, though he cry

bower. cuckoo, never so ?

The moon, methinks, looks with a watery eye; Tita. I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing again : And when she weeps, weeps every little tlower, Mine ear is much enamour'd of thy note

Lamenting some enforced chastity, So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape;

Tie up my love's tongue, bring him silently. And thy fair virtue's force perforce doth move me,

[Exeuns On the first view, to say, to swear, I love thee. Bol. Methinks, mistress, you should have little

SCENE II. – Another part of the Wood. reason for that : And yet, to say the truth, reason

Enter OBEROX and love keep little company together now-a-days : The more the pity, that some honest neighbours Then, what it was that next came in her eye,

Obe. I wonder, if Titania be awak'd; will not make them friends. Nay, I can gleek upon

Which she must dote on in extremity. occasion. Tita. Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful.

Enter Puck. Bot. Not so, neither : but if I had wit enough Here comes my messenger. How now, mad spirit. to get out of this wood, I have enough to serve What night-rule now about this haunted grove? mine own turn.

Puck. My mistress with a monster is in love, Tita. Out of this wood do not desire to go; Near to her close and consecrated bower, Thou shalt remain here, whether thou wilt or no. While she was in her dull and sleeping hour, I am a spirit, of no common rate;

A crew of patches, rude mechanicals,
The summer still doth tend upon my state,

That work for bread upon Athenian stalls,
And I do love thee : therefore, go with me; Were met together to rehearse a play,
I'll give thee fairies to attend on thee;

Intended for great Theseus' nuptial day.
And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, The shallowest thick-skin of that barren sort,
And sing, while thou on pressed flowers dost sleep: Who Pyramus presented, in their sport
And I will purge thy mortal grossness so,

Forsook his scene, and enter'd in a brake:
That thou shalt like an airy spirit go.

When I did him at this advantage take,
Peas-blossom! Cobweb! Moth! and Mustard-seed! An ass's nowl I fixed on his head;

Anon, his Thisbe must be answered,
Enter four Fairies.

And forth my mimick comes : When they him spy, 1 Fai. Ready.

As wild geese that the creeping fowler eye, 2 Fai. And I.

Or russet-pated choughs, many in sort, 3 Fai. And I.

Rising and cawing at the gun's report 4 Fai.

Where shall we go? Sever themselves, and madly sweep the sky;
Tita. Be kind and courteous to this gentleman ; So at his sight, away his fellows fly:
Hop in his walks, and gambol in his eyes;

And, at our stamp, here o'er and o'er one falls; Feed him with apricocks, and dewberries;

He murder cries, and help from Athens calls. With purple grapes, green figs, and mulberries; Their sense, thus weak, lost with their fears, thus The honey bags steal from the humble-bees,

strong, And, for night-tapers, crop their waxen thighs, Made senseless things begin to do them wrong: And light them at the fiery glow-worm's eyes, For briers and thorns at their apparel snatch ; To have my love to bed, and to arise ;

Some sleeves; some, hats : from yielders all things . And pluck the wings from painted butterflies,

I led them on in this distracted fear,

Puck. Then fate o'er-rules; that, one man holdAnd left sweet Pyramus translated there :

ing troth, When in that moment (so it came to pass,)

A million fail, confounding oath on oath. Titania wak’d, and straightway lov'd an ass.

Obe. About the wood go swifter than the wind. Obe. This falls out better than I could devisc. And Helena of Athens look thou find : But hast thou yet latch'd the Athenian's eyes All fancy-sick she is, and pale of cheer With the love-juice, as I did bid thee do?

With sighs of love, that cost the fresh blood dear Puck. I took him sleeping,- that is finish'd too,— By some illusion see thou bring her here; And the Athenian woman by his side ;

I'll charm his eyes, against she do appear. That when he wak'd, of force she must be ey'd.

Puck. I go,

go; look, how I go;

Swifter than arrow from the Tartar's bow. {Exu Enter DEMETRIUS and Hermia.

Obe. Flower of this purple die, Obe. Stand close ; this is the same Athenian.

Hit with Cupid's archery, Puck. This is the woman, but not this the man. Sink in apple of his eye!

Dem. O, why rebuke you him that love you so ? When his love he doth espy Lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe.

Let her shine as gloriously Her. Now I but chide, but I should use thee As the Venus of the sky. worse ;

When thou wak'st, if she be by For thou, I fear, hast given me cause to curse.

Beg of her for remedy.
If thou hast slain Lysander in his sleep,

Re-enter Puck.
Being o'er shoes in blood, plunge in the deep,
And kill me too.

