Speeches (Lines) for (stage directions)
in "Midsummer Night's Dream"
Total: 105

1

I,1,1

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, and Attendants]

2

I,1,23

Theseus. Go, Philostrate,
Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments;
Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth;
Turn melancholy forth to funerals;
The pale companion is not for our pomp.
[Exit PHILOSTRATE]
Hippolyta, I woo'd thee with my sword,
And won thy love, doing thee injuries;
But I will wed thee in another key,
With pomp, with triumph and with revelling.

(stage directions). [Enter EGEUS, HERMIA, LYSANDER, and DEMETRIUS]

3

I,1,133

Egeus. With duty and desire we follow you.

(stage directions). [Exeunt all but LYSANDER and HERMIA]

4

I,1,187

Lysander. Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena.

(stage directions). [Enter HELENA]

5

I,1,236

Lysander. I will, my Hermia.
[Exit HERMIA]
Helena, adieu:
As you on him, Demetrius dote on you!

(stage directions). [Exit]

6

I,1,263

Helena. How happy some o'er other some can be!
Through Athens I am thought as fair as she.
But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so;
He will not know what all but he do know:
And as he errs, doting on Hermia's eyes,
So I, admiring of his qualities:
Things base and vile, folding no quantity,
Love can transpose to form and dignity:
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind;
And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind:
Nor hath Love's mind of any judgement taste;
Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste:
And therefore is Love said to be a child,
Because in choice he is so oft beguiled.
As waggish boys in game themselves forswear,
So the boy Love is perjured every where:
For ere Demetrius look'd on Hermia's eyne,
He hail'd down oaths that he was only mine;
And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt,
So he dissolved, and showers of oaths did melt.
I will go tell him of fair Hermia's flight:
Then to the wood will he to-morrow night
Pursue her; and for this intelligence
If I have thanks, it is a dear expense:
But herein mean I to enrich my pain,
To have his sight thither and back again.

(stage directions). [Exit]

7

I,2,264

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter QUINCE, SNUG, BOTTOM, FLUTE, SNOUT, and STARVELING]

8

I,2,366

Bottom. Enough; hold or cut bow-strings.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

9

II,1,367

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter, from opposite sides, a Fairy, and PUCK]

10

II,1,428

Fairy. And here my mistress. Would that he were gone!

(stage directions). [Enter, from one side, OBERON, with his train; from the other, TITANIA, with hers]

11

II,1,516

Titania. Not for thy fairy kingdom. Fairies, away!
We shall chide downright, if I longer stay.

(stage directions). [Exit TITANIA with her train]

12

II,1,549

Puck. I'll put a girdle round about the earth
In forty minutes.

(stage directions). [Exit]

13

II,1,562

Oberon. Having once this juice,
I'll watch Titania when she is asleep,
And drop the liquor of it in her eyes.
The next thing then she waking looks upon,
Be it on lion, bear, or wolf, or bull,
On meddling monkey, or on busy ape,
She shall pursue it with the soul of love:
And ere I take this charm from off her sight,
As I can take it with another herb,
I'll make her render up her page to me.
But who comes here? I am invisible;
And I will overhear their conference.

(stage directions). [Enter DEMETRIUS, HELENA, following him]

14

II,1,621

Helena. Ay, in the temple, in the town, the field,
You do me mischief. Fie, Demetrius!
Your wrongs do set a scandal on my sex:
We cannot fight for love, as men may do;
We should be wood and were not made to woo.
[Exit DEMETRIUS]
I'll follow thee and make a heaven of hell,
To die upon the hand I love so well.

(stage directions). [Exit]

15

II,1,648

Puck. Fear not, my lord, your servant shall do so.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

16

II,2,649

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter TITANIA, with her train]

17

II,2,677

Fairy. Hence, away! now all is well:
One aloof stand sentinel.

(stage directions). [Exeunt Fairies. TITANIA sleeps]

18

II,2,678

(stage directions). [Exeunt Fairies. TITANIA sleeps]

(stage directions). [Enter OBERON and squeezes the flower on TITANIA's eyelids]

19

II,2,687

Oberon. What thou seest when thou dost wake,
Do it for thy true-love take,
Love and languish for his sake:
Be it ounce, or cat, or bear,
Pard, or boar with bristled hair,
In thy eye that shall appear
When thou wakest, it is thy dear:
Wake when some vile thing is near.

