The Stationers to the Reader.  
GEntlemen, the entreaty of several Persons, our friends, hath enduced us to the publishing of this Piece, which (when the life of action was added to it) pleased generally well. It hath been the desire of several (who know we have many pieces of this nature in our hands) that we should publish them, and we considering the general mirth that is likely, very suddenly to happen about the King's Coronation; and supposing that things of this Nature, will be acceptable, have therefore begun with this which we know may be easily acted, and may be now as fit for a private recreation as formerly it hath been for a public. If you please to encourage us with Your acceptance of this, you will induce us to bring you forth our store, and we will assure you that we are plentifully furnished with things of this Nature; Receive this then with good will as we intent it, and others shall not only succeed it but you shall continue us  
Your Servants, FRANCIS KIRKMAN. HENRY MARSH   

The Names of the Actors.  
Quince the Carpenter who speaks the Prologue. Bottom the Weaver Pyramus. who likewise may present three Fairies. Flute the Bellowsmender. Thisbe. Snout the Tinker. Wall. Snug the joiner. Lion. Starveling the Tailor. Moonshine. Oberon King of the Fairies, who likewise may present the Duke. Titania his Queen the Duchess. Pugg. a Spirit a Lord.   

THE Merry conceited Humours OF Bottom the Weaver.  Enter Bottom the Weaver, Quince the Carpeuter, Snug the joiner, Elute the Bellows mender, Snout the Tinker, and Starveling the Tailor. Bottom 
COme Neighbours let me tell you, and in troth I have spoke like a man in my days, and hit right too, that if this business do but displease his Grace's fancy, we are all made men for ever.  Quince. 
I believe so too neighbour, but is all our company here?  Bott. 
You had best to call them generally man by man according to the Scrip.  Qu. 
Here is the scroll of every man's name which is thought fit through all Athens, to play in our interlude between the Duke and the Duchess on his Wedding day at night.  Bott. 
First good Peter Quince say what the Play treats of, then read the names of the Actors, and so grow on to a point.  Qu. 
Marry our play is the most Lamentable Comedy, and most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisbe.  Bott. 
A very good piece of work I assure you, and a merry; now good Peter Quince call forth your Actors by the Scroll, Masters spread yourselves.  Qu. 
Answer as I call you, Nicolas Bottom the Weaver.  Bott. 
Ready, name what part I am for, and proceed.  Qu. 
You Nic. Bottom are set down for Pyramus.  Bott. 
Wat is Pyramus, a Lover or a Tyrant?  Qu. 
A Lover that kills himself most gallantly for Love.  Bott. 
That will ask some tears in the true performing of it, If I do it, let the audience look to their eyes: I will move storms, I will condole in some measure, to the rest, yet my chief humour is for a Tyrant. I could play Eroles rarely, or a part to tear a cat in two, make all split, the raging Rocks, and shivering shocks shall break the locks of Prison gates, and Phibbus car shall shine from far, and make and mar, the foolish fates: Now name the rest of the Players. This is Eroles reign, a Tyrant's reign, a Lover is more condoling.  Qu. 
Francis Flute the Bellows-mender  Flut. 
Here Petter Quince  Qu. 
You must take Thisbe on you,  Flut. 
What is Thisbe a wandering Knight?  Qu. 
It is the Lady that Pyramus must love.  Flut. 
Nay faith, let not me play a woman, I have a beard coming  Qu. 
That's all one, you shall play it in a mask and you may speak as small as you will  Bott. 
And I may hid my face, let me play Thisbe too. I'll speak in a monstrous little voice Thisbe Thisbe, ah Pyramus my lover dear thy Thisbe dear and lover dear.  Qu. 
No no, you must play Pyramus, and Flute you Thisbe  Bott. 
Well proceed.  Qu. 
Robin Starveling the Tailor  Star. 
Here Peter Quince  Qu. 
Robin Starveling you must play Thisby's mother. Tom Snout the Tinker  Sno. 
Here Peter Quince.  Qu. 
You Pyramus father, myself Thisby's father, Snug the Joiner you the Lion's part; and I hope there's a play fitted  Snug. 
Have you the Lion's part written? Pray you if it be, give it me for I am slow of study.  Qu. 
You may do it Ex tempore for it is nothing but roaring  Bott. 
