A Midsummer Night's Dream

No Fear Shakespeare – A Midsummer Night’s Dream (by SparkNotes) -1- No Fear Shakespeare – A Midsummer Night’s Dream (by SparkNotes)
kespeare – A Midsummer Night’s Dream (by SparkNotes) -2-

Original Text Modern Text Original Text Modern Text
Act 1, Scene 1 Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweetmeats—messengers and candies—things that can really influence an
35 Of strong prevailment in unhardened youth. impressionable young person. You’ve connived to
Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, and PHILOSTRATE, THESEUS and HIPPOLYTA enter With cunning hast thou filched my daughter’s heart, steal my daughter’s heart, making her stubborn
with others withPHILOSTRATE and others. Turned her obedience (which is due to me) and harsh instead of obedient (like she should
THESEUS THESEUS To stubborn harshness.—And, my gracious duke, be).—And, my gracious duke, if she won’t agree
Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour Our wedding day is almost here, my beautiful Be it so she will not here before your grace to marry Demetrius right now, I ask you to let me
Draws on apace. Four happy days bring in Hippolyta. We’ll be getting married in four days, 40 Consent to marry with Demetrius, exercise the right that all fathers have in Athens.
Another moon. But oh, methinks how slow on the day of the new moon. But it seems to me I beg the ancient privilege of Athens. Since she belongs to me, I can do what I want
This old moon wanes! She lingers my desires, that the days are passing too slowly—the old As she is mine, I may dispose of her— with her—as the law says: I can either make her
5 Like to a stepdame or a dowager moon is taking too long to fade away! That old, Which shall be either to this gentleman marry Demetrius—or have her killed.
Long withering out a young man’s revenue. slow moon is keeping me from getting what I Or to her death—according to our law
want, just like an old widow makes her stepson 45 Immediately provided in that case.
wait to get his inheritance. THESEUS THESEUS
HIPPOLYTA HIPPOLYTA What say you, Hermia? Be advised, fair maid: What do you have to say for yourself, Hermia?
Four days will quickly steep themselves in night. No, you’ll see, four days will quickly turn into four To you your father should be as a god, Think carefully, pretty girl. You should think of
Four nights will quickly dream away the time. nights. And since we dream at night, time passes One that composed your beauties, yea, and one your father as a god, since he’s the one who gave
And then the moon, like to a silver bow quickly then. Finally the new moon, curved like a To whom you are but as a form in wax, you your beauty. To him, you’re like a figure that
10 New bent in heaven, shall behold the night silver bow in the sky, will look down on our 50 By him imprinted and within his power he’s sculpted out of wax, and he has the power to
Of our solemnities. wedding celebration. To leave the figure or disfigure it. keep that figure intact or to disfigure it. Demetrius
THESEUS THESEUS Demetrius is a worthy gentleman. is an admirable man.
Go, Philostrate, Go, Philostrate, get the young people of Athens
Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments. ready to celebrate and have a good time. Act 1, Scene 1, Page 3
Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth. Sadness is only appropriate for funerals. We
Turn melancholy forth to funerals. don’t want it at our festivities. HERMIA HERMIA
15 The pale companion is not for our pomp. So is Lysander. So is Lysander.
Exit PHILOSTRATE PHILOSTRATE exits. THESEUS THESEUS
Hippolyta, I wooed thee with my sword Hippolyta, I wooed you with violence, using my In himself he is. You’re right, Lysander’s admirable too. But since
And won thy love doing thee injuries. sword, and got you to fall in love with me by But in this kind, wanting your father’s voice, your father doesn’t want him to marry you, you
But I will wed thee in another key, injuring you. But I’ll marry you under different 55 The other must be held the worthier. have to consider Demetrius to be the better man.
With pomp, with triumph, and with reveling. circumstances—with extravagant festivals, public HERMIA HERMIA
festivities, and celebration. I would my father looked but with my eyes. I wish my father could see them with my eyes.
Enter EGEUS and his daughter HERMIA, EGEUS enters with his daughter HERMIA, THESEUS THESEUS
andLYSANDER and DEMETRIUS andLYSANDER and DEMETRIUS. Rather your eyes must with his judgment look. No, you must see them as your father sees them.
EGEUS EGEUS HERMIA HERMIA
20 Happy be Theseus, our renownèd duke. Long live Theseus, our famous and respected I do entreat your grace to pardon me. Your grace, please forgive me. I don’t know what
duke! I know not by what power I am made bold makes me think I can say this, and I don’t know if
60 Nor how it may concern my modesty speaking my mind to such a powerful and noble
In such a presence here to plead my thoughts, person as yourself will damage my reputation for
Act 1, Scene 1, Page 2 But I beseech your grace that I may know modesty. But please, tell me the worst thing that
THESEUS THESEUS The worst that may befall me in this case, could happen to me if I refuse to marry
If I refuse to wed Demetrius. Demetrius.
Thanks, good Egeus. What’s the news with thee? Thanks, good Egeus. What’s new with you?
EGEUS EGEUS THESEUS THESEUS
Full of vexation come I with complaint I’m here, full of anger, to complain about my 65 Either to die the death or to abjure You’ll either be executed or you’ll never see
Against my child, my daughter Hermia.— daughter Hermia.—Step forward, Demetrius.— Forever the society of men. another man again. So think carefully about what
Stand forth, Demetrius.—My noble lord, My lord, this man, Demetrius, has my permission Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires. you want, beautiful Hermia. Consider how young
25 This man hath my consent to marry her.— to marry her.—Step forward, Lysander.—But this Know of your youth. Examine well your blood— you are, and question your feelings. Then decide
Whether, if you yield not to your father’s choice, whether you could stand to be a nun, wearing a
Stand forth, Lysander.—And my gracious duke, other man, Lysander, has cast a magic spell over
This man hath bewitched the bosom of my child.— my child’s heart.—You, you, Lysander, you’ve 70 You can endure the livery of a nun, priestess’s habit and caged up in a cloister
Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes, given her poems, and exchanged tokens of love For aye to be in shady cloister mewed, forever, living your entire life without a husband or
And interchanged love tokens with my child. with my daughter. You’ve pretended to be in love To live a barren sister all your life, children, weakly chanting hymns to the cold and
30 Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung with her, singing fake love songs softly at her Chanting faint hymns to the cold, fruitless moon. virginal goddess of the moon. People who can
Thrice-blessèd they that master so their blood restrain their passions and stay virgins forever
With feigning voice verses of feigning love, window by moonlight, and you’ve captured her
And stol'n the impression of her fantasy imagination by giving her locks of your hair, rings, 75 To undergo such maiden pilgrimage. are holy. But although a virgin priestess might be
With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gauds, conceits, toys, trinkets, knickknacks, little presents, flowers, But earthlier happy is the rose distilled rewarded in heaven, a married woman is happier
No Fear Shakespeare – A Midsummer Night’s Dream (by SparkNotes) -3- No Fear Shakespeare – A Midsummer Night’s Dream (by SparkNotes) -4-
Than that which, withering on the virgin thorn, on Earth. A married woman is like a rose who is I have some private schooling for you both.— you in private.—As for you, beautiful Hermia, get
Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness. picked and made into a beautiful perfume, while a For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself ready to do what your father wants, because
priestess just withers away on the stem. To fit your fancies to your father’s will, otherwise the law says that you must die or
Or else the law of Athens yields you up become a nun, and there’s nothing I can do
120 (Which by no means we may extenuate) about that.—Come with me, Hippolyta. How are
Act 1, Scene 1, Page 4 To death, or to a vow of single life.— you, my love?—Demetrius and Egeus, come with
HERMIA HERMIA Come, my Hippolyta. What cheer, my love?— us. I want you to do some things for our wedding,
So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord, I’d rather wither away than give up my virginity to Demetrius and Egeus, go along. and I also want to discuss something that
80 Ere I will my virgin patent up someone I don’t love. I must employ you in some business concerns you both.
Unto his lordship, whose unwishèd yoke 125 Against our nuptial and confer with you
My soul consents not to give sovereignty. Of something nearly that concerns yourselves.
THESEUS THESEUS EGEUS EGEUS

Take time to pause, and by the next new moon— Take some time to think about this. By the time With duty and desire we follow you. We’re following you not only because it is our
The sealing day betwixt my love and me of the next new moon—the day when Hippolyta duty, but also because we want to.
85 For everlasting bond of fellowship— and I will be married—be ready either to be Exeunt. Manent LYSANDER and HERMIA They all exit except LYSANDER and HERMIA.
Upon that day either prepare to die executed for disobeying your father, to marry LYSANDER LYSANDER
For disobedience to your father’s will, Demetrius as your father wishes, or to take a How now, my love? Why is your cheek so pale? What’s going on, my love? Why are you so pale?
Or else to wed Demetrius, as he would, vow to spend the rest of your life as a virgin How chance the roses there do fade so fast? Why have your rosy cheeks faded so quickly?
Or on Diana’s altar to protest priestess of the moon goddess. HERMIA HERMIA
90 For aye austerity and single life.
130 Belike for want of rain, which I could well Probably because my cheeks' roses needed rain,
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS Beteem them from the tempest of my eyes. which I could easily give them with all the tears in
Relent, sweet Hermia—And, Lysander, yield Please give in, sweet Hermia.—And Lysander, my eyes.
Thy crazèd title to my certain right. stop acting like she’s yours. I’ve got more of a LYSANDER LYSANDER
right to her than you do.
Ay me! For aught that I could ever read, Oh, honey! Listen, in books they say that true
LYSANDER LYSANDER Could ever hear by tale or history, love always faces obstacles. Either the lovers
You have her father’s love, Demetrius. Her father loves you, Demetrius. So why don’t The course of true love never did run smooth. have different social standings—
Let me have Hermia’s. Do you marry him. you marry him and let me have Hermia? 135 But either it was different in blood—
EGEUS EGEUS
95 Scornful Lysander, true, he hath my love, It’s true, rude Lysander, I do love him. That’s why
And what is mine my love shall render him. I’m giving him my daughter. She’s mine, and I’m Act 1, Scene 1, Page 6
And she is mine, and all my right of her giving her to Demetrius. HERMIA HERMIA
I do estate unto Demetrius. O cross! Too high to be enthralled to low. Oh, what an obstacle that would be! Imagine
LYSANDER LYSANDER being too high on the social ladder, and falling in
(to THESEUS) I am, my lord, as well derived as he, (to THESEUS) My lord, I’m just as noble and rich love with someone beneath you.
100 As well possessed. My love is more than his. as he is. I love Hermia more than he does. My LYSANDER LYSANDER
My fortunes every way as fairly ranked, prospects are as good as his, if not better. And Or else misgraffèd in respect of years— Or else they were very different ages—
(If not with vantage) as Demetrius'. beautiful Hermia loves me—which is more
HERMIA HERMIA
And—which is more than all these boasts can be— important than all those other things I’m bragging
O spite! Too old to be engaged to young. How awful! Being too old to marry someone
I am beloved of beauteous Hermia. about. Why shouldn’t I be able to marry her?
young.
105 Why should not I then prosecute my right? Demetrius—and I’ll say this to his face—courted
Demetrius, I’ll avouch it to his head, Nedar’s daughter, Helena, and made her fall in LYSANDER LYSANDER
Made love to Nedar’s daughter, Helena, love with him. That sweet lady, Helena, loves Or else it stood upon the choice of friends— Or else their guardians and advisors said no—
And won her soul. And she, sweet lady, dotes, devoutly. She adores this horrible and unfaithful HERMIA HERMIA
Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry man. 140 O hell, to choose love by another’s eyes! What hell, to have your love life determined by
110 Upon this spotted and inconstant man. someone else!
LYSANDER LYSANDER
Or, if there were a sympathy in choice, Or, even if the lovers are a good match, their
Act 1, Scene 1, Page 5 War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it, love might be ruined by war, death, or sickness,
THESEUS THESEUS Making it momentary as a sound, so that the affair only lasts an instant. Their time
I must confess that I have heard so much I have to admit I’ve heard something about that, Swift as a shadow, short as any dream, together might be as fleeting as a shadow or as
And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof, and meant to ask Demetrius about it, but I was 145 Brief as the lightning in the collied night; short as a dream, lasting only as long as it takes
But being overfull of self-affairs, too busy with personal matters and it slipped my That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and Earth, a lightning bolt to flash across the sky. Before
My mind did lose it.—But, Demetrius, come. mind.—Anyway, Demetrius and Egeus, both of And ere a man hath power to say “Behold!” you can say “look,” it’s gone. That’s how intense
115 And come, Egeus. You shall go with me. you, come with me. I want to say a few things to The jaws of darkness do devour it up. things like love are quickly destroyed.
So quick bright things come to confusion. Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated, speech. If the world were mine, I’d give it all up—
HERMIA HERMIA The rest I’d give to be to you translated. everything except Demetrius—to be you.
150 If then true lovers have been ever crossed, If true lovers are always thwarted, then it must be
It stands as an edict in destiny. a rule of fate. So let’s try to be patient as we deal
Then let us teach our trial patience, with our problem. It’s as normal a part of love as
Act 1, Scene 1, Page 8
Because it is a customary cross, dreams, sighs, wishes, and tears. O, teach me how you look and with what art Oh, teach me how you look the way you do, and
As due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs, You sway the motion of Demetrius' heart. which tricks you used to make Demetrius fall in
155 Wishes and tears, poor fancy’s followers. love with you.
LYSANDER LYSANDER HERMIA HERMIA
A good persuasion. Therefore, hear me, Hermia. That’s the right attitude. So, listen, Hermia. I I frown upon him, yet he loves me still. I frown at him, but he still loves me.
I have a widow aunt, a dowager have an aunt who is a widow, who’s very rich HELENA HELENA
Of great revenue, and she hath no child. and doesn’t have any children. She lives about 195 Oh, that your frowns would teach my smiles such Oh, if only my smiles could inspire love as
From Athens is her house remote seven leagues, twenty miles from Athens, and she thinks of me skill! effectively as your frowns!
160 And she respects me as her only son. as a son. I could marry you there, gentle Hermia,
HERMIA HERMIA
There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee. where the strict laws of Athens can’t touch us. So
I give him curses, yet he gives me love. I curse him, but he loves me.
And to that place the sharp Athenian law here’s the plan. If you love me, sneak out of your
Cannot pursue us. If thou lovest me then, father’s house tomorrow night and meet me in HELENA HELENA
Steal forth thy father’s house tomorrow night. the forest a few miles outside of town. Oh, that my prayers could such affection move! If only my prayers could inspire that kind of
165 And in the wood, a league without the town— affection!
HERMIA HERMIA
The more I hate, the more he follows me. The more I hate him, the more he follows me
Act 1, Scene 1, Page 7 around.
Where I did meet thee once with Helena You remember the place—I met you there once HELENA HELENA
To do observance to a morn of May— with Helena to celebrate May Day.—I’ll wait for The more I love, the more he hateth me. The more I love him, the more he hates me.
There will I stay for thee. you there. HERMIA HERMIA
HERMIA HERMIA 200 His folly, Helena, is no fault of mine. It’s not my fault he acts like that, Helena.
My good Lysander! Oh, Lysander, I swear I’ll be there tomorrow. I HELENA HELENA
I swear to thee by Cupid’s strongest bow, swear by Cupid’s strongest bow and his best None, but your beauty. Would that fault were mine! That’s true, it’s your beauty’s fault. I wish I had a
170 By his best arrow with the golden head, gold-tipped arrow, by the Goddess of Love’s fault like that!
By the simplicity of Venus' doves, innocent doves, by everything that ties lovers
HERMIA HERMIA
By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves, together, by the bonfire where Queen Dido
Take comfort. He no more shall see my face. Don’t worry. He won’t see my face ever again.
And by that fire which burned the Carthage queen burned herself to death when her lover Aeneas
Lysander and myself will fly this place. Lysander and I are running away from here.
When the false Troyan under sail was seen, jilted her, and by all the promises that men have
Before the time I did Lysander see Before I saw Lysander, Athens seemed like
175 By all the vows that ever men have broke broken (and men have broken more promises
205 Seemed Athens as a paradise to me. paradise to me. But Lysander’s so attractive that
(In number more than ever women spoke), than women have ever made). I give you my
Oh, then, what graces in my love do dwell, he’s turned heaven into hell!
In that same place thou hast appointed me, word, I will meet you at that spot tomorrow.
That he hath turned a heaven unto a hell!
Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee.
LYSANDER LYSANDER
LYSANDER LYSANDER
Helen, to you our minds we will unfold. Helena, we’ll tell you about our secret plan.
Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena. Keep your promise, my love. Look, here comes
Tomorrow night when Phoebe doth behold Tomorrow night, when the moon shines on the
Helena.
210 Her silver visage in the watery glass, water and decorates the grass with tiny beads of
Enter HELENA HELENA enters. Decking with liquid pearl the bladed grass pearly light (the time of night that always hides
HERMIA HERMIA (A time that lovers' flights doth still conceal), runaway lovers), we plan to sneak out of Athens.
180 Godspeed, fair Helena! Whither away? Hello, beautiful Helena! Where are you going? Through Athens' gates have we devised to steal.
HELENA HELENA HERMIA HERMIA
Call you me “fair”? That “fair” again unsay. Did you just call me “beautiful”? Take it back. (to HELENA) And in the wood where often you and I (to HELENA) In the woods where you and I used
Demetrius loves your fair. O happy fair! You’re the beautiful one as far as Demetrius is 215 Upon faint primrose beds were wont to lie, to lounge around on the pale primroses, telling
Your eyes are lodestars, and your tongue’s sweet air concerned. Oh, you’re so lucky! Your eyes are Emptying our bosoms of their counsel sweet, each other sweet secrets—that’s where
More tunable than lark to shepherd’s ear like stars, and your voice is more musical than a Lysander and I will meet.
185 When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear. lark’s song is to a shepherd in the springtime.
Sickness is catching. Oh, were favor so, Sickness is contagious—I wish beauty were
Yours would I catch, fair Hermia, ere I go. contagious too! I would catch your good looks Act 1, Scene 1, Page 9
My ear should catch your voice. My eye, your eye. before I left. My ear would be infected by your There my Lysander and myself shall meet. From then on we’ll turn our backs on Athens.
My tongue should catch your tongue’s sweet voice, my eye by your eye, and my tongue would And thence from Athens turn away our eyes We’ll look for new friends and keep the company
190 melody. come down with a bad case of your melodious
To seek new friends and stranger companies. of strangers. Goodbye, old friend. Pray for us, BOTTOM BOTTOM
220 Farewell, sweet playfellow. Pray thou for us. and I hope you win over Demetrius!—Keep your You were best to call them generally, man by man, You should call their names generally, one person
And good luck grant thee thy Demetrius!— promise, Lysander. We need to stay away from according to the scrip. at a time, in the order in which their names appear
Keep word, Lysander. We must starve our sight each other until midnight tomorrow. on this piece of paper.
From lovers' food till morrow deep midnight. QUINCE QUINCE
LYSANDER LYSANDER Here is the scroll of every man’s name which is This is a list of the names of all the men in Athens
I will, my Hermia. I will, my Hermia. thought fit, through all Athens, to play in our interlude who are good enough to act in the play we’re
Exit HERMIA HERMIA exits. before the duke and the duchess, on his wedding day going to perform for the duke and duchess on
at night. their wedding night.
Helena, adieu. Goodbye, Helena. I hope Demetrius comes to
225 As you on him, Demetrius dote on you! love you as much as you love him! BOTTOM BOTTOM
First, good Peter Quince, say what the play treats on, First, Peter Quince, tell us what the play is about,
Exit LYSANDER LYSANDER exits.
then read the names of the actors, and so grow to a then read the names of the actors, and then shut
HELENA HELENA point. up.
How happy some o'er other some can be! It’s amazing how much happier some people are
QUINCE QUINCE
Through Athens I am thought as fair as she. than others! People throughout Athens think I’m
5 Marry, our play is The most lamentable comedy and All right. Our play is called A Very Tragic Comedy
But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so. as beautiful as Hermia. But so what? Demetrius
most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisbe. About the Horrible Deaths of Pyramus and
He will not know what all but he do know. doesn’t think so, and that’s all that matters. He
Thisbe.
230 And as he errs, doting on Hermia’s eyes, refuses to admit what everyone else knows. But
So I, admiring of his qualities. even though he’s making a mistake by obsessing BOTTOM BOTTOM
Things base and vile, holding no quantity, over Hermia so much, I’m also making a mistake, A very good piece of work, I assure you, and a Let me tell you, it’s a great piece of work, and
Love can transpose to form and dignity. since I obsess over him. Love can make merry.—Now, good Peter Quince, call forth your very—funny.—Now, Peter Quince, call the names
Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind. worthless things beautiful. When we’re in love, actors by the scroll.—Masters, spread yourselves. of the actors on the list. Men, gather around him.
235 And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind. we don’t see with our eyes but with our minds. QUINCE QUINCE
Nor hath Love’s mind of any judgment taste— That’s why paintings of Cupid, the god of love, Answer as I call you.—Nick Bottom, the weaver? Answer when I call your name.—Nick Bottom, the
Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste. always show him as blind. And love doesn’t have weaver?
And therefore is Love said to be a child, good judgment either—Cupid, has wings and no BOTTOM BOTTOM
Because in choice he is so oft beguiled. eyes, so he’s bound to be reckless and hasty. Ready. Name what part I am for and proceed. Here. Tell me which part I’m going to play, then
240 As waggish boys in game themselves forswear, That’s why they say love is a child. because it go on.
So the boy Love is perjured everywhere. makes such bad choices. Just as boys like to
QUINCE QUINCE
For ere Demetrius looked on Hermia’s eyne, play games by telling lies, Cupid breaks his
You, Nick Bottom, are set down for Pyramus. You, Nick Bottom, have been cast as Pyramus.
He hailed down oaths that he was only mine. promises all the time. Before Demetrius ever saw
Hermia, he showered me with promises and
swore he’d be mine forever. Act 1, Scene 2, Page 2
BOTTOM BOTTOM
Act 1, Scene 1, Page 10 10 What is Pyramus? A lover or a tyrant? What’s Pyramus? A lover or a tyrant?
And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt, But when he got all hot and bothered over QUINCE QUINCE
245 So he dissolved, and showers of oaths did melt. Hermia, his promises melted away. I’ll go tell A lover that kills himself, most gallant, for love. A lover who kills himself very nobly for love.
I will go tell him of fair Hermia’s flight. Demetrius that Hermia is running away tomorrow BOTTOM BOTTOM
Then to the wood will he tomorrow night night. He’ll run after her. If he’s grateful to me for That will ask some tears in the true performing of it. If I’ll have to cry to make my performance
Pursue her. And for this intelligence this information, it’ll be worth my pain in helping I do it, let the audience look to their eyes. I will move believable. And as soon as I start crying, oh boy,
If I have thanks, it is a dear expense. him pursue my rival Hermia. At least I’ll get to storms. I will condole in some measure.—To the the audience had better watch out, because
250 But herein mean I to enrich my pain, see him when he goes, and then again when he rest.—Yet my chief humor is for a tyrant. I could play they’ll start crying too. I’ll make tears pour out of
To have his sight thither and back again. comes back. Ercles rarely, or a part to tear a cat in to make all their eyes like rainstorms. I’ll moan very
Exit HERMIA exits. split. believably.—Name the other actors.—But I’m
The raging rocks really in the mood to play a tyrant. I could do a
And shivering shocks great job with Hercules, or any other part that
Act 1, Scene 2 Shall break the locks requires ranting and raving. I would rant and rave
Of prison gates. really well. Like this, listen.
Enter QUINCE the carpenter, and SNUG the joiner, QUINCE, the carpenter, enters with SNUG, the
And Phoebus' car The raging rocks
and BOTTOM the weaver, and FLUTE the bellows- cabinetmaker; BOTTOM, the weaver; FLUTE, the
Shall shine from far nd shivering shocks
mender, and SNOUT the tinker, bellows-repairman; SNOUT, the handyman;
And make and mar Will break the locks
and STARVELINGthe tailor andSTARVELING, the tailor.
The foolish Fates. Of prison gates.
QUINCE QUINCE This was lofty!—Now name the rest of the players.— And the sun-god’s car
Is all our company here? Is everyone here? This is Ercles' vein, a tyrant’s vein. A lover is more Will shine from far
condoling. Away, and make and mar Act 1, Scene 2, Page 4

