A Midsummer Night's Dream

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A Midsummer Night's Dream Libretto

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Music by Benjamin Britten

Cast:

SYSTEMACT I

Introduction

The wood. Deepening twilight.

(Enter Fairies, first group with

Cobweb and Mustardseed, second

group with Peaseblossom and

Moth.)

FAIRIESOver hill, over dale,

FAIRIEStrough bush, through brier,

FAIRIESover park, over pale,

FAIRIESthrough flood, through fire,

FAIRIESwe do wander everywhere,

FAIRIESswifter than the moon's sphere;

FAIRIESand we serve the fairy queen,

FAIRIESto dew her orbs upon the green.

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESCowslips tall her pensioners be

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESin their gold coats spots you see;

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESthose be rubies, fairy favours,

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESin those freckles live their savours.

ALL FAIRIESWe must go seek

ALL FAIRIESsome dewdrops here

ALL FAIRIESand hang a pearl

ALL FAIRIESin every cowslip's ear

Puck appears suddenly.

(calling):

PUCKHow now spirits?

The Fairies scatter to the side.

FAIRIESOr I mistake your shape

FAIRIESand making quite,

FAIRIESor are you not that shrewd

FAIRIESand knavish sprite

FAIRIEScall'd Robin Goodfellow:

FAIRIESare not you he that frights

FAIRIESthe maidens of the villagery,

FAIRIESskim milk, and sometimes

FAIRIESlabour in the quern

FAIRIESand bootless make

FAIRIESthe breathless housewife churn;

FAIRIESand sometime make

FAIRIESthe drink to bear no barm;

FAIRIESmislead night-wanderers,

FAIRIESlaughing at their harm?

FAIRIESYou do their work,

FAIRIESand they shall have good luck:

FAIRIESThose that Hobgoblin

FAIRIEScall you and sweet Puck

PUCKBut, room, fairy!

PUCKhere comes Oberon.

FAIRIESAnd here our mistress.

COBWEBWould that he were gone!

(Enter, slowly Oberon and Tytania,

with her train; from opposite sides)

FAIRIESOberon is passing fell and wrath,

FAIRIESbecause that she,

FAIRIESas her attendant hath a lovely boy,

FAIRIESstolen from an Indian king;

FAIRIESand jealous Oberon

FAIRIESwould have the child

OBERONIll met by moonlight,

OBERONproud Tytania

TYTANIAIll met by moonlight,

TYTANIAjealous Oberon!

TYTANIAFairies, skip hence:

TYTANIAI have forsworn

TYTANIAhis bed and company.

The Fairies hide

TYTANIATherefore the winds

TYTANIAhave suck'd up

TYTANIAfrom the sea contagious fogs.

TYTANIATherefore the ox

TYTANIAhath stretch'd

TYTANIAhis yoke in vain,

TYTANIAthe fold stands empty

TYTANIAin the drowned field,

TYTANIAthe crows are fatted

TYTANIAwith the murrion flock;

TYTANIAthe seasons alter:

TYTANIAthe spring, the summer,

TYTANIAthe childing autumn,

TYTANIAangry winter,

TYTANIAchange their wonted liveries,

TYTANIAand the mazed world,

TYTANIAby their increase,

TYTANIAnow knows not which is which:

TYTANIAand this same progeny

TYTANIAof evils comes from our debate,

TYTANIAfrom our dissension;

TYTANIAwe are their parents and original,

TYTANIAwe are.

OBERONDo you amend it then;

OBERONit lies in you:

OBERONI do but beg

OBERONa little changeling boy,

OBERONto be my henchman.

TYTANIASet your heart at rest:

TYTANIAThe fairy land buys not

TYTANIAthe child of me.

TYTANIAHis mother was a votaress

TYTANIAof my order:

TYTANIABut she, being mortal,

TYTANIAof that boy did die;

TYTANIAand for her sake

TYTANIAI will not part with him.

OBERONGive me that boy

OBERONand I will go with thee.

TYTANIANot for thy fairy kingdom.

TYTANIAFairies, away!

Exit Tytania with her train.

OBERONWell, go thy way:

OBERONthou shalt not from this grove

OBERONtill I torment thee for this injury.

OBERONMy gentle Puck, come hither.

Puck approaches Oberon.

OBERONThou rememberest

OBERONthe herb I shew'd thee once;

OBERONthe juice of it on sleeping

OBERONeye-lids laid will make or man

OBERONor woman madly dote upon

OBERONthe next live creature that it sees.

OBERONBe it on lion, bear,

OBERONor wolf, or bull,

OBERONon meddling monkey,

OBERONor on busy ape.

OBERONFetch me this herb,

OBERONand be thou here again,

OBERONere the Leviathan can swim

OBERONa league.

PUCKI'll put a girdle round

PUCKabout the earth

PUCKin forty minutes.

He flies off.

OBERONHaving once this juice,

OBERONI'll watch Tytania,

OBERONwhen she is asleep,

OBERONand drop the liquor

OBERONof it in her eyes;

OBERONand ere I take this charm

OBERONfrom off ther sight I'll make

OBERONher render up her page to me.

(Oberon disappears. Enter Lysander

and Hermia)

LYSANDERHow now, my love!

LYSANDERWhy is your cheek so pale?

LYSANDERHow chance the roses

LYSANDERthere do fade so fast?

HERMIABelike for want of rain,

HERMIAwhich I could well beteem them

HERMIAfrom the tempest of my eyes.

LYSANDERAy me!

LYSANDERfor aught that I could ever read,

LYSANDERcould ever hear by tale or history,

LYSANDERthe course of true love

LYSANDERnever did run smooth; but,

LYSANDEReither it was different in blood.

HERMIAO cross!

HERMIAToo high to be enthrall'd to low.

HERMIAOr else misgraffed

HERMIAin respect of years.

HERMIAO spite!

HERMIAToo old to be engaged to young.

HERMIAOr else it stood upon

HERMIAthe choice of friends.

HERMIAO hell!

HERMIATo choose love by another's eyes.

HERMIAIf then true lovers

HERMIAhave been ever cross'd,

HERMIAit stands as an edict in destiny.

HERMIAThen let us teach

HERMIAour trial patience.

LYSANDERA good persuasion:

LYSANDERtherefore, hear me, Hermia.

LYSANDERI have a widow aunt,

LYSANDERa dowager of great revenue,

LYSANDERand she hath no child;

LYSANDERfrom Athens is her house

LYSANDERremote seven leagues.

LYSANDERAnd she respects me as her only son.

LYSANDERThere, gentle Hermia,

LYSANDERmay I marry thee;

LYSANDERand to that place the sharp

LYSANDERAthenian law,

LYSANDERcompelling thee

LYSANDERto marry with Demetrius,

LYSANDERannot pursue us.

LYSANDERIf thou lovest me then,

LYSANDERthere will I go with thee.

HERMIAMy good Lysander!,

HERMIAif thou lov'st me

HERMIAI swear to thee,

HERMIAby Cupid's strongest bow.

LYSANDERI swear to thee,

LYSANDERby his best arrow

LYSANDERwith the golden head.

HERMIAI swear to thee

HERMIAby the simplicity

HERMIAof Venus' doves,

HERMIAby that which knitteth souls

HERMIAand prospers loves,

HERMIAand by that fire which burn'd

HERMIAthe Carthage queen,

HERMIAwhen the false Troyan

HERMIAunder sail was seen,

HERMIAby all the vows

HERMIAthat ever men have broke,

HERMIAin number more

HERMIAthan ever women spoke,

HERMIAI swear, I swear...

(They slowly go out. Oberon

appears)

OBERONBe it on lion, bear,

OBERONor wolf, or bull,

OBERONOn meddling monkey, or on busy ape.

OBERONBut who comes here?

OBERONI am invisible; and I will overhear

OBERONtheir conference.

(Enter Demetrius. Helena

pursuing him)

DEMETRIUSI love thee not,

DEMETRIUStherefore pursue me not.

DEMETRIUSWhere is Lysander and fair Hermia?

DEMETRIUSThe one I'll slay,

DEMETRIUSthe other slayeth me.

DEMETRIUSThou told'st me

DEMETRIUSthey were stolen unto this wood;

DEMETRIUSand here am I,

DEMETRIUSand wode within this wood,

DEMETRIUSbecause I cannot meet my Hermia.

DEMETRIUSHence, get thee gone,

DEMETRIUSand follow me no more.

You draw me,

HELENAyou hard-hearted adamant;

leave you your power to draw,

HELENAand I shall have no power

HELENAto follow you.

DEMETRIUSDo I entice you?

DEMETRIUSdo I speak you fair?

DEMETRIUSOr, rather,

DEMETRIUSdo I not in plainest truth

DEMETRIUStell you, I do not,

DEMETRIUSnor I cannot love you?

HELENAEven for that do I love you the more.

HELENAI am your spaniel; and, Demetrius,

HELENAthe more you beat me,

HELENAI will fawn on you;

HELENAuse me but as your spaniel,

HELENAspurn me, strike me,

HELENAneglect me, lose me;

only give me leave,

HELENAunworthy as I am,

HELENAto follow thee.

DEMETRIUSTempt not too much

DEMETRIUSthe hatred of my spirit;

DEMETRIUSfor I am sick when

DEMETRIUSI do look on thee.

HELENAAnd I am sick when

HELENAI look not on thee.