Let me play the Lion too, I will Roar that I will do any man's heart good to hear me, I will roar that I will make the Dake say let him roar again let him roar again  Qu. 
if you should do it too terribly, you would fright the Duchess and the Ladies that they would shriek and that were enough to hang us all  All. 
That would hang every mother's Son  Bott. 
I grant you friends that if they should fright the Lady's out of their wits, they would have no more discretion but to hang us, but I will aggravate my voice so that I will roar you as gentle as any Sucking Dove, I will roar and 'ttwere any Nightingale  Qu. 
You can play no part but Pyramus, for Pyramus is a sweetfaced man a proper man as one shall see in a Summer's day, a most lovely Gentleman like man, therefore you must needs play Pyramus.  Bott. 
Well I will undertake it, what beard had I best play it in?  Qu. 
Why what you will  Bott. 
I will discharge it either in your straw coloured beard, your Orange Tawny beard, your purple in grain beard, or your French crown coloured beard, your perfect Yellow.  Qu. 
Some of your French crowns have no hair at all and then you'll play barefaced. But masters here are your parts and I am farther to entreat you, request you and desire you, to con them by to morrow night, & meet me in the Palace Wood a mile without the Town by moonlight, there we will rehearse, for if we meet in the City we shall be doggd by company and our devices known; in the mean time I will draw a bill of properties such as our play wants? I pray fail me not.  Bott. 
We will meet and there we may rehearse more obscenely and Courageously. Take pain. Be presect. Adieu.  Qu. 
At the Duke's Oak we meet?  Bott. 
Enough hold or cut Bowstrings— Exeunt.  Enter Oberon King of the Fairies and Pugg a Spirit. Ob. 
I am resolved and I will be revenged  
Of my proud Queen Titania's injury,  
And make her yield me up her beloved page;  
My gentle Pugg come hither thou Rememberest  
Since that I sat upon a Promontory,  
And heard a Mermaid on a Dolphins Back  
Uttering such dulcet and harmonious breath,  
That the rude Sea grew civil at her Song;  
And certain States shot madly from their Spheres,  
To hear the Sea-maids music.  Pug. 
I remember.  Ob. 
That very time I saw (but thou couldst 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-shast smartly from his bow,  
As it should pierce a hundred thousand hearts:  
But I might see young Cupid's fiery shaft  
Quench in the chaste beams of the watery Moon,  
And the Imperial Votaress passed on  
In maiden meditation fancy free,  
Yet marked I where the bolt of Cupid fell  
It fell upon a little western flower  
Before milk white now purple with love's wound,  
And maidens call it love in Idleness;  
Fetch me that flower the herb I showed 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'er the Leviathan can swim a league.  Pug. 
I'll put a girdle about the earth in forty minutes. Exit.  Ob. 
Having once this juice;  
I'll watch Titania when she is a sleep  
And drop the liquor of it in her eyes,  
The next thing when 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 can take it with another herb)  
I'll make her render up her page to me.  
Welcome wanderer, what art returned with it?  Pug. 
I there it it is.  Ob. 
Come give it me?  
There is a bank Titania useth of  
In nights to sleep on, but see where she comes Enter Queen and Fairs. Exit Pug.  
I'll stand aside you may departed.  Qu. 
Come now a Roundel and a fairy song  
To please my eye first then entice me sleep  
Then to your offices and let me rest  Fairies first Dance and then sings 1. 
You Spotted Snakes with double tongue  
Thorny Hedghoges be not seen  
Newts and blind worms do no wrong  
Come not mere our Fairy Queen  
Philomele with melody  
Singing your sweet Lullaby  
Lulla lulla lullaby lulla lulla lullaby  
Near harm, nor spell nor Charm  
Come our lovely Lady by  
So good-night with lullaby.  2 Fairy. 
Weaving spiders come not here  
Hence you longlegd spinners hence  
Beetles black approach not near;  
Worm nor snail do no offence:  
Philomele with melody. etc.  1 Fairy 
Hence away now all is well  
One a loof stand Sentinel.  Exeunt Fairs. Ob. 
What thou seest when thou dost wake Oberon comes to her and touches her eye lids.  
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 Bott. 
Are we all met?  Quin. 