Foolish fate.
Oh, that was truly inspired!—Now tell us who the SNUG SNUG
other actors are.—By the way, my performance Have you the lion’s part written? Pray you, if it be, Do you have the lion’s part written down? If you
just now was in the style of Hercules, the tyrant give it me, for I am slow of study. do, please give it to me, because I need to start
style. A lover would have to be weepier, of learning the lines. It takes me a long time to learn
course. things.
QUINCE QUINCE QUINCE QUINCE
Francis Flute, the bellows-mender? Francis Flute, the bellows-repairman? 30 You may do it extempore, for it is nothing but roaring. You can improvise the whole thing. It’s just
FLUTE FLUTE roaring.
15 Here, Peter Quince. Here, Peter Quince. BOTTOM BOTTOM
QUINCE QUINCE Let me play the lion too. I will roar, that I will do any Let me play the lion too. I’ll roar so well that it’ll be
Flute, you must take Thisbe on you. Flute, you’ll be playing the role of Thisbe. man’s heart good to hear me. I will roar, that I will an inspiration to anyone who hears me. I’ll roar so
make the duke say, “Let him roar again. Let him roar well that the duke will say, “Let him roar again.
again.” Let him roar again.”
Act 1, Scene 2, Page 3 QUINCE QUINCE
An you should do it too terribly, you would fright the If you roar too ferociously, you’ll scare the
FLUTE FLUTE
duchess and the ladies, that they would shriek. And duchess and the other ladies and make them
What is Thisbe? A wandering knight? Who’s Thisbe? A knight on a quest?
that were enough to hang us all. scream. And that would get us all executed.
QUINCE QUINCE
ALL ALL
It is the lady that Pyramus must love. Thisbe is the lady Pyramus is in love with.
That would hang us, every mother’s son. Yeah, that would get every single one of us
FLUTE FLUTE executed.
Nay, faith, let me not play a woman. I have a beard No, come on, don’t make me play a woman. I’m
BOTTOM BOTTOM
coming. growing a beard.
I grant you, friends, if you should fright the ladies out Well, my friends, you’ve got to admit that if you
QUINCE QUINCE of their wits, they would have no more discretion but scare the living daylights out of the ladies, they’d
20 That’s all one. You shall play it in a mask, and you That doesn’t matter. You’ll wear a mask, and you to hang us. But I will aggravate my voice so that I will have no choice but to execute us. But I’ll soften
may speak as small as you will. can make your voice as high as you want to. roar you as gently as any sucking dove. I will roar you my voice—you know, aggravate it, so to speak—
BOTTOM BOTTOM an ’twere any nightingale. so that I’ll roar as gently as a baby dove. I’ll roar
An I may hide my face, let me play Thisbe too! I’ll In that case, if I can wear a mask, let me play like a sweet, peaceful nightingale.
speak in a monstrous little voice: “Thisne, Thisne!”— Thisbe too! I’ll be Pyramus first: “Thisne, QUINCE QUINCE
“Ah, Pyramus, my lover dear, thy Thisbe dear and Thisne!”—And then in falsetto: “Ah, Pyramus, my 35 You can play no part but Pyramus. For Pyramus is a You can’t play any part except Pyramus. Because
lady dear!” dear lover! I’m your dear Thisbe, your dear lady!” sweet-faced man, a proper man as one shall see in a Pyramus is a good-looking man, the most
QUINCE QUINCE summer’s day, a most lovely, gentlemanlike man. handsome man that you could find on a
No, no. You must play Pyramus.—And Flute, you No, no. Bottom, you’re Pyramus.—And Flute, Therefore you must needs play Pyramus. summer’s day, a lovely gentlemanly man. So
Thisbe. you’re Thisbe. you’re the only one who could play Pyramus.
BOTTOM BOTTOM BOTTOM BOTTOM
Well, proceed. All right. Go on. Well, I will undertake it. What beard were I best to Well then, I’ll do it. What kind of beard should I
QUINCE QUINCE play it in? wear for the part?
Robin Starveling, the tailor? Robin Starveling, the tailor? QUINCE QUINCE
STARVELING STARVELING Why, what you will. Whatever kind you want, I guess.
25 Here, Peter Quince. Here, Peter Quince.
QUINCE QUINCE Act 1, Scene 2, Page 5
Robin Starveling, you must play Thisbe’s mother.— Robin Starveling, you’re going to play Thisbe’s
Tom Snout, the tinker? mother.—Tom Snout, the handyman. BOTTOM BOTTOM
SNOUT SNOUT I will discharge it in either your straw-color beard, I’ll play the part wearing either a straw-colored
your orange-tawny beard, your purple-in-grain beard, beard, or a sandy beard, or a red beard, or one of
Here, Peter Quince. Here, Peter Quince.
or your French crown-color beard, your perfect those bright yellow beards that’s the color of a
QUINCE QUINCE
yellow. French coin.
You, Pyramus' father.—Myself, Thisbe’s father.— You’ll be Pyramus’s father—I’ll play Thisbe’s
QUINCE QUINCE
Snug the joiner, you, the lion’s part.—And I hope father myself—Snug, the cabinetmaker, you’ll
Some of your French crowns have no hair at all, and Some French people don’t have beards at all,
here is a play fitted. play the part of the lion.—So that’s everyone. I
then you will play barefaced.—But masters, here are because syphilis has made all their hair fall out,
hope this play is well cast now.
your parts. And I am to entreat you, request you, and so you might have to play the part clean-
desire you to con them by tomorrow night and meet shaven.—But gentlemen, here are your scripts,
me in the palace wood, a mile without the town, by and I beg you to please learn them by tomorrow Act 2, Scene 1, Page 2
moonlight. There will we rehearse, for if we meet in night. Meet me in the duke’s forest a mile outside
the city we shall be dogged with company, and our of town. It’s best to rehearse there, because if we And now they never meet in grove or green, And now Oberon and Titania refuse to speak to
devices known. In the meantime I will draw a bill of do it here in the city, we’ll be bothered by crowds 15 By fountain clear or spangled starlight sheen. each other, or meet each other anywhere—
properties such as our play wants. I pray you, fail me of people and everyone will know the plot of our But they do square, that all their elves for fear neither in the forest nor on the plain, nor by the
not. play. Meanwhile, I’ll make a list of props that we’ll Creep into acorn cups and hide them there. river nor under the stars. They always argue, and
need for the play. Now make sure you show up, the little fairies get so frightened that they hide in
all of you. Don’t leave me in the lurch. acorn cups and won’t come out.
BOTTOM BOTTOM FAIRY FAIRY
40 We will meet, and there we may rehearse most We’ll be there, and there we’ll rehearse Either I mistake your shape and making quite, Unless I’m mistaken, you’re that mischievous and
obscenely and courageously. Take pains. Be perfect. courageously and wonderfully, truly obscenely. Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite naughty spirit named Robin Goodfellow. Aren’t
Adieu. Work hard, know your lines. Goodbye. 20 Called Robin Goodfellow. Are not you he you the one who goes around scaring the
QUINCE QUINCE That frights the maidens of the villagery, maidens in the village, stealing the cream from
Skim milk, and sometimes labor in the quern the top of the milk, screwing up the flour mills,
At the duke’s oak we meet. We’ll meet at the giant oak tree in the duke’s
And bootless make the breathless housewife churn, and frustrating housewives by keeping their milk
forest.
And sometime make the drink to bear no barm, from turning into butter? Aren’t you the one who
BOTTOM BOTTOM
25 Mislead night-wanderers, laughing at their harm? keeps beer from foaming up as it should, and
Enough. Hold, or cut bowstrings. Got it? Be there, or don’t show your face again. Those that “Hobgoblin” call you, and “sweet Puck,” causes people to get lost at night, while you laugh
Exeunt They all exit. You do their work, and they shall have good luck. at them? Some people call you “Hobgoblin” and
Are not you he? “sweet Puck,” and you’re nice to them. You do
their work for them and give them good luck.
Act 2, Scene 1 That’s you, right?
Enter a FAIRY at one side and ROBIN (ROBIN A FAIRY and ROBIN GOODFELLOW (a “puck” ROBIN ROBIN
GOODFELLOW) at another or mischievous spirit) meet onstage. Thou speak’st aright. What you say is true. That’s me you’re talking
ROBIN ROBIN I am that merry wanderer of the night. about, the playful wanderer of the night. I tell
How now, spirit? Whither wander you? Hello, spirit! Where are you going? 30 I jest to Oberon and make him smile jokes to Oberon and make him smile. I’ll trick a
When I a fat and bean-fed horse beguile, fat, well-fed horse into thinking that I’m a young
FAIRY FAIRY
Neighing in likeness of a filly foal. female horse. Sometimes I hide at the bottom of
Over hill, over dale, I go over hills and valleys, through bushes and
And sometime lurk I in a gossip’s bowl an old woman’s drink disguised as an apple.
Thorough bush, thorough brier, thorns, over parks and fenced-in spaces, through
In very likeness of a roasted crab, When she takes a sip, I bob up against her lips
Over park, over pale, water and fire. I wander everywhere faster than
35 And when she drinks, against her lips I bob and make her spill the drink all over her withered
Thorough flood, thorough fire. the moon revolves around the Earth. I work for
And on her withered dewlap pour the ale. old neck. Sometimes a wise old woman with a
I do wander everywhere Titania, the Fairy Queen, and organize fairy
The wisest aunt telling the saddest tale sad story to tell tries to sit down on me, thinking
Swifter than the moon’s sphere. dances for her in the grass. The cowslip flowers
Sometime for three-foot stool mistaketh me. I’m a three-legged stool. But I slip from
And I serve the fairy queen are her bodyguards. You’ll see that their petals
Then slip I from her bum, down topples she, underneath her and she falls down, crying, “Ow,
To dew her orbs upon the green. have spots on them—those are rubies, fairy gifts.
40 And “Tailor!” cries, and falls into a cough, my butt!” and starts coughing, and then everyone
The cowslips tall her pensioners be. Their sweet smells come from those little freckles.
And then the whole quire hold their hips and laugh, laughs and has fun. But step aside, fairy! Here
In their gold coats spots you see. Now I have to go find some dewdrops and hang a
And waxen in their mirth, and neeze, and swear comes Oberon.
Those be rubies, fairy favors. pearl earring on every cowslip flower. Goodbye,
A merrier hour was never wasted there.
In those freckles live their savors. you dumb old spirit. I’ve got to go. The queen and
But, room, fairy! Here comes Oberon.
I must go seek some dewdrops here her elves will be here soon.
And hang a pearl in every cowslip’s ear. FAIRY FAIRY
Farewell, thou lob of spirits. I’ll be gone. 45 And here my mistress. Would that he were gone! And here’s my mistress, Titania. I wish he’d go
Our queen and all our elves come here anon. away!
ROBIN ROBIN
The king doth keep his revels here tonight. The king’s having a party here tonight. Just make Act 2, Scene 1, Page 3
5 Take heed the queen come not within his sight. sure the queen doesn’t come anywhere near him,
For Oberon is passing fell and wrath because King Oberon is extremely angry. He’s Enter OBERON, the King of Fairies, at one side with OBERON, the Fairy King, and his followers enter.
Because that she, as her attendant hath furious because she stole an adorable boy from his train, and TITANIA, the Queen, at the other, with On the opposite side of the stage, TITANIA, the
A lovely boy stolen from an Indian king. an Indian king. She’s never kidnapped such a hers Fairy Queen, and her followers enter.
She never had so sweet a changeling. darling human child before, and Oberon’s jealous. OBERON OBERON
10 And jealous Oberon would have the child He wants the child for himself, to accompany him Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania. How not nice to see you, Titania.
Knight of his train, to trace the forests wild. on his wanderings through the wild forests. But TITANIA TITANIA
But she perforce withholds the lovèd boy, the queen refuses to hand the boy over to What, jealous Oberon?—Fairies, skip hence. What, are you jealous, Oberon?—Fairies, let’s
Crowns him with flowers, and makes him all her joy. Oberon. Instead, she puts flowers in the boy’s I have forsworn his bed and company. get out of here. I’ve sworn I’ll never sleep with
hair and makes a fuss over him.
him or talk to him again. The seasons alter: hoary-headed frosts air with diseases. As a consequence of this bad
OBERON OBERON Fall in the fresh lap of the crimson rose, weather and these bad moods the seasons have
Tarry, rash wanton. Am not I thy lord? Wait just a minute, you brazen hussy. Aren’t you And on old Hiems' thin and icy crown started to change. Cold frosts spread over the
supposed to obey me, your lord and husband? 95 An odorous chaplet of sweet summer buds red roses, and the icy winter wears a crown of
Is, as in mockery, set. The spring, the summer, sweet summer flowers as some sick joke.
TITANIA TITANIA
The childing autumn, angry winter change Spring, summer, fertile autumn and angry winter
50 Then I must be thy lady. But I know If you’re my lord and husband, I must be your
Their wonted liveries, and the mazèd world, have all changed places, and now the confused
When thou hast stolen away from Fairyland, lady and wife, so you’re supposed to be faithful to
By their increase, now knows not which is which. world doesn’t know which is which. And this is all
And in the shape of Corin sat all day, me. But I know for a fact that you snuck away
100 And this same progeny of evils comes because of our argument. We are responsible for
Playing on pipes of corn and versing love from Fairyland disguised as a shepherd, and
From our debate, from our dissension. this.
To amorous Phillida. Why art thou here, spent all day playing straw pipes and singing love
We are their parents and original.
55 Come from the farthest step of India? poems to your new girlfriend. The only reason
But that, forsooth, the bouncing Amazon, you left India was to come here and see that
Your buskined mistress and your warrior love, butch Amazon Hippolyta. She was your boot- Act 2, Scene 1, Page 5
To Theseus must be wedded, and you come wearing mistress and your warrior lover, and now
To give their bed joy and prosperity. that she’s getting married to Theseus, you’ve OBERON OBERON
come to celebrate their marriage. Do you amend it then. It lies in you. Do something about it, then. You have the power
OBERON OBERON Why should Titania cross her Oberon? to fix it. Why would Titania want to argue with her
105 I do but beg a little changeling boy, Oberon? All I’m asking for is to have that little
60 How canst thou thus for shame, Titania, How can you stand there shamelessly talking
To be my henchman. human boy as part of my crew.
Knowing I know thy love to Theseus? Glance at my about me and Hippolyta, when you know that I
credit with Hippolyta, know about your love for Theseus? Weren’t you TITANIA TITANIA
Didst thou not lead him through the glimmering night the one who made him desert Perigouna in the Set your heart at rest. Get over it. I won’t give up this child for all of
From Perigouna, whom he ravishèd? middle of the night, right after he’d raped her? The Fairyland buys not the child of me. Fairyland. His mother was one of my
65 And make him with fair Ægles break his faith, And weren’t you the one who made him cheat on His mother was a votaress of my order, worshippers, and we always used to gossip
With Ariadne and Antiopa? all of his other girlfriends, like Aegles, Ariadne, And in the spicèd Indian air by night together at night in India, sitting together by the
and Antiopa? 110 Full often hath she gossiped by my side, ocean and watching the merchant ships sailing
And sat with me on Neptune’s yellow sands, on the ocean. We used to laugh to see the sails
Marking th' embarkèd traders on the flood, fill up with wind so that they looked like they had
Act 2, Scene 1, Page 4 When we have laughed to see the sails conceive big, pregnant bellies, as if the wind had gotten
And grow big-bellied with the wanton wind; them pregnant. She would imitate them—since
TITANIA TITANIA
115 Which she, with pretty and with swimming gait she was already pregnant with the little boy—and
These are the forgeries of jealousy. These are nothing but jealous lies. Since the
Following—her womb then rich with my young she would go sailing over the land herself to go
And never, since the middle summer’s spring, beginning of midsummer, my fairies and I haven’t
squire— get me little presents, and come back carrying
Met we on hill, in dale, forest, or mead, been able to meet anywhere to do our dances in
Would imitate, and sail upon the land gifts like she was a ship coming back from a
By pavèd fountain, or by rushy brook, the wind without being disturbed by you and your
To fetch me trifles and return again voyage. But since she was a mortal, she died
70 Or in the beachèd margent of the sea, arguments. We haven’t been able to meet on a
120 As from a voyage, rich with merchandise. giving birth to that boy, and for her sake I’m
To dance our ringlets to the whistling wind, hill or in a valley, in the forest or a meadow, by a
But she, being mortal, of that boy did die. raising him and will not give him up.
But with thy brawls thou hast disturbed our sport. pebbly fountain or a rushing stream, or on the
And for her sake do I rear up her boy,
Therefore the winds, piping to us in vain, beach by the ocean without you disturbing us.
And for her sake I will not part with him.
As in revenge, have sucked up from the sea And because you interrupt us so that we can’t
75 Contagious fogs, which falling in the land dance for them, the winds have made fogs rise OBERON OBERON
Have every pelting river made so proud up out of the sea and fall down on the rivers so How long within this wood intend you stay? How long do you plan to stay here in this forest?
That they have overborne their continents. that the rivers flood, just to get revenge on you. TITANIA TITANIA
The ox hath therefore stretched his yoke in vain, So all the work that oxen and farmers have done Perchance till after Theseus' wedding day. Maybe until after Theseus’s wedding day. If you
The ploughman lost his sweat, and the green corn in plowing the fields has been for nothing, 125 If you will patiently dance in our round behave yourself and join us in our circle dance
80 Hath rotted ere his youth attained a beard. because the unripe grain has rotted before it was And see our moonlight revels, go with us. and moonlight celebrations, then you can come
The fold stands empty in the drownèd field, ripe. Sheep pens are empty in the middle of the If not, shun me, and I will spare your haunts. with us. If not, leave me alone, and I’ll stay away
And crows are fatted with the murrain flock. flooded fields, and the crows get fat from eating from your turf.
The nine-men’s-morris is filled up with mud, the dead bodies of infected sheep. All the fields OBERON OBERON
And the quaint mazes in the wanton green where people usually play games are filled with Give me that boy and I will go with thee. Give me that boy and I’ll come with you.
85 For lack of tread are undistinguishable. mud, and you can’t even see the elaborate
TITANIA TITANIA
The human mortals want their winter here. mazes that people create in the grass, because
Not for thy fairy kingdom.—Fairies, away! Not for your entire fairy kingdom.—Come, fairies,
No night is now with hymn or carol blessed. no one walks in them anymore and they’ve all
130 We shall chide downright, if I longer stay. let’s go. We’re going to have an out-and-out
Therefore the moon, the governess of floods, grown over. It’s not winter here for the human
brawl if I stay any longer.
Pale in her anger, washes all the air, mortals, so they’re not protected by the holy
90 That rheumatic diseases do abound. hymns and carols that they sing in winter. So the Exeunt TITANIA and her train TITANIA and her FAIRIES exit.
