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A Midsummer Night's Dream

Act V, Scene 1

Athens, at the palace of Theseus.
 
[Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, Lords and Attendants]
 
HIPPOLYTA
              ,           ,   2     ,           ,           x
      'Tis strange | my Thes|eus, that | these lov|ers speak of.
 
THESEUS
               ,             ,       ,      ,        ,
      More* strange | than true.| I nev|er may | believe
             ,        ,        ,            ,      ,
      These an|tique fab|les, nor | these fair|y toys,
       ,            ,        ,           ,          ,
      Lovers | and mad|men have | such seeth|ing brains,
             ,        ,     ,          ,      ,       , ->
      Such shap|ing fant|asies,| that ap|prehend || more
               ,   ,             ,       ,
      Than | cool rea/son ev|er com|prehends.
           ,    ,         ,       ,          x
      The lun|atic,| the lov|er, and | the poet,
           ,     ,    ,       ,         ,
      Are of | ima|gina|tion all | compact.
             ,          ,               ,    ,          ,
      One* sees | more dev|ils than / vast hell | can hold;
        ,    2       ,             x      ,         ,
      That is the | madman.| The lover,| all as | frantic,
            ,         ,    3  3    ,       ,      o
      Sees^Hel|en's beaut|y in a brow | of E|gypt.
           ,       ,      2    ,      ,       ,                 ,  ->
      The po|et's eye | in a fine | frenzy | rolling,|| doth glance 
              x          ,            ,           x
      From heaven | to earth,| from earth | to heaven.
           ,   ,   ,      ,       ,         ,         ,
      And as imagination bodies forth the forms of things ????
          ,          ,       ,      ,               ,
      Unknown;| the po|et's pen | turns them | to shapes,
            ,         ,     ,           ,      ,    ,    ,   oo
      And gives | to air | nothing,| a loc|al hab|ita|tion,|
       ,        T     T     T             ,       ,    ,    ,   oo
      And a | name. Such tricks | hath strong | ima|gina|tion,|
        ,      2     ,          ,      ,          ,
      That | if it would | but ap|prehend | some joy,
           ,      ,            ,       ,         ,
      It comp|rehends | some bring|er of | that joy.
          ,         ,       ,     ,           ,
      Or in | the night,| imag|ining | some fear,
           ,     ,       ,         ,         ,
      How ea|sy is | a bush | supposed | a bear?
 
HIPPOLYTA
           ,         ,       2        ,     ,    ,
      But all | the sto|ry of the / night told | over,
           ,            ,           ,        ,      ,       ->
      And all | their minds | transfig|ured so | togeth||er,
        ,     ,    2            ,        ,   ,
      More | witnesseth | than fan|cy's im|ages,
            ,          ,               ,    ,       ,
      And grows | to some|thing of / great con|stancy;
           ,    ,         ,           ,   2  ,
      But how|soev|er, strange,| and ad|mirable.
 
THESEUS
             ,         ,         ,        ,          ,
      Here come | the lov|ers, full | of joy | and mirth:
 
[Enter LYSANDER, DEMETRIUS, HERMIA, and HELENA]
      ___    ,         ___      T   .    T     T
      Joy,| gentle | friends,| joy and fresh days
           ,       ,    2            ,
      Of love | accomp|any your / hearts.  \\
 
LYSANDER
More than to us, wait in your royal walks, your board, your bed.
 
THESEUS
Come now, what masques, what dances shall we have,
           ,       ,          ,     T   .   T     T
      To wear | away | this long | age of three hours,
          ,          ,      ,              ,    ,
      Between | our aft|er-sup|per, and / bed-time?
        ,             ,  2   ,    ,         ,
      Where is | our us|ual man|ager | of mirth?
            ,       ,         ,         ,          ,
      What rev|els are | in hand?| Is there | no play,
           ,         ,        ,      ,    2      ,
      To ease | the ang|uish of | a tor|turing hour?
       ,      Tx
      Call E|geus.
 
EGEUS
                           T    T      ,     ,
                         Here migh|ty Thes|eus.
 
THESEUS
        ,      2     ,           ,         ,          ,
      Say, what a|bridgement | have you | for this | evening?
              ,           ,       ,           ,       ,
      What masque?| What mus|ic? How | shall we | beguile
           ,      ,        ,           ,        ,
      The la|zy time,| if not | with some | delight?
 
