1

1:

To hear the Sea-maids musick.

Pugg. I remember.

Ob. That very time I saw (but thou could-
est not)

Flying between the cold Moon and the earth
Cupid all armed, a certain aim he took
At a fair Vestal throned by the west;
And loo'st his love-shaft smartly from his bow,
As it should pierce a hundred thousand
hearts:

But I might see young Cupids fiery shaft
Quench in the chast beames of the watry
Moon.

And the Imperial Votress passed on
In maiden meditation fancy free,

Yet markt I where the bolt of Cupid fell;
It fell upon a little western flower,

Before milk white, now purple with loves
wound,

And maidens call it love in Idleness;

Fetch me that flower, the herb I shew'd thee

once,

The juice of it on sleeping eye-lids laid,
Will make or man or woman madly Dote

Upon the next live Creature that it sees;
Fetch me this herb, and be thou here again
E're the Leviathan can swim a league.
Pugg. I'le put a Girdle about the earth in
forty minutes.

Ob. Having once this juyce;

[Exit.

I'le watch Titania when she is asleep,
And drop the liquor of it in her eyes,
The next thing when she waking looks upon
(Be it on Lyon, Bear, or Wolf, or Bull,
On medling Monkey, or on busie Ape)
She shall pursue it with the soul of love;
And e're I take this Charm from off her sight
(As can take it with another herb)

İ'le make her render up her page to me. Welcome, wanderer; what, ar't return'd with it?

Pugg. I, there it is.

Ob. Come, give it me?

There is a bank Titania useth oft

In nights to sleep on, but see where she

comes.

[Enter Queen and Fairies.

I'le stand aside, you may depart. [Exit Pug.

C

Qu. Come, now a Roundel and a fairy song To please my eye first, then intice me sleep, Then to your offices, and let me rest.

Fayries first Dance, and then sings 1.

You Spotted Snakes with double tongue;
Thorny Hedg-hoggs be not seen,
Newts and blind worms do no wrong,
Come not near our fairy Queen :
Philomel with melody

Singing your sweet Lullaby,

Lulla, lulla, lullaby; lulla, lulla, lullaby.

Ne're harm, nor spell nor Charm
Come our lovely Lady by:

So good-night with lullaby.

2 Fairy. Weaving spiders come not here;
Hence you long-legg'd spinners, hence,
Beetles black approach not near;
Worm nor snail do no offence:
Philomel with melody, &c.

1 Fairy. Hence, away, now all is well; On a loof stand Centinel. [Exeunt Fairies.

Ob. What thou seest when thou dost

wake

[Oberon comes and touches her eyelids.

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 thine eye that shall appear,
When thou awakest it is thy dear;
Wake then, some vile thing is near.

[Exit.

Enter Bottom, Quince, Snug, Flute, Snout, and Starveling.

Bot. Are we all met?

Qu. Pat, pat, and here's a mervellous convenient place for our rehearsall. This green Plot shall be our stage. This hawthorn Brake our tyring house, and we will do it in action as we will do it before the Duke.

Bot. Peter Quince.

Qu. What sayst thou, Bully Bottom?
Bot. There are things in this Comedy of

Pyramus and Thisby that will never please: first, Pyramus must draw a Sword to kill himself, which the Ladyes can't abide, how answer you that?

Snout. Berlaken a parlous fear.

Star. I beleive we must leave the killing out, when all's done.

Bot. Not a whit, I have advice to make all well. Write me a Prologue, and let the Prologue seem to say we will do no harm with our swords, and that Pyramus is not killed indeed: and for the more better assurance tell them, that I Pyramus am not Pyramus, but Bottom the weaver, this will put them out of fear.

Qu. Well, we will have such a Prologue, and it shall be written in eight and six.

Bot. No, make it two more; let it be written in eight and eight.

Snout. Will not the Ladyes be afraid of, the Lyon?

Star. I fear it I'le promise you.

Bot. Masters, we ought to consider with