And thorough this distemperature we see pale, angry moon, who controls the tides, fills the
Act 2, Scene 1, Page 6 170 I’ll make her render up her page to me. invisible and listen to their conversation.
But who comes here? I am invisible.
OBERON OBERON And I will overhear their conference.
Well, go thy way. Thou shalt not from this grove Well, go on your way, then. You won’t leave this Enter DEMETRIUS, HELENA following him DEMETRIUS enters, followed by HELENA.
Till I torment thee for this injury.—(to ROBIN grove until I’ve paid you back for this
GOODFELLOW) insult. (toROBIN GOODFELLOW) My dear Puck, DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS
My gentle Puck, come hither. Thou rememberest come here. You remember the time when I was I love thee not, therefore pursue me not. Look, I don’t love you, so stop following me
135 Since once I sat upon a promontory sitting on a cliff, and I heard a mermaid sitting on Where is Lysander and fair Hermia? around. Where are Lysander and beautiful
And heard a mermaid on a dolphin’s back a dolphin’s back sing such a sweet and 175 The one I’ll stay, the other stayeth me. Hermia? Lysander I want to stop, but Hermia
Uttering such dulcet and harmonious breath harmonious song that it calmed the stormy sea Thou told’st me they were stol'n unto this wood. stops my heart from beating. You told me they
That the rude sea grew civil at her song and made stars shoot out of the sky so they And here am I, and wood within this wood, escaped into this forest. And here I am, going
And certain stars shot madly from their spheres could hear her better? Because I cannot meet my Hermia. crazy in the middle of the woods because I can’t
To hear the seamaid’s music? Hence, get thee gone, and follow me no more. find my Hermia. Go away, get out of here, and
stop following me.
ROBIN ROBIN
HELENA HELENA
I remember. Yes, I remember.
180 You draw me, you hard-hearted adamant. You attract me to you, you cruel magnet! But you
OBERON OBERON
But yet you draw not iron, for my heart must not attract iron, because my heart is as true
140 That very time I saw (but thou couldst not) That same night, I saw Cupid flying from the
Is true as steel. Leave you your power to draw, as steel. If you let go of your power to attract me,
Flying between the cold moon and the Earth, moon to the earth, with all of his arrows ready.
And I shall have no power to follow you. I won’t have any power to follow you.
Cupid all armed. A certain aim he took (You couldn’t see him, but I could.) He took aim
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS
At a fair vestal thronèd by the west, at a beautiful young virgin who was sitting on a
And loosed his love shaft smartly from his bow throne in the western part of the world, and he Do I entice you? Do I speak you fair? Do I ask you to follow me? Do I speak to you
145 As it should pierce a hundred thousand hearts. shot his arrow of love well enough to have 185 Or rather, do I not in plainest truth kindly? Don’t I tell you in the clearest terms that I
But I might see young Cupid’s fiery shaft pierced a hundred thousand hearts. But I could Tell you I do not, nor I cannot, love you? do not and cannot love you?
Quenched in the chaste beams of the watery moon, see that Cupid’s fiery arrow was put out by
And the imperial votaress passèd on, watery, virginal moonbeams, so the royal virgin Act 2, Scene 1, Page 8
In maiden meditation, fancy-free. continued her virginal thoughts without being
150 Yet marked I where the bolt of Cupid fell. interrupted by thoughts of love. But I paid HELENA HELENA
It fell upon a little western flower, attention to where Cupid’s arrow fell. It fell on a And even for that do I love you the more. Yes, but that makes me love you even more. I’m
Before milk-white, now purple with love’s wound. little western flower, which used to be white as I am your spaniel. And, Demetrius, your little dog, Demetrius. The more you beat
And maidens call it “love-in-idleness.” milk but now has turned purple from being The more you beat me, I will fawn on you. me, the more I’ll love you. Treat me like you
Fetch me that flower. The herb I showed thee once. wounded by the arrow of love. Young girls call it 190 Use me but as your spaniel—spurn me, strike me, would treat a dog—kick me, hit me, neglect me,
155 The juice of it on sleeping eyelids laid “love-in-idleness.” Bring me that flower. I showed Neglect me, lose me. Only give me leave, try to lose me. Just let me follow behind you,
Will make or man or woman madly dote it to you once. If its juice is put on someone’s Unworthy as I am, to follow you. even though I’m not good enough for you. Could
Upon the next live creature that it sees. eyelids while they’re asleep, that person will fall What worser place can I beg in your love— I ask for a worse place in your heart than to be
Fetch me this herb, and be thou here again in love with the next living creature he or she And yet a place of high respect with me— treated as you would treat a dog? And yet I
Ere the leviathan can swim a league. sees. Bring me this plant, and get back here 195 Than to be usèd as you use your dog? would consider it an honor to be your dog.
before the sea monster has time to swim three DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS
miles. Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit. Don’t push it. Just looking at you makes me sick.
ROBIN ROBIN For I am sick when I do look on thee.
160 I’ll put a girdle round about the Earth I could go around the world in forty minutes. HELENA HELENA
In forty minutes. And I am sick when I look not on you. And I get sick when I can’t look at you.
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS
Act 2, Scene 1, Page 7 You do impeach your modesty too much, You’re risking your reputation by leaving the city
200 To leave the city and commit yourself and stalking someone who doesn’t love you.
Exit ROBIN ROBIN exits. Into the hands of one that loves you not, Standing around alone in a deserted area in the
OBERON OBERON To trust the opportunity of night middle of the night isn’t the best way to protect
Having once this juice, When I have the juice of that flower, I’ll trickle And the ill counsel of a desert place your virginity.
I’ll watch Titania when she is asleep some drops of it on Titania’s eyes while she’s With the rich worth of your virginity.
And drop the liquor of it in her eyes. sleeping. She’ll fall madly in love with the first HELENA HELENA
The next thing then she waking looks upon— thing she sees when she wakes up—even if it’s 205 Your virtue is my privilege. For that I rely on your virtue to protect me. And because I
165 Be it on lion, bear, or wolf, or bull, a lion, a bear, a wolf, a bull, a monkey, or an It is not night when I do see your face. can see your shining face, it doesn’t feel like
On meddling monkey or on busy ape— ape. And before I make her normal again—I can Therefore I think I am not in the night. nighttime to me. This forest doesn’t seem
She shall pursue it with the soul of love. cure her by treating her with another plant—I’ll Nor doth this wood lack worlds of company, deserted when you’re here, because you are all
And ere I take this charm from of her sight— make her give me that little boy as my page. But For you in my respect are all the world. the world to me. So how can anyone say I’m
As I can take it with another herb— who’s that coming this way? I’ll make myself
210 Then how can it be said I am alone alone, when the whole world is here to look at There sleeps Titania sometime of the night, Titania sleeps there sometimes at night, lulled to
When all the world is here to look on me? me? 240 Lulled in these flowers with dances and delight. sleep among the flowers by dances and other
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS And there the snake throws her enameled skin, delights. Snakes shed their skin there, and the
I’ll run from thee and hide me in the brakes, I’ll run away from you and hide in the bushes, Weed wide enough to wrap a fairy in. shed skin is wide enough to wrap a fairy in. I’ll
And leave thee to the mercy of wild beasts. and leave you to the mercy of wild animals. And with the juice of this I’ll streak her eyes put the juice of this flower on Titania’s eyes, and
HELENA HELENA And make her full of hateful fantasies. fill her with horrible delusions and desires. (he
The wildest hath not such a heart as you. The wildest animal isn’t as cruel as you are. Run 245 (gives ROBIN some of the flower) gives ROBIN part of the flower) You take some
215 Run when you will, the story shall be changed. whenever you want to. The story of Daphne and Take thou some of it and seek through this grove: of it too, and look around in this part of the forest.
Apollo will be changed: A sweet Athenian lady is in love A sweet Athenian lady is in love with a young
With a disdainful youth. Anoint his eyes. man who wants nothing to do with her. Put some
But do it when the next thing he espies of this flower’s juice on his eyes, and make sure
Act 2, Scene 1, Page 9 250 May be the lady. Thou shalt know the man to do it in such a way that the next thing he sees
By the Athenian garments he hath on. will be the lady. You’ll be able to tell it’s him
Apollo flies and Daphne holds the chase. the lustful god Apollo runs away from the virginal
Effect it with some care, that he may prove because he’s wearing Athenian clothes. Do it
The dove pursues the griffin. The mild hind nymph Daphne who pursues him, the dove
More fond on her than she upon her love. carefully, so that he’ll end up loving her more
Makes speed to catch the tiger—bootless speed, chases after the griffin, which is usually its
And look thou meet me ere the first cock crow. than she loves him. And then make sure to meet
When cowardice pursues and valor flies. predator, and the gentle deer tries to hunt down
me before the rooster’s first crow at dawn.
the tiger—speed is useless when the cowardly
person chases and the brave person runs away. ROBIN ROBIN
255 Fear not, my lord. Your servant shall do so. Don’t worry, sir. I’m at your service.
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS
220 I will not stay thy questions. Let me go. I’m not sticking around to listen to you any Exeunt severally They all exit, separately.
Or if thou follow me, do not believe longer. Leave me alone. Or if you follow me,
But I shall do thee mischief in the wood. you’d better understand that I’ll do something
bad to you in the forest.
Act 2, Scene 2
HELENA HELENA Enter TITANIA, Queen of Fairies, with her train TITANIA, the Fairy Queen, enters with her
Ay, in the temple, in the town, the field Yes, you already hurt me in the church, in the ofFAIRIES following of FAIRIES.
You do me mischief. Fie, Demetrius! town, and in the fields. Shame on you, TITANIA TITANIA
225 Your wrongs do set a scandal on my sex. Demetrius! Your behavior is an insult to all Come now, a roundel and a fairy song. Come, dance in a circle and sing a fairy song,
We cannot fight for love as men may do. women. We cannot fight for love as men can. We Then for the third part of a minute, hence— and then go off for a while to do your work. Some
We should be wooed and were not made to woo. should be pursued and courted. We weren’t Some to kill cankers in the musk-rose buds, of you will kill the worms infesting the rosebuds,
made to do the pursuing. Some war with reremice for their leathern wings some of you will fight with bats to get their
Exit DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS exits. 5 To make my small elves coats, and some keep back leathery wings, so we can make coats for my
The clamorous owl that nightly hoots and wonders small elves. Some of you will keep that loud owl
I’ll follow thee and make a heaven of hell, I’ll follow you and turn this hell I’m in into a kind
At our quaint spirits. Sing me now asleep. away, the one that hoots and wonders every night
To die upon the hand I love so well. of heaven. It would be heavenly to be killed by
Then to your offices and let me rest. at us dainty fairies. Sing me to sleep now, and
someone I love so much.
then go off to do your duties and let me rest.
Exit HELENA HELENA exits.
FAIRIES sing The FAIRIES sing.
OBERON OBERON
FIRST FAIRY FIRST FAIRY
230 Fare thee well, nymph. Ere he do leave this grove, Goodbye, nymph. Before he leaves this part of
(sings) (singing)
Thou shalt fly him and he shall seek thy love. the forest, you’ll change places: you’ll be the one
You spotted snakes with double tongue, Snakes with forked tongues,
running away, and he’ll be in love with you.
Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen. And porcupines, don’t be seen.
Enter ROBIN ROBIN enters. Newts and blindworms, do no wrong. Deadly lizards, don’t be mean.
Hast thou the flower there? Welcome, wanderer. Do you have the flower? Welcome, traveler. Come not near our fairy queen. Don’t come near our fairy queen.
ROBIN ROBIN FAIRIES FAIRIES
Ay, there it is. Yes, here it is. 10 (sing) (singing)
OBERON OBERON Philomel, with melody Nightingale, melodiously
I pray thee, give it me. Please, give it to me. (he takes the flower Sing in our sweet lullaby. Sing our sweet lullaby.
(takes flower from ROBIN) fromROBIN) I know a place where wild thyme Lulla, lulla, lullaby, lulla, lulla, lullaby. Lulla, lulla, lullaby, lulla, lulla, lullaby.
235 I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, blooms, and oxlips and violets grow. It’s covered Never harm Let no harm
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows, over with luscious honeysuckle, sweet Nor spell nor charm Or spell or charm
Quite overcanopied with luscious woodbine, muskroses and sweetbrier. Come our lovely lady nigh. Come near our lovely lady.
With sweet musk roses and with eglantine. So good night, with lullaby. Say good night with a lullaby.
FIRST FAIRY FIRST FAIRY
(sings) (singing)
Weaving spiders, come not here. Spiders with your webs, stay away. Nay, good Lysander. For my sake, my dear, No, Lysander. Please, for my sake, sleep a little
Hence, you long-legged spinners, hence! You long-legged things, begone! Lie further off yet. Do not lie so near. farther away. Don’t sleep so close to me.
LYSANDER LYSANDER
O, take the sense, sweet, of my innocence. Oh, sweetheart, I didn’t mean anything naughty
Act 2, Scene 2, Page 2 35 Love takes the meaning in love’s conference. when I said that. When lovers talk to each other,
Beetles black, approach not near. Black beetles, don’t come near. I mean that my heart unto yours is knit their hearts should understand each other. I just
Worm nor snail, do no offense. Worms and snails, don’t be bad. So that but one heart we can make of it. meant that our hearts are joined, so we can
FAIRIES FAIRIES Two bosoms interchainèd with an oath— almost think of them as one heart. Our two bodies
(sing) (singing) So then two bosoms and a single troth. are linked together by the promises we’ve made
Philomel, with melody Nightingale, melodiously 40 Then by your side no bed room me deny. to each other, so there are two bodies and one
Sing in our sweet lullaby. Sing our sweet lullaby. For, lying so, Hermia, I do not lie. faithful vow. So let me sleep next to you. If I
Lulla, lulla, lullaby, lulla, lulla, lullaby. Lulla, lulla, lullaby, lulla, lulla, lullaby. lie next to you, I won’t lie to you—I’ll be faithful
Never harm Let no harm and respect you.
Nor spell nor charm Or spell or charm HERMIA HERMIA
Come our lovely lady nigh. Come near our lovely lady. Lysander riddles very prettily. Lysander’s got a way with words. I would
So good night, with lullaby. Say good night with a lullaby. Now much beshrew my manners and my pride certainly be rude and shameful if I had implied
TITANIA sleeps TITANIA falls asleep. If Hermia meant to say Lysander lied. that you were a liar. But please, darling, sleep a
45 But, gentle friend, for love and courtesy little farther away so we can behave properly. It’s
SECOND FAIRY SECOND FAIRY
Lie further off in human modesty. only proper for a well-behaved bachelor and a
Hence, away! Now all is well. Okay, let’s go! Everything’s fine now. One of us
Such separation as may well be said well-behaved girl to be physically separated like
One aloof stand sentinel. will stay and stand guard.
Becomes a virtuous bachelor and a maid. this. Stay away for now, and good night, my
Exeunt FAIRIES The FAIRIES exit. So far be distant. And, good night, sweet friend. sweet friend. I hope your love for me remains this
Enter OBERON OBERON enters. 50 Thy love ne'er alter till thy sweet life end! strong for your entire life!
OBERON OBERON LYSANDER LYSANDER
15 (squeezing flower juice on TITANIA ’s eyelids) (he squeezes flower juice on TITANIA ’s eyelids) Amen, amen to that fair prayer, say I. Amen to that. I hope my life ends before my
What thou seest when thou dost wake, Whatever you see first when you wake up, think And then end life when I end loyalty! loyalty to you does. I’ll sleep over here. Sleep
Do it for thy true love take. of it as your true love. Love him and yearn for Here is my bed. Sleep give thee all his rest! well!
Love and languish for his sake. him, even if he’s a lynx, a cat, a bear, a leopard,
Be it ounce or cat or bear, or a wild boar. Whatever’s there when you wake
20 Pard or boar with bristled hair, up will be dear to you. Wake up when something Act 2, Scene 2, Page 4
In thy eye that shall appear, nasty is nearby. HERMIA HERMIA
When thou wakest, it is thy dear. With half that wish the wisher’s eyes be pressed! You sleep well too.
Wake when some vile thing is near.
HERMIA and LYSANDER sleep HERMIA and LYSANDER sleep. ROBIN enters.
Exit OBERON OBERON exits.
Enter ROBIN
Enter LYSANDER and HERMIA LYSANDER and HERMIA enter.
ROBIN ROBIN
LYSANDER LYSANDER Through the forest have I gone. I’ve been through the entire forest, but I haven’t
Fair love, you faint with wandering in the wood. My love, you look like you’re about to faint from But Athenian found I none, found any Athenian man to use the flower on. (he
25 And to speak troth, I have forgot our way. wandering in the woods for so long, and to tell On whose eyes I might approve sees LYSANDER and HERMIA) Wait a second,
you the truth, I’ve gotten us lost. This flower’s force in stirring love. who’s this? He’s wearing Athenian clothes. This
55 (sees LYSANDER and HERMIA) must be the guy who rejected the Athenian girl.
Night and silence! Who is here? And here’s the girl, sleeping soundly on the damp
Act 2, Scene 2, Page 3 Weeds of Athens he doth wear. and dirty ground. Pretty girl! She shouldn’t lie
We’ll rest us, Hermia, if you think it good. We’ll take a rest, if you think it’s a good idea, and This is he, my master said, near this rude and heartless man. (he puts flower
And tarry for the comfort of the day. wait until daylight when things will be easier. Despisèd the Athenian maid. juice on LYSANDER ’s eyelids) Jerk, I throw all
HERMIA HERMIA And here the maiden, sleeping sound the power of this magic charm on your eyes.
Be it so, Lysander. Find you out a bed, Let’s do that, Lysander. Find something to On the dank and dirty ground. When you wake up, let love keep you from going
For I upon this bank will rest my head. cushion you while you sleep. I’m going to rest my Pretty soul! She durst not lie back to sleep. Wake up when I’m gone, because
head on this little slope. Near this lack-love, this kill-courtesy. now I have to go to Oberon.
(squeezes flower juice on LYSANDER’s eyelids)
LYSANDER LYSANDER
Churl, upon thy eyes I throw
30 One turf shall serve as pillow for us both. We can both sleep together on the grass. We’ll All the power this charm doth owe.
One heart, one bed, two bosoms, and one troth. have one heart, one bed, two bodies, and one When thou wakest, let love forbid
faithful vow.
Sleep his seat on thy eyelid.
HERMIA HERMIA So awake when I am gone,
For I must now to Oberon. Act 2, Scene 2, Page 6

