name his name; and tell them plainly, he is Snug

Re-enter QUINCE. the joiner,

Quin. Bless thee, Bottom! bless thee! thou art Qizin. Well, it shall be so. But there is two hard translated.

(Exit. things; that is, to bring the moonlight into a chain- Bot. I see their knavery: this is to make an ass ber: for you know, Pyramus and Thisby meet by of me; to fright me, if they could. But I will not moon-light.

stir from this place, do what they can: I will walk Snug. Doth the moon shine, that night we play up and down here, and I will sing, that they shall our play?

hear I am not afraid.

| Sings. Bot. A calendar, a calendar! look in the alma

The ousel cock, so black of hue, nac; tind out moonshine, find out moonshine.

With orange-tawny bill, Quu. Yes, it doth shine that night.

The throst'e with his note so true, But. Why, then you may leave a casement of the

The wren with lillle quill. great chamber window, where we piay, open; and

Tita. What angel wakes me from my flowery the moon may shine in at the casement.

bed!

( Waking. Quin. Ay; or else one must come in with a bush

Bot. The finch, the sparrow, and the lark, of thorns and a lanthorn, and say, he comes to dis

The plain-song cuckoo grey, figure, o to present, the person of moon-shine.

Whose note full many a man doth mark, Then, there is another thing: we must have a wall

And dures not answer, nay; in the great chamber; for Pyramus and Thisby, says the story, did talk through the chinks of a wall.

or, indeed, who would set his wit to so foolish a Snug. You never can bring in a wall. What bird? who would give a bird the lie, though he cry, say you, Bottom ?

cuckoo, never so ! Bot. Some man or other must present wall: and Titu. I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing again: let him have some plaster, or some loam, or some

Mine ear is much enamord of thy note, rouzh-cast about him, to signify wall; or let him So is mine eye enthrall d to thy shape; hold his fingers thus, and through that cranny shall and thy fair virtue's force perforce doth move me, Pyramus and Thisby whisper.

On the first view, to say, to swear, I love thee. Quin. If that may be, then all is well. Come, sit But. Methinks, mistress, you should have little down, every mother's son, and rehearse your parts. reason for that. And yet, to say the truth, reason

Pyramus, you begin: when you have spoken your and love keep little company together now-a-days: i speech, enter into that brake;' and so every one The more the pity, thai some honest neighbors according to his cue.

will not make them friends. Nay, I can glecki upon

occasion. Enter Puck behind.

Tila. Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful. Puck. What hempen home-spuns have we swag- get out of this wood, I have enough to serve mine

Bot. Not so, neither: but if I had wit enough to gering here, So near the cradle of the fairy queen?

own turn. What, a play toward! Ill be an auditor;

Titu. Out of this wood do not desire to go; An actor too, perhaps, if I see cause.

Thou shalt remain here, whether thou wilt or no. Quin. Speak, Pyramus:- Thisby, stand forth.

I am a spirit of no common rate : Pyr. Thisby, the flowers of odious savors sweet

The summer still doth tend upon my state, Quin. Odors, odors.

And I do love thee: therefore, go with me; Pyr. -odors savors sweet :

I'll give thee fairies to attend on thee; So doth thy breath, my dearest This by dear.

And they shall fetch thec jewels from the deep, But, hark, a voice! stay thou but here awhile,

And sing, while thou on pressed flowers dost sleep: And by anul by I will to thee appear.

And I will purge thy mortal grossness so,

[Exil. Puck. A stranger Pyramus thane'er played here: That thou shalt like an airy spirit go.

(Aside. - Exit.

Peas-blossom! Cobweb! Moth! and Must ard-seed! This. Must I speak now?

Enter four Fairies. Qizin. Ay, marry, must you: for you must un

1 Fai. Ready. derstand, he goes but to see a noise that he heard, 2 Fai. and is to come again.

And I. 3 Fai.