DEMETRIUSI'll run from thee

and hide me in the brakes,

and leave thee to the mercy

DEMETRIUSof wild beasts.

He goes out.

running out

HELENAI'll follow you

HELENAand make a heav'n of hell

HELENAto die upon the hand

HELENAI love so well.

OBERONFare thee well, nymph:

ere he do leave this grove,

OBERONthou shalt fly him

OBERONand he shall seek thy love.

Puck flies in.

OBERONWelcome, wanderer!

OBERONHast thou the flower there?

(Puck gives Oberon the flower and

lies at his feet.)

OBERONI know a bank where the wild

OBERONthyme blows, where oxlips

OBERONand the nodding violet grows,

OBERONquite over-canopied

OBERONwith luscious woodbine,

OBERONwith sweet musk-roses

OBERONand with eglantine:

OBERONthere sleeps Tytania

OBERONsometime of the night,

OBERONlull'd in these flowers

OBERONwith dances and delight;

OBERONand there the snake

throws her enamell'd skin,

OBERONweed wide enough to wrap

OBERONa fairy in:

OBERONand with the juice

OBERONof this I'll streak her eyes,

OBERONand make her full

OBERONof hateful fantasies.

OBERONTake thou some of it,

OBERONand seek through this grove:

OBERONa sweet Athenian lady is in love

OBERONwith a disdainful youth:

OBERONanoint his eyes;

OBERONbut do it when

OBERONthe next thing he espies

OBERONmay be the lady:

OBERONthou shalt know the man

OBERONby the Athenian garments

OBERONhe hath on.

(They disappear. Six rustics enter

cautiously.)

QUINCEIs all our company here?

ALLAy, Ay.

BOTTOMYou were best to call them generally,

BOTTOMman by man, according to the script.

FLUTEFirst, good Peter Quince,

FLUTEsay what the play treats on.

QUINCEMarry, our play is,

QUINCEthe most lamentable comedy,

QUINCEand most cruel death

QUINCEof Pyramus and Thisby.

ALLOf Pyramus and Thisby.

BOTTOMA very good piece of work,

BOTTOMI assure you, and a merry.

BOTTOMNow, good Peter Quince,

BOTTOMcall forth your actors

BOTTOMby the scroll.

BOTTOMMasters, spread yourselves.

QUINCEAnswer as I call you. Nick Bottom,

QUINCEthe weaver.

BOTTOMReady.

BOTTOMName what part I am for,

BOTTOMand proceed.

QUINCEYou, Nick Bottom,

QUINCEare set down for Pyramus.

BOTTOMWhat is Pyramus?

BOTTOMa lover, or a tyrant?

QUINCEA lover, that kills himself

QUINCEmost gallant for love.

BOTTOMMy chief humour is for a tyrant:

BOTTOMI could play Ercles rarely,

BOTTOMor a part to tear a cat in,

BOTTOMto make all split

BOTTOMthe raging rocks;

BOTTOMand shivering shocks shall break

BOTTOMthe locks of prison gates,

BOTTOMand Phibbus' car shall shine

BOTTOMfrom far, and make

BOTTOMand mar the foolish Fates.

BOTTOMThis was lofty!

BOTTOMNow name the rest

BOTTOMof the players.

QUINCEFrancis Flute,

QUINCEthe bellows-mender.

BOTTOMThis is Ercle's vein,

BOTTOMa tyrant's vein;

BOTTOMa lover is more condoling.

FLUTEHere, Peter Quince.

QUINCEFlute, you must take Thisby on you.

FLUTEWhat is Thisby?

FLUTEa wandering knight?

QUINCEIt is the lady that Pyramus

QUINCEmust love.

FLUTENay, faith,

FLUTElet me not play a woman;

FLUTEI have a beard coming.

QUINCEThat's all one:

QUINCEyou shall play it in a mask,

QUINCEand you may speak

QUINCEas small as you will.

An I may hide my face,

BOTTOMlet me play Thisby too,

BOTTOMI'll speak

BOTTOMin a monstrous little voice.

BOTTOMThisne, thisne:" Ah, Pyramus,

BOTTOMlover dear! thy Thisby dear,

BOTTOMand lady dear!"

QUINCENo, no; you must play Pyramus;

QUINCEand, Flute, you Thisby.

BOTTOMWell, proceed.

practising to himself

FLUTE"Ah Pyramus, my lover dear,

FLUTEthy Thisby dear, and Lady dear..."

QUINCERobin Starveling, the tailor.

STARVELINGHere, Peter Quince.

QUINCERobin Starveling,

QUINCEyou must play Thisby's mother.

QUINCETom Snout, the tinker.

SNOUTHere, Peter Quince.

QUINCEYou, Pyramus' father;

QUINCEmyself, Thisby's father;

QUINCESnug, the joiner;

QUINCEyou, the lion's part;

QUINCEand, I hope,

QUINCEhere is a play fitted.

SNUGHave you the lion's part written?

SNUGpray you, if it be, give it me,

SNUGfor I am slow of study.

QUINCEYou may do it extempore,

QUINCEfor it is nothing but roaring.

BOTTOMLet me play the lion too:

BOTTOMI will roar,

BOTTOMthat I will do any man's heart

BOTTOMgood to hear me; I will roar,

BOTTOMthat I will make the duke say

BOTTOM"Let him roar again,

BOTTOMlet him roar again"

FLUTEAn you should do it too terribly,

FLUTEyou would fright the duchess

FLUTEand the ladies,

FLUTEthat they would shriek;

FLUTEand that were enough to hang us all.

SNUGThat would hang us,

SNUGev'ry mother's son.

FLUTEEv'ry mother's son!

BOTTOMBut I will aggravate my voice so,

BOTTOMthat I will roar you as gently

BOTTOMas any sucking dove;

BOTTOMI will roar you an 'twere

BOTTOMany nightingale.

QUINCEYou can play no part but Pyramus;

QUINCEfor Pyramus is a sweet-faced man;

QUINCEa proper man,

QUINCEas one shall see in a summer's day;

QUINCEa most lovely gentleman-like man;

QUINCEtherefore you must needs

QUINCEplay Pyramus.

BOTTOMWell, I will undertake it.

General satisfaction.

QUINCEBut masters

QUINCEhere are your parts;

QUINCEand I am to entreat you,

QUINCErequest you and desire you,

QUINCEto con them by tonight;

QUINCEthere will we rehearse anon.

BOTTOMWe will meet;

BOTTOMand there we may rehearse

BOTTOMmost obscenely and courageously.

BOTTOMTake pains; be perfect: adieu.

QUINCEAt the duke's oak

QUINCEwe meet.

ALLAdieu.

(Exeunt. Enter Lysander and

Hermia.)

LYSANDERFair love, you faint

LYSANDERwith wandering in the wood;

LYSANDERand to speak troth,

LYSANDERI have forgot our way;

LYSANDERwe'll rest us, Hermia,

LYSANDERif you think it good,

LYSANDERand tarry

LYSANDERfor the comfort of the day.

HERMIABe it so, Lysander;

HERMIAfind you out a bed;

HERMIAfor I upon this bank

HERMIAwill rest my head.

LYSANDEROne turf shall serve

LYSANDERas pillow for us both;

LYSANDEROne heart, one bed,

LYSANDERtwo bosoms and one troth.

HERMIANay, good Lysander;

HERMIAmy sake, my dear,

HERMIAlie further off yet,

HERMIAdo not lie so near.

HERMIASo far be distant;

HERMIAand, good night, sweet friend;

HERMIAThy love ne'er alter

HERMIAtill thy sweet life end!

HERMIAAmen to that fair prayer,

HERMIAsay I;

HERMIAand then end life

HERMIAwhen I end loyalty!

They go to sleep. Enter Puck.

PUCKThrough the forest have I gone.

PUCKBut Athenian found I none,

PUCKon whose eyes I might approve

PUCKthis flower's force

PUCKin stirring love.

PUCKNight and silence.

PUCKWho is here?

coming upon the sleeping Lysander

PUCKWeeds of Athens he doth wear;

PUCKthis is he,

PUCKmy master said,

PUCKdespised the Athenian maid;

(He squeezes the juice on Lysander's

eyes.)

Churl, upon thy eyes I throw

PUCKall the power this charm doth owe.

PUCKSo awake when I am gone;

PUCKfor I must now to Oberon.

Exit Puck.

in her sleep

HERMIAAmen, amen

HERMIAto that fair prayer, say I.

(Enter Helena and Demetriud,

running)

HELENAStay, though thou kill me,

HELENAsweet Demetrius.

DEMETRIUSI charge thee, hence,

DEMETRIUSand do not haunt me thus.

HELENAO, wilt thou darkling leave me?

HELENAdo not so.

DEMETRIUSStay, on thy peril:

DEMETRIUSI alone will go.

Running out

following

HELENAO, I am out of breath

HELENAin this fond chase!

HELENAThe more my prayer,

HELENAthe lesser is my grace.

HELENAHappy is Hermia,

HELENAwheresoe'er she lies;

HELENAfor she hath blessed

HELENAand attractive eyes.

HELENAAlas, I am as ugly as a bear;

HELENAfor beasts

HELENAthat meet me

run away for fear;

She sees Lysander.

HELENABut who is here?

HELENALysander! on the ground!

HELENADead? or asleep?