EGEUS
             ,       ,          ,       ,           ,
      There is | a brief | how ma|ny sports | are ripe:
              ,          ,            ,               ,    ,
      Make choice | of which | your high|ness will / see first.
  
LYSANDER
           ,        ,          ,        ,        ,
      The bat|tle with | the Cent|aurs to | be sung
       ,        ,    2   ,        ,         ,
      By an | Athe|nian eun|uch, to | the harp.

THESEUS
              ,         ,      ,             ,         ,
      We'll none | of that.| That have | I told | my love
          ,      ,       ,        ,     ,
      In glo|ry of | my kin|sman Her|cules.

LYSANDER
           ,     ,        ,      ,       ,
      The ri|ot of | the tip|sy Bac|chanals,
        ,             ,         ,       ,           ,
      Tearing | the Thra|cian sing|er, in | their rage?

THESEUS
        ,           ,        ,         ,          ,
      That is | an old | device,| and it | was played
           ,           ,            ,       ,      ,
      When I | from Thebes | came last | a con|queror.

LYSANDER
       .     T     T    T        ,        ,          ,
      The thrice three Mu|ses, mourn|ing for | the death
           ,          ,         ,         ,     ,
      Of Learn|ing, late | deceased | in beg|gary.

THESUS
        ,    2        ,         ,         ,     ,
      That is some | satire | keen and | criti|cal,
      <-         ,         ,       ,         ,    ,
        Not || sorting | with a | nuptial | cere|mony,

LYSANDER
         ,           ,     ,          ,      ,  2
      A ted|ious / brief scene | of young | Pyramus,
                  ,    ,       ,     ,    2     ,
      And his / love This|be; ve|ry tra|gical mirth.

THESEUS
Merry and tragical? Tedious, and brief? That is, hot ice, and wondrous strange snow. How shall we find the concord of this discord?
 
EGEUS
          ,           ,        ,          ,            ,
      A play | there is,| my lord,| some ten | words^long,
             ,        ,        ,          ,         ,
      Which is | as brief,| as I | have known | a play;
           ,         ,          ,        ,          ,
      But by | ten^words,| my lord,| it is | too* long;
              ,         ,   2     ,        ,          ,
      Which makes | it ted|ious. For | in all | the play,
           2    ,     T    T   T          ,        x
      There is not | one word apt,| one play|er fitted.
           ,    ,       x     ,      ,       ,
      And tragical my noble lord it is: for Pyramus  ????
           ,           ,         ,            ,       ,
      Therein | doth kill | himself.| Which^when | I saw
           ,          ,         ,      T    T    T     ,
      Rehearsed,| I must | confess,| made mine eyes | water:
            ,     ,        ,           ,             ,      ,
      But more | merry | tears, the | passion | of loud | laughter (hex with prev)
       ,        ,
      Never | shed.
 
THESEUS
                         ,           ,           x
                   What are | they that | do play it?
 
EGEUS
        T    Tx    T          ,         ,        ,
      Hard-handed men,| that work | in Ath|ens here,
             ,      ,        ,           ,           ,
      Which nev|er lab|ored in | their minds | till now;
           ,            ,            ,     ,     ,
      And now | have toiled | their un|breathed mem/ories
                    ,    ,       ,            ,     ,
      With this / same play,| against | your nup|tial.
 
THESEUS
           ,          ,
      And we | will hear | it.  \\
 
PHILOSTRATE
       T   .   Tx    T      2    ,         ,     2       ,
      No, my noble lord,| it is not | for you.| I have heard  ??
           x          x       ,         ,         2      ,
      It over,| and it is | nothing,| nothing | in the world;
          ,                ,    ,          ,         ,
      Unless | you can / find sport | in their | intents,
          ,          ,              ,           ,       ,
      Extreme|ly stretched,| and conned | with cru|el pain,
          ,        ,
      To do | you serv|ice. \\
 
THESEUS
       2       ,           ,         ,      ,    ,
      I will hear | that play.| For nev|er an|ything
       ,    2    ,             x      2       ,      ,    2
      Can be a|miss, when | simpleness and | duty | tender it.
           ,           ,         ,          ,        ,       ->
      Go bring | them in,| and take | your pla|ces, la||dies.
 
HIPPOLYTA
            ,   ,        ,       ,    2             ,
      I / love not | to see | wretchedness | ore charged;
           ,     ,         ,       ,     ,
      And du|ty in | his serv|ice per|ishing.
 
THESEUS
           ,        ,                  ,   ,          ,
      Why gent|le sweet,| you shall / see no | such^thing.
 