Pat pat, and here's a marvellous convenient place for our rehearsal This green Plot shall be our stage, This hawthorn Broke our tiring house, and we will do it in action as we will do it before the Duke.  Bott. 
Peter Quince.  Qu. 
What sayest thou Bully Bottom?  Bott. 
There are things in this Comedy of Pyramus and Thisbe that will never please, first Pyramus must draw a Sword to kill himself which the Ladies can't abide, how answer you that?  Snout. 
Berlaken a perilous fear.  Star. 
I believe we must leave the killing out, when all's done.  Bott. 
Not a whit, I have advice to make all well. Writ 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 nor 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.  Bott. 
No make it two more let it be written in eight and eight.  Snout. 
Will not the Ladies be afraid of the Lion?  Star. 
I fear it I'll promise you.  Bott. 
Masters we ought to consider with ourselves to bring in (God shield us) a Lion among Ladies is a most dreadful thing, For there is not a more fearful wildfowl than your Lion living, and we ought to look to it.  Snout. 
Therefore another Prologue must tell he is not a Lyon.  Bott. 
Nay, You must name his name, and half his face must be seen through the Lion's Neck, and he himself must speak through saying thus, or to the same effect, Ladies or fair Ladies, I would wish you, or I would request you, or I would entreat you 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 teil plainly I am Snug the Joiner.  Qu. 
Well it shall be so: But there is two hard things, that is to bring the moon light into a Chamber, for you know Pyramus and Thisbe met by moonlight.  Snug. 
Doth the moon shine that night we play our play.  Bott. 
A Calendar a Calendar look in the Almanac find out moonshine sinned out moonshine.  Qu. 
Yes, it doth shine that night?  Bott. 
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.  Qui. 
I, or else one must come with a bunch of Thorns and a Lantern, & 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 Thisbe (says the story) did talk through the Chink of a wall.  Snug. 
You can never bring in a Wall, what say you Bottom?  Bott. 
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, or let him hold his fingers thus, and through that Cranny shall Pyramus and Thisbe whisper.  Qui. 
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 man according to his Cue—  Enter Pug. Pug. 
What Hempen Home-spuns have we swaggering here so near the Cradle of the Fairy Queen. What? a play toward? I'll be an Auditor, and Actor too perhaps if I sea cause.  Quin. 
Speak Pyramus Thisbe stand forth.  Pyra. 
Thisbe, the flowers of Odious savours sweet.  Quin. 
Odours, Odours.  Pira. 
Odours savours sweet, so hath thy breath my dearest Thisbe dear. But hark a voice: stay thou but here a while, and by and by I will to thee appear.  Pug. 
A stranger Pyramus then ere played here. Exit. Pyr. Exit after him  This. 
Must I speak now?  Quin. 
I marry must you. For you must understand that he goes but to see a Noise that he heard, and is to come again.  This. 
Most Radiant Pyramus, Most Lily white of hue. Of colour like the red Rose on triumphant Bryer. Most Brisky Juvenal, and the most lovely Jew. As true as truest Horse that never yet would Tyre. I'll meet thee Pyramus at Ninus Tomb.  Qui. 
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 Tyre.  This. 
O as true as truest Horse that yet would never Tyre.  Pir. 
If I were fair Thisbe I were only thine.  Quince. 
O monstrous! O strange! we are haunted; pray masters fly-Masters help. Exeunt the Clowns  Pug. 
I'll follow you, I'll lead you about a round. Through Bog, through Bush, through Brake, through Briar. Sometimes a Horse I'll be, sometimes a Hound, a Hog, a headless Bear; sometimes a Fire, and Neigh, and Bark, and Grunt, and Roar, and Burn, like horse, hound, hog, bear, fire, at every turn,  Enter Bottom with an Ass' head. Bott. 
Why do they run away, this is knavery of them to make me afeard.  Enter Snout. Sno. 
O Bottom thou art changed, what do I see on thee?  Bott. 
What do I see? you see an Ass' head of your own do you?  Enter Peter Quince Quin. 
Bless thee Bottom, bless thee, thou art translated. Exeunt  Bott. 
I see their knavery, this is to make an ass of me, and fright me if they could, but I will not stir from this place do they what they can, I will walk up and down here, and will sing, that they shall hear I am not afraid.  he sings 
The Woosel cock so black of hue,  
with Orange Tawny bill.  