(stage directions). [Exit]

20

II,2,688

(stage directions). [Exit]

(stage directions). [Enter LYSANDER and HERMIA]

21

II,2,720

Hermia. With half that wish the wisher's eyes be press'd!

(stage directions). [They sleep]

22

II,2,721

(stage directions). [They sleep]

(stage directions). [Enter PUCK]

23

II,2,740

Puck. Through the forest have I gone.
But Athenian found I none,
On whose eyes I might approve
This flower's force in stirring love.
Night and silence.—Who is here?
Weeds of Athens he doth wear:
This is he, my master said,
Despised the Athenian maid;
And here the maiden, sleeping sound,
On the dank and dirty ground.
Pretty soul! she durst not lie
Near this lack-love, this kill-courtesy.
Churl, upon thy eyes I throw
All the power this charm doth owe.
When thou wakest, let love forbid
Sleep his seat on thy eyelid:
So awake when I am gone;
For I must now to Oberon.

(stage directions). [Exit]

24

II,2,741

(stage directions). [Exit]

(stage directions). [Enter DEMETRIUS and HELENA, running]

25

II,2,746

Demetrius. Stay, on thy peril: I alone will go.

(stage directions). [Exit]

26

II,2,794

Helena. Wherefore was I to this keen mockery born?
When at your hands did I deserve this scorn?
Is't not enough, is't not enough, young man,
That I did never, no, nor never can,
Deserve a sweet look from Demetrius' eye,
But you must flout my insufficiency?
Good troth, you do me wrong, good sooth, you do,
In such disdainful manner me to woo.
But fare you well: perforce I must confess
I thought you lord of more true gentleness.
O, that a lady, of one man refused.
Should of another therefore be abused!

(stage directions). [Exit]

27

II,2,805

Lysander. She sees not Hermia. Hermia, sleep thou there:
And never mayst thou come Lysander near!
For as a surfeit of the sweetest things
The deepest loathing to the stomach brings,
Or as tie heresies that men do leave
Are hated most of those they did deceive,
So thou, my surfeit and my heresy,
Of all be hated, but the most of me!
And, all my powers, address your love and might
To honour Helen and to be her knight!

(stage directions). [Exit]

28

II,2,818

Hermia. [Awaking] Help me, Lysander, help me! do thy best
To pluck this crawling serpent from my breast!
Ay me, for pity! what a dream was here!
Lysander, look how I do quake with fear:
Methought a serpent eat my heart away,
And you sat smiling at his cruel pray.
Lysander! what, removed? Lysander! lord!
What, out of hearing? gone? no sound, no word?
Alack, where are you speak, an if you hear;
Speak, of all loves! I swoon almost with fear.
No? then I well perceive you all not nigh
Either death or you I'll find immediately.

(stage directions). [Exit]

29

III,1,819

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter QUINCE, SNUG, BOTTOM, FLUTE, SNOUT, and STARVELING]

30

III,1,888

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.

(stage directions). [Enter PUCK behind]

31

III,1,900

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.

(stage directions). [Exit]

32

III,1,902

Puck. A stranger Pyramus than e'er played here.

(stage directions). [Exit]

33

III,1,917

Flute. O,—As true as truest horse, that yet would
never tire.

(stage directions). [Re-enter PUCK, and BOTTOM with an ass's head]

34

III,1,921

Quince. O monstrous! O strange! we are haunted. Pray,
masters! fly, masters! Help!

(stage directions). [Exeunt QUINCE, SNUG, FLUTE, SNOUT, and STARVELING]

35

III,1,928

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.

(stage directions). [Exit]

36

III,1,931

Bottom. Why do they run away? this is a knavery of them to
make me afeard.

(stage directions). [Re-enter SNOUT]

37

III,1,935

Bottom. What do you see? you see an asshead of your own, do
you?

(stage directions). [Exit SNOUT]

38

III,1,936

(stage directions). [Exit SNOUT]

(stage directions). [Re-enter QUINCE]

39

III,1,939

Quince. Bless thee, Bottom! bless thee! thou art
translated.

(stage directions). [Exit]

40

III,1,983

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!