HIPPOLYTA
           ,          ,         ,     2     ,      ,
      He says,| they can | do noth|ing in this | kind.
 
THESEUS
      <-         ,       ,         ,            ,          ,
        The || kinder | we, to | give them | thanks for | nothing.
            ,            ,        ,           ,        ,
      Our sport | shall be,| to take | what they | mistake;
       .    T    T   T     ,       ,    ,           ,  ->
      And what poor du|ty can|not do,| noble || respect
        ,     2       T     T    Tx    oo
      Takes it in | might, not merit.|
        ,    2         T     T      T           ,     ,
      Where I have | come, great clerks | have pur|posed
           ,       2      ,   ,    ,       ,
      To greet | me with pre|medi|tated | welcomes;
            ,          ,           ,             ,    ,
      Where I | have seen | them shiv|er and / look pale,
            ,    ,      2      ,          ,     ,
      Make per|iods | in the midst | of sent|ences,
        ,                ,         ,       ,           ,
      Throttle | their prac|ticed ac|cent in | their fears,
           ,       ,          ,              ,    ,
      And in | conclu|sion, dumb|ly have / broke off,
            ,       ,      ,          ,          ,
      Not* pay|ing me | a wel|come. Trust | me sweet,
       ,    2        ,         ,         ,         ,
      Out of this | silence | yet, I | picked a | welcome:
       ,    2       ,    ,         ,        ,
      And in the | mode|sty of | fearful | duty,
          ,         ,         ,         ,           ,
      I read | as much,| as from | the rat|tling tongue
          ,      ,       ,        ,     ,
      Of sau|cy and | auda|cious el|oquence.
        ,          T    .     T     T        ,     ,
      Love there|fore, and tongue-tied | simpli|city,
       .   T      T     T        ,      ,    ,
      In least, speak most,| to my | capa|city.
 
[Enter PHILOSTRATE]
 
PHILOSTRATE
            ,            ,          ,         ,         ,
      So please | your grace,| the Pro|logue^is | addressed.
 
THESEUS
Let him approach.
 
[Flourish of trumpets.  Enter QUINCE for the Prologue]
 
PROLOGUE
          ,       ,        ,         ,           ,
      If we | offend,| it is | with our | good will.
            ,             ,          ,     ,           ,
      That you | should think,| we come | not to | offend,
            ,           ,         ,         ,        ,
      But with | good will.| To show | our simp|le skill,
            ,         ,       ,        ,        ,
      That is | the true | begin|ning of | our end.
          ,       ,         ,         ,       ,
      Consid|er then,| we come | but in | despite.
        2    ,      ,         ,         ,       ,
      We do not | come, as | minding | to con|test you,
            ,        ,         ,          ,        ,
      Our true | intent | is. All | for your | delight,
        2     ,      ,           ,             ,       ,
      We are not | here. That | you should | here re|pent you,
           ,       ,         ,         ,           ,
      The act|ors are | at hand;| and by | their show,
            ,           ,          ,          ,         ,
      You shall | know all,| that you | are like | to know.
 
THESEUS
This fellow doth not stand upon points.
 
LYSANDER
He hath rid his prologue, like a rough colt: he knows not the stop. A good moral my lord. It is not enough to speak, but to speak true.
 
HIPPOLYTA
Indeed he hath played on his prologue, like a child on a recorder, a sound, but not in government.
 
THESEUS
His speech was like a tangled chain: nothing impaired, but all disordered. Who is next?
 
[Enter Pyramus and Thisbe, Wall, Moonshine, and Lion]
 