Puck. Captain of our fairy band,
The sun was not so true unto the day,

Helena is here at hand, As he to me : Would he have stol'n away

And the youth, mistook by me, From sleeping Hermia ? I'll believe as soon,

Pleading for a lover's fee; This whole earth may be bor’d; and that the moon

Shall we their fond pageant see? May through the center creep, and so displease

Lord, what fools these mortals be! Her brother's noon-tide with the Antipodes.

Obe. Stand aside: the noise they make, It cannot be, but thou hast murder'd him ;

Will cause Demetrius to awake. So should a murderer look; so dead, so grim.

Puck. Then will two at once, woo one Dem. So should the murder'd look; and so That must needs be sport alone; should I,

And those things do best please me, Pierc'd through the heart with your stern cruelty :

That befal preposterously. Yet you, the inurderer, look as bright, as clear,

Enter LYSANDER and HELENA. As yonder Venus in her glimmering sphere.

Her. What's this to my Lysander ? where is he? Lys. Why should you think, that I should wou Ah, good Demetrius, wilt thou give him me?

in scorn ? Dem. I had rather give his carcase to my hounds.

Scorn and derision never come in tears. Her. Out, dog! out, cur ! thou driv'st me past Look, when I vow, I weep ; and vows so born, the bounds

In their nativity all truth appears. Of maiden's patience. Has thou slain him then ? How can these things in me seem scorn to you. Henceforth be never number'd among men ! Bearing the badge of faith, to prove them true ? Oh! once tell true, tell true, even for my sake; Hel. You do advance your cunning more and Durst thou have look'd upon him, being awake, And hast thou kill'd him sleeping? O brave touch!

When truth kills truth, O devilish-holy fray! Could not a worm, an adder, do so much ?

These vows are Hermia's; Will you give her o'er? An adder did it; for with doubler tongue

Weigh oath with oath, and you will nothing Than thine, thou serpent, never adder stung.

weigh : Dem. You spend your passion on a mispris’d Your vows, to her and me, put in two scales, mood;

Will even weigh; and both as light as tales. I am not guilty of Lysander's blood;

Lys. I had no judgment, when to her I swore. Nor is he dead, for aught that I can tell.

Hel. Nor none, in my mind, now you give her o'er. Her. I pray thee, tell me then that he is well. Lys. Demetrius loves her, and he loves not you. Dem. An if I could, what should I get there- Dem. (awaking.] O Helen, goddess, nymph, perfore?

fect, divine! Her. A privilege, never to see me more. — To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne ? And from thy hated presence part I so :

Crystal is muddy. O, how ripe in show See me no more, whether he be dead or no. [Erit. Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow !

Dem. There is no following her in this fierce vein : That pure congealed white, high Taurus’ snow, Here, therefore, for a while I will remain.

Fann'd with the eastern wind, turns to crow, So sorrow's heaviness doth heavier grow

When thou hold'st up thy hand : O let me kiss For debt that bankrupt sleep doth sorrow owe; This princess of pure white, this seal of bliss ! Which now, in some slight measure it will pay, Hel. O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent If for his tender here I make some stay.

To set against me, for your merriment.

[Lies down If you were civil, and knew courtesy, Doe. What hast thou done ? thou hast mistaken You would not do me thus much injury. quite,

Can you not hate me, as I know you do, And laid the love-juice on some true-love's sight : But you must join, in souls, to mock me too ? Of thy misprision must perforce ensue

If you were men, as men you are in show, some true-love tun'd, and not a false turn'd true. You would not use a gentle lady so •

more.

a

to vow, and swear, and superpraise my parts, To join with men in scorning your poor friend' Vhen, I am sure, you hate me with your hearts. It is not friendly, 'tis noi maidenly: vou both are rivals, and love Hermia;

Our sex, as well as I, may chide you for it; .ind now both rivals, to mock Helena:

Though I alone do feel the injury. i trim exploit, a manly enterprize,

Her. I am amazed at your passionate words : To conjure tears up in a poor maid's eyes,

I scorn you not; it seems that you scorn me. With your derision ! none, of noble sort,

Hel. Have you not set Lysander, as in scorn, Would so offend a virgin; and extort

To follow me, and praise my eyes and face?
A poor soul's patience, all to make you sport. And made your other love, Demetrius,

Lys. You are unkind, Demetrius; be not so ; (Who even but now did spurn me with his foot,)
For you love Hermia: this, you know, I know: To call me goddess, nymph, divine, and rare,
And here, with all good will, with all my heart, Precious, celestial ? Wherefore speaks he this
1x Hermia's love I yield you up my part ;

To her he hates ? and wherefore doth Lysander And yours of Helena to me bequeath,

Deny your love, so rich within his soul,
Whom I do love, and will do to my death,

And tender me, forsooth, affection ;
Hel. Never did mockers waste more idle breath. But by your setting on, by your consent ?

