gentleman-like man; therefore you must needs play Pyramus. Bot. Well, I will undertake it. What beard were I best to play it in? Quin. Why, what you will. Bot. I will discharge it in either your strawcoloured beard, your orange-tawny beard, your purple-in-grain beard, or your French-crown-colour beard, your perfect yellow. Quin. Some of your French crowns have no hair at all, and then you will play bare-faced.-But, masters, here are your parts: and I am to entreat you, request you, and desire you, to con them by to-morrow night; and meet me in the palace wood, a mile without the town, by moon-light; there will we rehearse for if we meet in the city, we shall be dog'd with company, and our devices known. In the mean time, I will draw a bill of properties 2, such as our play wants. I pray you, fail me not. : Bot. We will meet; and there we may rehearse courageously. Take pains; be perfect; adieu. Quin. At the duke's oak we meet. Bot. Enough: Hold, or cut bow-strings. 3 [Exeunt. ACT THE SECOND. SCENE I. A Wood near Athens. Enter a Fairy at one door, and Puck at another. Puck. How now, spirit! whither wander you? Thorough bush, thorough briar, Thorough flood, thorough fire, * Articles required in performing a play. 3 At all events. I do wander every where, To dew her orbs + upon the green: In those freckles live their savours: I must go seek some dew-drops here, And hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear. Farewell, thou lob of spirits, I'll be gone; Our queen and all her elves come here anon. Puck. The king doth keep his revels here to night; Take heed, the queen come not within his sight. And now they never meet in grove, or green, Fai. Either I mistake your shape and making quite, Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite, Skim milk; and sometimes labour in the quern", 4 Circles. 'Quarrel. 5 A term of contempt. 6 Shining. 9 Yeast. Mislead night-wanderers, laughing at their harm? Those that Hobgoblin call you, and sweet Puck, You do their work, and they shall have good luck : Are not you he? Puck. Thou speak'st aright; And then the whole quire hold their hips, and loffe; But room, Fairy, here comes Oberon. Fai. And here my mistress: were gone! -'Would that he SCENE II. Enter OBERON, at one door, with his train, and TITANIA, at another, with hers. Obe. Ill met by moon-light, proud Titania. Tita. What, jealous Oberon? Fairy, skip hence; I have forsworn his bed and company. Obe. Tarry, rash wanton: Am not I thy lord? Tita. Then I must be thy lady: But I know When thou hast stol'n away from fairy land, And in the shape of Corin sat all day, Playing on pipes of corn, and versing love 1 Wild apple. To amorous Phillida. Why art thou here, Obe. How canst thou thus, for shame, Titania, Glance at my credit with Hippolyta, Knowing I know thy love to Theseus? Didst thou not lead him through the glimmering night, And make him with fair Æglé break his faith, Tita. These are the forgeries of jealousy: 2 That they have overborne their continents 3: 'Petty. Pale in her anger, washes all the air, 5 6 Obe. Do you amend it then; it lies in you: Why should Titania cross her Oberon ? I do but beg a little changeling boy, To be my henchman. Tita. Set you heart at rest, The fairy land buys not the child of me. His mother was a vot'ress of my order: And, in the spiced Indian air, by night, Full often hath she gossip'd by my side; And sat with me on Neptune's yellow sands, Marking the embarked traders on the flood; But she, being mortal, of that boy did die; And, for her sake, I do rear up her boy: And, for her sake, I will not part with him. Obe. How long within this wood intend you stay? Tita. Perchance, till after Theseus' wedding-day. If you will patiently dance in our round, And see our moonlight revels, go with us; If not, shun me, and I will spare your haunts. Obe. Give me that boy, and I will go with thee. Tita. Not for thy kingdom.- Fairies, away: We shall chide down-right, if I longer stay. [Exeunt TITANIA, and her train. 5 Autumn producing flowers unseasonably. VOL. II. R Page. |