PROLOGUE
       ,             ,           ,       ,          ,
      Gentles,| perchance | you wond|er at | this show;
            ,      ,          ,           ,             ,
      But wond|er on,| till truth | make all | things^plain.
            ,        ,    ,        ,            ,
      This man | is Pyr|amus,| if you | would know;
             ,    2    ,       ,      ,        ,
      This beaut|eous la|dy, This|by is | certain.
            ,           ,     .    T     T     T        ,
      This man,| with lime | and rough cast, doth | present
        T     T    T      ,            ,           ,        ,
      Wall, that vile | Wall, which | did these | lovers | sunder: (hex with after)
       .     T      T      T             ,           ,         ,
      And through Wall's chink |(poor* souls)| they^are | content
           ,        ,         ,      T   T  T     ,
      To whis|per. At | the which,| let no man | wonder.   (hex with before)
            ,           ,        ,          ,         ,
      This man,| with lant|ern, dog,| and bush | of thorn,
          ,         ,    ,              ,           ,
      Present|eth Moon|shine. For | if you | will know,
           ,         ,           ,        ,          ,
      By moon|shine^did | these lov|ers think | no scorn
           ,        ,        ,      T      T    .  T
      To meet | at Ni|nus' tomb,| there, there to woo:
             ,       ,            ,      ,          ,
      This gris|ly beast |(which Li|on hight | by name)
            ,       ,       ,        ,          ,
      The trust|y This|by, com|ing first | by night,
            ,       ,        ,       ,         ,
      Did scare | away,| or rath|er did | affright:
           ,         ,          ,      ,          ,
      And as | she fled,| her mant|le she | did fall;
             ,      ,           ,       ,           ,
      Which Li|on vile | with blood|y mouth | did stain.
        ,           ,    ,            ,           ,
      Anon | comes Pyr|amus,| sweet youth | and tall,
            ,           ,       ,         ,       ,
      And finds | his trust|y This|by's mant|le slain;
           ,           ,            ,       ,         ,
      Whereat,| with blade,| with blood|y blame|ful blade,
           ,         ,             ,        ,        ,
      He brave|ly broached | his boil|ing blood|y breast,
            ,       ,     ,        ,    2     ,
      And This|by, tar|rying | in mul|berry shade,
           ,        ,          ,         ,          ,
      His dag|ger drew,| and died.| For all | the rest,
           ,       ,    T      T    .   T        ,
      Let Li|on, Moon|shine, Wall, and lov|ers twain,
           ,          ,              ,          ,       ,
      At large | discourse,| while here | they do | remain.
 
[Exeunt Prologue, Thisbe, Lion, and Moonshine]
 
THESEUS
I wonder if the lion be to speak.
 
DEMETRIUS
No wonder, my lord: one lion may, when many asses do.
 
WALL
           ,          ,      ,         ,        ,
      In this | same^int|erlude,| it doth | befall,
           ,         ,          ,        ,         ,
      That I,| one Snout |(by name)| present | a wall:
            ,        ,       ,           ,          ,
      And such | a wall,| as I | would have | you think,
            ,        ,       ,         ,         ,
      That had | in it | a cran|nied hole | or chink:
                ,          ,        ,   2          ,  ,
      Through^which | the lov|ers, Pyr|amus and / Thisby
            ,       ,       ,     ,      ,
      Did whisp|er of|ten, ve|ry sec|retly.
             ,           ,      ,                ,            ,
      This loam,| this rough-|cast, and | this stone | doth show,
           ,    .   T    T    T          ,         ,
      That I | am that same wall;| the truth | is so.
            ,          ,    2      ,          ,     ,
      And this | the cran|ny is, right | and sin|ister,
         ,         2        ,        ,        ,         ,
      Through which the | fearful | lovers | are to | whisper.
 
THESEUS
Would you desire lime and hair to speak better?
 
DEMETRIUS
It is the wittiest partition, that ever I heard discourse, my lord.
 
[Enter Pyramus]
 
THESEUS
Pyramus draws near the wall, silence.
 
PYRAMUS
          ,            ,         ,           ,         ,
      O grim-|looked^night,| O night | with hue | so black,
          ,           ,      ,          ,        ,
      O night,| which^ev|er art,| when day | is not:
          ,         ,        ,       ,       ,
      O night,| O night,| alack,| alack,| alack,
          ,         ,         ,       ,       ,
      I fear | my This|by's prom|ise is | forgot.
            ,        ,           ,           ,       ,
      And thou | O wall,| thou sweet | and love|ly wall,
              ,          ,           ,          ,           ,
      That standst | between | her fath|er's ground | and mine,
             ,        ,        ,           ,       ,
      Thou wall,| O wall,| O sweet | and love|ly wall,
        ,             ,          ,               ,           ,
      Show me | thy chink,| to blink | through^with | mine^eyne.
 
[Wall holds up his fingers]
               ,    2     ,            ,            ,          ,
      Thanks court|eous wall.| Jove^shield | thee well | for this.
            ,        ,        ,      ,      ,
      But what | see I?| No This|by do | I see.
          ,       ,              ,       ,         ,
      O wick|ed wall,| through whom | I see | no bliss,
         ,               ,           ,       ,        ,
      Cursed be | thy stones | for thus | decei|ving me.
 
THESEUS
The wall methinks being sensible, should curse again.
 
