PUCK  Their sense, thus weak, lost with their fears thus strong, Made senseless things begin to do them wrong; For briers and thorns at their apparel snatch – Some sleeves, some hats; from yielders, 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, […]

PUCK  Anon his Thisbe must be answered, And forth my minic 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 gun’s report, Sever themselves and madly sweep the sky, So at his sight away his fellows fly; And at our stamp, here o’er and o’er one falls, He ‘Murder’ cries, and help from […]

PUCK  Near to her close and consecrated bower, While she was in her dull and sleeping hour, A crew of patches, rude mechanicals That work for bread upon Athenian stalls, Were met together to rehearse a play Intended for great Theseus’ nuptial day. The shallowest thickskin of that barren sort, Who Pyramus presented in their sport, Forsook his scene and entered in a brake, When I did him at this advantage take: […]

Enter [OBERON]. OBERON         I wonder if Titania be awaked; Then what it was that next came in her eye, Which she must dote on in extremity. Enter [PUCK]. Here comes my messenger. How now, mad spirit? What night-rule now about this haunted grove? PUCK  My mistress with a monster is in love.        (3.2.1-6) Well. Well. Here’s Oberon; what’s being going on? […]

BOTTOM        Your name, I beseech you, sir? MUSTARDSEED         Mustardseed. BOTTOM        Good Master Mustardseed, I know your patience well. That same cowardly giantlike Ox-beef hath devoured many a gentleman of your house. I promise you, your kindred hath made my eyes water ere now. I desire you more acquaintance, good Master Mustardseed. TITANIA         Come, wait upon […]

PEASEBLOSSOM        Hail, mortal. COBWEB                                Hail. MOTH                                                 Hail. MUSTARDSEED                                             Hail. BOTTOM        I cry your worships mercy, heartily. I beseech your worship’s name. COBWEB        Cobweb. BOTTOM        I shall desire you of more acquaintance, good Master Cobweb. If I cut my finger, I shall make bold with you. Your name, honest gentleman? PEASEBLOSSOM        Peaseblossom. BOTTOM        I pray you commend […]

TITANIA         Be kind and courteous to this gentleman. Hop in his walks, and gambol in his eyes. Feed him with apricots and dewberries, With purple grapes, green figs and mulberries. The honey-bags steal from the humble-bees, And for night-tapers, crop their waxen 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 […]

TITANIA         Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustardseed! Enter four Fairies: PEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB, MOTH and MUSTARDSEED. PEASEBLOSSOM        Ready. COBWEB                                And I. MOTH                                                 And I. MUSTARDSEED                                             And I. ALL     Where shall we go?   (3.1.156-7) Fairy time! More fairies than before, or at least the fairies who have appeared before get names: Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustardseed! Titania summons them, and they duly appear, and they’re […]

TITANIA         Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful. BOTTOM        Not so neither; but if I had wit enough to get out of this wood, I have enough to serve mine own turn. TITANIA         Out of this wood do not desire to go. Thou shalt remain here, whether thou wilt or no. I am a spirit of […]

TITANIA         I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing again: Mine ear is much enamoured of thy note. So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape, And thy fair virtue’s force perforce doth move me On the first view to say, to swear, I love thee. BOTTOM        Methinks, mistress, you should have little reason for that. And yet to say the truth, reason and […]