Reading Help A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
ladies, I `
` would wish you' or 'I would request you' or 'I would entreat `
` you `
` not to fear, not to tremble. My life for yours! If you think `
` I `
` come hither as a lion, it were pity of my life. No, I am no `
` such `
` thing; I am a man as other men are.' And there, indeed, let `
` him `
` name his name, and tell them plainly he is Snug the joiner. `
` QUINCE. Well, it shall be so. But there is two hard things- `
` that `
` is, to bring the moonlight into a chamber; for, you know, `
` Pyramus `
` and Thisby meet by moonlight. `
` SNOUT. Doth the moon shine that night we play our play? `
` BOTTOM. A calendar, a calendar! Look in the almanack; find out `
` moonshine, find out moonshine. `
` QUINCE. Yes, it doth shine that night. `
` BOTTOM. Why, then may you leave a casement of the great chamber `
` window, where we play, open; and the moon may shine in at the `
` casement. `
` QUINCE. Ay; or else one must come in with a bush of thorns and `
` a `
` lantern, and say he comes to disfigure or to present the `
` person `
` of Moonshine. Then there is another thing: we must have a `
` wall in `
` the great chamber; for Pyramus and Thisby, says the story, `
` did `
` talk through the chink of a wall. `
` SNOUT. You can never bring in a wall. What say you, Bottom? `
` BOTTOM. Some man or other must present Wall; and let him have `
` some `
` plaster, or some loam, or some rough-cast about him, to `
` signify `
` wall; and let him hold his fingers thus, and through that `
` cranny `
` shall Pyramus and Thisby whisper. `
` QUINCE. If that may be, then all is well. Come, sit down, every `
` mother's son, and rehearse your parts. Pyramus, you begin; `
` when `
` you have spoken your speech, enter into that brake; and so `
` every `
` one according to his cue. `
` `
` Enter PUCK behind `
` `
` PUCK. What hempen homespuns have we swagg'ring here, `
` So near the cradle of the Fairy Queen? `
` What, a play toward! I'll be an auditor; `
` An actor too perhaps, if I see cause. `
` QUINCE. Speak, Pyramus. Thisby, stand forth. `
` BOTTOM. Thisby, the flowers of odious savours sweet- `
` QUINCE. 'Odious'- odorous! `
` BOTTOM. -odours savours sweet; `
` So hath thy breath, my dearest Thisby dear. `
` But hark, a voice! Stay thou but here awhile, `
` And by and by I will to thee appear. Exit `
` PUCK. A stranger Pyramus than e'er played here! Exit `
` FLUTE. Must I speak now? `
` QUINCE. Ay, marry, must you; for you must understand he goes `
` but to `
` see a noise that he heard, and is to come again. `
` FLUTE. Most radiant Pyramus, most lily-white of hue, `
` Of colour like the red rose on triumphant brier, `
` Most brisky juvenal, and eke most lovely Jew, `
` As true as truest horse, that would never tire, `
` I'll meet thee, Pyramus, at Ninny's tomb. `
` QUINCE. 'Ninus' tomb,' man! Why, you must not speak that yet; `
` that `
` you answer to Pyramus. You speak all your part at once, cues, `
` and `
` all. Pyramus enter: your cue is past; it is 'never tire.' `
` FLUTE. O- As true as truest horse, that y et would never tire. `
` `
` Re-enter PUCK, and BOTTOM with an ass's head `
` `
` BOTTOM. If I were fair, Thisby, I were only thine. `
` QUINCE. O monstrous! O strange! We are haunted. Pray, masters! `
` fly, `
` masters! Help! `
` Exeunt all but BOTTOM and PUCK `
` PUCK. I'll follow you; I'll lead you about a round, `
` Through bog, through bush, through brake, through brier; `
` Sometime a horse I'll be, sometime a hound, `
` A hog, a headless bear, sometime a fire; `
` And neigh, and bark, and grunt, and roar, and burn, `
` Like horse, hound, hog, bear, fire, at every turn. `
` Exit `
` BOTTOM. Why do they run away? This is a knavery of them to make `
` me `
` afeard. `
` `
` Re-enter SNOUT `
` `
` SNOUT. O Bottom, thou art chang'd! What do I see on thee? `
` BOTTOM. What do you see? You see an ass-head of your own, do `
` you? `
` Exit SNOUT `
` `
` Re-enter QUINCE `
` `
` QUINCE. Bless thee, Bottom, bless thee! Thou art translated. `
` Exit `
` BOTTOM. I see their knavery: this is to make an ass of me; to `
` 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 will sing, `
` that `
` they shall hear I am not afraid. [Sings] `
` `
` The ousel cock, so black of hue, `
` With orange-tawny bill, `
` The throstle with his note so true, `
` The wren with little quill. `
` `
` TITANIA. What angel wakes me from my flow'ry bed? `
` BOTTOM. [Sings] `
` The finch, the sparrow, and the lark, `
` The plain-song cuckoo grey, `
` Whose note full many a man doth mark, `
` And dares not answer nay- `
` for, indeed, who would set his wit to so foolish a bird? `
` Who would give a bird the he, though he cry 'cuckoo' never `
` so? `
