Act3

Quince. Pat, pat: and heres a maruailes conuenient place, for our rehearsall. This greene plot shall be our stage, this hauthorne brake our tyring house, and wee will doe it in action, as wee will doe it before the Duke.

Bottom. Peeter Quince?

Quince. What saiest thou, bully, Bottom?

Bottom. There are things in this Comedy, of Pyramus and Thisby, that will neuer please. First, Pyramus must draw a sworde, to kill himselfe; which the Ladies cannot abide. How answere you that?

Snug. Berlakin, a parlous feare.

Starveling. I beleeue, we must leaue the killing, out, when all 779 is done.

Bottom. Not a whit: I haue a deuise to make all well. Write me a Prologue, and let the Prologue seeme to say; we wil do no harme, with our swords, and that Pyramus is not kild indeede: and for the more better assurance, tel them, that I Pyramus am not Pyramus, but Bottom the weauer: this will put them out of feare.

Snug. Will not the ladies be afeard of the Lyon? Bottom. Masters, you ought to consider with your selfe, to bring in (God shielde vs) a Lyon among Ladies, is a most dreadfull thing. For there is not a more fearefull wilde foule then your Lyon liuing: & we ought to looke toote. Snug. Therfore, another Prologue must tel, he is not a Lion.

Robin. What hempen home spunnes haue we swaggring here, So neere the Cradle of the Fairy Queene? What, a play toward? Ile be an Auditor, An Actor to perhappes, If I see cause.

Quince. Speake Pyramus: Thysby stand forth.

Pyramus. Odours sauours sweete. So hath thy breath, my dearest Thisby deare. But harke, a voice: stay thou but heere a while, And by and by I will to thee appeare.

Thysbe. Most radiant Pyramus, most lillie white of hewe, Of colour like the red rose, on triumphant bryer, Most brisky Iuuenall, and eeke most louely Iewe, As true as truest horse, that yet would neuer tyre, Ile meete thee Pyramus, at Ninnies toumbe.

Quince. Ninus toumbe, man. Why? you must not speake That yet. That you answere to Pyramus. You speake Al your part at once, cues, and, all. Pyramus, enter: your cue is past: It is; neuer tire.

Thysbe. O, as true as truest horse, that yet would neuer tyre.

Pyramus. If I were faire, Thysby, I were onely thine.

Quince. O monstrous! O strange! We are haunted. Pray masters: 858 fly masters: helpe.

Bottom. Why doe they runne away? This is a knauery of 866 them to make mee afeard.

Snug. O Bottom, thou art chaung'd. What do I see on thee?

Bottom. What doe you see? You see an Asse head of your owne. Do you?

Quince. Blesse thee Bottom, blesse thee. Thou art translated.

Bottom. I see their knauery. This is to make an asse of mee, to fright me, if they could: but I wil not stirre from this place, do what they can. I will walke vp and downe heere, and I will sing, that they shall heare I am not afraide.

The Woosell cock, so blacke of hewe,

With Orange tawny bill,

The Throstle, with his note so true, The Wren, with little quill.

Tytania. What Angell wakes me from my flowry bed?

Titania. I pray thee, gentle mortall, sing againe. Myne eare is much enamoured of thy note: So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape,

Titania. And thy faire vertues force (perforce) doth mooue mee, On the first viewe to say, to sweare, I loue thee. Bottom. Mee thinks mistresse, you should haue little reason for that. And yet, to say the truth, reason and loue keepe little company together, now a daies. The more the pitty, that some honest neighbours will not make them friends. Nay I can gleeke, vpon occasion.

Titania. Thou art as wise, as thou art beautifull. Bottom. Not so neither: but if I had wit enough to get out of this wood, I haue enough to serue mine owe turne.

Titania. Out of this wood, doe not desire to goe: Thou shalt remaine here, whether thou wilt or no. Pease-blossome, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustard-seede?

Fairies. Readie: and I, and I, and I. Where shall we goe?

Titania. Be kinde and curteous to this gentleman, Come waite vpon him: leade him to my bower. The Moone, me thinkes, lookes with a watry eye: And when shee weepes, weepes euery little flower, Lamenting some enforced chastitie. Ty vp my louers tongue, bring him silently.