HELENAI see no blood, no wound.

HELENALysander if you live,

HELENAgood sir, awake.

Awaking

LYSANDERAnd run through fire

LYSANDERI will for thy sweet sake.

LYSANDERTransparent Helena!

LYSANDERNature shows art,

LYSANDERthat through thy bosom

LYSANDERmakes me see thy heart.

LYSANDERWhere is Demetrius?

LYSANDERO, how fit a word

LYSANDERis that vile name

LYSANDERto perish on my sword!

HELENADo not say so, Lysander;

HELENAsay not so

HELENAwhat though he love your Hermia?

HELENALord, what though?

HELENAYet Hermia still loves you;

HELENAthen be content

LYSANDERContent with Hermia! No;

LYSANDERI do repent the tedious minutes

LYSANDERI with her have spent.

LYSANDERNot Hermia but Helena I love;

LYSANDERwho will not change a raven

LYSANDERfor a dove?

HELENAWherefore was I to this keen

HELENAmockery born?

HELENAWhen at your hands did I deserve

HELENAthis scorn?

HELENAGood troth, you do me wrong,

HELENAgood sooth, you do,

HELENAin such disdainful

HELENAmanner me to woo but fare you well;

HELENAperforce I must confess

running out

HELENAI thought you lord of more

HELENAtrue gentleness.

LYSANDERShe sees not Hermia.

LYSANDERHermia, sleep thou there;

LYSANDERand never mayst thou come

LYSANDERLysander near!

LYSANDERSleep thou there;

LYSANDERand, all my powers,

LYSANDERaddress your love and might

LYSANDERTo honour Helen

LYSANDERand to be her knight!

running out

wakes up, calling

HERMIALysander, help me,

HERMIAwhat a dream was here!

HERMIALysander, look how I do quake

HERMIAwith fear;

HERMIAmethought a serpent

HERMIAeat my heart away,

HERMIAand you sat smiling

HERMIAat his cruel prey.

HERMIALysander! what, removed?

HERMIALysander! lord!

HERMIAWhat, out of hearing? gone?

HERMIAno sound, no word?

HERMIAAlack, where are you? speak,

HERMIAan if you hear;

HERMIAspeak, of all loves!

HERMIAI swoon almost with fear.

running out

HERMIALysander, Lord...

(Enter Tytania, with Cobweb,

Peaseblossom, Mustardseed, Moth

and Fairies.)

TYTANIACome, now a roundel

TYTANIAand a fairy song;

TYTANIAthen, for the third part

TYTANIAof a minute, hence;

TYTANIAsome to kill cankers

TYTANIAin the musk-rose buds,

TYTANIAsome war with rere-mice

TYTANIAfor their leathern wings,

TYTANIAto make my small elves coats,

TYTANIAand some keep back

TYTANIAthe clamorous owl that nightly

TYTANIAhoots and wonders

TYTANIAat our quaint spirits.

TYTANIASing me now asleep;

TYTANIAthen to your offices

TYTANIAand let me rest.

SOLO FAIRIESYou spotted snakes

SOLO FAIRIESwith double tongue,

SOLO FAIRIESthorny hedgehogs, be not seen;

SOLO FAIRIESnewts and blind-worms,

SOLO FAIRIESdo no wrong,

SOLO FAIRIEScome not near our fairy queen.

SOLO FAIRIESPhilomel, with melody

SOLO FAIRIESsing in our sweet lullaby;

ALL FAIRIESLullaby,

ALL FAIRIESnever harm, nor spell nor charm,

ALL FAIRIEScome our lovely lady nigh;

ALL FAIRIESso, good night, with lullaby.

SOLO FAIRIESWeaving spiders, come not here

SOLO FAIRIEShence, you long-legg'd spinners,

SOLO FAIRIEShence!

SOLO FAIRIESBeetles black, approach not near;

SOLO FAIRIESworm nor snail, do no offence.

SOLO FAIRIESPhilomel, with melody...

whispered

COBWEBHence, away! now all is well;

COBWEBone aloof stand sentinel.

(Tytania sleeps. The Fairies, except

one standing sentry, slip out.

Oberon appears.)

(squeezing the juice from the

flower onto Tytania's eyelids.)

OBERONWhat thou seest

OBERONwhen thou dost wake,

OBERONdo it for thy true-love take,

OBERONlove and languish for his sake;

OBERONbe it ounce, or cat, or bear,

OBERONpard, or boar with bristled hair,

OBERONin thine eye that shall appear

OBERONwhen thou wakest, it is thy dear;

OBERONwake when some vile thing is near.

(He slowly disappears and the

ligjhts fade on the sleeping

Tytania.)

SYSTEMACT II

Introduction

(The wood. Tytania lying asleep.

Enter the six rustics.)

BOTTOMAre we all met?

THE OTHERSPat, pat, pat

QUINCEAnd here's a marvellous convenient

QUINCEplace for our rehearsal.

BOTTOMPeter Quince?

QUINCEWhat sayest thou, bully Bottom?

BOTTOMThere are things in this comedy

BOTTOMthat will never please.

First, Pyramus must draw

BOTTOMa sword to kill himself;

BOTTOMwhich the ladies cannot abide.

THE OTHERSBy'r lakin, a parlous fear.

I believe we must leave the

FLUTEkilling out, when all is done.

BOTTOMNot a whit:

BOTTOMI have a device to make all well.

BOTTOMWrite me a prologue;

BOTTOMtell them, that I,

BOTTOMPyramus, am not Pyramus,

BOTTOMbut Bottom the weaver:

BOTTOMthis will put them out of fear.

SNUGWill not the ladies be afeard

SNUGof the Lion?

THE OTHERSThe Lion.

FLUTEI fear it, I promise you.

BOTTOMTherefore another Prologue

BOTTOMmust tell them plainly

BOTTOMhe is not a Lion

BOTTOMbut Snug the joiner.

QUINCEBut there is two hard things;

QUINCEthat is, to bring the moonlight

QUINCEinto a chamber; for, you know,

QUINCEPyramus and Thisby meet by moonlight.

STARVELINGDoth the moon shine that night

STARVELINGwe play our play?

BOTTOMA calendar,

BOTTOMlook in the almanac;

BOTTOMfind out moonshine.

THE OTHERSMoonshine, moonshine.

QUINCEThen, there is another thing:

QUINCEwe must have a wall

QUINCEin the great chamber.

SNOUTYou can never bring in a wall.

ALLWhat say you, Bottom?

BOTTOMSome man or other must present Wall,

BOTTOMand let him hold his fingers thus,

BOTTOMand through that cranny shall

Pyramus and Thisby whisper.

THE OTHERSThen all is well.

Come, sit down,

QUINCEevery mother's son,

QUINCEand rehearse your parts,

QUINCEevery one according to his cue.

QUINCEPyramus, you begin.

Puck flies in.

PUCKWhat hempen home-spuns

PUCKhave we swaggering here,

PUCKso near the cradle

PUCKthe fairy queen?

QUINCESpeak, Pyramus.

QUINCEThisby, stand forth.

BOTTOMThisby, the flowers

BOTTOMof odious savours sweet...

QUINCEOdours, odours.

BOTTOMOdours savours sweet:

BOTTOMSo hath thy breath,

BOTTOMmy dearest Thisby dear.

BOTTOMBut Hark, a voice!

BOTTOMstay thou but here awhile,

BOTTOMAnd by and by I will to thee appear.

Exit Bottom

PUCKI'll follow you,

PUCKI'll lead you about a round.

He follows Bottom

FLUTEMust I speak now?

QUINCEAy, marry, must you;

QUINCEfor you must understand

QUINCEhe goes but to see a noise

QUINCEhe heard and is to come again.

FLUTEMost radiant Pyramus,

FLUTEmost lily-white of hue,

FLUTEof colour like the red rose

FLUTEon triumphant brier,

FLUTEmost brisky juvenal

FLUTEand eke most lovely Jew,

FLUTEas true as truest horse

FLUTEthat yet would never tire,

FLUTEI'll meet thee, Pyramus,

FLUTEat Ninny's tomb.

QUINCEWhy, you must not speak that yet;

QUINCEthat you answer to Pyramo:

QUINCEyou speak all your part at once,

QUINCEcues and all.

Pyramus enter:

QUINCEyour cue is past;

QUINCEit is, 'never tire'.

FLUTEO, as true as truest horse,

FLUTEthat yet would never tire.

(Enter Puck and Bottom with an

ass's head upon his shoulders.)

BOTTOMIf I were fair, Thisby,

BOTTOMI were only thine.

Puck flies off.

THE OTHERSO monstrous! O strange!

THE OTHERSwe are haunted.

THE OTHERSPray, masters! fly, masters!

THE OTHERSHelp!

(Exeunt Quince, Snug, Flute, Snout,

and Starveling.)

BOTTOMWhy do they run away?

BOTTOMthis is a knavery

BOTTOMto make me afeard.

Flute reappears.

FLUTEO Bottom, Bottom,

FLUTEthou art changed!

FLUTEwhat do I see on thee?

Exit Flute.

BOTTOMWhat do you see?

BOTTOMyou see an asshead of your own,

BOTTOMdo you?

(The rustics reappear from behind

the trees.)

ALLBless thee, Bottom! bless thee!

ALLthou art translated.

They desappear.

