Quin. Here is the fcrowl of every man's name, which is thought fit, through all Athens, to play in our enterlude before the duke and the dutchefs, on his wedding day 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 most lamentable comedy, and moft cruel death of Pyramus and Thisby. you, Bot. A very good piece of work, I affure Quin. Anfwer, as I call you. Nick Bottom, the weaver. Quin. A lover that kills himself most 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 ftorms; 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 Shocks fhall break the locks of prifon-gates- and Phibbus' carr fball fhine from far, and make and mar the foolish fates—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. What is Thisby, a wand'ring knight? 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 small as you will. Bot. An I may hide my face, let me play Thisby too; I'll • This was probably a piece of nonsensical bombaft taken out of fome foolish play known at that time. fpeak speak in a monstrous little voice, Thisby, Thisby; ah, Pyramus, my lover dear, thy Thisby dear, and lady dear. Quin. No, no, you must play Pyramus; and, Flute, you, Thisby. Bot. Well, proceed. Quin. Robin Starveling, the tailor. 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; myself, Thisby's father; Snug, the joiner, you, the lion's part. I hope, there is a play fitted. Snug. Have you the lion's 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 dutchess, 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 discretion but to hang us; but I will aggravate my voice so, 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 shall see 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. Bot. I will discharge it in either your ftraw-colour beard, your orange-tawny beard, your purple-in-grain beard, or your Frenchcrown-colour'd beard, your perfect yellow. Quin. Some of your French-crowns have no hair at all, and then 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 moon-light, there we will rehearse; for if we meet in the city, we shall be dog'd with company, and our devices known. In the mean time, I will draw a bill of properties, fuch as our play wants. I pray you, fail me not. Bot. We will meet, and there we may rehearse more obscenely and courageously. Take pains, be perfect, adieu. Quin. At the duke's oak we meet. Bot. Enough, hold, or cut bowstrings. * [Exeunt. *** ACT II. SCENE I. The wood. Enter a Fairy at one door, and Puck (or Robin-goodfellow) at another. PUCK. OW now, spirit, whither wander you? H° Through bush, through briar, Over park, over pale, Through flood, through fire, In those freckles live their favours: A proverbial phrafe fignifying, without fail, or, in all events. I muft I must go seek fome dew-drops here and there, Puck. The king doth keep his revels here to-night; Because that the, as her attendant, hath Fai. Or I mistake your shape and making quite, Puck. The fame, thou speak'ft aright; I am that merry wand'rer of the night : And when she drinks, against her lips I bob, And then the whole quire hold their hips, and loffe, A merrier hour was never wafted there. But make room, fairy, here comes Oberon. Fai. And here my mistress: would, that he were gone! SCENE II. Enter Oberon king of Fairies at one door with his train, and the queen at another with hers. Ob. Ill met by moon-light, proud Titania. Ob. Tarry, rash wanton, am not I thy lord? you come To give their bed joy and profperity. Ob. How can'ft thou thus for fhame, Titania, Glance at my credit with Hippolita, Knowing I know thy love to Thefeus? Didst thou not lead him through the glimmering night From Perigyné, whom he ravished, And make him with fair Ægle break his faith, VOL. I. M With |