And I. This. Most radiunt Pyramus, most lily-white

4 Fai.

Where shall we go? of hue, Of color like the red rose on triumphant brier,

Tita. Be kind and courteous to this gentleman ; Most briskly juvenal,, und eke most lovely Jew,

Hop in his walks, and gambol in his eyes; As true as truest horse, that yet woull nerer tire, with purple grapes, green figs, and mulberries;

Feed him with a pricocks and dewberries, I'll meet thee, Pyramus, at Ninny's tomb. Quin. Ninus's tomb, man: Why you must not And, for night-tapers, crop their waxen thighs,

The honey bags steal from the humble-bees, speak that yet ; that you answer to Pyramus: yon And light them at the tiery glow-worm's eyes, speak all your part at once, cuess and all.— Pyra. To have my love to bed, and to arise; mus, enter; your cue is past; it is, never tire.

And pluck the wings from painted butterflies, Re-enter Puck and Bottom with an Ass's head. To fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes:

Nod to him, elves, and do him courtesies. This. 0,— As true as truest horse, that yet 1 Fai. Hail mortal! would never tire.

2 Fai. Hail! Pyr. If I were fair, Thisby, I were only thine :- 3 Fai. Hail!

Quin. O monstrous! () strange! we are haunted. 4 Fai. Hail! Pray, masters! lly, masters! help!

Bot. cry your worship's mercy, heartily.-1

(Exeunt Clowns. beseech your worship’s name? Puck. I'll follow you, I'll lead you about a round, Cob. Cobweb. Through box, through busli, through brake, Bot. I shall desire you of more acquaintance, through brier;

good master Cobweb: If I cut my finger, I shall Sometime a horse I'll be, sometime a hound, make bold with you. Your name, honest gentleA hog, a headless bear, sometime a fire;

man ! And neigh, and Jark, and grunt, and roar, and burn, Peas. Peas-blossom. Like borse, hound, hog, bear, tire, at every turn. Bul. I pray you, commend me to mistress Squasli,

[Erit. your mother, and to master Peascod, your father. Bot. Why do they run away? this is a knavery Good master Peas-blossom, I shall desire you of more of them, to make me afeard.

acquaintance too.—Your name, I beseech you, sir !

1

Mus. Mustard-seed.
Re-enter Ssout.

Bot. Good master Mustard-seed, I know your Snout. O Bottom, thou art changed! what do I patience well: that same cowardly, giant-like oxsee on thee!

beef hath devoured many a gentleman of your Bot. What do you see? you see an ass's head house: I promise you, your kindred hath made my of your own; Do you?

eyes water ere now. I desire you more acquaint• Thicket. • Young man.

ance, good master Mustard-seed. The last words of the preceding speech, which serve

Tita. Come wait upon him; lead him to my bower. u a bint to him who is to speak next.

Joke.

The moon, methinks, looks with a watery eye; Dem. You spend your passion on a mispris'd : And when she weeps, weeps every little flower,

mood: Lamenting some enforced chastity.

I am not guilty of Lysander's blood; Tie up my love's tongue, bring him silently. Nor is he dead, or aught that I can tell.

[Exeunt. Her. I pray thee, tell me then, that he is well. SCENE II.-Another part of the Wood.

Döm. And if I could, what should I get therefore ?

Hor. A privilege, never to see me more.-
Enter (BEROY.

And from thy hated presence part I so:
Obe. I wonder, if Titania be awak'd;

See me no more, whether he be dead or no. (Erit. Then, what it was that next came in her eye,

Dem. There is no following her in this fierce vein: Which she must dote on in extremity.

Here, therefore, for a while I will remain.

So sorrow's heaviness doth heavier grow
Enter Puck.

For debt that bankrupt sleep doth sorrow owe; Here comes my massenger.-How now, mad spirit? Which now, in some slight ineasure, it will pay, What night-rule now about this haunted grove?

If for his tender here I make some stay. [Lies doun Puck. My mistress with a monster is in love.