BOTTOMI see their knavery:

BOTTOMthis is to make an ass of me;

BOTTOMto fright me, if they could.

BOTTOMBut I will not stir from this place,

BOTTOMand I will sing, that they shall hear

BOTTOMI am not afraid.

Singing

BOTTOMThe woosell cock, so black of hue,

BOTTOMwith orange-tawny bill,

BOTTOMthe throstle with his note so true,

BOTTOMthe wren with little quill,...

awaking

TYTANIAWhat angel wakes me

TYTANIAfrom my flowery bed?

BOTTOMThe finch, the sparrow and the lark,

BOTTOMthe plain-song cuckoo gray,

BOTTOMwhose note full many a man doth mark,

BOTTOMand dares not answer nay.

TYTANIAI pray thee, gentle mortal,

TYTANIAsing again:

TYTANIAMine ear is much enamour'd

TYTANIAof thy note; so is mine eye

TYTANIAenthralled to thy shape;

TYTANIAthou art as wise as

TYTANIAthou art beautiful.

BOTTOMNot so, neither:

BOTTOMbut if I had wit enough to get out

BOTTOMof this wood...

TYTANIAOut of this wood do not desire to go:

TYTANIAThou shalt remain here,

TYTANIAwhether thou wilt or no.

TYTANIAI am a spirit of no common rate;

TYTANIAthe summer still doth tend

TYTANIAupon my state;

TYTANIAI'll give thee Fairies

TYTANIAto attend on thee;

TYTANIAPeaseblossom!

enters.

PEASEBLOSSOMReady

TYTANIACobweb!

enters.

COBWEBAnd I.

TYTANIAMoth!

enters.

MOTHAnd I.

TYTANIAMustardseed!

enters.

MUSTARDSEEDAnd I.

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESWhre shall we go?

TYTANIABe kind and courteous

TYTANIAto this gentleman; hop in his walks

TYTANIAand gambol in his eyes;

TYTANIAfeed him with apricocks

TYTANIAand dewberries,

TYTANIAwith purple grapes, green figs,

TYTANIAand mulberries; the honey-bags

TYTANIAsteal from the humble-bees,

TYTANIAand for night-tapers crop

TYTANIAtheir waxen thighs

TYTANIAand light them at the fiery

TYTANIAglow-worm's eyes,

TYTANIAto have my love to bed and to arise;

TYTANIAnod to him, elves,

TYTANIAand do him courtesies.

bow deeply to Bottom

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESHail, mortal, hail!

BOTTOMI cry your worship's mercy,

BOTTOMyour mercy, heartily.

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESHail, mortal, hail!

BOTTOMI cry your worship's mercy.

BOTTOMI beseech your worship's name.

COBWEBHail, mortal, hail!

BOTTOMI shall desire you

BOTTOMof more acquaintance,

BOTTOMgood Master Cobweb.

BOTTOMYour name, honest gentleman?

PEASEBLOSSOMHail, mortal, hail!

BOTTOMI pray you, commend me

BOTTOMto Mistress Squash,

BOTTOMyour mother,

BOTTOMand to Master Peascod, your father.

BOTTOMYour name,

BOTTOMI beseech you, sir?

MUSTARDSEEDHail, mortal, hail!

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESHail, mortal, hail!

BOTTOMYour kindred hath made

BOTTOMmy eyes water ere now,

BOTTOMgood master Mustardseed.

BOTTOMI desire you more acquaintance.

BOTTOMYour name, sir?

comes forward

MOTHMo...

interrupting

TYTANIACome, sit thee down upon

TYTANIAthis flowery bed,

TYTANIAwhile I thy amiable cheeks do coy,

TYTANIAand stick musk-roses

TYTANIAin thy sleek smooth head,

TYTANIAand kiss thy fair large ears,

TYTANIAmy gentle joy.

(Tytania and Bottom settle down

on the bank.)

BOTTOMWhere's Peaseblossom?

PEASEBLOSSOMReady.

He goes to Bottom.

BOTTOMScratch my head Peaseblossom.

(Peaseblossom scratches Bottom's

head.)

BOTTOMWhere's Monsieur Cobweb?

COBWEBReady.

He goes to Bottom.

BOTTOMMonsieur Cobweb,

BOTTOMget you your weapons in your hand,

BOTTOMand kill me a red-hipped humble-bee,

BOTTOMand good Monsieur,

BOTTOMbring me the honey-bag.

(Cobweb finds a bee, catches it and

takes the honey to Bottom.)

BOTTOMWhere's Monsieur Mustard-seed?

MUSTARDSEEDReady.

BOTTOMGive me your neaf,

BOTTOMMonsieur Mustardseed.

(Mustardseed shakes his hand

violently.)

Pray you, leave your courtesy,

BOTTOMgood Monsieur.

MUSTARDSEEDWhat's your will?

BOTTOMNothing, good monsieur,

BOTTOMbut to help Cavalery Cobweb

BOTTOMto scratch.

(Mustardseed helps Cobweb to

scratch Bottom's head.)

BOTTOMI am such a tender ass,

BOTTOMif my hair do but tickle me,

BOTTOMI must scratch.

BOTTOMWhere's Monsieur Moth?

MOTHI'm he...

TYTANIAWhat, wilt thou hear some music,

TYTANIAmy sweet love?

BOTTOMI have a reas'nable

BOTTOMgood ear in music.

BOTTOMLa la la la...

BOTTOMLet's have the tongs and the bones.

(The Fairies take their instruments

and start to play.)

BOTTOMAh! Ah! I have a reas'nable

BOTTOMgood ear in music.

(Bottom gets up and begins to

dance.)

BOTTOMLa la la la!

He yawns.

BOTTOMBut, I pray you,

BOTTOMlet none of your people stir me:

BOTTOMI have an exposition

BOTTOMof sleep come upon me.

TYTANIASleep thou, and I will

TYTANIAwind thee in my arms.

TYTANIAFairies, begone,

TYTANIAand be all ways away.

The Fairies disappear.

TYTANIASo doth the woodbine

TYTANIAthe sweet honeysuckle

TYTANIAgently entwist;

TYTANIAthe female ivy so enrings

TYTANIAthe barky fingers of the elm.

TYTANIAHow I love thee!

TYTANIAhow I dote on thee!

(They sleep, and it grows dark.

Enter Oberon and Puck.)

OBERONHow now, mad spirit!

OBERONWhat night-rule now

OBERONabout this haunted grove?

PUCKSee, see, my mistress

PUCKwith a monster is in love.

This falls out better than

OBERONI could devise.

OBERONBut hast thou yet latch'd

OBERONthe Athenian's eyes

OBERONwith the love-juice,

OBERONas I did bid thee do?

Enter Hermia and Demetrius.

OBERONStand close:

OBERONthis is the same Athenian.

PUCKThis is the woman,

PUCKbut not this the man.

Oberon and Puck listen.

DEMETRIUSO, why rebuke you him

DEMETRIUSthat loves you so?

HERMIAIf thou hast slain Lysander

HERMIAin his sleep,

HERMIAplunge in the deep,

HERMIAand kill me too.

HERMIAAh, good Demetrius,

HERMIAwilt thou give him me?

DEMETRIUSI had rather give

DEMETRIUShis carcass to my hounds.

HERMIAOut, dog, out, cur,

HERMIAoh hast thou slain him, then?

DEMETRIUSI am not guilty

DEMETRIUSof Lysander's blood.

HERMIAI pray thee,

HERMIAtell me then that he is well.

DEMETRIUSAn if I could,

DEMETRIUSwhat should I get therefore?

HERMIAA privilege never to see me more.

HERMIAAnd from thy hated presence part

HERMIAI so. See me no more,

HERMIAwhether he be dead or no.

Exit.

DEMETRIUSThere is no following her

DEMETRIUSin this fierce vein:

DEMETRIUSHere therefore for a while

DEMETRIUSI will remain.

DEMETRIUSSo sorrow's heaviness

DEMETRIUSdoth heavier grow

He lies down.

OBERONWhat hast thou done?

OBERONthou hast mistaken quite

OBERONand laid the love-juice

OBERONon some true-love's sight:

OBERONAbout the wood go swifter

OBERONthan the wind,

OBERONand Helena of Athens look thou find.

PUCKI go, I go; look how I go,

PUCKswifter than arrow

PUCKfrom the Tartar's bow.

He flies off.

OBERONFlower of this purple dye,

OBERONhit with Cupid's archery,

OBERONsink in apple of his eye.

OBERONWhen his love he doth espy,

OBERONlet her shine as gloriously

OBERONas the Venus of the sky.

OBERONWhen thou wakest, if she be by,

OBERONbeg of her for remedy.

Puck flies in.

PUCKCaptain of our fairy band,

PUCKHelena is here at hand;

PUCKand the youth,

PUCKmistook by me,

PUCKshall we their fond pageant see?

PUCKLord, what fools these mortals be!

(Enter Helena, Lysander following.

Oberon and Puck stand aside.)

LYSANDERWhy should you think that

LYSANDERI should woo in scorn?

HELENAThese vows are Hermia's.

HELENAWill you give her o'er?

LYSANDERI had no judgment when to her

LYSANDERI swore.

HELENANor none, in my mind,

now you give her o'er.

LYSANDERDemetrius loves her,

LYSANDERand he loves not you.

Demetrius awakes.

DEMETRIUSO Helena, goddess, nymph,

DEMETRIUSperfect, divine!

