is thought fit, through all Athens, to play in our enterlude before the Duke and the Dutchefs, on his weddingday at night. Bot. First, good Peter Quince, fay what the play treats on; then read the names of the actors; and fo grow on to a point. Quin. Marry, our play is the moft lamentable comedy and most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisby. Bot. A very good piece of work I affure you, and a merry. Now, good Peter Quince, call forth your Actors by the fcrowl. Mafters, fpread your felves. Quin. Anfwer as I call you. Nick Bottom the weaver. Bot. Ready: name what part I am for, and proceed. Quin. You, Nick Bottom, are fet down for Pyramus. Bot. What is Pyramus, a lover, or a tyrant? Quin. A lover that kills himself moft gallantly for love. Bot. That will ask fome tears in the true performing of it; if I do it, let the audience look to their eyes; I will move storms; I will condole in fome meafure. To the reft:- yet my chief humour is for a tyrant; I could play Ercles rarely, or a part to tear a cat in. To make all split the raging rocks, and shivering fhocks fhall break the locks of prifon-gates and Phibbus carr fhall fhine from far, and make and mar the foolish fates a -- This was lofty. Now name the reft of the players. This is Ercles' vein, a tyrant's vein; a lover is more condoling. Quin. Francis Flute the bellows-mender. Flu. Here, Peter Quince. Quin. You must take Thisby on you. Flu. Nay faith let not me play a woman, I have a beard coming. Quin. That's all one, you fhall play it in a mask, and you may speak as fmall as you will. Bot. An I may hide my face, let me play Thisby too; G 2 (a) This was probably a piece of nonfenfical bombaft taken out of Jome foolish play known at that time.... Theobald. I'll fpeak in a monftrous little voice, 'Thisby, Thisby; ah, Bot. Well, proceed. Quin. Robin Starveling the taylor. Star. Here, Peter Quince. Quin. Robin Starveling, you must play Thisby's mother. Tom Snowt the tinker. Snowt. Here, Peter Quince. Quin. You, Pyramus's father; my felf, Thisby's father; Snug the joiner, you, the lion's part; I hope there is a play fitted. Snug. Have you the lion's part written? pray you, if it be, give it me, for I am flow of study. Quin. You may do it extempore, for it is nothing but roaring. Bot. Let me play the lion too, I will roar, that I will do any man's heart good to hear me. I will roar, that I will make the Duke fay, let him roar again, let him roar again. Quin. If you fhould do it too terribly, you would fright the Dutchefs and the ladies, that they would fhriek, and that were enough to hang us all. All. That would hang us every mother's fon. Bot. I grant you, friends, if you should fright the ladies out of their wits, they would have no more difcretion but to hang us; but I will aggravate my voice fo, that I will roar you as gently as any fucking dove, I will roar you an 'twere any nightingale. Quin. You can play no part but Pyramus, for Pyramus is a fweet-fac'd man, a proper man as one fhall fee in a fummer's day; a most lovely gentleman-like man: therefore you must needs play Pyramus. Bot. Well, I will undertake it. What beard were I best to play it in ? Quin. Why, what you will. 9 Thifne, Thifne; Bot. Bot. I will discharge it in either your ftraw-colour beard, your orange-tawny beard, your purple-in-grain beard, or your French-crown-colour'd beard, your perfect yellow. Quin. Some of your French-crowns have no hair at all, and then you will play bare-fac'd. But, mafters, here are your parts, and I am to intreat you, request you, and defire you to con them by to-morrow night; and meet me in the palace-wood, a mile without the town, by moonlight, there we will rehearse; for if we meet in the city, we fhall be dog'd with company, and our devices known. In the mean time I will draw a bill of properties, fuch as our play wants. I pray you, fail me not. Bot. We will meet, and there we may rehearse more obfcenely and courageously. Take pains, be perfect, adieu. Quin. At the Duke's oak we meet. Bot. Enough, hold or cut bowftrings. a [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. The WOO D. Enter a Fairy at one door, and Puck (or Robin-goodfellow) at another. (a) A proverbial phrafe fignifying, without fail, or, in all events. And I ferve the Fairy Queen, I must go feek fome ''dew-drops here and there,` Because that fhe, as her attendant, hath Fai. Or I mistake your fhape and making quite, Puck. The fame, thou fpeak'ft aright;` I am that merry wand'rer of the night: 1 dew drops here, 2 Thou fpeak'ft aright; I jeft I jeft to Oberon, and make him smile But make room, fairy, here comes Oberon. Fair. And here my miftrefs: would that he were gone! Enter Oberon King of Fairies at one door with his Train, and the Queen at another with hers. Ob. Ill met by moon-light, proud Titania. Ob. Tarry, rafh wanton, am not I thy lord? Ob. How can't thou thus for fhame, Titania, (a) Crab apple, 4 G 3 And tailor cries, Knowing |