Dem. Lysander, keep thy Hermia ; I will none : What though I be not so in grace as you,
If e'er I lov'd her, all that love is

gone.

So hung upon with love, so fortunate; My heart with her but, as guest-wise, sojou rn'd; But miserable most, to love unlov'd ? And now to Helen is it home return'd,

This you should pity, rather than despise. There to remain.

Her. I understand not what you mean by this Lys. Helen, it is not so.

Hel. Ay, do, perséver, counterfeit sad looks, Dem. Disparage not the faith thou dost not know, Make mows upon me when I turn my back; Lest, to thy peril, thou aby it dear.

Wink at each other ; hold the sweet jest up:
Look, where thy love comes ; yonder is thy dear. This sport, well carried, shall be chronicled.

If you have any pity, grace, or manners,
Enter HERMIA.

You would not make me such an argument. Her. Dark night, that from the eye his function But, fare ye well: 'tis partly mine own fault; takes,

Which death, or absence, soon shall remedy. The car more quick of apprehension makes;

Lys. Stay, gentle Helena; hear my excuse; Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense,

My love, my life, my soul, fair Helena! It pays the hearing double recompense :

Hel. O excellent! 'Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander, found;

Her.

Sweet, do not scorn her so. Mine ear, I thank it, brought me to thy sound. Dem. If she cannot entreat, I can compel. But why unkindly didst thou leave me so?

Lys. Thou canst compel no more than she enLys. Why should he stay, whom love doth press

treat ; to go ?

Thy threats have no more strength, than her weak Her. What love could press Lysander from my

prayers.
side?

Helen, I love thee; by my life I do;
Lys. Lysander's love, that would not let him bide, I swear by that which I will lose for thee,
Fair Helena; who more engilds the night

To prove him false, that says I love thee not.
Than all yon fiery oes and eyes of light.

Dem. I say, I love thee more than he can do. Why seek'st thou me? could not this make thee Lys. If thou say so, withdraw, and prove it too. know,

Dem. Quick, come, – The hate I bare thee made me leave thee so ?

Her.

Lysander, whereto tends all this? Her. You speak not as you think; it cannot be. Lys. Away, you Ethiop! Hel. Lo, she is one of this confederacy!

Dem.

No, no, sir : - he will Now I perceive they have conjoin'd, all three, Seem break loose ; take on, as you would follow; To fashion this false sport in spite of me.

But yet come not : You are a tame man, go! Injurious Hermia! most ungrateful maid !

Lys. Hang off, thou cat, thou burr : vile thing Have you conspir’d, have you with these contriv’d

let loose; To bait me with this foul derision ?

Or I will shake thee from me, like a serpent. Is all the counsel that we two have shar’d,

Her. Why are you grown so rude? what change The sisters' vows, the hours that we have spent,

is this, When we have chid the hasty-footed time

Sweet love! For parting us, - 0, and is all forgot ?

Lys. Thy love ? out, tawny Tartar, out' All school-days' friendship, childhood innocence ? Out, loathed medicine! hated potion, hence! We, Hermia, like two artificial gods,

Her. Do you not jest ? Have with our neelds created both one flower,

Hel.

Yes, 'sooth; and so do you. Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,

Lys. Demetrius, I will keep my word with thee. Both warbling of one song, both in one key;

Dem. I would, I had your bond; for, I perceive, As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds, A weak bond holds you; I'll not trust your word. Had been incorporate. So we grew together, Lys. What, should I hurt her, strike her, kill her Like to a double cherry, seeming parted ;

dead? But yet a union in partition,

Although I hate her, I'll not harm her so. Two lovely berries moulded on one stem :

Her. What, can you do me greater harm, than So, with two seeming bodies, but one heart;

hate? Two of the first, like coats in heraldry,

Hate me! wherefore? O me! what news, my love? Due but to one, and crowned with one crest. Am not I Hermia ? Are not you Lysander? And will you rend our ancient love asunder, I am as fair now, as I was erewlule.

me:

Since night, you cov'd me; yet, since night you left | Never so little show of love to her,

Thou shalt aby it. Why, then you left me,- O, the gods forbid ! Lys.

Now she holds me not In earnest, shall I say?