Obe. What hast thou done? thou hast mistaken Near to her close and consecrated bower,

quite, While she was in her dull and sleeping hour,

And laid the love-juice on some true love's sight: A crew of patches,& rude mechanicals,

Opthy misprision must perforce ensue That work for bread upon Athenian stalls,

Some true love turn'd, and not a false turn'd true. Were met together to rehearse a play,

Puck. Then tate o'cr-rules; that, one man hold. Intended for great Theseus' nuptual day.

ing troth, The shallowest thick-skin of that barren sort,

A million fail, confounding oath on oath. Who Pyramus presented, in their sport

Ohe. About the wood go swifter than the wind, Forsook his scene, and enter'd in a brake:

And Helena of Athens look thou find: When I did him at this advantage take,

All fancy-sicka she is, and pale of cheer,: An ass's nowl I fixed on his head;

With sighs of love, that cost the fresh blood dear: Anon, his Thisbe must be answered,

By some illusion see thou bring her here; And forth my mimic comes. When they him spy, I'll charm his eyes, against she do appear. As wild geese that the creeping fowler eye,

Puck. I go, I go; look how I go; Or russet-pated chouzhs, many in sort,

Swiiter than arrow from the Tartar's bow. [Erit. Rising and cawing at the gun's report

Obe. Flower of this purple die, Sever themselves, and madly sweep the sky;

Hit with Cupid's archery, So, at his sight, away his fellows fly;

Sink in apple of his eye! And, at our stamp, here o'er and o'er one falls;

When his love he doth espy, He murder cries, and help from Athens calls.

Let her shine as gloriously Their sense thus weak, lost with their fears thus

As the Venus of the sky. strong,

When thou wak'st, if she be by,
Made senseless things begin to do them wrong:

Beg of her for remedy.
For briers and thorns at their apparel snatch;
Some, sleeves; some, hats: from yielders all things

Re-enter Pock.
catch.

Puck. Captain of our fairy band, I led them on in this distracted fear,

Helena is here at hand; And left sweet Pyramus translated there:

And the youth, mistook by me, When in that moment, (so it came to pass,)

Pleading for a lover's fee; Titania wak'd, and straightway lov'd an ass.

Shall we their fond pageant see?: Obe. This falls out better than I could devise.

0, what fools these mortals be! But hast thou yet latch'd: the Athenian's eyes

'Obe. Stand aside: the noise they make, With the love-juice, as I did bid thee do?

Will cause Demetrius to awake. Puck. I took him sleeping, - that is finish'd too,

Puck. Then will two at once, woo one; And the Athenian woman by his side;

That must needs be sport alone;
That, when he wak’d, of force she must be ey'd.

And those things do best please me,
Enter DEMETRIUs and HERMIA.

That befal preposterously.
Obe. Stand close; this is the same Athenian.

Enter LISANDER and HELENA. Puck. This is the woman, but not this the man. Lys. Why should you think, that I should woo Dem. (, why rebuke you him that loves you so?

in scorn ? Lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe.

Scorn and derision never come in tears: Her. Now I but chide, but I should use thee worsc; | Look, when I vow, I weep; and vows so bom, For thou,I fear, hast given me cause to curse. In their nativity all truth appears. If thou hast slain Lysander in his sleep,

How can these things in me seem scorn to you, Being o'er shoes in blood, plunge in the deep, Bearing the badge of faith, to prove them true ?' And kill ine too.

Hel. You do advance your cunning more and The sun was not so true unto the day, As he to me: Would he have stol'n away

When truth kills truth, O devilish-holy fray! From sleeping Hermia? I'll believe as soon,

These vows are Hermia's: Will you give her o'er? This whole earth may be bord; and that the moon Weigh oath with oath, and you will nothing May through the centre creep, and so displease

weigh: Her brother's noontide with the antipodes.

Your vows, to her and me, put in two scales, It cannot be but thou hast murder d him;

Will even weigh; and both as light as tales. So should a murderer look; so dead, so grim. Lys. I had no judgment, when to her I swore. Dem. So should the murder'd look; and so should I,

Hel. Nor none, in my mind, now you give her Pierc'd through the heart with your stern cruelty:

o'er. Yet you, the murderer, look as bright, as clear, Lys. Demetrius loves her, and he loves not you. As yonder Venus in her glimmering sphere.