PYRAMUS
       ,        ,           2        ,        ,       ,
      No in | truth sir,| he should not.| Deceiv|ing me,
           ,        ,     ,    2      ,           ,     2    ,
      Is This|by's cue;| she is to | enter, | and I | am to spy   ????
             ,            ,     ,           ,              ,
      Her through | the wall.| You shall | see it | will fall.
       ,           ,           ,    2      ,     oo
      Pat as | I told | you. Yond|er she comes.|
  
THISBE
          ,          ,       ,           ,          ,
      O wall,| full of|ten hast | thou heard | my moans,
            ,             ,   ,    ,         ,
      For part|ing my / fair Pyr|amus,| and me.
           ,       ,          ,        ,            ,
      My cher|ry lips | have of|ten kissed | thy stones;
             ,            ,          ,          ,        ,
      Thy stones | with lime | and hair | knit up | in thee.
 
PYRAMUS
         ,        ,           ,       ,         ,
      I see | a voice;| now will | I to | the chink,
          ,        ,         ,         ,         ,       ,    ->
      To spy | and I | can hear | my This|by's face.|| Thisby?
 
THISBE
           ,          ,         ,        ,
      My love | thou art,| my love | I think.
 
PYRAMUS
        ,                 ,       ,        ,         ,
      Think what | thou wilt,| I am | thy lov|er's grace,
            ,       ,       ,       ,       ,
      And like | Limand|er am | I trust|y still.
 
THISBE
          ,         ,       ,          ,          ,
      And I | like Hel|en till | the Fates | me kill.
 
PYRAMUS
            ,    ,         ,        ,         ,
      Not Shaf|alus | to Proc|rus, was | so true.
 
THISBE
           ,    ,         ,       ,       ,
      As Shaf|alus | to Proc|rus, I | to you.
 
PYRAMUS
          ,          ,            ,                ,    ,
      O kiss | me through | the hole | of this / vile wall.
 
THISBE
          ,          ,        ,                ,        ,
      I kiss | the wall's | hole, not | your lips | at all.
 
PYRAMUS
             ,        ,         ,      ,                ,
      Wilt thou | at Nin|ny's tomb | meet me | straightway?
 
THISBE
             ,           ,         ,         ,       ,
      Tide^life,| tide^death,| I come | without | delay.
 
[Exeunt Pyramus and THISBE]
 
WALL
             ,        ,         ,         ,       ,
      Thus have | I Wall,| my part | discharg|ed so;
           ,       ,           ,       ,         ,
      And be|ing done,| thus Wall | away | doth go.
 
[Exit]
 
THESEUS
Now is the mural down between the two neighbours.
 
DEMETRIUS
No remedy my lord, when walls are so wilful to hear without warning.
 
HIPPOLYTA
This is the silliest stuff that ever I heard.
 
THESEUS
The best in this kind are but shadows, and the worst are no worse, if imagination amend them.
 
HIPPOLYTA
It must be your imagination then, and not theirs.
 
THESEUS
If we imagine no worse of them than they of themselves, they may pass for excellent men. Here come two noble beasts, in a man and a lion.
 
[Enter Lion and Moonshine]
 
LION
           ,        ,           ,         ,          ,
      You lad|ies, you |(whose gent|le hearts | do fear
            ,         ,          ,             ,          ,
      The smal|lest monst|rous mouse | that creeps | on floor)
           ,         ,             ,           ,        ,
      May now | perchance,| both quake | and trem|ble here,
            ,      ,          ,        ,           ,
      When li|on rough | in wild|est rage | doth^roar.
             ,         ,         ,          ,      ,
      Then know | that I,| one Snug | the join|er am
         ,      ,          ,        ,       ,
      A li|on-fell,| nor else | no li|on's dam:
           ,        ,         ,      ,          ,
      For if | I should | as li|on come | in strife
         ,          ,             ,     ,        ,
      Into | this place,| 'twere pit|y on | my life.
 
THESEUS
A very gentle beast, of a good conscience.
 
DEMETRIUS
The very best at a beast, my lord, that ere I saw.
 
LYSANDER
This lion is a very fox for his valor.
 
THESEUS
True, and a goose for his discretion.
 
DEMETRIUS
Not so my lord: for his valor cannot carry his discretion, and the fox carries the goose.
 
THESEUS
His discretion I am sure cannot carry his valor: for the goose carries not the fox. It is well; leave it to his discretion, and let us listen to the moon.
 