DEMETRIUSTo what, my love,

DEMETRIUSshall I compare thine eyne?

DEMETRIUSCrystal is muddy.

DEMETRIUSO, how ripe in show thy lips,

those kissing cherries,

DEMETRIUStempting grow!

DEMETRIUSThat pure congealed white,

DEMETRIUShigh Taurus' snow,

DEMETRIUSfann'd with the eastern wind,

turns to a crow when thou hold'st up

DEMETRIUSthy hand: O, let me kiss

DEMETRIUSthis princess of pure white,

DEMETRIUSthis seal of bliss!

DEMETRIUSO Helen!

HELENAO spite!

DEMETRIUSGoddess!

HELENAO Hell!

DEMETRIUSNymph, perfect, divine!

HELENAI see you all are bent

HELENATo set against me

HELENAfor your merriment.

To Lysander

DEMETRIUSLook, where thy love comes;

DEMETRIUSyonder is thy dear.

entering

HERMIAAh, Lysander,

HERMIAwhy unkindly didst

HERMIAthou leave me so?

HELENAInjurious Hermia!

HELENAmost ungrateful maid!

HELENAHave you conspired,

HELENAhave you with these contrived

HELENAto bait me with this foul derision?

HELENAIs all the counsel that

HELENAwe two have shared,

HELENAthe sisters' vows,

HELENAthe hours that we have spent,

HELENAwhen we have chid

HELENAthe hasty-footed time

HELENAfor parting us, O, is it all forgot?

HELENAAll school-days' friendship,

HELENAchildhood innocence?

HELENAWe, Hermia, like two artificial gods,

HELENAhave with our needles created

HELENAboth one flower,

HELENAboth on one sampler,

HELENAsitting on one cushion,

HELENAboth warbling of one song,

HELENAboth in one key;

HELENAtwo lovely berries moulded

HELENAon one stem;

HELENAso, with two seeming bodies,

HELENAbut one heart;

HELENAand will you rent

HELENAour ancient love asunder,

HELENAto join with men

HELENAin scorning your poor friend?

HELENAIt is not friendly,

HELENA'tis not maidenly:

HERMIAI am amazed

HERMIAat your passionate words.

HERMIAI scorn you not:

HERMIAit seems that you scorn me.

HELENAAy, do, persever,

HELENAcounterfeit sad looks,

HELENAmake mouths upon me when

I turn my back;

HELENAwink each at other;

HELENAhold the sweet jest up:

as if going

HELENABut fare ye well:

HELENA'tis partly my own fault;

HELENAwhich death or absence

HELENAsoon shall remedy.

LYSANDERStay, gentle Helena;

LYSANDERhear my excuse:

LYSANDERMy love, my life my soul,

LYSANDERfair Helena!

HELENAO excellent!

to Lysander

HERMIASweet, do not scorn her so.

DEMETRIUSIf she cannot entreat,

DEMETRIUSI can compel.

LYSANDERThou canst compel no more

LYSANDERthan she entreat:

DEMETRIUSI say I love thee more

DEMETRIUSthan he can do.

LYSANDERIf thou say so, withdraw,

LYSANDERand prove it too.

DEMETRIUSQuick, come!

holds Lysander

HERMIALysander,

HERMIAwhereto tends all this?

LYSANDERAway, you Ethiope!

DEMETRIUSNo, no; sir, seem to break loose;

DEMETRIUSYou are a tame man, go!

LYSANDERHang off, thou cat, thou burr!

LYSANDERvile thing, let loose,

LYSANDERor I will shake thee

LYSANDERfrom me like a serpent!

HERMIAWhy are you grown so rude?

HERMIAwhat change is this? Sweet love?

DEMETRIUSSeems to break loose;

DEMETRIUStake on as you would follow.

LYSANDERThy love!

LYSANDERout, tawny Tartar, out!

HERMIASweet love.

DEMETRIUSYou are a tame man, go!

LYSANDEROut, loathed medicine!

LYSANDERhated potion, hence!

HERMIADo you not jest?

HELENAYes, sooth; and so do you.

LYSANDERDemetrius, I will keep

LYSANDERmy word with thee.

DEMETRIUSI would I had your bond;

DEMETRIUSI'll not trust your word.

LYSANDERWhat, should I hurt her,

LYSANDERstrike her, kill her dead?

LYSANDERAlthough I hate her,

LYSANDERI'll not harm her so.

HERMIAWhat, can you do me

HERMIAgreater harm than hate?

HERMIAAm not I Hermia?

HERMIAare not you Lysander?

To Helena

HERMIAO me! you juggler!

HERMIAyou canker-blossom!

HERMIAYou thief of love!

DEMETRIUSLysander, keep thy Hermia;

DEMETRIUSI will none:

DEMETRIUSIf e'er I loved her,

DEMETRIUSall that love is gone.

LYSANDERAy, by my life;

LYSANDERbe certain 'tis no jest,

LYSANDERThat I do hate thee and love Helena.

HELENAYou both are rivals,

HELENAand love Hermia;

HELENAAnd now both rivals,

HELENAto mock

furious to Hermia

HELENAFie, fie! you counterfeit,

HELENAyou puppet, you!

HERMIAPuppet? why so?

HERMIAay, that way goes the game.

HERMIANow I perceive that

HERMIAshe hath made compare

HERMIAbetween our statures;

HERMIAshe hath urged her height;

HERMIAand with her personage,

HERMIAher tall personage,

HERMIAher height, forsooth,

HERMIAshe hath prevail'd with him.

HERMIAAnd are you grown so high

HERMIAin his esteem;

HERMIAbecause I am so dwarfish and so low?

HERMIAHow low am I,

HERMIAthou painted Maypole? speak;

HERMIAHow low am I? I am not yet so low

HERMIAbut that my nails can reach

HERMIAunto thine eyes.

HELENAI pray you, though you mock me,

HELENAgentlemen, let her not hurt me;

HELENAyou may perhaps think,

HELENAbecause she is something lower

HELENAthan myself,

HELENAthat I can match her.

HERMIALower? Lower?

HERMIAHark, again!

HELENAO, when she's angry,

HELENAshe is keen and shrewd!

HELENAShe was a vixen when

HELENAshe went to school;

HELENAand though she be but little,

HELENAshe is fierce...

HERMIALittle again!

HELENA...she is fierce.

HERMIANothing but low and little?

HELENAGet you gone, you dwarf.

HERMIAHark again!

HELENAYou minimus,

HELENAof hindering knot-grass made.

to Lysander

HERMIAWhy will you suffer her

HERMIAto flout me thus?

HELENAYou bead!

HERMIAHark again!

HELENAYou acorn!

HERMIALet me come to her!

HELENAYou bead!

HERMIAWhy will you suffer her to flout me?

HELENAGet you gone, you dwarf.

LYSANDERBe not afraid;

LYSANDERshe shall not harm thee, Helena.

DEMETRIUSNo, sir, she shall not,

though you take her part.

LYSANDERYou are too officious

LYSANDERin her behalf that scorns

LYSANDERyour services.

DEMETRIUSLet her alone: speak not of Helena.

LYSANDERNow follow, if thou darest.

DEMETRIUSNay, I'll go with thee,

DEMETRIUScheek by jowl...

DEMETRIUS...to try whose right,

DEMETRIUSor thine or mine is most in Helena.

Exeunt Lysander and Demetrius.

HELENAYou, mistress,

HELENAall this coil is 'long of you.

HERMIANay, go not back.

HELENAI will not trust you, I...

HELENA...Nor longer stay

HELENAin your curst company.

HERMIANay, go not back.

HELENAYour hands than mine are quicker

HELENAfor a fray,

HELENAmy legs are longer though,

to run away.

(Helena goes out, followed by

Hermia. Oberon comes forward in a

rage, dragging Puck.)

PUCKOw! Oh! Ow!

OBERONThis is thy negligence:

OBERONstill thou mistakest,

OBERONor else committ'st

OBERONthy knaveries wilfully.

PUCKBelieve me, king of shadows,

PUCKI mistook...

Oberon shakes him.

PUCKI mistook... Ah!

OBERONThou see'st these lovers seek

OBERONa place to fight:

OBERONhie therefore, Robin,

OBERONovercast the night;

OBERONand lead these testy rivals so astray

OBERONas one come not within

OBERONanother's way.

OBERONTill o'er their brows

OBERONdeath-counterfeiting sleep

OBERONwith leaden legs

OBERONand batty wings doth creep:

OBERONthen crush this herb

OBERONinto Lysander's eye;

OBERONwhen they next wake,

OBERONall this derision

OBERONshall seem a dream

OBERONand fruitless vision,

OBERONhaste, Robin, haste;

OBERONmake no delay:

OBERONwe may effect this business

OBERONyet ere day.

Oberon goes out

PUCKUp and down, up and down,

PUCKI will lead them up and down:

PUCKI am fear'd in field and town:

PUCKGoblin, lead them up and down.

PUCKUp and down, up and down,

PUCKHere comes one.

Enters, calling

LYSANDERWhere art thou, proud Demetrius?

LYSANDERspeak thou now.

imitating Demetrius

PUCKHere, villain;

PUCKdrawn and ready.

PUCKWhere art thou?