Dem. [ Awaking:) 0 Helen, goddess, nyinph, Her. What's this to my Lysander ? 'where is he?

perfect divine! Ah, good Demetrius, wilt thou give him me? To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne ?

Dem. I had rather give his carcase to my hounds. Crystal is muddy. O, how ripe in show Her. Out, dog! out, cur! thou driv'st' me past Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow! the bounds

That pure congealed white, high Taurus’ snow, of maiden patience. Hast thou slain him then? Fannd with the eastern wind, turns to a crow, Henceforth be never number'd among men! When thou hold’st up thy hand : ( let me kiss 0! once tell true, tell true, even for my sake;

This princess of pure white, this seal of bliss ! Durst thou have lookd upon him, being awake, Hel. ( spite ! 'O hell! I see you all are bent And hast thou kill'd him sleeping? O brave touch! To set against me, for your merriment. Could not a worm, an adder, do so much?

If you were civil, and knew courtesy, An adder did it; for with doubler tongue

You would not do me thus much injury. Than thine, thou serpent, never adder stung. Can you not hate me, as I know you do, • Simple fellows. • Infected.

more.

But you must join, in souls,' to mock me too? But by your setting on, by your consent ?
If you were men, as men you are in show,

What though I be not so in grace as you,
You would not use a gentle lady so;

So hung upon with love, so fortunate;
To vow, and swear, and superpraise my parts, But miserable most, to love unlov'd !
When, I am sure, you hate me with your hearts, This you should pity, rather than despise.
You both are rivals, and love Hermia;

Her. I understand not what you mean by this. And now both rivals, to mock Helena:

Hel. Ay, do, persever, counterfeit sad looks, A trim exploit, a manly enterprise,

Make mows upon me when I turn my back; To conjure tears up in a poor maid's eyes,

Wink at each other; hold the sweet jest up: With your derision! none, of noble sort,

This sport, 'well carried, shall be chronicled.
Would so offend a virgin; and extort

If you have any pity, grace, or manners,
A poor soul's patience, all to make you sport. You would not make me such an argument.

Lus. You are unkind, Demetrius: be not so; But fare ye well: 'tis partly mine own fault; For you love Herrnia ; this, you know, I know: Which death, or absence, soon shall remedy. And here, with all good will, with all my heart, Lys. Stay, gentle Helena; hear my excuse; In Hermia's love I yield you up my part;

My love, my lite, my soul, fair Helena! And yours of Helena to me bequeath,

Hel. O excellent! Whom I do love, and will do to my death.

Her.

Sweet, do not scorn her so. Hel Never did mockers waste more idie breath. Dem. If she cannot entreat, I can compel. Dem. Lysander, keep thy Hermia ; I will none: Lys. Thou canst compel no more than she enIf e'er I loved her, all that love is gone.

treat; My heart with her, but as guest-wise, sojourn'd; Thy threats have no more strength than her weak And now to Helen is it home return'd,

prayers.There to remain.

Helen, I love thee; by my life, I do;
Lys.
Helen, it is not so

I swear by that which I will lose for thee,
Dem. Disparage not the faith thou dost not know, To prove him false, that says I love thee not.
Lest, to thy peril, thou aby it dear.s—

Dem. I say, I love thee more than he can do. Look, where thy love comes; yonder is thy dear. Lys. If thou say so, withdraw, and prove it tno.

Dem. Quick, come,
Enter HENNIA.

Her.

Lysander, whereto tends all this? Her. Dark night, that from the eye his function Lys. Away, you Ethiop! takes,

Dem.

No, no, sir :-he will The ear more quick of apprehension makes; Seem to break loose; take on, as you would follow: Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense,

But yet come not; you are a tamne man, go! It pays the hearing double recompense :

Lys. Hang off, thou cat, thou burr: vile thing, Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander, found;

let loose; Mine ear, I thank it. brought me to thy sound. Or I will shake thee from me, like a serpent. But why unkindly didst thou leave me so!

Her. Why are you grown so rude? what change Lys. Why should he stay, whom love doth press

is this, to go?