Exit ROBIN ROBIN exits.
90 Things growing are not ripe until their season. Fruits and vegetables don’t ripen until the right
Enter DEMETRIUS and HELENA, running DEMETRIUS and HELENA enter, running. So I, being young, till now ripe not to reason. season of the year. Likewise, I’m young, and my
HELENA HELENA And touching now the point of human skill, sense of reason has just ripened. I can finally
Stay, though thou kill me, sweet Demetrius. Stop, Demetrius! Stop, even if only to kill me. Reason becomes the marshal to my will see the light. My logic has more control over my
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS And leads me to your eyes, where I o'erlook desires than it used to, and it’s telling me to look
I charge thee, hence, and do not haunt me thus. I’m telling you, get out of here, and don’t follow 95 Love’s stories written in love’s richest book. into your eyes, where I see every love story ever
me around like this. told.
HELENA HELENA HELENA HELENA
O, wilt thou darkling leave me? Do not so. Oh, will you leave me alone in the dark? Don’t. Wherefore was I to this keen mockery born? Why does everyone always make fun of me?
When at your hands did I deserve this scorn? What have I done to deserve this kind of
Is ’t not enough, is ’t not enough, young man, treatment from you? Is it not enough, is it not
Act 2, Scene 2, Page 5 That I did never, no, nor never can, enough, young man, that I’ll never be pretty
100 Deserve a sweet look from Demetrius' eye, enough to get a kind look from Demetrius? Do
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS
But you must flout my insufficiency? you have to harp on my inadequacy? My God,
60 Stay, on thy peril. I alone will go. Stay here at your own risk. I’m going on alone.
Good troth, you do me wrong, good sooth, you do, it’s wrong for you to woo me in such a cruel,
Exit DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS exits. In such disdainful manner me to woo. disdainful way. But goodbye. I have to tell you, I
HELENA HELENA But fare you well. Perforce I must confess thought you were a much kinder person than
Oh, I am out of breath in this fond chase. Oh, I’m out of breath from this foolish chase. The 105 I thought you lord of more true gentleness. this. Oh, how awful that a lady who’s been
The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace. more I pray, the less I get out of it. Hermia is Oh, that a lady of one man refused rejected by one man should therefore be treated
Happy is Hermia, wheresoe'er she lies, lucky, wherever she is, because she has beautiful Should of another therefore be abused! horribly by another one!
For she hath blessèd and attractive eyes. eyes. How did her eyes get so bright? Not from Exit HELENA HELENA exits.
65 How came her eyes so bright? Not with salt tears. crying. If that’s the case, tears wash my eyes
LYSANDER LYSANDER
If so, my eyes are oftener washed than hers. more than hers. No, no, I’m as ugly as a bear,
She sees not Hermia.—Hermia, sleep thou there. She doesn’t see Hermia—Hermia, keep
No, no, I am as ugly as a bear, since animals that see me run away in terror. So
And never mayst thou come Lysander near! sleeping, and don’t come near me ever again!
For beasts that meet me run away for fear. it’s no surprise that Demetrius runs away from me
110 For as a surfeit of the sweetest things Eating too many sweets makes people sick to
Therefore no marvel though Demetrius as if I were a monster. What evil and deceitful
The deepest loathing to the stomach brings, their stomachs, and people always hate the
70 Do, as a monster, fly my presence thus. mirror made me think I could rival Hermia’s starry
Or as the heresies that men do leave mistakes they made in the past worse than
What wicked and dissembling glass of mine eyes? (she sees LYSANDER)But who’s this
Are hated most of those they did deceive, anyone else hates those mistakes. Hermia,
Made me compare with Hermia’s sphery eyne? here? Lysander, on the ground? Is he dead or
So thou, my surfeit and my heresy, you’re the sweet I’ve had too much of, and the
(sees LYSANDER)But who is here? Lysander, on the sleeping? I don’t see any blood or injuries—
115 Of all be hated, but the most of me.— mistake I used to make, so I hate you more than
ground? Lysander, if you’re alive, wake up.
And all my powers, address your love and might anyone else does.—I’ll use all my talents and
75 Dead or asleep? I see no blood, no wound.—
To honor Helen and to be her knight. efforts to serve Helen and bring her honor.
Lysander, if you live, good sir, awake.
LYSANDER LYSANDER
(waking) And run through fire I will for thy sweet sake. (waking up) I’d even run through fire if you told
Transparent Helena! Nature shows art me to. Radiant, beautiful Helena! I feel like Act 2, Scene 2, Page 7
That through thy bosom makes me see thy heart. Mother Nature has allowed me to see into your
Where is Demetrius? Oh, how fit a word heart, as if by magic. Where is Demetrius? Oh, I’d HERMIA HERMIA
80 Is that vile name to perish on my sword! kill that name with my sword if I could! (waking) Help me, Lysander, help me! Do thy best (waking up) Help me, Lysander, help me! Get
HELENA HELENA To pluck this crawling serpent from my breast. this snake off of my chest. Oh, my God! What a
120 Ay me, for pity! What a dream was here. terrible dream I just had! Lysander, look how I’m
Do not say so, Lysander. Say not so. Don’t say that, Lysander. Don’t say that. Why do
Lysander, look how I do quake with fear. shaking from fear. I thought a snake was eating
What though he love your Hermia? Lord, what you care that he loves Hermia? What does it
Methought a serpent eat my heart away, my heart while you sat smiling and watching.
though? matter? Hermia still loves you, so be happy.
And you sat smiling at his cruel pray. Lysander!—What, is he gone?—Lysander, my
Yet Hermia still loves you. Then be content.
Lysander!—What, removed?—Lysander, lord!— lord!—What, is he out of earshot? Gone? No
LYSANDER LYSANDER
125 What, out of hearing, gone? No sound, no word?— answer, nothing? Oh, God, where are you? Say
Content with Hermia? No. I do repent Happy with Hermia? No. I regret all the boring Alack, where are you? Speak, an if you hear. something if you can hear me. Say something,
85 The tedious minutes I with her have spent. time I wasted with her. I don’t love Hermia; I love Speak, of all loves! I swoon almost with fear. please! I’m almost fainting with fear. Nothing?
Not Hermia but Helena I love. Helena. Who wouldn’t love a dove more than a No? Then I well perceive you all not nigh. Then I guess you’re nowhere nearby. I’ll find
Who will not change a raven for a dove? crow? A man’s desires are influenced by his Either death or you I’ll find immediately. you—or die—right away.
The will of man is by his reason swayed, logical mind, and it’s simply logical that you’re
Exit HERMIA exits.
And reason says you are the worthier maid. more worthy of love than Hermia is.
Act 3, Scene 1
TITANIA sleeps. Enter the While TITANIA is asleep onstage, the clowns— most dreadful thing. For there is not a more fearful terrible. There’s no scarier wild bird than the living
clowns: BOTTOM,QUINCE, FLUTE, SNUG, SNOUT, BOTTOM, QUINCE, FLUTE, SNUG, SNOUT, wildfowl than your lion living. And we ought to look lion, and we should remember that.
andSTARVELING and STARVELING—enter. to ’t.
BOTTOM BOTTOM SNOUT SNOUT