PUCKFollow me,

PUCKthen to plainer ground.

calling

DEMETRIUSLysander! speak again:

DEMETRIUSThou runaway, thou coward,

DEMETRIUSart thou fled?

imitating Lysander

PUCKArt bragging to the stars

PUCKand wilt not come?

DEMETRIUSYea, art thou there?

PUCKFollow my voice:

PUCKwe'll try no manhood here.

Exeunt. Enter Lysander.

LYSANDERHe goes before me

LYSANDERand still dares me on:

distant

PUCKLysander!

LYSANDERWhen I come where he calls,

LYSANDERthen he is gone.

And I am I fall'n

LYSANDERin dark uneven way,

LYSANDERand here will rest me.

LYSANDERCome, thou gentle day!

He lies down.

LYSANDERFor if but once thou show me

LYSANDERthy grey light,

LYSANDERI'll find Demetrius

LYSANDERand revenge this spite.

He sleeps. Enter Puck.

PUCKHo, ho!

PUCKCoward, why comest thou not?

calling in off

DEMETRIUSAbide me, if thou darest.

DEMETRIUSWhere art thou now?

PUCKCome hither: I am here.

Enter Demetrius

DEMETRIUSNay, then, thou mock'st me.

DEMETRIUSThou shalt buy this dear,

DEMETRIUSif ever I thy face by daylight see:

DEMETRIUSnow, go thy way.

DEMETRIUSFaintness constraineth me

DEMETRIUSto measure out my length

DEMETRIUSon this cold bed.

He lies down.

DEMETRIUSBy day's approach look

DEMETRIUSto be visited.

He sleeps. Enter Helena.

HELENAO weary night,

HELENAo long and tedious night,

HELENAabate thy hours! Shine comforts

HELENAfrom the east, and sleep,

HELENAthat sometimes

HELENAshuts up sorrow's eye,

HELENAsteal me awhile

HELENAfrom mine own company.

She sleeps.

PUCKYet but three? Come one more;

PUCKtwo of both kinds make up four.

Enter Hermia.

PUCKHere she comes,

PUCKcurst and sad:

PUCKCupid is a knavish lad,

PUCKthus to make poor females mad.

HERMIANever so weary,

HERMIAnever so in woe,

HERMIABedabbled with the dew

HERMIAand torn with briers,

HERMIAI can no further crawl,

HERMIAno further go;

HERMIAMy legs can keep no pace

HERMIAwith my desires.

HERMIAHere will I rest me till

HERMIAthe break of day.

HERMIAHeavens shield Lysander,

HERMIAif they mean a fray!

(She sleeps. The Fairies come in

very stealthily.)

FAIRIESOn the ground, sleep sound:

FAIRIEShe'll apply to your eye,

FAIRIESgentle lover, remedy.

FAIRIESWhen thou wakest, thou takest

FAIRIEStrue delight in the sight

FAIRIESof thy former lady's eye:

FAIRIESand the country proverb known,

FAIRIESin your waking shall be shown:

FAIRIESJack shall have Jill;

FAIRIESnought shall go ill;

FAIRIESthe man shall have his mare again,

FAIRIESand all shall be well.

(Exeunt Fairies. Puck squeezes the

juice on Lysander's eyes and goes

out.)

SYSTEMACT III

FAIRIESIntroduction

FAIRIES(The wood, early next morning.

FAIRIESTytania with Bottom, and the four

FAIRIESlovers lie asleep. Puck and Oberon

FAIRIESappear.)

observing Tytania

OBERONMy gentle Robin;

OBERONsee'st thou this sweet sight?

OBERONHer dotage now I do begin to pity.

OBERONAnd now I have the boy,

OBERONI will undo

OBERONthis hateful imperfection

OBERONof her eyes:

OBERONBe as thou wast wont to be;

OBERONsee as thou wast wont to see:

OBERONDian's bud o'er Cupid's flower

OBERONhath such force and blessed power.

OBERONBe as thou wast wont to be;

OBERONnow, my Tytania; wake you,

OBERONmy sweet queen.

Tytania wakes.

TYTANIAMy Oberon!

TYTANIAwhat visions have I seen!

TYTANIAMethought I was enamour'd

TYTANIAof an ass.

OBERONThere lies your love.

TYTANIAHow came these things to pass?

TYTANIAO, how mine eyes do loathe

TYTANIAhis visage now!

OBERONSilence awhile.

OBERONRobin, take off this head.

OBERONTytania, music call;

OBERONand strike more dead than common

OBERONsleep of all these five the sense.

Puck removes the ass's head.

TYTANIAMusic, ho! music,

TYTANIAsuch as charmeth sleep!

Enter some Fairies.

OBERONSound, music! Come, my queen,

OBERONtake hands with me,

OBERONand rock the ground whereon

OBERONthese sleepers be.

They dance.

OBERONNow thou and I are new in amity

OBERONand will to-morrow midnight

OBERONsolemnly dance in Duke Theseus'

OBERONhouse triumphantly,

OBERONAnd bless it to all fair prosperity.

OBERONThere shall the pairs

OBERONof faithful lovers be wedded,

OBERONwith Theseus, all in jollity.

PUCKFairy king, attend, and mark:

PUCKI do hear the morning lark.

PUCK(He disappears. Oberon, Tytania

PUCKand the Fairies disappear, still

PUCKdancing. Distant horns.)

waking

DEMETRIUSHelena!

waking

LYSANDERHermia!

waking

HELENADemetrius!

waking

HERMIALysander!

ALL FOURWe are awake!

HELENAAnd I have found Demetrius

HELENAlike a jewel, mine own,

HELENAand not mine own.

DEMETRIUSAnd I have found fair Helen

DEMETRIUSlike a jewel, mine own,

DEMETRIUSand not mine own.

HERMIAAnd I have found Lysander

HERMIAlike a jewel,

HERMIAmine own, and not mine own.

LYSANDERAnd I have found sweet Hermia

LYSANDERlike a jewel,

LYSANDERmine own, and not mine own.

ALL FOURWhy then we are awake; let's go

ALL FOURAnd by the way let us recount

ALL FOURour dreams.

The lovers go out.

slowly waking

BOTTOMWhen my cue comes,

BOTTOMcall me, and I will answer:

BOTTOMmy next is, 'Most fair Pyramus.'

BOTTOMHeigh-ho! Peter Quince! Flute,

BOTTOMthe bellows-mender?

BOTTOMSnout, the tinker? Starveling?

BOTTOMGod's my life, stolen hence,

BOTTOMand left me asleep!

BOTTOMI have had a dream, past the wit

BOTTOMof man to say what dream it was.

BOTTOMMethought I was,

BOTTOMthere is no man can tell what.

BOTTOMMethought I was,

BOTTOMand methought I had.

BOTTOMBut man is but a patched fool,

BOTTOMif he will offer to say

BOTTOMwhat methought I had.

BOTTOMThe eye of man hath not heard,

BOTTOMthe ear of man hath not seen,

BOTTOMman's hand is not able to taste,

BOTTOMhis tongue to conceive,

BOTTOMnor his heart to report,

BOTTOMwhat my dream was. My dream!

BOTTOMI will get Peter Quince

BOTTOMthe carpenter to write

BOTTOMa ballad of this dream,

BOTTOMand it shall be called

BOTTOMBottom's Dream,

BOTTOMbecause it hath no Bottom;

BOTTOMand I will sing it

BOTTOMin the latter end of a play,

BOTTOMbefore the duke.

BOTTOMPeradventure,

BOTTOMto make it the more gracious,

BOTTOMI shall sing it at her death.

(Exit. Enter Quince, Flute, Snout

BOTTOMand Starveling, gloomily.)

QUINCEHave you sent to Bottom's house?

QUINCEis he come home yet?

STARVELINGHe cannot be heard of.

STARVELINGOut of doubt he is transported.

FLUTEIf he come not,

FLUTEthen the play is marred:

FLUTEit goes not forward, doth it?

STARVELINGIt is not possible:

STARVELINGyou have not a man in all

STARVELINGAthens able to discharge

STARVELINGPyramus but he.

SNOUTNo, he hath simply the best

SNOUTwit of any handicraft man in Athens.

QUINCEYes, and the best person too.

Enter Snug.

SNUGMasters, the duke is coming

SNUGfrom the temple.

SNUGIf our sport had gone forward,

SNUGwe had all been made men.

FLUTEsweet bully Bottom!

FLUTEThus hath he lost

FLUTEsixpence a day during his life;

FLUTEhe could not have

FLUTE'scaped sixpence a day:

FLUTEan the duke had not given him

FLUTEsixpence a day for playing Pyramus,

FLUTEI'll be hanged;

FLUTEhe would have deserved it:

FLUTEsixpence a day in Pyramus,

FLUTEor nothing.

SNOUTHe could not have scaped it.

QUINCESixpence.

STARVELINGHe could not have scaped it.

QUINCESixpence or nothing a day.

SNUGHe could not have scaped it.

entering

BOTTOMWhere are these lads?

THE OTHERSBottom!

BOTTOMWhere are these hearts?

THE OTHERSmost courageous day! Bottom!

BOTTOMMasters,

BOTTOMI am to discourse wonders:

BOTTOMbut ask me not what.

THE OTHERSLet us hear, sweet Bottom.

BOTTOMNot a word of me.

BOTTOMAll that I will tell you is,

BOTTOMthat the duke hath dined

BOTTOMand our play is preferred.