` TITANIA. I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing again. `
` Mine ear is much enamoured of thy note; `
` So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape; `
` And thy fair virtue's force perforce doth move me, `
` On the first view, to say, to swear, I love thee. `
` BOTTOM. 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. `
` TITANIA. Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful. `
` BOTTOM. Not so, neither; but if I had wit enough to get out of `
` this `
` wood, I have enough to serve mine own turn. `
` TITANIA. 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; `
` And I will purge thy mortal grossness so `
` That thou shalt like an airy spirit go. `
` Peaseblossom! Cobweb! Moth! and Mustardseed! `
` `
` Enter PEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB, MOTH, and MUSTARDSEED `
` `
` PEASEBLOSSOM. Ready. `
` COBWEB. And I. `
` MOTH. And I. `
` MUSTARDSEED. And I. `
` ALL. Where shall we go? `
` TITANIA. Be kind and courteous to this gentleman; `
` Hop in his walks and gambol in his eyes; `
` Feed him with apricocks and dewberries, `
` With purple grapes, green figs, and mulberries; `
` The honey bags steal from the humble-bees, `
` And for night-tapers crop their waxen thighs, `
` And light them at the fiery glow-worm's eyes, `
` To have my love to bed and to arise; `
` And pluck the wings from painted butterflies, `
` To fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes. `
` Nod to him, elves, and do him courtesies. `
` PEASEBLOSSOM. Hail, mortal! `
` COBWEB. Hail! `
` MOTH. Hail! `
` MUSTARDSEED. Hail! `
` BOTTOM. I cry your worships mercy, heartily; I beseech your `
` worship's name. `
` COBWEB. Cobweb. `
` BOTTOM. 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? `
` PEASEBLOSSOM. Peaseblossom. `
` BOTTOM. I pray you, commend me to Mistress Squash, your mother, `
` and `
` to Master Peascod, your father. Good Master Peaseblossom, I `
` shall `
` desire you of more acquaintance too. Your name, I beseech `
` you, `
` sir? `
` MUSTARDSEED. Mustardseed. `
` BOTTOM. Good Master Mustardseed, I know your patience well. `
` That `
` same cowardly giant-like ox-beef hath devour'd many a `
` gentleman `
` of your house. I promise you your kindred hath made my eyes `
` water `
` ere now. I desire you of more acquaintance, good Master `
` Mustardseed. `
` TITANIA. Come, wait upon him; lead him to my bower. `
` The moon, methinks, looks with a wat'ry eye; `
`
` would wish you' or 'I would request you' or 'I would entreat `
` you `
` not to fear, not to tremble. My life for yours! If you think `
` I `
` come hither as a lion, it were pity of my life. No, I am no `
` such `
` thing; I am a man as other men are.' And there, indeed, let `
` him `
` name his name, and tell them plainly he is Snug the joiner. `
` QUINCE. Well, it shall be so. But there is two hard things- `
` that `
` is, to bring the moonlight into a chamber; for, you know, `
` Pyramus `
` and Thisby meet by moonlight. `
` SNOUT. Doth the moon shine that night we play our play? `
` BOTTOM. A calendar, a calendar! Look in the almanack; find out `
` moonshine, find out moonshine. `
` QUINCE. Yes, it doth shine that night. `
` BOTTOM. Why, then may you leave a casement of the great chamber `
` window, where we play, open; and the moon may shine in at the `
` casement. `
` QUINCE. Ay; or else one must come in with a bush of thorns and `
` a `
` lantern, and say he comes to disfigure or to present the `
` person `
` of Moonshine. Then there is another thing: we must have a `
` wall in `
` the great chamber; for Pyramus and Thisby, says the story, `
` did `
` talk through the chink of a wall. `
` SNOUT. You can never bring in a wall. What say you, Bottom? `
` BOTTOM. Some man or other must present Wall; and let him have `
` some `
` plaster, or some loam, or some rough-cast about him, to `
` signify `
` wall; and let him hold his fingers thus, and through that `
` cranny `
` shall Pyramus and Thisby whisper. `
` QUINCE. If that may be, then all is well. Come, sit down, every `
` mother's son, and rehearse your parts. Pyramus, you begin; `
` when `
` you have spoken your speech, enter into that brake; and so `
` every `
` one according to his cue. `
` `
` Enter PUCK behind `
` `
` PUCK. What hempen homespuns have we swagg'ring here, `
` So near the cradle of the Fairy Queen? `
` What, a play toward! I'll be an auditor; `
` An actor too perhaps, if I see cause. `
` QUINCE. Speak, Pyramus. Thisby, stand forth. `
` BOTTOM. Thisby, the flowers of odious savours sweet- `
` QUINCE. 'Odious'- odorous! `
` BOTTOM. -odours savours sweet; `
` So hath thy breath, my dearest Thisby dear. `
` But hark, a voice! Stay thou but here awhile, `
` And by and by I will to thee appear. Exit `
` PUCK. A stranger Pyramus than e'er played here! Exit `