Now follow, if thou dar’st, to try whose rigłı, Lys. Ay, by my life;

Or thine or mine, is most in Helena. And never did desire to see thee more.

Dem. Follow ? nay, I'll go with thee, cheek by Therefore, be out of hope, of question, doubt,

jole.

(Ereunt Lys. and Dem. Be certain, nothing truer; 'tis no jest,

Her. You, mistress, all this coil is long of you : That I do hate thee, and love Helena.

Nay, go not back.
Her. O me! you juggler! you canker-blossom! Hel.

I will not trust you, I;
You thief of love! what, have you come by night, Nor longer stay in your curst company.
And stol'n my love's heart from him ?

Your hands, than mine, are quicker for a fray ; Hel.

Fine, i'faith! | My legs are longer though, to run away. [Eru. Have you no modesty, no maiden shame,

Her. I am amaz’d, and know not what to say. No touch of bashfulness ? What, will you tear

[Erit, pursuing Helena. Impatient answers from my gentle tongue?

Obe. This is thy negligence: still thou i tak’st, Fie, fie! you counterfeit, you puppet you !

Or else commit'st thy knaveries wilfully. Her. Puppet! why so ? Ay, that way goes the Puck. Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook game.

Did not you tell me, I should know the man Now I perceive that she hath made compare By the Athenian garments he had on? Between our statures, she hath urg'd her height And so far blameless proves my enterprize, And with her personage, her tall personage,

That I have ’nointed an Athenian's eyes :
Her height, forsooth, she hath prevail'd with Hir. And so far am I glad it so did sort,
And are you grown so high in his esteem.

As this their jangling I esteem a sport.
Because I am so dwarfish, and so low?

Obe. Thou seest, these lovers seek a place to How low am I, thou painted maypole? speak;

fight : Pow low am I ? I am not yet so low,

Hie therefore, Robin, overcast the night; But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes. The starry welkin cover thou anon

He. I pray you, though you mock me, gentlemen, With drooping fog, as black as Acheron; Let her not hurt me: I was never curst;

And lead these testy rivals so astray, I have no gift at all in shrewishness;

As one come not within another's way. I am a right maid for my cowardice;

Like to Lysander sometime frame thy tongue, Let her not strike me: You, perhaps, may think, Then stir Demetrius up with bitter wrong ; Because she's something lower than myself,

And sometime rail thou like Demetrius; That I can match her.

And from each other look thou lead them thus, Her.

Lower ! hark, again. Till o'er their brows death-counterfeiting sleep Hel. Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me. With leaden legs and batty wings doth creep: I evermore did love you, Hermia,

Then crush this herb into Lysander's eye ; Did ever keep your counsels, never wrong'd you ; Whose liquor hath this virtuous property, Save that, in love unto Demetrius,

To take from thence all error, with his might, I told him of your stealth unto this wood :

And make his eye-balls roll with wonted sight. He follow'd you ; for love, I follow'd him. When they next wake, all this derision But he hath chid me hence; and threaten’d me Shall seem a dream, and fruitless vision ; To 'strike me, spurn me, nay, to kill me too: And back to Athens shall the lovers wend, And now, so you will let me quiet go,

With league, whose date till death shall never end. To Athens will I bear my folly back,

Whiles I in this affair do thee employ, And follow you no further: Let me go :

I'll to my queen, and beg her Indian boy ; You see how simple and how fond I am.

And then I will her charmed eye release Her. Why, get you gone: Who is't that hinders From monster's view, and all things shall be peace.

Puck. My fairy lord, this must be done with Hel. A foolish heart that I leave here behind.

haste; Her. What, with Lysander ?

For night's swift dragons cut the clouds full fast, Hel.

With Demetrius. And yonder shines Aurora's harbinger ; Lys. Be not afraid : she shall not harm thee, At whose approach, ghosts, wandering here and Helena.

there, Dem. No, sir; she shall not, though you take her Troop home to church-yards: damned spirits all, part.

That in cross-ways and floods have burial, Hel. 0, when she's angry, she is keen and shrewd: Already to their wormy beds are gone ; She was a vixen, when she went to school;

For fear lest day should look their shames upon, And, though she be but little, she is fierce.

They wilfully themselves exíle from light, Her. Little again ? nothing but low and little?- And must for aye consort with black-brow'd night Why will you suffer her to flout me thus?

Obe. But we are spirits of another sort : Let me come to her.

I with the morning's love have oft made sport; Lys.

Get you gone, you dwarf ; And, like a forester, the groves may tread, You minimus, of hind'ring knot-grass made; Even till the eastern gate, ail fiery-red, You bead, you acorn.