(stage directions). [Enter PEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB, MOTH, and MUSTARDSEED]

41

III,1,1027

Titania. Come, wait upon him; lead him to my bower.
The moon methinks looks with a watery eye;
And when she weeps, weeps every little flower,
Lamenting some enforced chastity.
Tie up my love's tongue bring him silently.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

42

III,2,1028

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter OBERON]

43

III,2,1073

Puck. I took him sleeping,—that is finish'd too,—
And the Athenian woman by his side:
That, when he waked, of force she must be eyed.

(stage directions). [Enter HERMIA and DEMETRIUS]

44

III,2,1115

Hermia. A privilege never to see me more.
And from thy hated presence part I so:
See me no more, whether he be dead or no.

(stage directions). [Exit]

45

III,2,1122

Demetrius. There is no following her in this fierce vein:
Here therefore for a while I will remain.
So sorrow's heaviness doth heavier grow
For debt that bankrupt sleep doth sorrow owe:
Which now in some slight measure it will pay,
If for his tender here I make some stay.

(stage directions). [Lies down and sleeps]

46

III,2,1137

Puck. I go, I go; look how I go,
Swifter than arrow from the Tartar's bow.

(stage directions). [Exit]

47

III,2,1146

Oberon. Flower of this purple dye,
Hit with Cupid's archery,
Sink in apple of his eye.
When his love he doth espy,
Let her shine as gloriously
As the Venus of the sky.
When thou wakest, if she be by,
Beg of her for remedy.

(stage directions). [Re-enter PUCK]

48

III,2,1159

Puck. Then will two at once woo one;
That must needs be sport alone;
And those things do best please me
That befal preposterously.

(stage directions). [Enter LYSANDER and HELENA]

49

III,2,1216

Demetrius. Disparage not the faith thou dost not know,
Lest, to thy peril, thou aby it dear.
Look, where thy love comes; yonder is thy dear.

(stage directions). [Re-enter HERMIA]

50

III,2,1392

Demetrius. Follow! nay, I'll go with thee, cheek by jole.

(stage directions). [Exeunt LYSANDER and DEMETRIUS]

51

III,2,1399

Helena. I will not trust you, I,
Nor longer stay in your curst company.
Your hands than mine are quicker for a fray,
My legs are longer though, to run away.

(stage directions). [Exit]

52

III,2,1401

Hermia. I am amazed, and know not what to say.

(stage directions). [Exit]

53

III,2,1453

Oberon. But we are spirits of another sort:
I with the morning's love have oft made sport,
And, like a forester, the groves may tread,
Even till the eastern gate, all fiery-red,
Opening on Neptune with fair blessed beams,
Turns into yellow gold his salt green streams.
But, notwithstanding, haste; make no delay:
We may effect this business yet ere day.

(stage directions). [Exit]

54

III,2,1459

Puck. Up and down, up and down,
I will lead them up and down:
I am fear'd in field and town:
Goblin, lead them up and down.
Here comes one.

(stage directions). [Re-enter LYSANDER]

55

III,2,1465

Puck. Follow me, then,
To plainer ground.

(stage directions). [Exit LYSANDER, as following the voice]

56

III,2,1466

(stage directions). [Exit LYSANDER, as following the voice]

(stage directions). [Re-enter DEMETRIUS]

57

III,2,1477

Puck. Follow my voice: we'll try no manhood here.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

58

III,2,1478

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

(stage directions). [Re-enter LYSANDER]

59

III,2,1489

Lysander. He goes before me and still dares me on:
When I come where he calls, then he is gone.
The villain is much lighter-heel'd than I:
I follow'd fast, but faster he did fly;
That fallen am I in dark uneven way,
And here will rest me.
[Lies down]
Come, thou gentle day!
For if but once thou show me thy grey light,
I'll find Demetrius and revenge this spite.

(stage directions). [Sleeps]

60

III,2,1490

(stage directions). [Sleeps]

(stage directions). [Re-enter PUCK and DEMETRIUS]

61

III,2,1502

Demetrius. Nay, then, thou mock'st me. Thou shalt buy this dear,
If ever I thy face by daylight see:
Now, go thy way. Faintness constraineth me
To measure out my length on this cold bed.
By day's approach look to be visited.

(stage directions). [Lies down and sleeps]

62

III,2,1503

(stage directions). [Lies down and sleeps]

(stage directions). [Re-enter HELENA]

63

III,2,1510

Helena. O weary night, O long and tedious night,
Abate thy hour! Shine comforts from the east,
That I may back to Athens by daylight,
From these that my poor company detest:
And sleep, that sometimes shuts up sorrow's eye,
Steal me awhile from mine own company.