MOONSHINE
             ,        ,          ,       ,         ,
      This lant|ern doth | the horn|ed moon | present.
 
DEMETRIUS
He should have worn the horns on his head.
 
THESEUS
He is no crescent, and his horns are invisible, within the circumference.
 
MOONSHINE
             ,        ,          ,       ,         ,
      This lant|ern doth | the horn|ed moon | present:
          ,         ,      2      ,         ,        ,
      Myself,| the man | in the moon | do seem | to be.
 
THESEUS
This is the greatest error of all the rest; the man should be put into the lantern. How is it else the man in the moon?
 
DEMETRIUS
           ,           ,      ,               ,     o
      He dares | not come | there for | the cand|le.
       ,         ,            ,   ,          ,
      For you | see, it | is al|ready | in snuff.
 
HIPPOLYTA
I am weary of this moon; would he would change.
 
THESEUS
It appears by his small light of discretion, that he is in the wane: but yet in courtesy, in all reason, we must stay the time.
 
LYSANDER
Proceed Moon.
 
MOONSHINE
All that I have to say, is to tell you, that the lantern is the moon; I, the man in the moon; this thorn-bush, my thorn-bush; and this dog, my dog.
 
DEMETRIUS
Why all these should be in the lantern: for all these are in the moon. But silence, here comes Thisbe.
 
[Enter THISBE]
 
THISBE
        T   .  T   T         ,      ,             ,
      This is old Nin|ny's tomb:| Where is | my love?
 
LION
Oh.
 
[The lion roars, Thisbe runs off]
 
DEMETRIUS
Well roared Lion.
 
THESEUS
Well run Thisbe.
 
HIPPOLYTA
Well shone Moon.
Truly the moon shines with a good grace.
 
[The Lion shakes Thisbe's mantle, and Exit]
 
THESEUS
Well moused Lion.
 
DEMETRIUS
And then came Pyramus.
 
LYSANDER
And so the lion vanished.
 
[Enter PYRAMUS]
 
PYRAMUS
              ,        ,           ,         ,       ,
      Sweet Moon,| I thank | thee for | thy sun|ny beams,
          ,            ,          ,       ,          ,
      I thank | thee Moon,| for shin|ing now | so bright:
           ,        ,          ,         ,     2      ,
      For by | thy gra|cious, gold|en, glit|tering gleams,
          ,          ,        ,        ,       ,
      I trust | to take | of tru|est This|by sight.
            ,        ,           ,           ,
      But stay:| O spite!| But mark,| poor* knight,
             ,         ,         ,    oo
      What dread|ful dole | is here?|
            ,        ,         ,        ,
      Eyes^do | you see!| How can | it be!
          ,       ,        ,    oo
      O dain|ty duck:| O dear!|
            ,       ,            ,             ,
      Thy mant|le good;| what stained | with blood!
           ,          ,        ,    oo
      Approach | you Fur|ies fell:|
          ,              ,           ,           ,
      O Fates!| Come*, come:| Cut^thread | and thrum,
       ___     ___         ,           ,
      Quail,| crush,| conclude,| and quell.
 
THESEUS
             ,        ,          ,              ,     ,
      This pas|sion, and | the death | of a / dear friend,
        T    T   T         ,    .  T    T   T
      Would go near | to make | a man look sad.
 
HIPPOLYTA
          ,          ,      ,       ,          ,
      Beshrew | my heart,| but I | pity | the man.
 
PYRAMUS
          ,         ,         ,           ,       ,
      O where|fore Na|ture, didst | thou li|ons frame?
             ,      ,           ,          x           ,
      Since li|on vile | hath here | deflowered | my dear:
          Tx     T   T          ,          ,        ,
      Which^is: no, no,| which was | the fair|est dame
             ,            ,            ,             ,            ,
      That lived,| that loved,| that liked,| that looked | with cheer.
              ,          ,      T    T     .    T
      Come* tears,| confound:| out sword, and wound
           ,        ,    ,
      The pap | of Pyr|amus;   \\
       T     .    T   T            ,           ,
      Aye, that left pap,| where heart | doth hop:
 
[Stabs himself]
            ,         ,     __     __
      Thus die | I, thus,| thus,| thus.  (tetra with prev)
           ,       ,         ,       ,         ,        ,        ,    oo
      Now am | I dead,| now am | I fled,| my soul | is in | the sky,|
               ,           ,           ,           ,
      Tongue lose | thy light,| moon^take | thy flight,
           ,     T    T    T    ___
      Now die,| die, die, die,| die.   (tetra/oct with prev two)
 
[Dies]
 
DEMETRIUS
No die, but an ace for him; for he is but one.
 
