All. That would hang us every mother's son. should fright Bot. I grant you, friends, if that you the ladies 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 gently as any sucking dove; I will roar you an 'twere any nightingale. 339 Quin. You can play no part but Pyramus: for Pyramus is a sweet-fac'd man; a proper man, as one shall see in a summer's-day; a most lovely gentleman-like man; therefore you must needs play Py ramus. 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 straw-coloured beard, your orange-tawny beard, your purplein-grain beard, or your French crown-colour beard, your perfect yellow. 351 Quin. Some of your French crowns have no hair at all, and then you will play bare-fac'd.-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, such as our play wants. I pray you, fail me not. 361 Bot. Bot. We will meet; and there we may rehearse more obscenely, and courageously. Take pains; be perfect; adieu. Quin. At the duke's oak we meet. Bot. Enough; Hold, or cut bow-strings. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. A Wood. Enter a Fairy at one Door, and PUCK (or ROBIN-GOODFELLOW) at another. Puck. How now, spirit whither wander you? Fai. Over hill, over dale, Thorough bush, thorough briar, Thorough flood, thorough fire, 10 Farewel, Farewel, thou lob of spirits, I'll be gone; Our queen and all her elves come here anon. Take heed, the queen come not within his sight. 20 But she, per-force, withholds the loved boy, 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, That frights the maidens of the villagʼry ; Puck. Puck. Thou speak'st aright; I am that merry wanderer of the night. 50 And then the whole quire hold their hips, and loffe, But room, Faery, here comes Oberon. Fai. And here my mistress :-'Would that he were gone! 60 SCENE II. Enter OBERON, King of Fairies, at one Door with his Train, and the Queen at another with hers. Ob. Ill met by moon-light, proud Titania. Queen. What, jealous Oberon? Fairy, skip hence I have forsworn his bed and company. Ob. Tarry, rash wanton; Am not I thy lord? Queen. Then I must be thy lady: But I know Ob. How can'st thou thus, for shame, Titania, Glance at my credit with Hippolita, Knowing I know thy love, to Theseus? 70 Didst thou not lead him through the glimmering night From Periguné, whom he ravished? And make him with fair Ægle break his faith, - Queen. These are the forgeries of jealousy: But with thy brawls thou hast disturb'd our sport. 80 90 The |