Sweet love? Her. What love could press Lysander from my L48. Thy love? out, tawny Tartar, out! side?

Her. Do you not jest? Lys. Lysander's love, that would not let him bide, Hel.

Yes, 'sooth; and so do you. Fair Helena: who more engilds the night

Lys. Demetrius, I will keep my word with thee. Than all yon fiery oese and eyes of light.

Dem, I would, I had your bond; for, I perceive, Why seek'st thou me? could not this make thee A weak bond holds you; I'll not trust your word. know,

Lys. What should i hurt her, strike her, kill The hate I bear thee made me leave thee so?

her dead? Her. You speak not as you think; it cannot be. Although I hate her, I'll not harm her so. Hel. Lo, she is one of this confederacy!

Her. What, can you do me greater harm, than Now I perceive they have conjoin'd, all three,

hate? To fashion this false sport in spite of me.

Hate me! wherefore? O me! what news, my love? Injurious Hermia: most ungrateful muid ! Am not ! Hermia ? Are not you Lysander ?" Have you conspir'd, have you with these contrivd I am as fair now, as I was erewhile. To bait me with this foul derision?

Since night, you lovd me, yet, since night you left Is all the counsel that we two have shar'd, The sisters' vows, the hours that we have spent, Why, then you left me--0, the gods forbid !When we have chid the hasty-footed time

In earnest, shall I say? For parting us,-0, and is all for ot?

Lys.

Ay, by my life; All school-days' friendship, childhood innocence? And never did desire to see thee more. We, Hermia, like two artificial: gods,

Therefore, be out of hope, of question, doubt, Have with our neelds & created both one flower, Be certain, nothing truer; 'tis no jest, Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,

That I do hate thee, and love Helena. Both warbling of one song, both in one key; Her. () me! you juggler! you canker blossom! As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds, You thiet of love! what, have you come by night Had been incorporate. So we grew together, And stol'n my love's heart from him? Like to a double cherry, seeming parted:

Hel.

Fine, i'faith! But yet a union in partition,

Have you no modesty, no maiden shame, Two lovely berries moulded on one stem:

No touch of bashfulness? What, will you tear So with two seeining bodies, but one heart;

Impaitent answers from my gentle tongue ? Two of the first, like coats in heraldry,

Fie, fie! you counterfeit, you puppet you! Due but to one, and crowned with one crest: Her. Puppet! why so? Ay, that way goes the And will you rent our ancient love asunder,

game. To join with men in scorning your poor friend? Now I perceive that she hath made compare It is not friendly, 'tis not maidenly:

Between our statures, she bath urg'd her height Our sex, as well as I, may chide you for it;

And with her personage, her tall personage, Though I alone do feel the injury.

Her height, forsooth, she hath prevail'd with him.-
Her. I am amazed at your passionate words: And are you grown so high in his esteem,
I scorn you not; it seems that you scorn me. Because I am so dwarfish, and so low?

Hel. Have you not set Lysander, as in scorn, How low am I thou painted maypole ? speak;
To follow me, and praise my eyes and face ? How low am I? I am not yet so low,
And made your other love, Deinetrius,

But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes. (Who even but now did spurn me with his foot,) Hel. I pray you, though you mock me, gentleTo call me goddess, nymph, divine, and rare,

men,
Precious, celestial ?' Wherefore speaks he this Let her not hurt me: I was never curst ;)
To her he hates ? and wherefore doth Lysander I have no gift at all in shrewishness;
Deny your love, so rich within his soul,

I am a right maid for my cowardice;
And tender me, forsooth, affection;

Let her not strike me: you, perhaps, may think, • Heartily.

• Pay dearly for it. • Wry faces. Aworm that preys on buds of flowers • Circles. * Ingenious. • Needles.

» Shrewish or inischievous.

me:

1

you?

her part.

Because she's something lower than myself, For night's swift dragons cut the clouds full fast, That I can match her.

And yonder shines Aurora's harbinger; Her.