LYSANDER
Less than an ace man. For he is dead, he is nothing.
 
THESEUS
With the help of a surgeon, he might yet recover, and prove an ass.
 
HIPPOLYTA
How chance Moonshine is gone before? Thisbe comes back, and finds her lover?
 
[Enter Thisbe]

THESEUS
She will find him by starlight. Here she comes, and her passion ends the play.
 
HIPPOLYTA
Methinks she should not use a long one for such a Pyramus: I hope she will be brief.
 
DEMETRIUS
A mote will turn the balance, which Pyramus which Thisbe is the better.
 
LYSANDER
She hath spied him already, with those sweet eyes.
 
THISBE
          ,         ,            ,         ,
      Asleep | my love?| What,^dead | my dove?
         ,    ,       ,    oo
      O Pyr|amus | arise:|
                ,             ,            ,        ,
      Speak*, speak.| Quite^dumb?| Dead,^dead?| A tomb  ??
            ,      ,            ,    oo
      Must cov|er thy | sweet^eyes.|
             ,      ,           ,       ,
      These li|ly lips,| this cher|ry nose,
             ,       ,          ,     oo
      These yel|low cow|slip^cheeks |
            ,          ,     ,               ,
      Are gone,| are gone:| Lovers | make* moan:
            ,           ,          ,     oo
      His eyes | were green | as leeks.|
         ,         ,       T     T   .  T
      O Sis|ters Three,| come, come to me,
             ,          ,         ,    oo
      With hands | as pale | as milk,|
             ,         ,           ,           ,
      Lay* them | in gore,| since you | have shore
              ,            ,          ,    oo
      With shears,| his thread | of silk.|
              ,        ,           ,       ,
      Tongue^not | a word:| come trust|y sword:
             ,           ,         ,    oo
      Come blade,| my breast | imbrue:|
 
[Stabs herself]
            ,          ,             ,       ,
      And fare|well friends,| thus This|by ends;
         ,       ,       ,    oo
      Adieu,| adieu,| adieu.|
 
[Dies]
 
THESEUS
Moonshine and Lion are left to bury the dead.
 
DEMETRIUS
Aye, and Wall too.
 
BOTTOM
No, I assure you, the wall is down, that parted their fathers. Will it please you to see the epilogue, or to hear a Bergomask dance, between two of our company?
 
THESEUS
No epilogue, I pray you; for your play needs no excuse. Never excuse; for when the players are all dead, there needs none to be blamed. Marry, if he that writ it had played Pyramus, and hanged himself in Thisbe's garter, it would have been a fine tragedy: and so it is truly, and very notably discharged. But come, your Bergomask: let your epilogue alone.
 
[A dance]
           ,       ,         ,                 ,     ,
      The ir|on tongue | of mid|night^hath / told twelve.
       ,           ,          ,        ,      ,
      Lovers | to bed;| 'tis al|most fair|y time.
          ,                ,    ,          ,        ,
      I fear | we shall / out-sleep | the com|ing morn,
           ,        ,          ,          ,       ,
      As much | as we | this night | have ov|erwatched.
            ,            ,     ,           ,         ,
      This pal|pable / gross play | hath well | beguiled
            ,      ,         ,               ,          ,
      The heav|y gait | of night.| Sweet* friends | to bed.
          ,          ,         ,       ,     ,
      A fort|night^hold | we this | solem|nity,
           ,       ,              ,   ,     ,
      In night|ly rev|els; and / new jol|lity.
 
[Exeunt. Enter PUCK]
 