Are we all met? Are we all here? Therefore another prologue must tell he is not a lion. So we need another prologue to tell everyone
he’s not a real lion.
QUINCE QUINCE
Pat, pat. And here’s a marvelous convenient place for Right on time. This is the perfect place to BOTTOM BOTTOM
our rehearsal. This green plot shall be our stage, this rehearse. This clearing will be the stage, and this 15 Nay, you must name his name, and half his face No, we can just announce the actor’s name, and
hawthorn-brake our tiring-house, and we will do it in hawthorn bush will be our dressing room. Let’s must be seen through the lion’s neck. And he himself let his face show through the lion costume, and
action as we will do it before the duke. put on our play exactly as we’ll perform it for the must speak through, saying thus—or to the same have him say something himself. He should say
duke. defect—“Ladies,” or “Fair ladies,” “I would wish you” the following, or something else to the
or “I would request you” or “I would entreat you” “not samedefect—“Ladies,” or “Lovely ladies,” “I would
BOTTOM BOTTOM
to fear, not to tremble, my life for yours. If you think I like to ask you” or “I would like to request of you”
Peter Quince— Peter Quince—
come hither as a lion, it were pity of my life. No, I am or “I would like to beg you” “not to be afraid, and
QUINCE QUINCE no such thing. I am a man as other men are.” And not to tremble with fear. I value your lives as
What sayest thou, bully Bottom? What is it, jolly Bottom? there indeed let him name his name, and tell them highly as my own. If you thought I was a real lion,
BOTTOM BOTTOM plainly he is Snug the joiner. I would be risking my life. But no, I am not at all a
5 There are things in this comedy of Pyramus and There are things in this comedy of Pyramus and lion. I am a man, just like other men.” And then he
Thisbe that will never please. First, Pyramus must Thisbe that will never work. First of all, Pyramus should say his name, and tell them plainly that
draw a sword to kill himself, which the ladies cannot has to take out a sword to kill himself, which the he’s Snug the carpenter.
abide. How answer you that? ladies in the audience won’t be able to stand. QUINCE QUINCE
What should we do about that? Well, it shall be so. But there is two hard things: that All right, that’s what we’ll do then. But there are
SNOUT SNOUT is, to bring the moonlight into a chamber. For, you two things we still have to figure out. How are we
By 'r lakin, a parlous fear. By God, that’s a real problem, it’s true. know, Pyramus and Thisbe meet by moonlight. going to bring moonlight into a room? Because,
STARVELING STARVELING you know, Pyramus and Thisbe meet by
I believe we must leave the killing out, when all is I think we’ll have to leave out all the killing, come moonlight.
done. to think of it.
BOTTOM BOTTOM Act 3, Scene 1, Page 3
Not a whit. I have a device to make all well. Write me Not at all! I’ve got a plan that will fix everything.
a prologue, and let the prologue seem to say we will Write me a prologue that I can recite to the SNOUT SNOUT
do no harm with our swords, and that Pyramus is not audience before the play starts. I’ll tell them that Doth the moon shine that night we play our play? Will the moon be shining on the night we’re
killed indeed. And for the more better assurance, tell we won’t hurt anyone with our swords, and that performing our play?
them that I, Pyramus, am not Pyramus, but Bottom Pyramus isn’t really dead. And to make it even BOTTOM BOTTOM
the weaver. This will put them out of fear. clearer, we can tell them that I’m playing Pyramus A calendar, a calendar! Look in the almanac. Find out We need a calendar! Look in the almanac. Look
but I’m not really Pyramus—really, I’m Bottom the moonshine, find out moonshine! up moonshine, look up moonshine!
weaver. That’ll keep them from being afraid. QUINCE QUINCE
(takes out a book) Yes, it doth shine that night. (he takes out a book) Yes, the moon will shine
that night.
BOTTOM BOTTOM
QUINCE QUINCE 20 Why then, may you leave a casement of the great Well then, you can leave one of the windows
Well. We will have such a prologue, and it shall be All right, we’ll have a prologue then. We’ll write it chamber window where we play open, and the moon open in the big hall where we’ll be performing,
written in eight and six. in alternating eight- and six-syllable lines, just like may shine in at the casement. and the moon can shine in through the window.
in a ballad.
QUINCE QUINCE
BOTTOM BOTTOM Ay. Or else one must come in with a bush of thorns Yes, or else someone will have to come in
10 No, make it two more. Let it be written in eight and No, add a couple more syllables. Make it eight and a lantern, and say he comes to disfigure, or to carrying a bundle of sticks and a lantern and say
eight. and eight. present, the person of Moonshine. Then, there is he’s come to disfigure, or represent, the character
SNOUT SNOUT another thing: we must have a wall in the great of Moonshine, because the man in the moon is
Will not the ladies be afeard of the lion? Won’t the ladies be scared of the lion? chamber. For Pyramus and Thisbe, says the story, supposed to carry sticks and a lantern. But
STARVELING STARVELING did talk through the chink of a wall. there’s still another problem: we need to have a
I fear it, I promise you. I’m really worried about that. wall in the big hall, because according to the
story, Pyramus and Thisbe talked through a little
BOTTOM BOTTOM
hole in a wall.
Masters, you ought to consider with yourselves. To Sirs, you ought to think to yourself, bringing in—
bring in—God shield us!—a lion among ladies is a God forbid!—a lion amongst ladies is really SNOUT SNOUT
You can never bring in a wall. What say you, Bottom? You’ll never be able to bring in a wall. What do (as THISBE ) Most radiant Pyramus, most lily-white (as THISBE) Most radiant Pyramus, you are as
you think, Bottom? 40 of hue, white as a lily, and the color of a red rose on a
BOTTOM BOTTOM Of color like the red rose on triumphant brier, splendid rosebush, a very lively young man and
Some man or other must present Wall. And let him Someone should play the part of Wall. He can Most brisky juvenal and eke most lovely Jew, also a lovely Jew. You are as reliable as a horse
have some plaster, or some loam, or some roughcast have some plaster or clay or limestone or As true as truest horse that yet would never tire. that never gets tired. I’ll meet you, Pyramus, at
about him to signify wall. And let him hold his fingers something on him to show the audience he’s a I’ll meet thee, Pyramus, at Ninny’s tomb. Ninny’s grave.
thus, and through that cranny shall Pyramus and wall. He can hold his fingers in a V-shape like
Thisbe whisper. this, and Pyramus and Thisbe can whisper to
each other through that little crack.
QUINCE QUINCE QUINCE QUINCE
If that may be then all is well. Come, sit down, every If we can do that, everything will be all right. Now “Ninus' tomb,” man. Why, you must not speak that That’s “Ninus’s grave,” man. And don’t say all of
mother’s son, and rehearse your parts.—Pyramus, sit down, everybody, and rehearse your parts— yet. That you answer to Pyramus. You speak all your that yet. You’re supposed to say some of it as a
you begin. When you have spoken your speech, Pyramus, you start. When you have said your part at once, cues and all.—Pyramus, enter. Your reply to Pyramus. You just said all your lines at
enter into that brake.—And so everyone according to lines, go hide in that bush.—Everyone else, go cue is past. It is “never tire.” once, cues and all.—Pyramus, enter. You missed
his cue. there too when you’re not onstage. your cue. It’s “never get tired.”
FLUTE FLUTE
45 Oh. (as thisbe) As true as truest horse that yet would Oh! (as THISBE) As reliable as a horse that
Act 3, Scene 1, Page 4 never tire. never gets tired.
Enter ROBIN unseen ROBIN enters, unseen by the characters Enter BOTTOM, with an ass’s head, and ROBIN ROBIN enters with BOTTOM, with a donkey’s
onstage. head instead of a human head.
ROBIN ROBIN BOTTOM BOTTOM
25 (aside) What hempen homespuns have we (to himself) Who are these country bumpkins (as PYRAMUS) If I were fair, Thisbe, I were only (as PYRAMUS) If I were handsome, my lovely
swaggering here, swaggering around so close to where the fairy thine. Thisbe, I would still want only you.
So near the cradle of the fairy queen? queen is sleeping? What? Are they about to put QUINCE QUINCE
What, a play toward? I’ll be an auditor. on a play? I’ll watch. And I’ll act in it, too, if I feel Oh, monstrous! Oh, strange! We are haunted. Pray, Help! It’s a monster! We’re being haunted. Run,
An actor too, perhaps, if I see cause. like it. masters! Fly, masters! Help! everyone, run!
QUINCE QUINCE Exeunt QUINCE, FLUTE, SNUG, SNOUT, QUINCE, FLUTE, SNUG, SNOUT,
Speak, Pyramus.—Thisbe, stand forth. Speak, Pyramus.—Thisbe, come forward. andSTARVELING andSTARVELING exit.
BOTTOM BOTTOM ROBIN ROBIN
30 (as PYRAMUS) Thisbe, the flowers of odious savors (as PYRAMUS) Thisbe, flowers with sweet I’ll follow you. I’ll lead you about a round I’ll follow you. I’ll run you around in circles,
sweet— odious smells— Through bog, through bush, through brake, through through bogs and bushes and woods and thorns.
QUINCE QUINCE 50 brier. Sometimes I’ll take the shape of a horse,
“Odors,” “odors.” “Odors,” “odors.” Sometime a horse I’ll be, sometime a hound, sometimes I’ll take the shape of a hound or a pig
BOTTOM BOTTOM A hog, a headless bear, sometime a fire. or a headless bear. Sometimes I’ll turn into fire!
(as PYRAMUS) (as PYRAMUS) —odors and smells are like your And neigh, and bark, and grunt, and roar, and burn, And I’ll neigh like a horse and bark like a hound
—odors savors sweet, breath, my dearest Thisbe dear. But what’s that, Like horse, hound, hog, bear, fire, at every turn. and grunt like a pig and roar like a bear and burn
So hath thy breath, my dearest Thisbe dear. a voice! Wait here a while. I’ll be right back! like a fire at every turn.
And by and by I will to thee appear. Exit ROBIN ROBIN exits.
35 But hark, a voice! BOTTOM BOTTOM
Stay thou but here awhile, Why do they run away? This is a knavery of them to Why are they running away? This is some joke of
Exit BOTTOM BOTTOM exits. make me afeard. theirs to scare me.
ROBIN ROBIN Enter SNOUT SNOUT enters.
(aside) A stranger Pyramus than e'er played here. (to himself) That’s the strangest Pyramus I’ve
ever seen.
Exit ROBIN ROBIN exits.
FLUTE FLUTE SNOUT SNOUT
Must I speak now? Am I supposed to talk now? 55 O Bottom, thou art changed! What do I see on thee? Oh, Bottom, you’ve changed! What have you got
QUINCE QUINCE on your head?
Ay, marry, must you. For you must understand he Yes, you are. You’re supposed to show that you BOTTOM BOTTOM
goes but to see a noise that he heard, and is to come understand that Pyramus just went to check on a What do you see? You see an ass head of your own, What do you think I’ve got on my head? You’re
again. noise he heard and is coming right back. do you? acting like an ass, don’t you think?
FLUTE FLUTE Exit SNOUT SNOUT exits.
Enter QUINCE QUINCE enters. Thou shalt remain here whether thou wilt or no. because you’re going to stay here whether you
QUINCE QUINCE 75 I am a spirit of no common rate. want to or not. I’m no ordinary fairy. I rule over the
Bless thee, Bottom, bless thee. Thou art translated. God bless you, Bottom, God bless you. You’ve The summer still doth tend upon my state. summer, and I love you. So come with me. I’ll
been changed. Reborn. And I do love thee. Therefore go with me. give you fairies as servants, and they’ll bring you
I’ll give thee fairies to attend on thee. jewels from the depths of the ocean, and sing to
Exit QUINCE QUINCE exits.
And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, you while you sleep on a bed of flowers. And I’ll
BOTTOM BOTTOM 80 And sing while thou on pressèd flowers dost sleep. turn you into a spirit like us, so you won’t die as
I see their knavery: this is to make an ass of me, to I see what they’re up to. They want to make an And I will purge thy mortal grossness so humans do.—Come here, Peaseblossom,
fright me if they could. But I will not stir from this ass of me, to scare me if they can. But I won’t That thou shalt like an airy spirit go.— Cobweb, Moth, and Mustardseed!
place, do what they can. I will walk up and down here leave this spot, no matter what they do. I’ll walk Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustardseed!
and I will sing, that they shall hear I am not afraid. up and down and sing a song, so they’ll know I’m
(sings) not afraid.
The ouzel cock, so black of hue (singing) Act 3, Scene 1, Page 8
With orange-tawny bill, The blackbird with its black feathers
Enter four Four fairies—
The throstle with his note so true, And its orange-and-tan beak,
fairies: PEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB,MOTH, PEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB,MOTH,
The wren with little quill— The thrush with its clear voice,
and MUSTARDSEED and MUSTARDSEED—enter.
The wren with its small, piping chirp—
PEASEBLOSSOM PEASEBLOSSOM
TITANIA TITANIA
Ready. Ready.
60 (waking) What angel wakes me from my flowery bed? (waking up) What angel is this who’s waking me
up from my bed of flowers? COBWEB COBWEB
BOTTOM BOTTOM And I. Me too.
(sings) (singing) MOTH MOTH
The finch, the sparrow, and the lark, The finch, the sparrow, and the lark, And I. Me too.
The plainsong cuckoo gray, The gray cuckoo with his simple song MUSTARDSEED MUSTARDSEED
Whose note full many a man doth mark That many men hear And I. And me too.
And dares not answer “Nay”— But they don’t dare say no to it— ALL ALL
85 Where shall we go? Where should we go?
Act 3, Scene 1, Page 7 TITANIA TITANIA
Be kind and courteous to this gentleman. Be kind and polite to this gentleman. Follow him
For indeed, who would set his wit to so foolish a bird? Of course they don’t say “no”! Who’d waste his Hop in his walks and gambol in his eyes. around. Leap and dance for him. Feed him
Who would give a bird the lie, though he cry “cuckoo” time talking to such a stupid bird? Who’d bother Feed him with apricoks and dewberries, apricots and blackberries, with purple grapes,
never so? to accuse a bird of lying, even if the bird were With purple grapes, green figs, and mulberries. green figs, and mulberries. Steal honey from the
telling him that his wife was cheating on him? 90 The honey bags steal from the humble-bees, bumblebees, and make candles out of the bees'
TITANIA TITANIA And for night tapers crop their waxen thighs wax. Light them with the light of glowworms, so
I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing again. Please sing again, sweet human. I love to listen And light them at the fiery glowworms' eyes my love will have light when he goes to bed and
65 Mine ear is much enamored of thy note. to your voice, and I love to look at your body. I To have my love to bed and to arise. wakes up. Pluck off colorful butterfly wings, and
So is mine eye enthrallèd to thy shape. know this is the first time I’ve ever seen you, but And pluck the wings from painted butterflies use them to fan moonbeams away from his eyes
And thy fair virtue’s force perforce doth move me you’re so wonderful that I can’t help swearing to 95 To fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes. as he sleeps. Bow to him, fairies, and curtsy to
On the first view to say, to swear, I love thee. you that I love you. Nod to him, elves, and do him courtesies. him.
BOTTOM BOTTOM PEASEBLOSSOM PEASEBLOSSOM
Methinks, mistress, you should have little reason for I don’t think you’ve got much of a reason to love Hail, mortal. Hello, mortal!
70 that. me. But to tell you the truth, reason and love have COBWEB COBWEB
And yet, to say the truth, reason and love keep little very little to do with each other these days. It’s Hail. Hello!
company together nowadays. The more the pity that too bad some mutual friend of theirs doesn’t
MOTH MOTH
some honest neighbors will not make them friends. introduce them. Ha, ha! No, I’m just kidding.
Hail. Hello!
Nay, I can gleek upon occasion.
MUSTARDSEED MUSTARDSEED
TITANIA TITANIA
Hail. Hello!
Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful. You’re as wise as you are beautiful.
BOTTOM BOTTOM
BOTTOM BOTTOM
I cry your worships' mercy, heartily.—I beseech your I beg your pardon, sirs.—Please tell me your
Not so, neither. But if I had wit enough to get out of No, that’s not true. But if I were smart enough to
worship’s name. name, sir?
this wood, I have enough to serve mine own turn. get out of this forest, I’d be wise enough to satisfy
myself.
TITANIA TITANIA Act 3, Scene 1, Page 9
Out of this wood do not desire to go. Don’t bother wishing you could leave this forest,
COBWEB COBWEB Were met together to rehearse a play day. The stupidest one, who played Pyramus in
Cobweb. Cobweb. Intended for great Theseus' nuptial day. their play, finished his scene and went to sit in the
BOTTOM BOTTOM The shallowest thick-skin of that barren sort, bushes to wait for his next cue. I took that
100 I shall desire you of more acquaintance, good I’d like to get to know you better, Mr. Cobweb. If I Who Pyramus presented in their sport, opportunity to stick a donkey’s head on him.
Master cut my finger, I’ll use you as a bandage to stop 15 Forsook his scene and entered in a brake, When it was time for him to go back onstage and
Cobweb. If I cut my finger, I shall make bold with the bleeding.—And your name, sir? When I did him at this advantage take, talk to his Thisbe, he came out of the bushes and
you.— An ass’s nole I fixèd on his head. everyone saw him. His friends ran away as fast
Your name, honest gentleman? Anon his Thisbe must be answerèd, as ducks scatter when they hear a hunter’s
And forth my mimic comes. When they him spy, gunshot. One of them was so frightened when he
20 As wild geese that the creeping fowler eye, heard my footsteps that he yelled, “Murder!” and
Peaseblossom. Peaseblossom.
Or russet-pated choughs, many in sort, called for help from Athens. They were all so
BOTTOM BOTTOM Rising and cawing at the gun’s report, afraid that they completely lost their common
I pray you, commend me to Mistress Squash, your Please, give my regards to your mother, Mrs. Sever themselves and madly sweep the sky— sense. They started to become scared of
mother, and to Master Peascod, your father. Good Peapod, and your father, Mr. Peapod. Good Mr. So at his sight away his fellows fly; inanimate objects, terrified by the thorns and
Master Peaseblossom, I shall desire you of more Peaseblossom, I’d like to get to know you better 25 And, at our stamp, here o'er and o'er one falls. briars that catch at their clothing and pull off their
acquaintance too.— Your name, I beseech you, sir? too.—And you, may I ask what your name is, sir? sleeves and hats. I led them on in this frightened,
MUSTARDSEED MUSTARDSEED distracted state, and left sweet
105 Mustardseed. Mustardseed.
BOTTOM BOTTOM
Good Master Mustardseed, I know your patience Good Mr. Mustardseed, I know you very well.
well. That same cowardly, giantlike ox-beef hath Those cowardly, gigantic sides of beef have He “Murder!” cries and help from Athens calls. Pyramus there, transformed into someone with a
devoured many a gentleman of your house. I been responsible for many of your family Their sense thus weak, lost with their fears thus donkey’s head. At that exact moment, Titania
promise you your kindred hath made my eyes water members getting eaten as a condiment on beef. I strong, woke up and immediately fell in love with him, an
ere now. I desire you of more acquaintance, good swear to you, many members of your mustard Made senseless things begin to do them wrong. ass.
Master Mustardseed. family have made my eyes water before. I look 30 For briers and thorns at their apparel snatch,
forward to getting to know you better, Mr. Some sleeves, some hats—from yielders all things
Mustardseed. catch.
TITANIA TITANIA I led them on in this distracted fear
Come, wait upon him. Lead him to my bower. Take good care of him. Take him to my sleeping And left sweet Pyramus translated there.
The moon methinks looks with a watery eye. area. The moon looks sad to me. When she When in that moment so it came to pass,
And when she weeps, weeps every little flower, cries, all the little flowers cry too. They’re sad Titania waked and straightway loved an ass.
110 Lamenting some enforcèd chastity. because someone is prevented from having OBERON OBERON
Tie up my love’s tongue. Bring him silently. sex—or is having it against her will. Keep my 35 This falls out better than I could devise. This is going even better than I planned. But have
lover quiet. Bring him to me in silence. But hast thou yet latched the Athenian’s eyes you put the love juice from the flower on the eyes
Exeunt They all exit. With the love juice, as I did bid thee do? of that Athenian, as I asked you to do?
ROBIN ROBIN
I took him sleeping—that is finished too— Yes, I found him when he was asleep—so that’s
Act 3, Scene 2 And the Athenian woman by his side, taken care of too—and the Athenian woman was
Enter OBERON, King of Fairies, solus OBERON, the Fairy King, enters. 40 That, when he waked, of force she must be eyed. sleeping near him. When he woke up, he must
have seen her.
OBERON OBERON
I wonder if Titania be awaked. I wonder if Titania is awake yet, and if she is, I Enter DEMETRIUS and HERMIA DEMETRIUS and HERMIA enter.
Then, what it was that next came in her eye, wonder what the first thing she saw was. OBERON OBERON
Which she must dote on in extremity. Whatever it is, she must be completely in love (aside to ROBIN) Stand close. This is the same (speaking so that only ROBIN can hear) Step
with it now. Athenian. aside. Here’s the Athenian coming now.
Enter ROBIN ROBIN enters. ROBIN ROBIN
Here comes my messenger.—How now, mad spirit? Ah, here comes my messenger.—What’s going (aside to OBERON) This is the woman, but not this (speaking so that only OBERON can hear)That’s
5 What night-rule now about this haunted grove? on, you crazy spirit? What havoc have you the man. definitely the woman I saw, but it’s not the same
wreaked in this part of the forest? man.
ROBIN ROBIN DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS
My mistress with a monster is in love. My mistress Titania is in love with a monster. Oh, why rebuke you him that loves you so? Why are you so rude to someone who loves you
Near to her close and consecrated bower, While she was sleeping in her bed of flowers, a Lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe. so much? Save that kind of harsh language for