Lower! hark, again. At whose approach, ghosts, wandering here and Hel. Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me.

there, I evermore did love you, Hermia,

Troop home to church-yards : damned spirits all, Did ever keep your counsels, never wrong'd you; That in crossways and iloods have burial, Save, that, in love unto Demetrius,

Already to their wormy beds are gone; I told him of your stealth unto this wood:

For fear lest day should look their shames upon, He followed you; for love, I follow'd him:

They wilfully themselves exile from light, But he hath' chid me hence; and threaten'd me And must for aye consort with black-brow'd night. To strike me, spurn me, nay, to kill me too:

Obe. But we are spirits of another sort: And now, so you will let me quiet go,

I with the Morning's Love: have oft made sport; To Athens will I bear my folly back,

And, like a forester, the groves may tread, And follow you no further: Let me go:

Even till the eastern gate, all fiery red, You see how simple and how fond: I am.

Opening on Neptune with fair blessed beams, Her. Why; get you gone: Who is't that hinders Turns into yellow gold his salt-green streams.

But, notwithstanding, haste; make no delay:
Hel. A foolish heart that I leave here behind. We may effect this business yet ere day. (Exil OB.
Her. What, with Lysander ?

Puck. Up and down, up and down;
Hel.
With Demetrius.

I will lead them up and down:
Lys. Be not afraid: she shall not harm thee, I am fear'd in field and town;
Helena.

Goblin, lead them up and down.
Dem. No, sir; she shall not, though you take Here comes one.

Enter LYSANDER.
Hel. O, when she's angry, she is keen and shrewd:
She was a vixen, when she went to school;

Lijs. Where art thou, proud Demetrius? Speak And, though she be but little, she is fierce.

thou now. Her. Little again? nothing but low and little?- Puck. Here, villain; drawn and ready. Where Why will you suffer her to tlout me thus?

art thou? Let me come to her.

Lys. I will be with thee straight.
L48.
Get you gone, you dwarf; Puck.

Follow me then
You minimus, of hind'ring knot-grasse inade; To plainer ground.
You bead, you acorn.

[Exit LYSANDER, as following the voice. Dem.

You are too officious In her behalf that scorn your services.

Enter DEMETRIUS. Let her alone; speak not of Helena;

Dem.

Lysander! speak again Take not her part: for if thou dost intends

Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou tled ! Never so little show of love to her,

Speak. In some bush? Where dost thou hide thy Thou shalt aby it.

head? Lys. Now, she holds me not;

Puck. Thou coward, art thou bragging to the stars, Now follow, if thou dar’st, to try whose right, Telling the bushes that thou look'st for wars, Or thine or mine, is most in Helena.

And wilt not come? come, recreant; come, thou Dem. Follow ? nay, I'll go with thee cheek by

child; jole.

(Ereunt Lys, and DEM. I'll whip thee with a rod: He is defild, Her. You, mistress, all this coil is 'long of you: That draws a sword on thee. Nay, go not back.

Dem.

Yea; art thou there? Hel. I will not trust you, I;

Puck. Follow my voice; we'll íry no manhood Nor longer stay in your curst company.

here.

\Exzunt. Your hands, than mine, are quicker for a fray:

Re-enter LYSANDER.
My legs are longer though, to run away. (Exit.
Her. I am amaz'd, and know not what to say.

Lys. He goes before me, and still dares me on;
[Erit, pursuing HELENA. When I come where he calls, then he is gone.
Obe. This is thy negligence: still thou mistak’st, The villain is much lighter heeld than 1:
Or else commit'st ihy knaveries wilfully.

follow'd fast, but faster he did niy; Puck. Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook.

That fallen am I in dark uneven way, Did not you tell me, I should know the man

And here will rest me. Come, thou gentle day! By the Athenian garments he had on?

(Lies down. And so far blameless proves my enterprize,

For if but once thou show me thy grey light, That I have 'nointed an Athenian's eyes :

I'll find Demetrius, and revenge this spite. [Sleeps. And so far am I glad it so did sort,

Re-enter Puck and DEMETRIUS. As this their jangling I esteem a sport.