(stage directions). [Lies down and sleeps]

64

III,2,1516

Puck. Yet but three? Come one more;
Two of both kinds make up four.
Here she comes, curst and sad:
Cupid is a knavish lad,
Thus to make poor females mad.

(stage directions). [Re-enter HERMIA]

65

III,2,1523

Hermia. Never so weary, never so in woe,
Bedabbled with the dew and torn with briers,
I can no further crawl, no further go;
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!

(stage directions). [Lies down and sleeps]

66

III,2,1541

Puck. On the ground
Sleep sound:
I'll apply
To your eye,
Gentle lover, remedy.
[Squeezing the juice on LYSANDER's eyes]
When thou wakest,
Thou takest
True delight
In the sight
Of thy former lady's eye:
And the 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.

(stage directions). [Exit]

67

IV,1,1542

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). lying asleep.
[Enter TITANIA and BOTTOM; PEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB, MOTH,]
MUSTARDSEED, and other Fairies attending; OBERON
behind unseen]

68

IV,1,1591

Titania. Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms.
Fairies, begone, and be all ways away.
[Exeunt fairies]
So doth the woodbine the sweet honeysuckle
Gently entwist; the female ivy so
Enrings the barky fingers of the elm.
O, how I love thee! how I dote on thee!

(stage directions). [They sleep]

69

IV,1,1592

(stage directions). [They sleep]

(stage directions). [Enter PUCK]

70

IV,1,1633

Titania. Music, ho! music, such as charmeth sleep!

(stage directions). [Music, still]

71

IV,1,1654

Titania. Come, my lord, and in our flight
Tell me how it came this night
That I sleeping here was found
With these mortals on the ground.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

72

IV,1,1655

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

(stage directions). [Horns winded within]

73

IV,1,1656

(stage directions). [Horns winded within]

(stage directions). [Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, EGEUS, and train]

74

IV,1,1745

Theseus. Fair lovers, you are fortunately met:
Of this discourse we more will hear anon.
Egeus, I will overbear your will;
For in the temple by and by with us
These couples shall eternally be knit:
And, for the morning now is something worn,
Our purposed hunting shall be set aside.
Away with us to Athens; three and three,
We'll hold a feast in great solemnity.
Come, Hippolyta.

(stage directions). [Exeunt THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, EGEUS, and train]

75

IV,1,1761

Demetrius. Why, then, we are awake: let's follow him
And by the way let us recount our dreams.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

76

IV,1,1782

Bottom. [Awaking] When my cue comes, call me, and I will
answer: my next is, 'Most fair Pyramus.' Heigh-ho!
Peter Quince! Flute, the bellows-mender! Snout,
the tinker! Starveling! God's my life, stolen
hence, and left me asleep! I have had a most rare
vision. I have had a dream, past the wit of man to
say what dream it was: man is but an ass, if he go
about to expound this dream. Methought I was—there
is no man can tell what. Methought I was,—and
methought I had,—but man is but a patched fool, if
he will offer to say what methought I had. The eye
of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not
seen, man's hand is not able to taste, his tongue
to conceive, nor his heart to report, what my dream
was. I will get Peter Quince to write a ballad of
this dream: it shall be called Bottom's Dream,
because it hath no bottom; and I will sing it in the
latter end of a play, before the duke:
peradventure, to make it the more gracious, I shall
sing it at her death.

(stage directions). [Exit]

77

IV,2,1783

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter QUINCE, FLUTE, SNOUT, and STARVELING]

78

IV,2,1797

Flute. You must say 'paragon:' a paramour is, God bless us,
a thing of naught.

(stage directions). [Enter SNUG]

79

IV,2,1808

Flute. O sweet bully Bottom! Thus hath he lost sixpence a
day during his life; he could not have 'scaped
sixpence a day: an the duke had not given him
sixpence a day for playing Pyramus, I'll be hanged;
he would have deserved it: sixpence a day in
Pyramus, or nothing.