While she was in her dull and sleeping hour, group of bumbling idiots, rough workmen from your worst enemy.
A crew of patches, rude mechanicals Athens, got together nearby to rehearse some HERMIA HERMIA
10 That work for bread upon Athenian stalls, play they plan to perform on Theseus’s wedding 45 Now I but chide, but I should use thee worse. I’m only scolding you now, but I should treat you
For thou, I fear, hast given me cause to curse. much worse, because I’m afraid you’ve given me See me no more, whether he be dead or no. never see me again, whether or not he’s dead.
If thou hast slain Lysander in his sleep, good reason to curse you. If you killed Lysander Exit HERMIA HERMIA exits.
Being o'er shoes in blood, plunge in the deep, while he was sleeping, then you’re already up to
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS
And kill me too. your ankles in blood. You might as well jump right
There is no following her in this fierce vein. I can’t go after her when she’s in a rage like this.
into a bloodbath and kill me, too.
Here therefore for a while I will remain. So I’ll stay here for a while. Sadness gets worse
So sorrow’s heaviness doth heavier grow when you haven’t had enough sleep. I’ll try to
Act 3, Scene 2, Page 3 85 For debt that bankrupt sleep doth sorrow owe, sleep a little here. ( DEMETRIUS lies down and
Which now in some slight measure it will pay, falls asleep)
50 The sun was not so true unto the day He was more faithful to me than the sun is to the If for his tender here I make some stay.
As he to me. Would he have stolen away daytime. Would he have snuck away from me (lies down and sleeps)
From sleeping Hermia? I’ll believe as soon while I was asleep? I’ll believe that when I believe OBERON OBERON
This whole Earth may be bored, and that the moon that there’s a hole through the center of the earth,
(to ROBIN) What hast thou done? Thou hast (to ROBIN) What have you done? You’ve made
May through the center creep and so displease and the moon has passed all the way through to
90 mistaken quite, a mistake and put the love-juice on someone
55 Her brother’s noontide with th' Antipodes. the other side. The only possibility is that you’ve
And laid the love juice on some true love’s sight. else, someone who was truly in love. Because of
It cannot be but thou hast murdered him. murdered him. A murderer should look like you
Of thy misprision must perforce ensue your mistake someone’s true love must have
So should a murderer look, so dead, so grim. do, so pale and grim.
Some true love turned, and not a false turned true. turned bad, instead of this man’s false love being
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS turned into a true love.
So should the murdered look, and so should I, That’s how someone who’s been murdered ROBIN ROBIN
Pierced through the heart with your stern cruelty. should look, and that’s how I look. You’ve pierced
Then fate o'errules that, one man holding troth, In that case, it must be fate. That’s the way of the
60 Yet you, the murderer, look as bright, as clear, me through the heart with your cruelty, and yet
A million fail, confounding oath on oath. world. For every man who’s faithful to his true
As yonder Venus in her glimmering sphere. you, the murderer, look as bright and clear as a
love, a million end up running after a different
star in the sky.
lover.
HERMIA HERMIA
OBERON OBERON
What’s this to my Lysander? Where is he? What does that have to do with my Lysander?
95 About the wood go swifter than the wind, Go around the forest, moving faster than the
Ah, good Demetrius, wilt thou give him me? Where is he? Oh, good Demetrius, will you find
And Helena of Athens look thou find— wind, and make sure you find Helena of
him for me?
All fancy-sick she is and pale of cheer, Athens.—She’s lovesick, and her face is pale
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS With sighs of love, that costs the fresh blood dear. from all the sighing she’s been doing, because
I had rather give his carcass to my hounds. I would rather feed his corpse to my dogs. By some illusion see thou bring her here. sighing is bad for the blood. Bring her here with
HERMIA HERMIA 100 I’ll charm his eyes against she do appear. some trick or illusion, and I’ll put the charm on his
65 Out, dog! Out, cur! Thou drivest me past the bounds Get out, dog! You’ve driven me to my wit’s end. eyes for when she comes.
Of maiden’s patience. Hast thou slain him then? Did you kill him, then? From now on I won’t even ROBIN ROBIN
Henceforth be never numbered among men! consider you a human being. Oh, just tell the truth I go, I go. Look how I go, I go, I go, look at me go—faster than an arrow
Oh, once tell true, tell true even for my sake— for once. tell the truth, if only for my sake.— Swifter than arrow from the Tartar’s bow. from a Tartar’s bow.
Durst thou have looked upon him being awake, Would you have even dared to look at him when
Exit ROBIN ROBIN exits
70 And hast thou killed him sleeping? O brave touch! he was awake? And did you kill him while he was
Could not a worm, an adder, do so much? sleeping? Oh, how brave of you! A snake could
An adder did it, for with doubler tongue do that as easily as you could. A snake did do it, Act 3, Scene 2, Page 5
Than thine, thou serpent, never adder stung. because no snake ever had a more forked, lying
tongue than you have. OBERON OBERON
(squeezing flower juice into DEMETRIUS ’s eyes) (putting flower juice on DEMETRIUS ’s eyelids)
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS
Flower of this purple dye, You purple flower, hit by Cupid’s arrow, sink into
You spend your passion on a misprised mood. You’re getting all worked up over a
105 Hit with Cupid’s archery, the pupils of this man’s eyes. When he sees the
75 I am not guilty of Lysander’s blood. misunderstanding. I didn’t kill Lysander. ?As far
Sink in apple of his eye. girl he should love, make her seem as bright to
Nor is he dead, for aught that I can tell. as I know, he’s not even dead.
When his love he doth espy, him as the evening star. Young man, when you
HERMIA HERMIA Let her shine as gloriously wake up, if she’s nearby, beg her to cure your
I pray thee, tell me then that he is well. Then please tell me he’s all right. As the Venus of the sky. lovesickness.
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS 110 When thou wakest, if she be by,
An if I could, what should I get therefore? If I told you that, what would I get out of it? Beg of her for remedy.
Enter ROBIN ROBIN enters.
Act 3, Scene 2, Page 4 ROBIN ROBIN
Captain of our fairy band, Helena is nearby, boss. The young man who I
HERMIA HERMIA Helena is here at hand, mistook for this one is there too, begging her to
A privilege never to see me more. The privilege of never seeing me again. And now And the youth, mistook by me, love him. Should we watch this ridiculous scene?
80 And from thy hated presence part I so. I’m going to leave your despised company. You’ll 115 Pleading for a lover’s fee. Lord, what fools these mortals are!
Shall we their fond pageant see? If you were civil and knew courtesy, at all, you wouldn’t treat me like this. Can’t you
Lord, what fools these mortals be! 150 You would not do me thus much injury. just hate me, as I know you do? Do you have to
OBERON OBERON Can you not hate me, as I know you do, get together to humiliate me too? If you were real
Stand aside. The noise they make Step aside. The noise they’re making will wake But you must join in souls to mock me too? men, as you pretend to be, you wouldn’t treat a
Will cause Demetrius to awake. up Demetrius. If you were men, as men you are in show, lady this way, making vows and promises and
You would not use a gentle lady so praising my beauty when I know you’re really
ROBIN ROBIN
both disgusted by me. You’re competing for
120 Then will two at once woo one. Then the two of them will both pursue one girl.
That must needs be sport alone. That will be funny enough, and preposterous
And those things do best please me situations are my favorite thing. Act 3, Scene 2, Page 7
That befall preposterously.
155 To vow, and swear, and superpraise my parts, Hermia’s love, and now you’re competing to see
Enter LYSANDER and HELENA LYSANDER and HELENA enter.
When I am sure you hate me with your hearts. which one of you can make fun of me the most.
LYSANDER LYSANDER You both are rivals, and love Hermia, That’s a great idea, a really manly thing to do—
Why should you think that I should woo in scorn? Why do you think I’m making fun of you when I And now both rivals to mock Helena— making a poor girl cry! No respectable person
125 Scorn and derision never come in tears. tell you I love you? People don’t cry when they’re A trim exploit, a manly enterprise, would offend an innocent girl just to have some
mocking someone. 160 To conjure tears up in a poor maid’s eyes fun.
With your derision! None of noble sort
Would so offend a virgin, and extort
A poor soul’s patience, all to make you sport.
Look, when I vow, I weep. And vows so born, Look, when I swear that I love you, I cry, and LYSANDER LYSANDER
In their nativity all truth appears. when someone cries while he’s making a You are unkind, Demetrius. Be not so. Don’t be cruel, Demetrius. I know you love
How can these things in me seem scorn to you, promise, he’s usually telling the truth. How can it 165 For you love Hermia. This you know I know. Hermia, and you know I know it. Right here, right
Bearing the badge of faith to prove them true? seem like I’m making fun of you, when my tears And here, with all good will, with all my heart, now, I swear I’m giving up all my claims on her
prove that I’m sincere? In Hermia’s love I yield you up my part. and handing her to you. In exchange, give up
HELENA HELENA And yours of Helena to me bequeath, your claim to love Helena, since I love her and
130 You do advance your cunning more and more. You get trickier and trickier. You’ve made the Whom I do love and will do till my death. will love her until I die.
When truth kills truth, O devilish holy fray! same promises to me and to Hermia—they can’t HELENA HELENA
These vows are Hermia’s. Will you give her o'er? both be true! They must both be false. The 170 Never did mockers waste more idle breath. Nobody’s ever gone to so much trouble just to
Weigh oath with oath, and you will nothing weigh. promises you’re making to me belong to Hermia. make fun of someone.
Your vows to her and me, put in two scales, Will you abandon her? If you weighed the
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS
135 Will even weigh, and both as light as tales. promises you made to me against the promises
Lysander, keep thy Hermia. I will none. Lysander, keep your Hermia. I don’t want her. If I
you made to her, they’d come out the same—
If e'er I loved her, all that love is gone. ever loved her, all that love is gone now. My love
they both weigh nothing. They’re lies.
My heart to her but as guest-wise sojourned, for her was temporary. Now I’ll love Helena
LYSANDER LYSANDER And now to Helen is it home returned, forever.
I had no judgment when to her I swore. I wasn’t thinking clearly when I made those 175 There to remain.
promises to her.
LYSANDER LYSANDER
HELENA HELENA Helen, it is not so. Helena, it’s not true.
Nor none, in my mind, now you give her o'er. And I don’t believe you’re thinking clearly now,
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS
as you break those promises.
Disparage not the faith thou dost not know, Don’t insult a deep love that you don’t
LYSANDER LYSANDER Lest to thy peril thou aby it dear. understand, or you’ll pay the price. Look, here
Demetrius loves her, and he loves not you. Demetrius loves her, and he doesn’t love you. Look, where thy love comes. Yonder is thy dear. comes the woman you love.
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS Enter HERMIA HERMIA enters.
(waking) O Helena, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine! (waking up) Oh Helena, you goddess, you divine
HERMIA HERMIA
140 To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne? and perfect nymph! What can I compare your
180 Dark night, that from the eye his function takes, It’s hard to see clearly in the dark of night, but it’s
Crystal is muddy. Oh, how ripe in show eyes to? Crystal isn’t as clear as they are. Oh,
The ear more quick of apprehension makes. easier to hear well.
Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow! your lips are as ripe as a pair of tempting
Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense,
That pure congealèd white, high Taurus' snow, cherries touching each other! The pure white of
It pays the hearing double recompense.
Fanned with the eastern wind, turns to a crow the snow on a mountaintop seems black as a
145 When thou hold’st up thy hand. Oh, let me kiss crow’s wing next to the whiteness of your hands.
This princess of pure white, this seal of bliss! Oh, let me kiss your beautiful white hand. It’ll Act 3, Scene 2, Page 8
make me so happy!
HELENA HELENA Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander, found. I couldn’t see you, Lysander, but I heard your
185 Mine ear, I thank it, brought me to thy sound voice, and that’s how I found you. Why did you
O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent Damn it! I see you’re all determined to gang up
But why unkindly didst thou leave me so? leave me alone so unkindly?
To set against me for your merriment. on me for a few laughs. If you had any manners
LYSANDER LYSANDER And made your other love, Demetrius— and my face? Haven’t you made your other love,
Why should he stay, whom love doth press to go? Why stay when love tells you to go? Who even but now did spurn me with his foot— Demetrius—who kicked me with his foot not long
HERMIA HERMIA To call me goddess, nymph, divine, and rare, ago—call me a goddess and a divine, rare,
What love could press Lysander from my side? But what love could make my Lysander leave 230 Precious, celestial? Wherefore speaks he this precious, heavenly creature? Why does he talk
me? To her he hates? And wherefore doth Lysander like that to a girl he can’t stand? And why does
Deny your love, so rich within his soul, Lysander deny that he loves you, when he loves
LYSANDER LYSANDER
And tender me, forsooth, affection, you so deeply? Why would he show me any
Lysander’s love, that would not let him bide, I had to hurry to my love, beautiful Helena, who
But by your setting on, by your consent? affection, unless you told him to? Why does it
190 Fair Helena, who more engilds the night lights up the night better than all those fiery stars.
235 What though I be not so in grace as you— matter that I’m not as lucky or lovable as you are
Than all yon fiery oes and eyes of light. Why are you looking for me? Didn’t you figure
So hung upon with love, so fortunate— and that the love I feel is unrequited? You should
Why seek’st thou me? Could not this make thee out that I left you because I hate you?
But miserable most, to love unloved? pity me for that reason, not hate me.
know
This you should pity rather than despise.
The hate I bear thee made me leave thee so?
HERMIA HERMIA
HERMIA HERMIA
I understand not what you mean by this. I don’t know what you’re talking about.
You speak not as you think. It cannot be. You can’t mean what you’re saying. It’s
impossible. HELENA HELENA
240 Ay, do. Persever, counterfeit sad looks, Oh, fine. All right, go ahead, keep up your little
HELENA HELENA
Make mouths upon me when I turn my back, game, pretend to be sympathetic, but then nudge
195 Lo, she is one of this confederacy! So, she’s in on this too! Now I see that all three
Wink each at other, hold the sweet jest up— each other and wink and make faces at me when
Now I perceive they have conjoined all three of them have gotten together to play this cruel
This sport, well carried, shall be chronicled. I turn my back. Keep up your wonderful game.
To fashion this false sport, in spite of me.— trick on me. Hurtful Hermia, you ungrateful girl,
You’re doing such a good job on this trick,
Injurious Hermia! Most ungrateful maid! have you conspired with these two to provoke
someone should write a book about it.
Have you conspired, have you with these contrived me with this horrible teasing? Have you forgotten
200 To bait me with this foul derision? all the talks we’ve had together, the vows we
Is all the counsel that we two have shared, made to be like sisters to one another, all the Act 3, Scene 2, Page 10
The sisters' vows, the hours that we have spent hours we spent together, wishing that we never
When we have chid the hasty-footed time had to say goodbye—have you forgotten? Our If you have any pity, grace, or manners, If you had any sense of pity, or manners, you
For parting us—oh, is it all forgot? friendship in our schooldays, our childhood 245 You would not make me such an argument. wouldn’t pretend to fight over me like this. But
205 All schooldays' friendship, childhood innocence? innocence? We used to sit together and sew one But fare ye well. 'Tis partly my own fault, goodbye. It’s partly my own fault, since I followed
We, Hermia, like two artificial gods, flower with our two needles, sewing it on one Which death or absence soon shall remedy. you here. Leaving—or dying—will soon take care
Have with our needles created both one flower, piece of cloth, sitting on the same cushion, of everything.
Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion, singing one song in the same key, as if our LYSANDER LYSANDER
Both warbling of one song, both in one key, hands, our sides, our voices and our minds were Stay, gentle Helena. Hear my excuse. Stay, lovely Helena. Listen to my excuse. My
210 As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds, stuck together. We grew together like twin My love, my life, my soul, fair Helena! love, my life, my soul, beautiful Helena!
Had been incorporate. So we grew together, cherries—which seemed to be separate but were HELENA HELENA
Like to a double cherry—seeming parted also together—two lovely cherries on one stem. 250 Oh, excellent! That’s a good one.
But yet an union in partition—
HERMIA HERMIA
Two lovely berries molded on one stem;
(to LYSANDER) (to LYSANDER) Don’t insult her like that,
Sweet, do not scorn her so. Lysander darling.
Act 3, Scene 2, Page 9 DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS
If she cannot entreat, I can compel. (to LYSANDER) If Hermia’s begging can’t make
215 So, with two seeming bodies but one heart, We seemed to have two separate bodies, but we
you stop insulting Helena, I can force you to do
Two of the first, like coats in heraldry, had one heart. Do you want to destroy our old
so.
Due but to one and crownèd with one crest. friendship by joining these men to insult your
And will you rent our ancient love asunder poor friend? It’s not friendly, and it’s not ladylike. LYSANDER LYSANDER
To join with men in scorning your poor friend? All women would be angry with you for doing it, Thou canst compel no more than she entreat. You can’t force me any more than Hermia can
220 It is not friendly, ’tis not maidenly. even though I’m the only one who’s hurt by it. Thy threats have no more strength than her weak beg me. Your threats are no stronger than her
Our sex, as well as I, may chide you for it, 255 prayers.— whining.—Helena, I love you. I swear I do. I’ll
Though I alone do feel the injury. Helen, I love thee. By my life, I do. give my life for you, just to prove this guy wrong
I swear by that which I will lose for thee when he says I don’t love you.
HERMIA HERMIA
To prove him false that says I love thee not.
I am amazèd at your passionate words. I’m completely dumbfounded by what you’re
I scorn you not. It seems that you scorn me. saying. I’m not insulting you. It sounds more like DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS
you’re insulting me. I say I love thee more than he can do. I say that I love you more than he does.
HELENA HELENA LYSANDER LYSANDER
225 Have you not set Lysander, as in scorn, Come on, confess. Didn’t you send Lysander, as If thou say so, withdraw and prove it too. If that’s what you say, go fight a duel with me
To follow me and praise my eyes and face? an insult, to follow me around praising my eyes and prove it.
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS 285 And never did desire to see thee more. again. So stop hoping and wondering what I
260 Quick, come. You’re on. Let’s do it. Therefore be out of hope, of question, of doubt. mean.
HERMIA HERMIA
Lysander, whereto tends all this? Lysander, where are you going with all this?
(holds LYSANDER back) (she holds LYSANDER back)
LYSANDER LYSANDER Be certain, nothing truer. 'Tis no jest I’ve spelled it out for you clearly. It’s no joke. I
That I do hate thee and love Helena. hate you and love Helena.
(to HERMIA) Away, you Ethiope! (to HERMIA) Get away, you African!
HERMIA HERMIA
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS
O me! Oh, no! (to HELENA) You trickster, you snake!
(to HERMIA) (to HERMIA) No, no. He’ll act like he’s going to
290 (to HELENA) You juggler! You canker-blossom! You thief! What, did you sneak in at night and
No, no. He’ll break free from you, Hermia.
You thief of love! What, have you come by night steal my love’s heart from him?
Seem to break loose.
And stol'n my love’s heart from him?
HELENA HELENA
Act 3, Scene 2, Page 11 Fine, i' faith! Oh, that’s very nice! You ought to be ashamed of
Have you no modesty, no maiden shame, yourself! You’re going to make me mad enough
(to LYSANDER) (to LYSANDER) Pretend like you’re going to
No touch of bashfulness? What, will you tear to answer you? Damn you, you faker, you
Take on as you would follow, follow me, but then don’t come. You’re a coward,
295 Impatient answers from my gentle tongue? puppet!
265 But yet come not. You are a tame man, go! get out of here!
Fie, fie! You counterfeit, you puppet, you!
LYSANDER LYSANDER
HERMIA HERMIA
(to HERMIA) Hang off, thou cat, thou burr! Vile thing, (to HERMIA) Stop hanging on me, you cat, you
“Puppet”? Why so?—Ay, that way goes the game. “Puppet”? Why “puppet”?—Oh, I see where this
let loose thorn. Let go of me, or I’ll shake you off like a
Now I perceive that she hath made compare is going. She’s talking about our difference in
Or I will shake thee from me like a serpent. snake.
Between our statures. She hath urged her height, height. She’s paraded in front of him to show off
HERMIA HERMIA 300 And with her personage, her tall personage, how tall she is. She won him over with her
Why are you grown so rude? What change is this, Why have you gotten so rude? What’s happened Her height, forsooth, she hath prevailed with him.— height.—Does he have such a high opinion of