The Thros'le with his note so true, Queen of Fairy wakes and looks upon him.  
the Wren and little quill.  Tita. 
What Angel wakes me from my flowery bed?  Bott. 
The Finch, the Sparrow, and the Lark.  
The Plainsong Cuckoo Grace,  
whose note full many a man doth Mark,  
and dare not answer Nay.  
For indeed who should set his wit to so foolish a bird? who would give a bird the lie though he should cry Cuckoo never so.  Tita. 
I pray thee gentle mortal sing again,  
mine ear is much enamoured of thy note.  
On the first view to say, to swear I love thee  
so is mine eye enthralled to thy shape  
and thy fair virtue's force (perforce) doth move me.  Bott. 
Me thinks (Mistress) you should have little reason for that, and yet to say truth reason and love keep little company together now adays. The more the pity that some honest neighbours will not make them friends. Nay I can Gleek upon occasion.  Tita. 
Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful.  Bott. 
Not so neither: but if I had wit enough to get out of this Wood, I have enough to serve my own turne.  Tita. 
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 fare  
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 snall fetch thee jewels from the Deep,  
and sing while thou on pressed flowers dost sleep,  
and I will purge thy mortal grosseness so,  
That thou shalt like a Eyrie spirit go.  Enter Peaseblossome, Cobweb, and Mustarseed three Fairies Fair. 
Ready and I, and I, and I, where shall we go.  Tita. 
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 white tapers crop their waxed thighs,  
and light them at the fiery glow-worms eyes  
To have my love to bed and to arise,  
And pluck the wings from painted Butterflies  
To Fan the Moon-beames from his sleeping eyes.  
Nod to him Elves, and do him Courtesies.  1. Fai. 
Hail mortal Hail.  1. 2. Fai. 
Hail.  3. Fai. 
Hail.  Bott. 
I cry your worships hearty mercy. I beseech your worship's name.  Cob. 
Cobweb.  Bott. 
I shall desire you of more acquaintance good Master Cobweb, if I cut my singer, I shall make bold with you. Your name honest Gentleman?  Peas. 
Peaseblossome.  Bott. 
I pray commend me to Mrs. Squash your Mother and to Master Pease-cod your Father, I shall desire of you more acquaintance too.  
Your name I beseech you Sir.  Mus. 
Mustardseed.  Bott. 
Good Mr. Mustardseed, I know your patience well? That same cowardly Giantlike Ox-Beefe hath devoured many a Gentleman of your house; I promise your kindred have made my eyes water ere now. I desire you more acquaintance good Master Mustardseed.  Tita. 
Come wait upon him, lead him to my Bower.  
The Moon me thinks looks with a marry eye,  
And when she weeps, weep every little Flower:  
Lamenting some enforced chastity.  
Tie up my lover's tongue, bring him silently.  Exeunt Enter Oberon King of Fairies Solus. Ob. 
I wonder if Titania he awaked.  
Then what it was that next came in her eye,  
Which she must door on in extremity.  Enter Pugg. 
Here comes my messenger, now now Mad spirit  
What night-rule now about this haunted Grove?  Pugg. 
My Mistress with a Monster is in love  
Near to her Close and consecrated bower,  
Whiles she was in her dull and sleeping hour  
A Crew of Patches, rude Mechanical,  
That work for bread upon Athenian stalls,  
Were met together to rehearse a play  
Intended for great Theseus Nuptial day.  
The shallowest Thick-skin of that barren sort,  
Who Pyramus presented in their sport.  
Forsook his Scene, and entered in a brake  
Where I did him at this advantage take;  
An Ass' Nose I fixed on his head,  
Anon his Thisbe must be answered,  
And forth my mimic comes when they him spy,  
As Wild-geese that the creeping Fowler eye;  
Or russet-pated Choughs many in sort  
(Rising and cawing at the Guns report)  
Sever themselves, and madly sweep the sky,  
So at his sight away his fellows fly,  
and at our stamp over and over one falls  
He murder cries, and help from Athens calls.  
Their sense thus weak lost with their fear thus strong  
Made senseless things begin to do them wrong.  
For Briars and Thorns at their apparel snatch  
Some sleeves, some hats, from Yeilders all things catch.  