(stage directions). [Enter BOTTOM]

80

IV,2,1827

Bottom. Not a word of me. All that I will tell you is, that
the duke hath dined. Get your apparel together,
good strings to your beards, new ribbons to your
pumps; meet presently at the palace; every man look
o'er his part; for the short and the long is, our
play is preferred. In any case, let Thisby have
clean linen; and let not him that plays the lion
pair his nails, for they shall hang out for the
lion's claws. And, most dear actors, eat no onions
nor garlic, for we are to utter sweet breath; and I
do not doubt but to hear them say, it is a sweet
comedy. No more words: away! go, away!

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

81

V,1,1828

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, Lords and]
Attendants]

82

V,1,1877

Philostrate. There is a brief how many sports are ripe:
Make choice of which your highness will see first.

(stage directions). [Giving a paper]

83

V,1,1924

Theseus. I will hear that play;
For never anything can be amiss,
When simpleness and duty tender it.
Go, bring them in: and take your places, ladies.

(stage directions). [Exit PHILOSTRATE]

84

V,1,1946

Theseus. The kinder we, to give them thanks for nothing.
Our sport shall be to take what they mistake:
And what poor duty cannot do, noble respect
Takes it in might, not merit.
Where I have come, great clerks have purposed
To greet me with premeditated welcomes;
Where I have seen them shiver and look pale,
Make periods in the midst of sentences,
Throttle their practised accent in their fears
And in conclusion dumbly have broke off,
Not paying me a welcome. Trust me, sweet,
Out of this silence yet I pick'd a welcome;
And in the modesty of fearful duty
I read as much as from the rattling tongue
Of saucy and audacious eloquence.
Love, therefore, and tongue-tied simplicity
In least speak most, to my capacity.

(stage directions). [Re-enter PHILOSTRATE]

85

V,1,1949

Theseus. Let him approach.

(stage directions). [Flourish of trumpets]

86

V,1,1950

(stage directions). [Flourish of trumpets]

(stage directions). [Enter QUINCE for the Prologue]

87

V,1,1969

Theseus. His speech, was like a tangled chain; nothing
impaired, but all disordered. Who is next?

(stage directions). [Enter Pyramus and Thisbe, Wall, Moonshine, and Lion]

88

V,1,1995

Quince. Gentles, perchance you wonder at this show;
But wonder on, till truth make all things plain.
This man is Pyramus, if you would know;
This beauteous lady Thisby is certain.
This man, with lime and rough-cast, doth present
Wall, that vile Wall which did these lovers sunder;
And through Wall's chink, poor souls, they are content
To whisper. At the which let no man wonder.
This man, with lanthorn, dog, and bush of thorn,
Presenteth Moonshine; for, if you will know,
By moonshine did these lovers think no scorn
To meet at Ninus' tomb, there, there to woo.
This grisly beast, which Lion hight by name,
The trusty Thisby, coming first by night,
Did scare away, or rather did affright;
And, as she fled, her mantle she did fall,
Which Lion vile with bloody mouth did stain.
Anon comes Pyramus, sweet youth and tall,
And finds his trusty Thisby's mantle slain:
Whereat, with blade, with bloody blameful blade,
He bravely broach'd is boiling bloody breast;
And Thisby, tarrying in mulberry shade,
His dagger drew, and died. For all the rest,
Let Lion, Moonshine, Wall, and lovers twain
At large discourse, while here they do remain.

(stage directions). [Exeunt Prologue, Thisbe, Lion, and Moonshine]

89

V,1,2011

Demetrius. It is the wittiest partition that ever I heard
discourse, my lord.

(stage directions). [Enter Pyramus]

90

V,1,2031

Bottom. No, in truth, sir, he should not. 'Deceiving me'
is Thisby's cue: she is to enter now, and I am to
spy her through the wall. You shall see, it will
fall pat as I told you. Yonder she comes.

(stage directions). [Enter Thisbe]

91

V,1,2048

Flute. [as Thisbe] 'Tide life, 'tide death, I come without delay.

(stage directions). [Exeunt Pyramus and Thisbe]

92

V,1,2051

Snout. [as Wall] Thus have I, Wall, my part discharged so;
And, being done, thus Wall away doth go.

(stage directions). [Exit]

93

V,1,2062

Theseus. If we imagine no worse of them than they of
themselves, they may pass for excellent men. Here
come two noble beasts in, a man and a lion.

(stage directions). [Enter Lion and Moonshine]

94

V,1,2101

Demetrius. Why, all these should be in the lanthorn; for all
these are in the moon. But, silence! here comes Thisbe.