Sweet love? to you, my darling? And are you grown so high in his esteem you because I’m so short? Is that it? So how
LYSANDER LYSANDER Because I am so dwarfish and so low? short am I, you painted barber pole? Tell me.
Thy love? Out, tawny Tartar, out! Your darling? Get out, you dark-skinned gypsy! How low am I, thou painted maypole? Speak. How short am I? I’m not too short to gouge your
270 Out, loathèd medicine! O hated potion, hence! Get out, you horrible poison. Get out! 305 How low am I? I am not yet so low eyes out with my fingernails.
HERMIA HERMIA But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes.
Do you not jest? Are you joking? HELENA HELENA
HELENA HELENA (to LYSANDER and DEMETRIUS) (to LYSANDER and DEMETRIUS) Please don’t
Yes, sooth, and so do you. Of course he is, and so are you. I pray you, though you mock me, gentlemen, let her hurt me, gentlemen, however much you
Let her not hurt me. I was never cursed. want to tease me. I never was much good with
LYSANDER LYSANDER
310 I have no gift at all in shrewishness. insults. I’m not mean and catty like her. I’m a nice
Demetrius, I will keep my word with thee. Demetrius, I’m ready to fight you as promised.
I am a right maid for my cowardice. shy girl. Please don’t let her hit me. Maybe you
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS Let her not strike me. You perhaps may think, think that because she’s shorter than me I can
I would I had your bond, for I perceive I wish we had a signed legal contract. I can see Because she is something lower than myself, take her.
A weak bond holds you. I’ll not trust your word. you don’t keep your promises very well. I don’t That I can match her.
trust you.
LYSANDER LYSANDER
275 What, should I hurt her, strike her, kill her dead? What? Do you want me to hit Hermia, hurt her, Act 3, Scene 2, Page 13
Although I hate her, I’ll not harm her so. kill her? Sure, I hate her, but I wouldn’t hurt her. HERMIA HERMIA
HERMIA HERMIA “Lower”? Hark, again! “Shorter!” See, she’s doing it again!
(to LYSANDER) (to LYSANDER) Can you hurt me any more than HELENA HELENA
What, can you do me greater harm than hate? by saying you hate me? Hate me? Why? What’s 315 Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me. Good Hermia, please don’t act so bitter toward
Hate me? Wherefore? O me! What news, my love? happened to you, my love? Am I not Hermia? I evermore did love you, Hermia, me. I always loved you, Hermia, and gave you
280 Am not I Hermia? Are not you Lysander? Aren’t you Lysander? I’m as beautiful now as I Did ever keep your counsels, never wronged you— advice. I never did anything to hurt you—except
I am as fair now as I was erewhile. was a little while ago. You still loved me when we Save that, in love unto Demetrius, once, when I told Demetrius that you planned to
Since night you loved me. Yet since night you left fell asleep, but when you woke up you left me. I told him of your stealth unto this wood. sneak off into this forest. And I only did that
me. So you left me—Oh, God help me!—For real? 320 He followed you. For love I followed him. because I loved Demetrius so much. He followed
Why then, you left me—Oh, the gods forbid!— But he hath chid me hence and threatened me you. And I followed him because I loved him. But
In earnest, shall I say? To strike me, spurn me—nay, to kill me too. he told me to get lost and threatened to hit me,
LYSANDER LYSANDER And now, so you will let me quiet go, kick me—even kill me. Now just let me go quietly
Ay, by my life, I certainly did, and I never wanted to see you To Athens will I bear my folly back back to Athens. I’ll carry my mistakes back with
325 And follow you no further. Let me go. me. I won’t follow you anymore. Please let me My legs are longer though, to run away.
You see how simple and how fond I am. go. You see how naïve and foolish I’ve been. Exit HELENA HELENA exits.
HERMIA HERMIA HERMIA HERMIA
Why, get you gone! Who is ’t that hinders you? Well, get out of here then! What’s keeping you? 355 I am amazed and know not what to say. I just can’t believe any of this. I don’t know what
HELENA HELENA to say.
A foolish heart, that I leave here behind. My stupid heart, which I’m leaving behind here. Exit HERMIA HERMIA exits.
HERMIA HERMIA OBERON OBERON
What, with Lysander? What, you’re leaving it with Lysander? (to ROBIN) This is thy negligence. Still thou (to ROBIN) This is all your fault. You make
HELENA HELENA mistakest, mistakes constantly, or else you cause this kind
With Demetrius. No, with Demetrius. Or else committ’st thy knaveries willfully. of trouble on purpose.
LYSANDER LYSANDER
330 Be not afraid. She shall not harm thee, Helena. Don’t be afraid. She can’t hurt you, Helena.
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS
(to LYSANDER) (to LYSANDER) That’s right, Hermia won’t hurt ROBIN ROBIN
No, sir, she shall not, though you take her part. Helena even if you try to help her. Believe me, King of Shadows, I mistook. Believe me, King of Illusions, I made a mistake.
HELENA HELENA Did not you tell me I should know the man Didn’t you tell me that I’d be able to recognize
360 By the Athenian garment he had on? the man by the Athenian clothes he was
Oh, when she’s angry, she is keen and shrewd! Oh, when you get her angry, she’s a good
And so far blameless proves my enterprise, wearing? So far I’ve done exactly what I was
She was a vixen when she went to school. fighter, and vicious too. She was a hellcat in
That I have 'nointed an Athenian’s eyes. supposed to do—I put the love potion on an
335 And though she be but little, she is fierce. school. And she’s fierce, even though she’s little.
And so far am I glad it so did sort, Athenian’s eyes. And so far I’m pleased with the
HERMIA HERMIA As this their jangling I esteem a sport. way things have turned out, since I find all of this
“Little” again? Nothing but “low” and “little”!— “Little” again? Nothing but “little” and “short”!— commotion very entertaining.
Why will you suffer her to flout me thus? Why are you letting her insult me like this? Let
OBERON OBERON
Let me come to her. me at her!.
365 Thou seest these lovers seek a place to fight. As you can see, these lovers are looking for a
Hie therefore, Robin, overcast the night. place to fight. Hurry up, Robin, and make the
Act 3, Scene 2, Page 14 The starry welkin cover thou anon night dark and cloudy. Cover the sky with a low-
With drooping fog as black as Acheron, hanging fog, as dark as hell, and get these
LYSANDER LYSANDER And lead these testy rivals so astray overeager rivals so completely lost in the woods
(to HERMIA) Get you gone, you dwarf, (to HERMIA) Get lost, you dwarf, you tiny little 370 As one come not within another’s way. that they can’t run into each other. Imitate
340 You minimus of hindering knotgrass made, weed, you scrap, you acorn! Like to Lysander sometime frame thy tongue, Lysander’s voice and egg Demetrius on with
You bead, you acorn! Then stir Demetrius up with bitter wrong. insults. Then rant for a while in Demetrius’s
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS And sometime rail thou like Demetrius. voice, and egg Lysander on. That way you’ll get
You are too officious You’re doing too much to defend a woman who And from each other look thou lead them thus, them away from each other until they’re so
In her behalf that scorns your services. wants nothing to do with you. Leave Hermia 375 Till o'er their brows death-counterfeiting sleep exhausted that they’ll sleep like the
Let her alone. Speak not of Helena. alone. Don’t talk about Helena. Don’t take With leaden legs and batty wings doth creep. dead. (OBERON gives a new flower
Take not her part. For if thou dost intend Helena’s side. If you continue treating Hermia so (gives ROBIN another flower) to ROBIN) When they’re asleep, crush some of
345 Never so little show of love to her, badly, you’ll pay for it. Then crush this herb into Lysander’s eye, this flower’s juice into Lysander’s eyes. The
Thou shalt aby it. Whose liquor hath this virtuous property flower’s juice has the power to erase all the
LYSANDER LYSANDER 380 To take from thence all error with his might damage that’s been done to his eyes, and to
Now she holds me not. Hermia’s not holding onto me anymore. Follow And make his eyeballs roll with wonted sight. make him see normally, the way he used to.
Now follow, if thou darest, to try whose right, me if you’re brave enough, and we’ll fight over When they next wake, all this derision When they wake up, all this trouble and conflict
Of thine or mine, is most in Helena. Helena. Shall seem a dream and fruitless vision. will seem like a dream or a meaningless vision.
And back to Athens shall the lovers wend, Then the lovers will go back to Athens, united
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS
385 With league whose date till death shall never end. together until death. While you’re busy with that,
“Follow”? Nay, I’ll go with thee, cheek by jowl. “Follow”? No, I’ll walk right next to you, side by
Whiles I in this affair do thee employ, I’ll go see Queen Titania and ask her once again
side.
I’ll to my queen and beg her Indian boy. for the Indian boy. And then I’ll undo the spell
Exeunt LYSANDER and DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS and LYSANDER exit. And then I will her charmèd eye release that I cast over her, so she won’t be in love with
HERMIA HERMIA From monster’s view, and all things shall be peace. that monster anymore. Then everything will be
350 You, mistress, all this coil is long of you. All this fighting is because of you. Stay where peaceful again.
Nay, go not back. you are.
HELENA HELENA
I will not trust you, I, I’m not sticking around here any more. I don’t
Nor longer stay in your curst company. trust you. You might be a better fighter than I am, ROBIN ROBIN
Your hands than mine are quicker for a fray. but my legs are longer and I can run away faster. 390 My fairy lord, this must be done with haste. We’ve got to act fast, my lord of the fairies.
For night’s swift dragons cut the clouds full fast, Night’s fading quickly, and in the distance the the stars, bragging to the stars and telling the bushes that
And yonder shines Aurora’s harbinger, morning star is shining, warning us that dawn is Telling the bushes that thou look’st for wars, you want a fight, but then you won’t come and
At whose approach, ghosts, wandering here and coming. At dawn, the ghosts that have been 420 And wilt not come? Come, recreant. Come, thou fight me? Come here, you coward! Come here,
there, wandering around all night go home to the child! you child! I’ll beat you with a stick. It would be
395 Troop home to churchyards. Damnèd spirits all, graveyards. The souls of people who weren’t I’ll whip thee with a rod. He is defiled shameful to fight you with a sword, the way I
That in crossways and floods have burial, buried in holy ground, but instead lie rotting by That draws a sword on thee. would fight with a real man.
Already to their wormy beds are gone. the side of the road or at the bottom of a river, DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS
For fear lest day should look their shames upon, have already gone back to their wormy graves. Yea, art thou there? Are you there?
They willfully themselves exile from light They weren’t buried in a real graveyard because
ROBIN ROBIN
And must for aye consort with black-browed night. they committed suicide, and they don’t want their
(as LYSANDER) (in LYSANDER’s voice) Follow my voice. This
shame to be seen in daylight, so they avoid
Follow my voice. We’ll try no manhood here. isn’t a good place to fight.
sunlight and stay forever in the darkness of night.
Exeunt They exit.
OBERON OBERON
400 But we are spirits of another sort. But we’re not like that. We’re a different kind of Enter LYSANDER LYSANDER enters.
I with the morning’s love have oft made sport, spirit, and we don’t have to run away from the LYSANDER LYSANDER
And like a forester the groves may tread sunlight. I like the morning. I often wander He goes before me and still dares me on. He’s walking ahead of me, and he keeps daring
Even till the eastern gate, all fiery red, around in the woods like a forest ranger until the 425 When I come where he calls, then he is gone. me to follow him. When I reach the place he’s
Opening on Neptune with fair blessèd beams, sun rises in the fiery red sky over the ocean, The villain is much lighter-heeled than I. calling from, he disappears. This villain is much
405 Turns into yellow gold his salt green streams. turning the salty green water to gold. But you I followed fast, but faster he did fly, quicker than I am. I ran after him fast, but he ran
But notwithstanding, haste. Make no delay. should hurry anyway. Don’t delay. We still have That fallen am I in dark uneven way, away from me faster, so that now here I am in
We may effect this business yet ere day. time to get all of this done before daybreak. some dark part of the forest where the ground is
Exit OBERON OBERON exits. uneven.
ROBIN ROBIN
Up and down, up and down, Up and down, up and down, Act 3, Scene 2, Page 18
I will lead them up and down. I will lead them up and down.
I am feared in field and town. The people fear me in the country and the town. And here will rest me. I’ll rest here. (he lies down) I hope the pleasant
Goblin, lead them up and down. Goblin, lead them up and down. 430 (lies down) daytime comes soon! As soon as the gray light of
Here comes one. Here comes one of them now. Come, thou gentle day! early morning appears, I’ll find Demetrius and get
Enter LYSANDER LYSANDER enters. For if but once thou show me thy grey light, my revenge for this insult.
I’ll find Demetrius and revenge this spite.
LYSANDER LYSANDER (sleeps)
Where art thou, proud Demetrius? Speak thou now. Where are you, Demetrius, you arrogant
Enter ROBIN and DEMETRIUS LYSANDER lies down and falls
bastard? Say something.
asleep. ROBINand DEMETRIUS enter.
ROBIN ROBIN
Act 3, Scene 2, Page 17 (as LYSANDER to DEMETRIUS) (in LYSANDER’s voice) Ha, ha, ha! Hey, You
435 Ho, ho, ho! Coward, why comest thou not? coward, why aren’t you coming?
ROBIN ROBIN
410 (as DEMETRIUS) (in DEMETRIUS’s voice) I’m over here, you DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS
Here, villain. Drawn and ready. Where art thou? villain, with my sword out and ready to fight. Abide me, if thou darest! For well I wot Wait for me, if you’re not too scared! I know
Where are you? Thou runn’st before me, shifting every place, that’s why you’re running away from me,
And darest not stand nor look me in the face. constantly changing places—you’re afraid to
LYSANDER LYSANDER
Where art thou now? stand still and wait for me. You’re scared to look
I will be with thee straight. I’m coming.
me in the eye. Where are you now?
ROBIN ROBIN
ROBIN ROBIN
(as DEMETRIUS) Follow me then (in DEMETRIUS’s voice) Let’s go to a flatter area
440 (as LYSANDER) Come hither. I am here. (in LYSANDER’s voice) Come here. I’m over
To plainer ground. where we can fight more easily.
here.
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS
Enter DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS enters. Nay, then, thou mock’st me. Thou shalt buy this dear No, you’re just taunting me. You’ll pay for this if I
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS If ever I thy face by daylight see. ever see you face-to-face in the daylight. Go
Lysander, speak again! Lysander, say something! You coward, did you Now go thy way. Faintness constraineth me wherever you want. I’m exhausted; I need to lie
415 Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled? run away from me? Say something! Are you To measure out my length on this cold bed. down and sleep on this cold ground. But watch
Speak! In some bush? Where dost thou hide thy behind some bush? Where are you hiding? 445 By day’s approach look to be visited. out. I’ll find you at dawn. (DEMETRIUS lies down
head? (lies down and sleeps) and sleeps)
ROBIN ROBIN Enter HELENA HELENA enters.
(as LYSANDER) Thou coward, art thou bragging to (in LYSANDER’s voice) You coward, are you
HELENA HELENA ERON the king behind them, unseen head, and the
O weary night, O long and tedious night, Oh, what a long, tedious, exhausting night! I wish fairiesPEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB,
Abate thy hours. Shine comforts from the east, it would end. I wish the comforting light of day MOTH,
That I may back to Athens by daylight would shine so I can go back to Athens and get andMUSTARDSEED. OBERON enters
450 From these that my poor company detest. away from these people who hate me so much. I behind them, unseen by those onstage.
And sleep, that sometimes shuts up sorrow’s eye, hope I’ll be able to sleep and escape my troubles TITANIA TITANIA
Steal me awhile from mine own company. for a while. People can sometimes forget their (to BOTTOM) Come, sit thee down upon this flowery bed (to BOTTOM) Come over here and sit
(lies down and sleeps) difficulties when they’re asleep.(HELENA lies While I thy amiable cheeks do coy, down on this flowery bed while I caress
down and sleeps) And stick musk roses in thy sleek, smooth head, those lovable cheeks. I’ll put roses on
And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy. your silky, smooth head and kiss your
big, beautiful ears, my gentle darling.
BOTTOM BOTTOM
ROBIN ROBIN 5 Where’s Peaseblossom? Where’s Peaseblossom?
Yet but three? Come one more. Only three so far? We’re still waiting for one
Two of both kinds make up four. more. Two of both kinds makes four. Ah, here
Ready. Here.
Here she comes, cursed and sad. she comes, angry and sad. Cupid is a bad boy
Cupid is a knavish lad for making poor women go crazy like this. BOTTOM BOTTOM
Thus to make poor females mad. Scratch my head, Peaseblossom. Where’s Monsieur Cobweb? Scratch my head, Peaseblossom.
Where’s Monsieur Cobweb?
Enter HERMIA HERMIA enters.
COBWEB COBWEB
HERMIA HERMIA
Ready. Here.
Never so weary, never so in woe, I’ve never been more exhausted or upset. I’m all
455 Bedabbled with the dew and torn with briers, wet from the dew and scratched up by thorns, BOTTOM BOTTOM
I can no further crawl, no further go. and I can’t crawl any farther. I just can’t go on. Monsieur Cobweb, good monsieur, get you your weapons in your Monsieur Cobweb, sir, get out your
My legs can keep no pace with my desires. My legs can’t hold themselves up. I’ll sleep here hand and kill me a red-hipped humble-bee on the top of a thistle. weapons and kill me a striped
Here will I rest me till the break of day. until morning. If they do fight, I hope Lysander is And, good monsieur, bring me the honey bag. Do not fret yourself bumblebee on a thistle, and bring me
Heavens shield Lysander if they mean a fray! safe! (HERMIA lies down and sleeps) too much in the action, monsieur. And good monsieur, have a care its honey. Don’t tire yourself out,
460 (lies down and sleeps) the honey bag break not. I would be loath to have you overflown monsieur. Oh, and monsieur, be
with a honey bag, signor. careful not to break the honey-sac. I’d
ROBIN ROBIN
hate to see you drowned in honey, sir.
On the ground Sleep well there on the ground. I’ll cure you,
Sleep sound. gentle lover, by putting this medicine on your Exit COBWEB COBWEB exits.
I’ll apply eyes. (ROBIN puts the nectar of the flower 1 Where’s Monsieur Mustardseed? Where’s Monsieur Mustardseed?
To your eye. onLYSANDER’s eyelids) When you wake you 0
Gentle lover, remedy. will be truly delighted to see the woman you once MUSTARDSEED MUSTARDSEED
(squeezes flower juice into LYSANDER ’s eyes) loved. And when you wake up, you’ll be a Ready. Here.
When thou wakest, walking illustration of the well-known country
Thou takest proverb. “Jack will have Jill and everything will be
True delight all right.” Act 4, Scene 1, Page 2
In the sight
BOTTOM BOTTOM
Of thy former lady’s eye.
Give me your neaf, Monsieur Mustardseed. Pray you, Give me your first, Mr. Mustardseed. Please, stop
And the country proverb known—
leave your courtesy, good monsieur. bowing, good sir.
That every man should take his own—
In your waking shall be shown. MUSTARDSEED MUSTARDSEED
Jack shall have Jill. What’s your will? What would you like me to do?
Nought shall go ill. BOTTOM BOTTOM
The man shall have his mare again, and all shall be 15 Nothing, good monsieur, but to help Cavalery Nothing, good sir, except to help Sir Cobweb
well. Cobweb to scratch. I must to the barber’s, monsieur, scratch my head. I should go to the barber’s,
Exit ROBIN ROBIN exits. for methinks I am marvelous hairy about the face. monsieur, because I think I’m getting really hairy
And I am such a tender ass, if my hair do but tickle around the face. And I’m such a sensitive ass that
me, I must scratch. if my hair even tickles me a little, I need to
Act 4, Scene 1 scratch.
LYSANDER, DEMETRIUS, HELENA, and HERMIAsleep. DEMETRIUS, HELENA, HERMIA, TITANIA TITANIA
Enter TITANIA, Queen of the Fairies; andBOTTOM, with the ass’s andLYSANDER are still sleeping on What, wilt thou hear some music, my sweet love? Would you like to hear some music, my sweet
head; and the stage.TITANIA enters love?
fairiesPEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB, MOTH,MUSTARDSEED; OB with BOTTOM, who still has a donkey’s BOTTOM BOTTOM
No Fear Shakespeare – A Midsummer Night’s Dream (by SparkNotes) -45-
Original Text Modern Text
I have a reasonable good ear in music. Let’s have the I have a pretty good ear for music. Let’s hear
tongs and the bones. someone play the triangle and the sticks.
TITANIA TITANIA
Or say, sweet love, what thou desirest to eat. Or tell me, my sweet love, what you’d like to eat.
BOTTOM BOTTOM
Truly, a peck of provender. I could munch your good Actually, I’d like a few pounds of grass. I’d like to
dry oats. Methinks I have a great desire to a bottle of munch on some good dry oats. Or maybe I’ve got
hay. Good hay, sweet hay, hath no fellow. a hankering for a bundle of hay. There’s nothing
like good hay, really sweet hay.
TITANIA TITANIA
20 I have a venturous fairy that shall seek I have an adventurous fairy who’ll go seek out the
The squirrel’s hoard and fetch thee new nuts. squirrel’s secret stash and get you some fresh
nuts.
BOTTOM BOTTOM
I had rather have a handful or two of dried peas. But, I’d rather have a handful or two of dried peas. But
I pray you, let none of your people stir me. I have an please don’t let any of your people wake me up. I
exposition of sleep come upon me. really want to sleep now.
TITANIA TITANIA
Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms. Go to sleep, and I will wrap my arms around you.
Fairies, be gone, and be all ways away. Fairies, go away. Run off in all directions.
Exeunt FAIRIES The FAIRIES exit.