THE OTHERSOur play is preferred.

THE OTHERSMost dear actors get

THE OTHERSyour apparel together,

THE OTHERSgood strings to your beards,

THE OTHERSnew ribbons to your pumps;

THE OTHERSand every man look o'er his part.

THE OTHERSLet Thisby have clean linen;

THE OTHERSlet not the lion

THE OTHERSpare his nails;

THE OTHERSeat no onions no garlic,

THE OTHERSno onions,

THE OTHERSthat all may say:

THE OTHERSIt is a sweet comedy.

BOTTOMNo more words,

BOTTOMno more words.

THE OTHERSIt is a sweet comedy

pushes them out

BOTTOMTo the Palace, go, away.

THE OTHERSIt is a sweet comedy.

BOTTOMGo, go away, go!

(They all leave excitedly. The

BOTTOMlights go down on the wood and

up again in Theseus' palace. Enter

BOTTOMTheseus and Hippolyta with their

BOTTOMcourt.)

BOTTOMOrchestral March

THESEUSNow, fair Hippolyta,

our nuptial hour draws on apace;

THESEUSthis happy day bring in

THESEUSAnother moon:

THESEUSbut, O, methinks, how slow

THESEUSthis old moon wanes!

THESEUSshe lingers my desires,

THESEUSlike to a step-dame or a dowager

THESEUSlong withering out

THESEUSa young man's revennew.

HIPPOLYTAThis day will quickly steep

HIPPOLYTAitself in night;

HIPPOLYTAThis night will quickly dream

HIPPOLYTAaway the time;

HIPPOLYTAAnd then the moon,

HIPPOLYTAlike to a silver bow

HIPPOLYTANew-bent in heaven,

HIPPOLYTAshall behold the night

HIPPOLYTAOf our solemnities.

THESEUSHippolyta,

THESEUSI woo'd thee with my sword,

THESEUSand won thy love,

THESEUSdoing thee injuries;

THESEUSbut I will wed thee in another key,

THESEUSwith pomp, with triumph

THESEUSand with revelling.

(Enter Lysander, Demetrius, Helena

and Hermia. They kneel to Theseus)

ALL FOURPardon, my Lord.

I pray you all stand up.

They rise.

THESEUSI know you two

THESEUSare rival enemies:

THESEUSHow comes this gentle concord

THESEUSin the world?

LYSANDERMy lord, I shall reply amazedly,

LYSANDERI went with Hermia hither:

LYSANDERour intent was to be gone

LYSANDERfrom Athens, where we might,

LYSANDERwithout the peril

LYSANDERof the Athenian law.

DEMETRIUSMy lord, fair Helen told me

DEMETRIUSof their stealth,

DEMETRIUSof this their purpose hither

DEMETRIUSto this wood;

DEMETRIUSand I in fury hither follow'd them,

DEMETRIUSFair Helena in fancy following me.

DEMETRIUSBut, my good lord...

THESEUSFair lovers,

THESEUSof this discourse

THESEUSwe more will hear anon.

THESEUSHermia, I will overbear

THESEUSyour father's will;

THESEUSfor in the temple by and by with us

THESEUSThese couples shall eternally

THESEUSbe knit.

THESEUSJoy, gentle friends!

THESEUSJoy and fresh days of love

THESEUSaccompany your hearts!

The lovers embrace.

THESEUSCome now; what masques,

THESEUSwhat dances shall we have,

THESEUSTo wear away this long age

THESEUSof three hours

THESEUSbetween our after-supper,

THESEUSand bed-time?

(Enter Quince with play bill. He

THESEUShands it to Hippolyta and bows.)

reading

HIPPOLYTAA tedious brief scene

HIPPOLYTAof young Pyramus

HIPPOLYTAand his love Thisby;

HIPPOLYTAvery tragical mirth.

DEMETRIUSMerry and tragical?

DEMETRIUStedious and brief?

LYSANDERThat is, hot ice

LYSANDERand wondrous strange snow.

THESEUSWhat are they that do play it?

HIPPOLYTAHard-handed men

HIPPOLYTAthat work in Athens here,

HIPPOLYTAwhich never labour'd

HIPPOLYTAin their minds till now.

THESEUSI will hear that play.

Exit Quince.

THESEUSFor never anything can be amiss,

THESEUSwhen simpleness

THESEUSand duty tender it.

THESEUSTake your places, ladies.

Enter the rustics.

RUSTICSIf we offend,

RUSTICSit is with our good will.

RUSTICSThat you should think,

RUSTICSwe come not to offend,

RUSTICSbut with good will.

RUSTICSTo show our simple skill,

RUSTICSthat is the true beginning

RUSTICSof our end.

RUSTICSConsider then we come

RUSTICSbut in despite.

RUSTICSWe do not come

RUSTICSas minding to content you,

RUSTICSour true intent is.

RUSTICSAll for your delight

RUSTICSwe are not here.

RUSTICSThat you should here repent you,

RUSTICSthe actors are at hand

RUSTICSand by their show you shall know

RUSTICSall that you are like to know.

THESEUSThis fellow doth not stand

upon points.

HIPPOLYTATheir speech was like

HIPPOLYTAa tangled chain,

HIPPOLYTAnothing impaired,

HIPPOLYTAbut all disordered.

LYSANDERThey hath rid his prologue

LYSANDERlike a rough colt;

LYSANDERthey knows not the stop.

DEMETRIUSIndeed they hath played

DEMETRIUSon his prologue like

DEMETRIUSa child on a recorder.

HELENAA sound, but not in government.

HERMIAIt is not enough to speak,

HERMIAbut to speak true.

SYSTEMPROLOGUE (Quince)

HERMIAGentles... Gentles...

THESEUSWho is next?

PROLOGUEGentles, perchance you wonder

PROLOGUEat this show; but wonder on,

PROLOGUEtill truth make all things plain.

PROLOGUEThis man is Pyramus,

PROLOGUEif you would know;

PROLOGUEthis beauteous lady

PROLOGUEThisby is certain.

PROLOGUEThis man, with lime and rough-cast,

PROLOGUEdoth present Wall,

PROLOGUEthat vile Wall which did

PROLOGUEthese lovers sunder;

PROLOGUEthis man, with lanthorn, dog,

PROLOGUEand bush of thorn,

PROLOGUEpresenteth Moonshine;

PROLOGUEthis grisly beast,

PROLOGUEis Lion hight by name.

PROLOGUEFor all the rest,

PROLOGUElet Lion, Moonshine, Wall,

PROLOGUEand lovers twain at large discourse,

PROLOGUEwhile here they do remain.

Exeunt all but Wall.

HELENAI wonder if the lion be to speak.

DEMETRIUSNo wonder, my lord:

DEMETRIUSone lion may,

DEMETRIUSwhen many asses do.

DEMETRIUSWALL (Snout)

DEMETRIUSIn this same interlude

DEMETRIUSit doth befall that I,

DEMETRIUSone Snout by name, present a wall;

DEMETRIUSand such a wall,

DEMETRIUSas I would have you think,

DEMETRIUSthat had in it

DEMETRIUSa crannied hole or chink,

He holds up two fingers.

DEMETRIUSAnd this the cranny is,

DEMETRIUSright and sinister,

DEMETRIUSthrough which

the fearful lovers are to whisper.

HERMIAWould you desire lime

HERMIAand hair to sing better?

LYSANDERIt is the wittiest partition

LYSANDERthat ever I heard discourse.

Pyramus draws near the wall:

THESEUSsilence!

Enter Pyramus.

Bottom

PYRAMUSGrim-look'd night!

PYRAMUSO night with hue so black! night,

PYRAMUSwhich ever art when day is not!

PYRAMUSnight, O night!

PYRAMUSalack, alack, alack,

PYRAMUSI fear my Thisby's

PYRAMUSpromise is forgot!

PYRAMUSAnd thou, o wall, o sweet,

PYRAMUSo lovely wall,

PYRAMUSthat stand'st between her father's

PYRAMUSground and mine!

PYRAMUSThou wall, o wall,

PYRAMUSo sweet and lovely wall,

PYRAMUSshow me thy chink,

PYRAMUSto blink through with mine eye!

PYRAMUSThanks, courteous wall:

PYRAMUSJove shield thee well for this!

PYRAMUSBut what see I? No Thisby do I see.

PYRAMUSWicked wall, through whom

PYRAMUSI see no bliss!

PYRAMUSCursed be thy stones

PYRAMUSfor thus deceiving me!

THESEUSThe wall, methinks,

THESEUSbeing sensible,

THESEUSshould curse again.

to theseus

BOTTOMNo, in truth, sir, he should not.

BOTTOM"Deceiving me" is Thisby's cue;

BOTTOMyonder she comes.

Enter Thisby.

Flute

THISBYWall, full often hast

THISBYthou heard my moans,

THISBYfor parting my fair Pyramus and me!

THISBYMy cherry lips have often

THISBYkiss'd thy stones,

THISBYthy stones with lime

THISBYand hair knit up in thee.

PYRAMUSI see a voice:

PYRAMUSnow will I to the chink,

PYRAMUSto spy an I can hear

PYRAMUSmy Thisby's face. Thisby!

THISBYMy love thou art, my love I think.

PYRAMUSThink what thou wilt,

PYRAMUSI am thy lover's grace.

THISBYMy love thou art, my love I think.