I led them on in this distracted fear,  
And left sweet Pyramus translated there.  
When in that moment so it came to pass  
Titania waked, and straightway loved an ass.  Exit Ob. 
This fall out better than I could devise,  
I shall now be avenged upon my Queen.  
But see she comes, I'll stand aside.  Enter Queen, Bottom, Fairies. Tita. 
Come sit thee down upon this Flowery bed,  
While I thy aimable Cheeks do coy,  
And stick musk Roses on thy sleek smooth head,  
And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle Joy.  Bott. 
Where's Peaseblossome?  Peas. 
Ready.  Bott. 
Scratch my head Peaseblossome, where's Monsieur Cobweb.  Cob. 
Ready.  Bott. 
Monseur Cobweb, good Monseur get your weapons in your hand, and kill me a red humble Bee on the top of a Thistle, and good Monsieur bring me the honey bag. Do not fret yourself too much in the action Monsieur, and good Monsieur have a care the honey bag break not, I would be loath to have you over flown with a honey bag Signior. Where's Monsieur Mustardseed.  Mus. 
Ready.  Bott. 
Give me your newfe Monsieur Mustardseed.  
Pray le have your Courtesy good Monsieur.  Mus. 
What's your will?  Bott. 
Nothing good Monsieur, but to help Cavaliero Cobweb to scratch; I must to the Barbers Monsieur, for me thinks I am marvaillous hairy about the face, and I am such a Tender ass if my hair does but tickle me I must scratch.  Tita. 
What wilt thou hear some music my sweet love?  Bott. 
I have a reasonable good ear in music, let us hear the Tongue and the bones.  Music Tongues Rural Music. Tita. 
Or say sweet love what thou desirest to eat?  Bott. 
Truly a peck of provender, I could maunch your good dry Oats, me thinks I have a great desire to a bottle of hay, good hay, sweet hay hath no fellow.  Tita. 
I have a venturous Fairy  
That shall seek the Squirrels hoard  
And fetch the new Nuts  Bott. 
I had rather have a handful or two of dried pease. But I pray let none of your people stir me, I have an exposition of sleep come upon me.  Tita. 
Sleep thou and I will wind the in my arms  
Fairies begun and be always away  
So doth the wood bind 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?  Ob. 
Welcome good Pug. Oberon approaches  
Seest thou this sweet sight? Enter Pug,  
Her dotage now do I begin to pity  
For meeting her of late behind the wood  
Seeking sweet favours for this hateful fool  
I did upbraid her and fall out with her,  
For she his hairy temples than had rounded  
With Coronet of fresh and Fragrant flowers,  
And that same Dew which some time on the buds  
Was wont to swell like round and orient pearl;  
I stood now within the pretty flouriers eyes  
Like tears that did there own disgrace bewaise  
And she in mild terms begged my patience  
I then did ask of her her Changeling child  
Which straight she gave me and her fairy sent  
To bear him to my bower in Fairy land.  
And now I have the boy I will undo  
This hateful imperfection of her eyes  
And gentle Pug take this transformed Scalp  
From off the head of this Athenian swain  
That he awaking may return to Athens  
and think no more of this night's accidents  
But as the sierce vexation of a dream  
But first I will release my fairy Queen.  
Be thou as thou was wont to be  
See thou as thou was wont to see,  
Diane's bud or Cupid's Flower  
Hath such force and blessed power.  
Now my Titania wake you my sweet Queen  Tit. 
My Oberon what visions have I seen  
Me thought I was enamoured of an ass.  Ob. 
There lies your love.  Tit. 
How came these things to pass  
Oh how mine eyes do loath this visage now.  Ob. 
Silence a while. Pug take thou off his head  he pulls off his ass' head Pug. 
When thou awakes with thine own fools eyes peep.  Exeunt. After a while Bottom wakes. Bott. 
When my cue comes call me, and I will answer, my next is most fair Pyramus hei 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 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, me thought I was there's no man can tell what me thought I was, and me thought I had, but a man is but a patched fool if he will offer to say what me thought I had, the eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, man's hand is not able to cast, his tongue to conceive, not his heart report what my dream, was. I will get Peter Quince to write a Ballad of this dream, it shall be called Bottoms dream because it hath no Bottom and I will sing it in the later end of the Play before the Duke, peradventure to make, it the more gracious I will sing it at her death. Exit  Enter Quince, Flute, Thisbe, Snout and Starveling. Cue, 
Have you sent to Bottoms house? is he come yet?  Star. 