PUCK
       ,         ,        ,      ___
      Now the | hungry | lion | roars,
       ,          ,       ,          __
      And the | wolf be|howls the | moon:
         ,          ,         ,          __
      Whilst the | heavy | ploughman | snores,
       ,           ,       ,       __
      All with | weary | task for|done.
       ,         ,         ,          __
      Now the | wasted | brands do | glow,
         ,            ,             ,          __
      Whilst the | screech-owl,| screeching | loud,
        ,           ,            ,       ___
      Puts the | wretch that | lies in | woe,
       ,     ,           ,       __
      In re|membrance | of a | shroud.
       ,        ,         ,        ___
      Now it | is the | time of | night,
        ,           ,           ,        __
      That the | graves, all | gaping | wide,
       ,       ,           ,           __
      Every | one lets | forth his | sprite,
       ,         ,            ,         ___
      In the | church-way | paths to | glide.
       ,         ,         ,       ___
      And we | fairies,| that do | run,
       ,        ,        ,          __
      By the | triple | Hecate's | team,
        ,         ,          ,       ___
      From the | presence | of the | sun,
       ,   2        ,          ,       ___
      Following | darkness | like a | dream,
       ,         ,        ,       ___
      Now are | frolic;| not a | mouse
        ,         ,          ,          ___
      Shall dis|turb this | hallowed | house.
      ,        ,           ,       __
      I am | sent with | broom be|fore,
           ,           ,        ,          ,
      To sweep | the dust | behind | the door.
 
[Enter OBERON and TITANIA with their train]
 
OBERON
         T     .    T     T     ,            ,
      Through the house give | glimmer|ing light,
       ,         ,          ,       ,
      By the | dead and | drowsy | fire:
       ,       ,          ,       __
      Every | elf and | fairy | sprite,
       ,         ,          ,          ,
      Hop as | light as | bird from | brier,
       ,          ,       ,      __
      And this | ditty | after | me,
        ,          ,          ,      __
      Sing and | dance it | tripping|ly.
 
TITANIA
        ,         ,            ,        __
      First re|hearse your | song by | rote,
       ,          ,       ,          __
      To each | word a | warbling | note.
        ,         ,            ,      ___
      Hand in | hand, with | fairy | grace,
        ,         ,          ,           ___
      Will we | sing and | bless this | place.
 
[Song and dance]
 
OBERON
       ,      ,          ,        ___
      Now un|til the | break of | day,
         ,             ,            ,      ___
      Through this | house each | fairy | stray.
       ,         ,           ,         __
      To the | best bride^|-bed will | we,
        ,         ,           ,       __
      Which by | us shall | blessed | be:
       ,         ,        ,       ___
      And the | issue | there cre|ate,
      ,        ,         ,     __
      Ever | shall be | fortu|nate:
       ,          ,         ,         ___
      So shall | all the | couples | three,
      ,        ,        ,       __
      Ever | true in | loving | be:
       ,          ,         ,          __
      And the | blots of | Nature's | hand,
        ,          ,          ,       ___
      Shall not | in their | issue | stand.
        Tx    T     T     T    T    T
      Never mole, hare | lip, nor scar,
            ,        ,          ,        ,
      Nor mark | prodi|gious, such | as are
          ,      ,      ,    ,
      Despis|ed in | nati|vity,
        ,      ,            ,        __
      Shall u|pon their | children | be.
        ,           T    T   T      ,
      With this | field-dew con|secrate,
      ,         ,       ,         __
      Every | fairy | take his | gait;
       T    T    T        ,        ,
      And each seve|ral chamb|er bless,
         ,            ,         T    T     T
      Through this | palace,| with sweet peace;
      ,        ,         ,        __
      Ever | shall in | safety | rest,
       ,         ,       ,       ___
      And the | owner | of it | blest.
        ,    ___     ,        __
      Trip a|way,| make no | stay;
        ,        ,         ,        ___
      Meet me | all by | break of | day.
 
[Exeunt OBERON, TITANIA, and train]
 
PUCK
       ,       ,          ,      ,
      If we | shadows | have of|fended,
        ,           ,          ,        ,
      Think but | this (and | all is | mended)
        ,          ,          ,          __
      That you | have but | slumbered | here,
        ,            ,         ,      __
      While these | visions | did ap|pear.
       ,           ,        ,       ___
      And this | weak and | idle | theme,
       ,          ,         ,       ___
      No more | yielding | but a | dream,
       ,         ,        ,     __
      Gentles,| do not | repre|hend.
       ,        ,        ,         __
      If you | pardon,| we will | mend.
           ,      ,       ,       __
      And as | I am | an hon|est Puck,
       ,        ,       ,       __
      If we | have un|earned | luck,
       ,         ,          ,            __
      Now to | scape the | serpent's | tongue,
       ,          ,      T    T    T
      We will | make a|mends ere long;
        ,          ,       ,      __
      Else the | Puck a | liar | call.
       ,          ,       ,       ___
      So good | night un|to you | all.
        ,              ,         ,         ,
      Give me | your hands,| if we | be friends,
           ,       ,         ,        ,
      And Rob|in shall | restore | amends.
 
[Exit]

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