Faculty of English

PUCK  And as I am an honest puck, If we have unearned luck Now to scape the serpent’s tongue, We will make amends ere long; Else the puck a liar call. So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends; And Robin shall restore amends. [Exit.]      (5.1.421-428) It’s the very end of the epilogue, the end of the […]

PUCK  If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended: That you have but slumbered here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream, Gentles, do not reprehend: If you pardon, we will mend.            (5.1.413-420) In some ways this is a conventional exculpatory epilogue: hope you liked the show, and […]

OBERON         With this field-dew consecrate, Every fairy take his gate 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. (Exeunt [all but PUCK.])      (5.1.405-412) The final blessing of this house is ancient—residually Catholic (a marriage bed would be sprinkled […]

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, […]

Enter [Oberon] and [Titania], with all their train. OBERON         Through the house give glimmering light By the dead and drowsy fire. Every elf and fairy sprite Hop as light as bird from brier, And this ditty after me Sing, and dance it trippingly. TITANIA         First rehearse your song by rote, To each word a warbling note. Hand in hand, with fairy grace, Will we sing and […]

PUCK  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 hallowed house. I am sent with broom before, To sweep the dust behind the door.            (5.1.373-380) It’s FAIRY TIME, not just time for bed, or for ghosts: and we fairies, that do […]

Enter [PUCK with a broom.] 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 […]

THESEUS        The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve. Lovers, to bed; ’tis almost fairy time. I fear we shall outsleep the coming morn, As much as we this night have overwatched. 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. (Exeunt). (5.1.353-360) Theseus demonstrates that, for all his snide […]

THESEUS        Moonshine and Lion are left to bury the dead. DEMETRIUS   Ay, and Wall too. BOTTOM        No, I assure you, the wall is down that parted their fathers. Will it please you to see the epilogue, or to hear a Bergomask dance between two of our company? THESEUS        No epilogue, I pray you; for your […]

FLUTE 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 Thisbe ends.      Adieu, adieu, adieu.    [Dies.]         (5.1.329-340) And suddenly Thisbe’s speech comes into focus […]