He cannot be heard of, out of doubt he is transported.  Flute. 
If he come not then the play is marred, it goes not forward doth it?  Qu. 
It is not possible, you have not a man in all Athent able to discharge Pyramus but he.  Flut. 
No: He hath simply the best wit of any handicraft's man in Athens.  Qu. 
Yea and the best person too, and he is a very Paramour for a sweet voice.  Flu. 
You must say Paragon, a Paramour is God bless us a thing of naught.  Enter Snug the joiner. Snug 
Masters, the Duke is now coming from being married at the Temple, oh if our sport had gone forward, we had all been made men.  Flu. 
O sweet Bully Bottom, thou hast lost six pence a day during his life, he could not have scaped six pence a day, and the Duke had not given him sixpence a day for playing Pyramus I'll be hanged, he would have deserved sixpence a day in Pyramus or nothing.  Enter Bottom. Bott. 
Where are these lads? Where are these hearts?  Qu. 
Bottom! O most courageous day! oh most happy hour▪  Bott. 
Masters I am to discourse wonders, but ask me not what, for if I tell you I am no true Athenian, I will tell you every thing as it fell out.  Qu. 
Let us hear sweet Bottom.  Bott. 
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 in the Palace every man look over his part for the short and the long is, our play is preferred, in any case let Thisbe 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 doubt not to hear them say it is a sweet Comedy. No more words away: go away.  Exeunt. Enter Duke, Duchess and two Lords. Egaeus. 
May all things prove propitious to this match  
And heaven's power down whole showers of joy to wait  
Within your Royal walks your Board, your bed  Duke. 
Thanks kind Egaeus, but what pleasant masks  
What dances have we now to wear away  
This long age of three hours which yet we have  
To spend ere bed time?  1. Lord. 
an't please your grace, there is a scene  
Tedious yet brief to be presented of  
The love of Pyramus and Thisbe  
Mirth very Tragical  Duke. 
Merry and Tragical? tedious and brief. That is hot Ice, and wondrous Strange snow? how shall we find a concord in this discord?  2. Lord. 
A play there is my Lord, some ten words long  
Which is as brief as I have known a play,  
But by ten words my Lord it is too long  
Which makes it tedious, For in all the play  
There's not one word apt, one player fitted;  
And Tragical my noble Lord it is  
For Pyramus therein doth skill himself  
Which when I saw rehearsed I must confess  
Made my eyes water but more merry tears  
The passion of loud laughter never shed  Duke 
What are they that do play it?  1. Lord 
Hard handed men that work in Athens here  
Which never laboured in their minds till now  
And now have toiled their unbreathed memories  
With this same play against your Nuptials  Duke. 
And we will hear it, let them approach.  They take their seats, Enter Prologue. Pro. 
If we offend it is with our good will.  
That you should think we come not to offend  
But with good will, To show our simple skill,  
That is the true beginning of our end.  
Consider then, we come but in despite,  
We do not come as minding to content you  
Our true intent is. All for your delight  
We are not here. That you should here repent you  
The actors are at hand, And by their show  
You shall know all that you are like to know.  Duke. 
This fellow doth not stand upon points.  1. Lord. 
He hath read his prologue like a Rough Colt, he knows not the Stop. A good moral my Lord. It is not enough to speak, but to speak true.  Dutch. 
Indeed he hath played on his Prologue like a Child on the recorder, a sound but not in government.  Duke. 
His speech was like a tangled chain nothing impaired but all disordered. Who is the next?  Enter Pyramus Thisbe, Wall, Moonshine and Lyon. Prolo. 
Gentles perchance you wonder at this show;  
But wonder on till truth doth make all things plain:  
This man is Pyramus if you would know;  
This beauteous Lady Thisbe is certain.  
This man with Lime and Rough-cast doth present  
Wall the vile Wall which did these lovers sunder,  
And through Walls chink (poor souls) they are content  
To whisper, at the which let no man wonder.  
This man with Lantern 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 woe.  