Obe. Thou seest, these lovers seek a place to fight: Puck. Ho, ho! ho, ho! Coward, why com'st thou Hie, therefore, Robin, overcast the night; The starry welkin cover thou anon

Dem. Abide me, if thou dar'st; for well I wot, With drooping foy, as black as Acheron;

Thou runn'st before me, shiiting every place; And lead these testy rivals so astray,

And dar'st not stand, nor look me in the face. As one come not within another's way.

Where art thou ? Like to Lysander sometime frame thy tongue,

Puck.

Come hither; I am here. Then stir Demetrius up with bitter wrong ;

Dem. Nay, then, thou inock'st me. Thou shalt And sometime rail thou like Demetrius;

buy this dear, And from each other look thou lead them thus, If ever I thy face by daylighl see:

I Till o'er their brows death counterfeiting sleep Now, go thy way. Faintness constraineth me With leaden legs and batty wings doth creep: To measure out my length on this cold bed.Then crush this berb into Lysander's cye;

By day's approach look to be visite i. Whose liquor hath this virtuous property,

(Lies down and sleeps. To take from thence all error, with his might,

Enter HELENA.
And make his eye-balls roll with wonted sight.
When they next wake all this derision

Hel. () weary night. O long and tedious night, Shall seem a dream, and fruitless vision;

Abate thy hours: shine, comforts, from the east; And back to Athens shall the lovers wend,

That I may back to Athens, by day-light, With league, whose date till death shall never end. From these that my poor company detest :Whiles I in this affair do thee einploy,

And, sleep, that sometime shuts up sorrow s eye, I'll to my queen, and beg her Indian boy;

Steal me a while from mine own company. [Sleeps And then I will her charmed eye release

Puck. Yet but three? Come one more ; From monster's view, and all things shall be peace. Two of both kinds, make up four. Puck. My fairy lord, this must be done with haste,

Here she comes, curst and sad :3 Foolish.

Cupid is a knavish Jad, • Anciently, knot-grass was believed to prevent the

Thus to make poor females mad. growth of children. • Pretend. 6 Go.

Cephalus, the paramour of Aurora.

not?

Enter HERMIA.
Her. Never so weary, never so in woe,

Bedabbled with the dew, and torn with briers:
I can no further crawl, no further yo;

My legs can keep no pace with my desires.
Here will I rest me till the break of day.
Heavens shield Lysander, if they mean a fray!

[Lues down.
Puck. On the ground

Sleep sound:
I'll apply

To your eye,
Gentle lover, remedy.

(Squeezing the juice on LISANDER's eye.

When thou wak'st,
Thou tak'st
True delight

In the sight
Of thy former lady's eye:
And ihe country proverb known,
That every man should take his own,
In your waking shall be shown:

Jack shall have Jill;

Nought shall go ill;
The man shall have his mare again, and all shall be

well.

[Exit Puck.- DEM., HEL., &c., sleep.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.-The same.

I then did ask of her her changeling child; Enter TUTASIA and Bottom, Fairies attending:

Which straight she gave me, and her fairy sent OBERON behind unseen.

To bear him to my bower in fairy land.

And now I have the boy, I will undo Tita. Come, sit thee down upon this flowery bed, This hateful imperfection of her eyes. While I thy amiable cheeks do coy,'

And, gentle Puck, take this transformed scalp And stick musk-roses in thy sleek smooth head, Froin off the head of this Athenian swain;

And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy. That he awaking when the others do,
Bot. Where's Peas-blossom?

May all to Athens back again repair;
Peas. Ready.

And think no more of this night's accidents, Bot. Scratch my head, Peas-blossom.- Where's But as the tierce vexation of a dream. monsieur Cobweb?

But first I will release the fairy queen. Cob. Ready.

