BOTTOM        Why do they run away? This is a knavery of them to make me afeard

Enter SNOUT.

SNOUT            O Bottom, thou art changed. What do I see on thee?

BOTTOM        What do you see? You see an ass-head of your own, do you? [Exit Snout.]

Enter QUINCE.

QUINCE          Bless thee Bottom, bless thee! Thou art translated. (Exit.)

BOTTOM        I see their knavery. This is to make an ass of me, to fright me if they could; but I will not stir from this place, do what they can. I will walk up and down here, and I will sing, that they shall hear I am not afraid. (3.1.108-120)

Bottom is understandably confused: why do they run away? why all the screaming and fleeing? This is a knavery of them to make me afeard: they’re playing a trick on me to scare me! More fool them. Ha! Snout’s back, to retrieve something, to see what’s going on, because he ran off in the opposite direction to everyone else? He’s brave enough to try to speak to Bottom, at any rate: O Bottom, thou art changed. What do I see on thee? What’s—that? Why are you so—strangely altered? Bottom’s mystified, a bit annoyed (he has no idea what he looks like): what do you see, go on, spit it out? say it to my face! you see an ass-head of your own, do you? Who’s the fool now? Snout’s out, but Quince, perhaps conceding that he’s meant to be in charge, returns to try to speak to Bottom, to put it into words: bless thee Bottom, bless thee! He’s worried about enchantment, or a curse? And he wants to be friendly, reassuring even. Thou art translated, is the best he can come up with, the word used for metamorphosis—and for altering garments. You have shifted your shape, and you don’t seem to realise. That’s all Quince can manage, and so Bottom is left alone. He thinks he knows what’s going on, I see their knavery, oh yes, they’re having their fun. VERY FUNNY. This is to make an ass of me—it’s the obvious joke, but he’s still oblivious—to fright me if they could. They’re trying to freak me out! But I will not stir from this place, do what they can. I’m not going ANYWHERE. I’m completely unconcerned, totally cool; sangfroid, c’est moi. I will walk up and down here—so that the audience gets a good look, especially if there are hooves—and I will sing—for added comedy—that they shall hear I am not afraid! Because I’m not! I won’t just whistle a happy tune, I will SING! LOUDLY!