This Grisly beast (which Lion height by name)  
The trusty Thisbe coming first by night  
Did scare away, or rather did affright,  
And as she sled her mantle she did fall,  
Which Lion vile with bloody mouth did stain;  
Anon comes Pyramus sweet youth and tall,  
And finds his gentle Thisbie's mantle slain,  
Whereat with blade, with bloody blameful blade  
He bravely broached his bloody boiling breast,  
And Thisbe 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.  Exeunt all but Wall. Duke. 
I wonder if the Lion be to speak?  2. Lor. 
No wonder my Lord, one Lion may, when many Asses do.  Wall. 
In this same interlude it doth befall  
That I one Snug (by name present a wall,  
And such a wall as I would have you think  
As had in it a cr●nned hole or chink,  
through which the Lovers Pyramus and Thisbe,  
Did whisper often very secretly.  
This loam, this rough-cast, and this stone doth show  
that I am that same wall the truth is so,  
And this the Cranny is right and sinister,  
through which the fearful lovers are to whisper.  Duke. 
Would you desire lime and hair to speak better.  2. Lor. 
It is the wittiest partition that ever I heard discourse my Lord.  Duke. 
Pyramus draws near the wall, Silence—  Enter Pyramus Pyra. 
O Grim looked night! O night with hue so black!  
O night which ever art when day is not.  
O night, O night, alack, alack, alack  
I fear my Thisbie's promise is forgot;  
And thou O wall, thou sweet and lovely wall,  
that stands between her father's ground and mine,  
Thou Wall, O Wall, O sweet and lovely Wall  
Show me thy Chink to blink through with mine eyes.  
Thanks Courteous Wall; jove shield thee well for this.  
But what see I? No Thisbe do I see.  
O witched Wall through whom I see no bliss:  
Cursed be thy stones for thus deceiving me.  Duke. 
The Wall me thinks being sensible should curse again.  Pyram. 
No in truth Sir he should not, Deceiving me Is Thisbies' Cue, she is to enter, and I am to spy her through the Wall, you shall see it will fall.  Enter Thisbe. 
Pat as I told you; yonder she comes.  Thisb. 
O Wall full often hast thou heard my moans  
For parting my fair Pyramus and me.  
My Cherry lips have often kissed thy stones,  
Thy stones with Lime and Hair knit up in thee.  Pyra. 
I hear a voice, Now will I to the Chink  
To spy if I can see my Thisbies' face. Thisbe.  This. 
My love, thou art my love I think.  Pyra. 
Think what thou wilt I am thy lover's Grace,  
And like Limander am I trusty still.  This. 
And I like Helen till the fates me kill.  Pira. 
Not Thafalus to Procrus was so true.  This. 
As Shalafus to Procrus I to you.  Pira. 
O kiss me through the hole of this vile Wall.  This. 
I kiss the Wall hole, not your lips at all.  Pira. 
Will thou at Ninnies tomb meet me strait way?  This. 
Tide life ride death I'll come without delay.  Exeunt Pir. and Thisbe. Wall. 
Thus have I Wall my part discharged so.  Exit Wall Duke. 
Now is the Moral down between the two neighbours.  2. Lor. 
No remedy my Lord when Walls are so wilful.  Dutch. 
This is the silliest stuff that ever I heard.  Duke. 
The best in this kind are but shadows, and the worst not worse, if imagination amend them.  Dutch. 
It must be your imagination then, not theirs.  Duke. 
If we imagine no worse of them then they of themselves, they may pass for excellent men. Here comes two noble Beasts in, a Man and a Lyon.  Enter Lion and Moonshine. Lyon. 
You Ladies, you whose gehtle hearts do fear  
the monstrous Mouse that creeps on floor;  
May now perchance both quake and tremble here,  
When Lion rough in wildest rage doth roar.  
Then know that I one Snug the Joiner am,  
A Lion fell, nor else no Lion's dam,  
For if I should as Lion come in strife  
Into this place, 'twere pity of my life.  Duke. 
A very gentle beast, and of a good conscience.  2. Lor. 
The very best at a beast my Lord that ever I saw.  1. Lor. 
This Lion is a very Fox for his valour.  Duke. 
True, and a Goose for his discretion.  2. Lor. 
Not so my Lord, for his valour cannot carry his discretion, and the Fox carries the Goose.  Duke. 