PYRAMUSThink what thou wilt:

PYRAMUSO, kiss me through the hole

PYRAMUSof this vile wall!

PYRAMUSkiss me.

They kiss.

THISBYI kiss the wall's hole,

THISBYnot your lips at all.

PYRAMUSOh, wilt thou at Ninny's tomb

PYRAMUSmeet me straightway?

Exit.

THISBY'Tide life, tide death,

THISBYI come without delay.

Exit.

WALLThus have I, Wall,

WALLmy part discharged so;

WALLand, being done,

WALLthus Wall away doth go,

WALLaway, away, away doth go.

Exit.

HIPPOLYTAThis is the silliest stuff

HIPPOLYTAthat ever I heard.

THESEUSThe best in this kind are

THESEUSbut shadows;

THESEUSand the worst are no worse,

THESEUSif imagination amend them.

THESEUSHere come two noble beasts in,

THESEUSa man and a lion.

Enter Lion and Moonshine.

THESEUSLION (Snug)

THESEUSYou, ladies, you,

THESEUSwhose gentle hearts do fear,

THESEUSthe smallest monstrous mouse

THESEUSthat creeps on floor,

THESEUSshould know that I,

THESEUSone Snug the joiner, am a lion-fell,

THESEUSnor else no lion's dam.

HERMIAA very gentle beast,

HERMIAand of a good conscience.

DEMETRIUSThe very best at a beast

DEMETRIUSthat e'er I saw.

THESEUSBut let us listen to the Moon.

Starveling

MOONSHINE (STARVELING)This lanthorn doth

MOONSHINE (STARVELING)the horned moon present.

LYSANDERHe should have worn

LYSANDERthe horns on his head.

MOONSHINE (STARVELING)I, myself the man i' th'

MOONSHINE (STARVELING)Moon do seem to be.

THESEUSThe man should be put

THESEUSinto the lanthorn.

THESEUSHow is it else the man i'th' Moon?

MOONSHINE (STARVELING)This lanthorn doth the horn...

DEMETRIUSHe dares not come there

DEMETRIUSfor the candle.

THESEUSProceed Moon.

MOONSHINE (STARVELING)All I have o tell you

MOONSHINE (STARVELING)that this lanthorn is the moon;

MOONSHINE (STARVELING)I, the man i'th' Moon;

MOONSHINE (STARVELING)this thorn-bush,

MOONSHINE (STARVELING)my thorn-bush;

MOONSHINE (STARVELING)and this dog, my dog.

HIPPOLYTAI am weary of this moon:

HIPPOLYTAwould he would change!

ALLBut silence; here comes Thisby.

Enter Thisby.

THISBYThis is old Ninny's tomb.

THISBYWhere is my love?

LIONOh! Oh! Oh! Oh!

LION(Lion chases Thisby out. She drops

LIONher mantle.)

DEMETRIUSWell roared, Lion.

THESEUSWell run, Thisby.

LYSANDERWell moused, Lion.

HIPPOLYTAWell run, Thisby.

HELENAWell shone, Moon.

Enter Pyramus.

PYRAMUSSweet Moon,

PYRAMUSI thank thee for thy sunny beams;

PYRAMUSI thank thee, Moon,

PYRAMUSfor shining now so bright;

PYRAMUSbut stay, O spite!

PYRAMUSBut mark, poor knight,

PYRAMUSwhat dreadful dole is here?

PYRAMUSEyes, do you see?

PYRAMUSHow can it be!

PYRAMUSdainty duck! O dear!

PYRAMUSThy mantle good,

PYRAMUSwhat, stain'd with blood!

PYRAMUSApproach, ye Furies fell!

PYRAMUSFates, come, come,

PYRAMUScut thread and thrum;

PYRAMUSquail, crush, conclude, and quell!

HIPPOLYTABeshrew my heart,

HIPPOLYTAbut I pity the man.

PYRAMUSwherefore, Nature,

PYRAMUSdidst thou lions frame?

PYRAMUSSince lion vile hath here

PYRAMUSdeflower'd my dear which is:

PYRAMUSno, no, which was the fairest dame

PYRAMUSthat lived, that loved, that liked,

PYRAMUSthat look'd with cheer.

PYRAMUSCome, tears, confound;

PYRAMUSout, sword, and wound

PYRAMUSthe pap of Pyramus;

PYRAMUSthus die I, thus, thus, thus.

PYRAMUSNow am I dead,

PYRAMUSnow am I fled;

PYRAMUSmy soul is in the sky:

PYRAMUStongue, lose thy light;

PYRAMUSMoon take thy flight:

Exit Moonshine.

PYRAMUSNow die, die, die, die, die.

He dies.

DEMETRIUSWith the help of a surgeon

DEMETRIUShe might yet recover,

DEMETRIUSand prove an ass.

Enter Thisby.

THESEUSHere Thisby comes,

THESEUSand her passion ends the play.

HIPPOLYTAI hope she will be brief.

THISBYAsleep, my love?

THISBYWhat, dead, my dove?

THISBYPyramus, arise!

THISBYSpeak, speak. Quite dumb?

THISBYDead, dead? A tomb

THISBYmust cover thy sweet eyes.

THISBYThese lily lips, this cherry nose,

THISBYthese yellow cowslip cheeks,

THISBYare gone, are gone:

THISBYLovers, make moan:

THISBYHis eyes were green as leeks.

THISBYTongue, not a word:

THISBYCome, trusty sword;

THISBYcome, blade, my breast imbrue:

THISBYAnd, farewell, friends;

THISBYthus Thisby ends:

She stabs herself.

THISBYAdieu, adieu, adieu.

THESEUSMoonshine and Lion are left

THESEUSto bury the dead.

LYSANDERAy, and Wall too.

raising himself

BOTTOMNo, I assure you;

BOTTOMthe wall is down that

BOTTOMparted their fathers.

Bottom and Flute get up.

BOTTOMWill it please you

BOTTOMto see the epilogue,

BOTTOMor to hear a Bergomask dance?

THESEUSNo epilogue,

THESEUSI pray you;

THESEUSfor your play needs no excuse.

THESEUSCome, your Bergomask:

THESEUS(The other Rustics come in and

THESEUSarrange themselves for the dance.

THESEUSThey dance. Midnight sounds. The

THESEUSrustics stop dancing, bow deeply to

THESEUSthe Duke. Hippolyta and the court,

and leave. The others rise.)

THESEUSThe iron tongue

THESEUSof midnight hath told twelve:

THESEUSLovers, to bed;

THESEUS'tis almost fairy time.

THESEUSI fear we shall out-sleep

THESEUSthe coming morn as much as

THESEUSwe this night have overwatch'd.

THESEUSSweet friends, to bed.

ALLSweet friends, to bed.

(Enter Cobweb, Mustarseed,

ALLPeaseblossom, and Moth.)

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESNow the hungry lion roars,

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESand the wolf behowls the moon;

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESwhilst the heavy ploughman snores,

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESall with weary task fordone.

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESNow the wasted brands do glow,

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESwhilst the screech-owl,

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESscreeching loud,

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESputs the wretch

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESthat lies in woe

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESin remembrance of a shroud.

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESNow it is the time of night

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESthat the graves all gaping wide,

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESevery one lets forth his sprite,

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESin the church-way paths to glide:

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESAnd we fairies, that do run

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESby the triple Hecate's team,

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESfrom the presence of the sun,

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESfollowing darkness like a dream,

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESnow are frolic:

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESnot a mouse shall disturb

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESthis hallow'd house.

FOUR SOLO FAIRIES(Puck arrives with a broom and

FOUR SOLO FAIRIESchases the Fairies.)

PUCKI am sent with broom before,

PUCKto sweep the dust

PUCKbehind the door.

PUCK(Oberon and Tytania and the other

PUCKFairies appear.)

OBERONThrough the house give

OBERONglimmering light,

OBERONevery elf and fairy sprite

OBERONsing this ditty, after me,

OBERONsing, and dance it trippingly.

TYTANIAFirst, rehearse your song by rote

TYTANIAto each word

TYTANIAa warbling note.

BOTHHand in hand, with fairy grace,

BOTHWill we sing, and bless this place.

TYTANIANow, until the break of day,

TYTANIAthrough this house each fairy stray.

TYTANIATo the best bride-bed will we,

TYTANIAwhich by us shall blessed be;

TYTANIAand the issue there create

TYTANIAever shall be fortunate.

TYTANIASo shall all the couples three

TYTANIAever true in loving be.

TYTANIAWith this field-dew consecrate,

every fairy take his gait;

TYTANIAand each several chamber bless,

TYTANIAthrough this palace,

TYTANIAwith sweet peace;

TYTANIAever shall in safety rest,

TYTANIAand the owner of it blest.

OBERONTrip away; make no stay;

OBERONmeet me all by break of day.

Exeunt all but Puck.

PUCKIf we shadows have offended,

PUCKthink but this,

PUCKand all is mended,

PUCKthat you have but slumber'd here

PUCKwhile these visions did appear.

PUCKGentles, do not reprehend:

PUCKIf you pardon,

PUCKwe will mend:

PUCKElse the Puck a liar call;

PUCKso, good night unto you all.

PUCKGive me your hands,

PUCKif we be friends,

PUCKand Robin shall restore amends.

He claps his hands.

SYSTEMT H E E N D