Opening on Neptune with fair blessed beams, Dem.

You are too officious, Turns into yellow goid his salt-green streams. In her behalf that scorns your services.

But, notwithstanding, haste; make no delay : læt her alone; speak not of Helena ;

We may effect this business yet ere day. Take not her part: for if thou dost intend

[Erit OBEROS

you ?

:

:

Puck. Up and down, up and down;

Dem. Nay, then thou mock'st me. Thou shalt I will lead them up and down :

buy this dear, I am fear'd in field and town;

If ever I thy face by day-light see : Goblin, lead them up and down.

Now, go thy way.

Faintness constraineth me Here comes one.

Po measure out my length on this cold bed.

By day's approach look to be visited.
Enter LYSANDER.

[Lies down and sleeps. Lys. Where art thou, proud Demetrius ? speak thou now.

Enier HELENA. Puck. Here villain; drawn and ready. Where Hel. O weary night, O long and tedious night, art thou ?

Abate thy hours : shine, comforts, from the Lys. I will be with thee straight.

east; Puck.

Follow me then That I may back to Athens, by day-light, To plainer ground.

From these that my poor company detest : [Erit Lys. as following the voice. And, sleep, that sometimes shuts up sorrow's eye,

Steal me a while from mine own company. [Sleeps. Enter DEMETRIUS. Dem.

Lysander ! speak again. Puck. Yet but three ? Come one more; Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fed?

Two of both kinds makes up four. Speak. In some bush? Where dost thou hide thy Here she comes, curst and sad : head ?

Cupid is a knavish lad,
Puck. Thou coward, art thou bragging to the stars, Thus to make poor females mad.
Telling the bushes that thou look'st for wars,
And wilt not come ? Come, recreant ; come, thou

Enter HERMIA.
child;

Her. Never so weary, never so in woe, I'll whip thee with a rod : He is defil’d,

Bedabbled with the dew, and torn with briers; That draws a sword on thee.

I can no further crawl, no further go;
Dem.
Yea; art thou there?

My legs can keep no pace with my desires. Puck. Follow my voice ; we'll try no manhood | Here will I rest me, till the break of day. here. [Exeunt. Heavens shield Lysander, if they mean a fray!

(Lies down. Re-enter LYSANDER.

Puck. On the ground Lys. He goes before me, and still dares me on;

Sleep sound : When I come where he calls, then he is gone.

I'll apply The villain is much lighter heel'd than I :

To your eye, I follow'd fast, but faster he did fly;

Gentle lover, remedy. That fallen am I in dark uneven way,

[Squeezing the juice on LYSANDER's eye. And here will rest me. Come, thou gentle day!

When thou wak'st, [Lies down.

Thou tak'st For if but once thou show me thy grey light,

True delight I'll find Demetrius, and revenge this spite. (Sleeps.

In the sight

Of thy former lady's eye:
Re-enter Puck and DEMETRIUS.

And the country proverb known,
Puck. Ho, ho! ho, ho! Coward, why com'st

That every man should take his own, thou not?

In your waking shall be shown : Dem. Abide me, if thou dar'st; for well I wot,

Jack shall have Jill ; Thou runn'st before me, shifting every place;

Nought shall go ill; And dar'st not stand, nor look me in the face. The man shall have his mare again, and all shall be Where art thou ?

well. Puck. Come hither; I am here.

(Erit Puck.

- Dem. Hel. &c. sleep.

ACT IV.

SCENE I. The same.

your weapons in your hand, and kill me a red-hipped

humble-bee on the top of a thistle ; and, good monEnter Titania and Bottom, Fairies attending ; sieur, bring me the honey-bag. Do not fret your, OBERON behind unseen.

self too much in the action, monsieur; and, good Tita. Come, sit thee down upon this flowery bed, monsieur, have a care the honey-bag break not; I While I thy amiable cheeks do coy,

would be loth to have you overflown with a honeyAnd stick musk-roses in thy sleek smooth head, bag, signior. - Where's monsieur Mustard-seed ?

And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy. Must. Ready. Bot. Where's Peas-blossom ?

Bot. Give me your neif, monsieur Mustard-seed. Peas. Ready.

Pray you, leave your courtesy, good monsieur. Bot. Scratch my hcad, Pens-blossom. - Where's Must. What's your will ? monsieur Cobweb?

Bot. Nothing, good monsieur, but to help cavaCob. Ready.

lero Cobweb to scratch. I must to the barber's, Bot. Monsieur Cobweb; gond monsieur, get 1 monsieur· for, methinks, I am marvellous hairy