His discretion I am sure cannot carry his valour, for the Goose carries not the Fox. It is well, leave it to his discretion.  Moon. 
This Lantern doth the horned Moon present.  2. Lor. 
He should have worn the horns on his head.  Duke. 
He is no Crescent, and his horns are invisible within the circumference.  Moon. 
This Lantern doth the horned Moon present; myself the man i'th' Moon doth seem to be.  Duke, 
This is the grearest error of all the rest, the man should be put in the Lantern, how is he else the man in the Moon.  2. Lor. 
He dares not come in there for the Candle, for you see 'tis already in snuff.  Dutch. 
I am weary of this moon, would he would change,  Duke. 
It appears by his small light of Discretion that he is in the Wain: but yet in courtesy in all reason we must stay the time.  1. Lor. 
Proceed Moon?  Moon. 
All that I have to say is, to tell you that the Lantern is the Moon; I the man in the Moon, this thorne-Bush my bush, and this Dog my Dog.  2. Dor. 
Why, all these should be in the Lantern, for they are in the Moon. But silence, here comes Thisbe.  Enter Thisbe This. 
This is old Ninnies tomb: where is my love.  Lyon. 
Oh— the Lion roars, Thisbe runs off  1. Lor. 
Well roared Lyon.  Duke. 
Well run Thisbe.  Dutch. 
Well shone Moon. Truly the moon shines with a good grace.  Duke. 
Well mouzed Lion  2. Lord. 
And then came Pyramus  1. Lord. 
And so the Lion vanished  Enter Pyramus Pyr. 
Sweet moon I thank thee for thy sunny beams  
I thank the moon for shining now so bright  
For by thy gracious golden glittering Streams  
I trust to taste of truest Thisbe's sight  
But stay: O spite! but mark poor knight  
What dreadful dole is here?  
Eyes do you see! How can it be!  
O dainty Duke! O dear!  
Thy mantel good; what stained with blood  
Approach you furies fell  
O Fates come come, cut thread and thrum  
Quail, crush, conclude and quell.  Duke. 
This passion and the death of a dear friend would go near to make a man look sad.  Dut. 
Beshrew my heart but I pity the man  Pyr. 
O wherefore nature didst thou Lions stame?  
Since Lion wild hath here deflowered my dear  
Which is, no no, Which was the fairest Dame  
That lived that loved that liked that looked with cheer  
Come tears confound, out sword and wound  
The pap of Pyramus  
I that left pap where heart doth hap  
Thus eye 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  2. Lord. 
No die but am ace for him for he's but one  1. Lord. 
Less than an ace man for he's dead he's nothing  Duke. 
With the help of a Surgeon he might yet recover and prove an Ass.  Dutch. 
How chance moonshine is gone before.  Thisbe comes back and finds her slain lover Enter Thisbe Duke. 
She finds him by starlight  
Here She comes and her passion ends the play  Dut. 
Me thinks she should not use a long one, for such a Pyramus I hope she will be brief.  2. Lor. 
A Moth will turn the balance, which Pyramus, which Thisbe is the better.  1. Lor. 
She hath spied him already with those sweet eyes.  2. Lor. 
And thus she means. Videlicet.  This. 
Asleep my love? What dead my dove?  
O Pyramus arise,  
Speak, Speak. Quite dumb? Dead, dead? a tomb  
Must cover thy sweet eyes.  
These lily lips, this cherry nose.  
These yellow Cowslip cheeks  
are gone, are gone, lovers make moan,  
His eyes were as 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,  
And farewell friends, thus Thisbe ends.  
Adieu Adieu Adieu.  Duke. 
Moonshine and lion are left to bury the Dead.  2. Lor. 
I and Wall too.  Bott. 
No I assure you, the wall is down that parted their Fathers. Will it please you to see the Epilogue, or to hear a Burgo-mask dance between two of our company.  Duke. 
No Epilogue pray you, for your play needs no excuse, never excuse. For when the Players are all Dead, there need none to be blamed. Marry if he that writ it had played Pyramus, and hung himself in Thisbies' Garter, it had been a fine Tragedy, and so it is truly, and very notably discharged; but come, your Burgo-mask, let your Epilogue alone.  After a Dance, Exeunt Omnes.  

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