Bot. Why do they run away? this is a knavery of them, to make me afeard.* Re-enter SNOUT. Snout. O Bottom, thou art changed! what do I see on thee? Bot. What do you see? you see an ass' head of your own; Do you? Re-enter QUINCE. Quin. Bless thee, Bottom! bless thee! thou art translated. [Exit. to Bot. I see their knavery: this is to make an ass of me; fright me, if they could. But I will not stir from this place, do what they can: I will walk up and down here, and I will sing, that they shall hear I am not afraid. The ousel-cock, so black of hue, The throstle with his note so true, [Sings. Tita. What angel wakes me from my flowery bed? [Waking. Whose note full many a man doth mark, for, indeed, who would set his wit to so foolish a bird? Who And thy fair virtue's force perforce doth move me, Bot. Methinks, mistress, you should have little reason for that: And yet, to say the truth, reason and love keep little company together now-a-days: The more the pity, that some honest neighbours will not make them friends. Nay, I can gleek upon occasion. Tita. Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful. Bot. Not so, neither: but if I had wit enough to get out of this wood, I have enough to serve mine own turn. Tita. Out of this wood do not desire to go; Thou shalt remain here, whether thou wilt or no. I am a spirit, of no common rate; The summer still doth tend upon my state, And I do love thee: therefore, go with me; I'll give thee fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, And sing, while thou on pressed flowers dost sleep, Peas-blossom! Cobweb! Moth! and Mustard-seed! * Afraid. †The cuckoo with his uniform note. * Joke. 1 Fai, Ready. 2 Fai. And I. 3 Fai, And I. Enter four FAIRIES. 4 Fai. Where shall we go? Tita. Be kind and courteous to this gentleman ; And pluck the wings from painted butterflies, 2 Fai, Hail! 3 Fai. Hail! 4 Fai. Hail! Bot. I cry your worship's mercy, heartily.-I beseech, your worship's name. Cob. Cobweb. Bot. I shall desire you of more acquaintance, good master Cobweb: If I cut my finger, I shall make bold with you.-Your name, honest gentleman? Peas. Peas-blossom. Bot. I pray you, commend me to mistress Squash, your mother, and to master Peascod, your father. Good master Peasblossom, I shall desire you of more acquaintance too.-Your name, I beseech you, Sir? Mus. Mustard-seed. Bot. Good master Mustard-seed, I know your patience well: that same cowardly, giant-like ox-beef hath devoured many a gentleman of your house: I promise you, your kindred hath made my eyes water ere now. I desire you more acquaintance, good master Mustard-seed. Tita. Come, wait upon him; lead him to my bower. Tie up my love's tongue, bring him silently. SCENE II-Another part of the Wood. Obe. I wonder, if Titania be awaked; Which she must dote on in extremity. Enter PUCK. Here comes my messenger.-How now, mad spirit? [Exeunt. *Gooseberries. † Frolic of the night. Puck. My mistress with a monster is in love. And forth my mimic§ comes: When they him spy, And, at our stamp, here o'er and o'er one falls; He murder cries, and help from Athens calls. Their sense thus weak, lost with their fears, thus strong, Some, sleeves; some, hats: from yielders all things catch. And left sweet Pyramus translated there: Obe. This falls out better than I could devise. Puck. I took him sleeping, that is finish'd too,- That when he waked, of force she must be eyed. Obe. Stand close; this is the same Athenian. Lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe. Her. Now I but chide, but I should use thee worse; For thou, I fear, hast given me cause to curse. The sun was not so true unto the day, This whole earth may be bored; and that the moon * Simple fellows. § Actor. + Stupid company. + Head. May through the centre creep, and so displease Dem. So should the murder'd look; and so should I, Her. What's this to my Lysander? where is he? Dem. I had rather give his carcass to my hounds. Q! once tell true, tell true, even for my sake; An adder did it; for with doubler tongue Than thine, thou serpent, never adder stung. Dem. You spend your passion on a mispris'dt mood: I am not guilty of Lysander's blood; Nor is he dead, for aught that I can tell. Her. I pray thee, tell me then that he is well. Dem. And if I could, what should I get therefore? And from thy hated presence part I so: See me no more, whether he be dead or no. Dem. There is no following her in this fierce vein : Here, therefore, for awhile I will remain. So sorrow's heaviness doth heavier grow For debt that bankrupt sleep doth sorrow owe; If for his tender here I make some stay. [Exit. [Lies down. Obe. What hast thou done? thou hast mistaken quite, And laid the love-juice on some true love's sight: Of thy misprison must perforce ensue Some true-love turn'd, and not a false turn'd true. Puck. Then fate o'er-rules; that, one man holding troth, A million fail, confounding oath on oath. Obe. About the wood go swifter than the wind, And Helena of Athens look thou find: All fancy-sickt she is, and pale of cheers With sighs of love, that cost the fresh blood dear: Swifter than arrow from the Tartar's bow. * Exploit. + Mistaken. § Countenance. [Exit. Sink in apple of his eye! Puck. Captain of our fairy band, Shall we their fond pageant see? Obe. Stand aside: the noise they make, Will cause Demetrius to awake. Puck. Then will two at once, woo one; That must needs be sport alone; And those things do best please ine That befall preposterously. Enter LYSANDER and HELENA. Lys. Why should you think, that I should woo in scorn? How can these things in me seem scorn to you, Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow! * Heartily. |