(stage directions). [Enter Thisbe]

95

V,1,2104

Snug. [as Lion] [Roaring] Oh—

(stage directions). [Thisbe runs off]

96

V,1,2109

Hippolyta. Well shone, Moon. Truly, the moon shines with a
good grace.

(stage directions). [The Lion shakes Thisbe's mantle, and exit]

97

V,1,2113

Demetrius. And then came Pyramus.

(stage directions). [Enter Pyramus]

98

V,1,2152

Bottom. O wherefore, Nature, didst thou lions frame?
Since lion vile hath here deflower'd my dear:
Which is—no, no—which was the fairest dame
That lived, that loved, that liked, that look'd
with cheer.
Come, tears, confound;
Out, sword, and wound
The pap of Pyramus;
Ay, that left pap,
Where heart doth hop:
[Stabs himself]
Thus die I, thus, thus, thus.
Now am I dead,
Now am I fled;
My soul is in the sky:
Tongue, lose thy light;
Moon take thy flight:
[Exit Moonshine]
Now die, die, die, die, die.

(stage directions). [Dies]

99

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Theseus. She will find him by starlight. Here she comes; and
her passion ends the play.

(stage directions). [Re-enter Thisbe]

100

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Flute. [as Thisbe] Asleep, my love?
What, dead, my dove?
O Pyramus, arise!
Speak, speak. Quite dumb?
Dead, dead? A tomb
Must cover thy sweet eyes.
These My lips,
This cherry nose,
These yellow cowslip cheeks,
Are gone, are gone:
Lovers, make moan:
His eyes were green as leeks.
O Sisters Three,
Come, come to me,
With hands as pale as milk;
Lay them in gore,
Since you have shore
With shears his thread of silk.
Tongue, not a word:
Come, trusty sword;
Come, blade, my breast imbrue:
[Stabs herself]
And, farewell, friends;
Thus Thisby ends:
Adieu, adieu, adieu.

(stage directions). [Dies]

101

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Theseus. No epilogue, I pray you; for your play needs no
excuse. Never excuse; for when the players are all
dead, there needs none to be blamed. Marry, if he
that writ it had played Pyramus and hanged himself
in Thisbe's garter, it would have been a fine
tragedy: and so it is, truly; and very notably
discharged. But come, your Bergomask: let your
epilogue alone.
[A dance]
The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve:
Lovers, to bed; 'tis almost fairy time.
I fear we shall out-sleep the coming morn
As much as we this night have overwatch'd.
This palpable-gross play hath well beguiled
The heavy gait of night. Sweet friends, to bed.
A fortnight hold we this solemnity,
In nightly revels and new jollity.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

102

V,1,2219

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

(stage directions). [Enter PUCK]

103

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Puck. Now the hungry lion roars,
And the wolf behowls the moon;
Whilst the heavy ploughman snores,
All with weary task fordone.
Now the wasted brands do glow,
Whilst the screech-owl, screeching loud,
Puts the wretch that lies in woe
In remembrance of a shroud.
Now it is the time of night
That the graves all gaping wide,
Every one lets forth his sprite,
In the church-way paths to glide:
And we fairies, that do run
By the triple Hecate's team,
From the presence of the sun,
Following darkness like a dream,
Now are frolic: not a mouse
Shall disturb this hallow'd house:
I am sent with broom before,
To sweep the dust behind the door.

(stage directions). [Enter OBERON and TITANIA with their train]

104

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Titania. First, rehearse your song by rote
To each word a warbling note:
Hand in hand, with fairy grace,
Will we sing, and bless this place.

(stage directions). [Song and dance]

105

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Oberon. Now, until the break of day,
Through this house each fairy stray.
To the best bride-bed will we,
Which by us shall blessed be;
And the issue there create
Ever shall be fortunate.
So shall all the couples three
Ever true in loving be;
And the blots of Nature's hand
Shall not in their issue stand;
Never mole, hare lip, nor scar,
Nor mark prodigious, such as are
Despised in nativity,
Shall upon their children be.
With this field-dew consecrate,
Every fairy take his gait;
And each several chamber bless,
Through this palace, with sweet peace;
And the owner of it blest
Ever shall in safety rest.
Trip away; make no stay;
Meet me all by break of day.

(stage directions). [Exeunt OBERON, TITANIA, and train]