Be, as thou wast wont to be, Bot. Monsieur Cobweo; good monsicur, get your

[Touching her eyes with an herb. weapons in your hand, and kill me a red-hipped See, as thou wast wont to see: humble-bee on the top of a thistle; and, good mon- Dian's bud o'er Cupid's tlower sieur, bring me the honey-bag. Do not fret your- Hath such force and blessed power. self too much in the action, monsieur; and, good Now, my Titania; wake you, my sweet queen. monsieur, have a care the honey-bag break not: I Tita. My Oberon! what visions have I seen! would be loath to have you overflown with a honey- Methought, I was enamord of an ass. bag, signior.- Where's monsieur Mustard-seed? Obe. There lies your love. Must. Ready.

Tita.

How came these things to pass ? Bot. Give me your nief, monsieur Mustard-seed. O, how mine eyes do loath his visage now! Pray you, leave your courtesy, good monsieur. Obe. Silence, a while.-- Robin, take off this head. Must. What's your will?

Titania, music call; and strike more dead Bot. Nothing, good monsieur, but to help cavalero Than common sleep, of all these five the sense. Cobweb to scratch. I must to the barber's, mon- Tita, Music, ho! music, such as charmeth sleep. sieur; for, mcthinks, I am marvellous hairy about Puck. Now, when thou wak'st, with thine own the face: and I am such a tender ass, if my hair

fool's eyes peep. do but tickle me, I must scratch.

Obe. Sound, music.' (Still music.] Come, my Tila. What, wilt thou hear some music, my queen, take hands with me, sweet love?

And rock the ground whereon these sleepers be. Bot. I have a reasonable good ear in music: let | Now thou and I are new in amity; os have the tongs and the bones.

And will, to-inorrow midnight, solemnly, Tita. Or, say, sweet love, what thou desirest to eat. Dance in duke Theseus' house triumphantly,

Bot. Truly, a peck of provender; I could munch And bless it to all fair posterity :
your dry good oats. Methinks I have a great de- There shall the pairs of faithful lovers be
sire to a bottle of hay; good hay, sweet hay hath Wedded, with Theseus, all in jollity.
no fellow.

Puck. Fairy king, attend and mark;
Tita. I have a venturous fairy that shall seek I do hear the morning lark.
The squirrel's board, and fetch thee new nuts.

Obe. Then, my queen, in silence sad,
Bot. I had rather have a handful, or two, of dried Trip we after the night's shade:
peas. But I pray you, let none of your people stir We the globe can compass soon,
me: I have an exposition of sleep come upon me. Swifter than the wand'ring moon.

Tita. Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms. Tita. Come, my lord; and in our flight,
Fairies, begone, and be all ways away.

Tell me how it come this night,

[Eceunt Fairies. That I sleeping here was found, So doth the woodbine, the sweet honeysuckle, With these mortals, on the ground. [E.reunt. Gently entwist,- the female ivy so

(Horns sound within. Enrings the barky fingers of the elm. O, how I love thee! how I dote on thee!

Enter Theseus, HIPPOLYTA, EGEUs, and train.

(They sleep. The. Go, one of you, find out the forester ;OBERON advances. Enter Puck.

For now our observation is performid;

And since we have the vawarde of the day, Obe. Welcome, good Robin. See'st thou this My love shall hear the music of my hounds. sweet sight?

Uncouple in the western valley; gó:Her dotage now I do begin to pity.

Despatch, I say, and find the forester.For meeting her of late, behind the wood,

We will, fair qucen, up to the mountain's top, Seeking sweet savors for this hateful fool,

And mark the musical confusion I did upbraid her, and fall out with her:

Of hounds and echo in conjunction. For she his hairy temples then had rounded Hip. I was with Hercules, and Cadmus, once, With coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers; When in a wood of Crete they bay'd the bear And that same dew, which sometime on the buds With hounds of Sparta : never did I hear Was wont to swell, like round and orient pearls, Such gallant chiding; for, besides the groves, Stood now within the pretty flowrets' eyes,

The skics, the fountains, every region near Like tears that did their own disgrace bewail. Seem'd all one mutual cry: I never heard When I had, at my pleasure, taunted her,

So musical a discord, such sweet thunder. And she, in mild terms, begg'd my patience, The. My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind, • Stroke, • F'ist.

i Forepart.