` FLUTE. Must I speak now? `
` QUINCE. Ay, marry, must you; for you must understand he goes `
` but to `
` see a noise that he heard, and is to come again. `
` FLUTE. Most radiant Pyramus, most lily-white of hue, `
` Of colour like the red rose on triumphant brier, `
` Most brisky juvenal, and eke most lovely Jew, `
` As true as truest horse, that would never tire, `
` I'll meet thee, Pyramus, at Ninny's tomb. `
` QUINCE. 'Ninus' tomb,' man! Why, you must not speak that yet; `
` that `
` you answer to Pyramus. You speak all your part at once, cues, `
` and `
` all. Pyramus enter: your cue is past; it is 'never tire.' `
` FLUTE. O- As true as truest horse, that y et would never tire. `
` `
` Re-enter PUCK, and BOTTOM with an ass's head `
` `
` BOTTOM. If I were fair, Thisby, I were only thine. `
` QUINCE. O monstrous! O strange! We are haunted. Pray, masters! `
` fly, `
` masters! Help! `
` Exeunt all but BOTTOM and PUCK `
` PUCK. I'll follow you; I'll lead you about a round, `
` Through bog, through bush, through brake, through brier; `
` Sometime a horse I'll be, sometime a hound, `
` A hog, a headless bear, sometime a fire; `
` And neigh, and bark, and grunt, and roar, and burn, `
` Like horse, hound, hog, bear, fire, at every turn. `
` Exit `
` BOTTOM. Why do they run away? This is a knavery of them to make `
` me `
` afeard. `
` `
` Re-enter SNOUT `
` `
` SNOUT. O Bottom, thou art chang'd! What do I see on thee? `
` BOTTOM. What do you see? You see an ass-head of your own, do `
` you? `
` Exit SNOUT `
` `
` Re-enter QUINCE `
` `
` QUINCE. Bless thee, Bottom, bless thee! Thou art translated. `
` Exit `
` BOTTOM. I see their knavery: this is to make an ass of me; to `
` 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 will sing, `
` that `
` they shall hear I am not afraid. [Sings] `
` `
` The ousel cock, so black of hue, `
` With orange-tawny bill, `
` The throstle with his note so true, `
` The wren with little quill. `
` `
` TITANIA. What angel wakes me from my flow'ry bed? `
` BOTTOM. [Sings] `
` The finch, the sparrow, and the lark, `
` The plain-song cuckoo grey, `
` Whose note full many a man doth mark, `
` And dares not answer nay- `
` for, indeed, who would set his wit to so foolish a bird? `
` Who would give a bird the he, though he cry 'cuckoo' never `
` so? `
` TITANIA. I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing again. `
` Mine ear is much enamoured of thy note; `
` So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape; `
` And thy fair virtue's force perforce doth move me, `
` On the first view, to say, to swear, I love thee. `
` BOTTOM. 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. `
` TITANIA. Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful. `
` BOTTOM. Not so, neither; but if I had wit enough to get out of `
` this `
` wood, I have enough to serve mine own turn. `
` TITANIA. 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; `
` And I will purge thy mortal grossness so `
` That thou shalt like an airy spirit go. `
` Peaseblossom! Cobweb! Moth! and Mustardseed! `
` `
` Enter PEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB, MOTH, and MUSTARDSEED `
` `
` PEASEBLOSSOM. Ready. `
` COBWEB. And I. `
` MOTH. And I. `
` MUSTARDSEED. And I. `
` ALL. Where shall we go? `
` TITANIA. Be kind and courteous to this gentleman; `
` Hop in his walks and gambol in his eyes; `
` Feed him with apricocks and dewberries, `
` With purple grapes, green figs, and mulberries; `
` The honey bags steal from the humble-bees, `
` And for night-tapers crop their waxen thighs, `
` And light them at the fiery glow-worm's eyes, `
` To have my love to bed and to arise; `
` And pluck the wings from painted butterflies, `
` To fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes. `
` Nod to him, elves, and do him courtesies. `
` PEASEBLOSSOM. Hail, mortal! `
` COBWEB. Hail! `
` MOTH. Hail! `
` MUSTARDSEED. Hail! `
` BOTTOM. I cry your worships mercy, heartily; I beseech your `
` worship's name. `
` COBWEB. Cobweb. `
` BOTTOM. 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? `
` PEASEBLOSSOM. Peaseblossom. `
` BOTTOM. I pray you, commend me to Mistress Squash, your mother, `
` and `
` to Master Peascod, your father. Good Master Peaseblossom, I `
` shall `
` desire you of more acquaintance too. Your name, I beseech `
` you, `
` sir? `
` MUSTARDSEED. Mustardseed. `
` BOTTOM. Good Master Mustardseed, I know your patience well. `
` That `
` same cowardly giant-like ox-beef hath devour'd many a `
` gentleman `
` of your house. I promise you your kindred hath made my eyes `
` water `
` ere now. I desire you of more acquaintance, good Master `
` Mustardseed. `
` TITANIA. Come, wait upon him; lead him to my bower. `
` The moon, methinks, looks with a wat'ry eye; `
`