25 So doth the woodbine the sweet honeysuckle I’m putting my arms around you just like the
Gently entwist. The female ivy so woodbine tendril gently twists itself around the
Enrings the barky fingers of the elm. sweet honeysuckle, and like the female ivy curls
Oh, how I love thee! How I dote on thee! itself around the branches of the elm tree. Oh,
how I love you! I’m so crazy about you!
TITANIA and BOTTOM sleep BOTTOM and TITANIA sleep. ROBIN enters.
Enter ROBIN
OBERON OBERON
Welcome, good Robin. Seest thou this sweet sight? Welcome, good Robin. Do you see this sweet
30 Her dotage now I do begin to pity. sight? Now I’m starting to pity Titania for being so
For, meeting her of late behind the wood, infatuated. I ran into her recently at the edge of
Seeking sweet favors from this hateful fool, the forest, looking for sweet presents for this
I did upbraid her and fall out with her. hateful idiot, and I scolded her and argued with
For she his hairy temples then had rounded her. She had put a wreath of fresh, fragrant
35 With a coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers, flowers around his hairy forehead, and the drops
And that same dew, which sometime on the buds of dew that lay in the center of the flowers made
Was wont to swell like round and orient pearls, the flowers look like they were crying with shame
Stood now within the pretty flowerets' eyes to be decorating the head of that ugly jackass.
Like tears that did their own disgrace bewail. When I had taunted her as much as I wanted to,
40 When I had at my pleasure taunted her and she begged me very nicely to leave her
And she in mild terms begged my patience, alone, I asked her for the stolen Indian child. She
I then did ask of her her changeling child, said yes right away, and sent a fairy to bring him
Which straight she gave me and her fairy sent to my home in Fairyland. And now that I have the
To bear him to my bower in Fairyland. boy, I’ll undo the spell that makes her vision so
45 And now I have the boy, I will undo disgustingly wrong. And, gentle Puck, take this
This hateful imperfection of her eyes. transformed ass’s head off of the head of that
And, gentle Puck, take this transformèd scalp Athenian man, so that when he wakes up at the
From off the head of this Athenian swain, same time as the rest of them do, they can all go
That, he awaking when the other do, back to Athens. They’ll only remember the events

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

No Fear Shakespeare – A Midsummer Night’s Dream (by SparkNotes) -1- No Fear Shakespeare – A Midsummer Night’s Dream (by SparkNotes)

kespeare – A Midsummer Night’s Dream (by SparkNotes) -2-

THESEUS THESEUS EGEUS EGEUS

condoling. Away, and make and mar Act 1, Scene 2, Page 4

For I must now to Oberon. Act 2, Scene 2, Page 6

BOTTOM BOTTOM SNOUT SNOUT

Act 4, Scene 1, Page 3

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.