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No Fear Translations
No Fear Audio
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Modern Text |
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LYSANDER , DEMETRIUS , HELENA , and HERMIA sleep. Enter TITANIA , Queen of the Fairies; and BOTTOM , with the ass’s head; and fairies PEASEBLOSSOM , COBWEB , MOTH , MUSTARDSEED ; OBERON the king behind them, unseen
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LYSANDER , DEMETRIUS , HELENA , and HERMIA sleep. Enter TITANIA , Queen of the Fairies; and BOTTOM , with the ass’s head; and fairies PEASEBLOSSOM , COBWEB , MOTH , MUSTARDSEED ; OBERON the king behind them, unseen
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TITANIA (to BOTTOM) Come, sit thee down upon this flowery bed
While I thy amiable cheeks do coy,
And stick musk roses in thy sleek, smooth head,
And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy.
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TITANIA (to BOTTOM) Come, sit thee down upon this flowery bed
While I thy amiable cheeks do coy,
And stick musk roses in thy sleek, smooth head,
And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy.
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BOTTOM 5 Where’s Peaseblossom?
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BOTTOM Where’s Peaseblossom?
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PEASEBLOSSOM Ready.
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PEASEBLOSSOM Ready.
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BOTTOM Scratch my head, Peaseblossom. Where’s Monsieur Cobweb?
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BOTTOM Scratch my head, Peaseblossom. Where’s Monsieur Cobweb?
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COBWEB Ready.
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COBWEB Ready.
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BOTTOM Monsieur Cobweb, good monsieur, get you your weapons in your hand and kill me a red-hipped humble-bee on the top of a thistle. And, good monsieur, bring me the honey bag. Do not fret yourself too much in the action, monsieur. And good monsieur, have a care the honey bag break not. I would be loath to have you overflown with a honey bag, signor.
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BOTTOM Monsieur Cobweb, good monsieur, get you your weapons in your hand and kill me a red-hipped humble-bee on the top of a thistle. And, good monsieur, bring me the honey bag. Do not fret yourself too much in the action, monsieur. And good monsieur, have a care the honey bag break not. I would be loath to have you overflown with a honey bag, signor.
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Exit COBWEB
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Exit COBWEB
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10 Where’s Monsieur Mustardseed?
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Where’s Monsieur Mustardseed?
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MUSTARDSEED Ready.
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MUSTARDSEED Ready.
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BOTTOM Give me your neaf, Monsieur Mustardseed. Pray you, leave your courtesy, good monsieur.
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BOTTOM Give me your neaf, Monsieur Mustardseed. Pray you, leave your courtesy, good monsieur.
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MUSTARDSEED What’s your will?
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MUSTARDSEED What’s your will?
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BOTTOM |
BOTTOM |
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TITANIA What, wilt thou hear some music, my sweet love?
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TITANIA What, wilt thou hear some music, my sweet love?
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BOTTOM I have a reasonable good ear in music. Let’s have the tongs and the bones.
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BOTTOM I have a reasonable good ear in music. Let’s have the tongs and the bones.
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TITANIA Or say, sweet love, what thou desirest to eat.
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TITANIA Or say, sweet love, what thou desirest to eat.
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BOTTOM Truly, a peck of provender. I could munch your good dry oats. Methinks I have a great desire to a bottle of hay. Good hay, sweet hay, hath no fellow.
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BOTTOM Truly, a peck of provender. I could munch your good dry oats. Methinks I have a great desire to a bottle of hay. Good hay, sweet hay, hath no fellow.
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TITANIA 20 I have a venturous fairy that shall seek
The squirrel’s hoard and fetch thee new nuts.
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TITANIA I have a venturous fairy that shall seek
The squirrel’s hoard and fetch thee new nuts.
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BOTTOM I had rather have a handful or two of dried peas. But, I pray you, let none of your people stir me. I have an exposition of sleep come upon me.
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BOTTOM I had rather have a handful or two of dried peas. But, I pray you, let none of your people stir me. I have an exposition of sleep come upon me.
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TITANIA Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms.
Fairies, be gone, and be all ways away.
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TITANIA Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms.
Fairies, be gone, and be all ways away.
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Exeunt FAIRIES
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Exeunt FAIRIES
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25 So doth the woodbine the sweet honeysuckle
Gently entwist. The female ivy so
Enrings the barky fingers of the elm.
Oh, how I love thee! How I dote on thee!
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So doth the woodbine the sweet honeysuckle
Gently entwist. The female ivy so
Enrings the barky fingers of the elm.
Oh, how I love thee! How I dote on thee!
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TITANIA and BOTTOM sleep
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TITANIA and BOTTOM sleep
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Enter ROBIN
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Enter ROBIN |
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OBERON Welcome, good Robin. Seest thou this sweet sight?
30 Her dotage now I do begin to pity.
For, meeting her of late behind the wood,
Seeking sweet favors from this hateful fool,
I did upbraid her and fall out with her.
For she his hairy temples then had rounded
35 With a coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers,
And that same dew, which sometime on the buds
Was wont to swell like round and orient pearls,
Stood now within the pretty flowerets' eyes
Like tears that did their own disgrace bewail.
40 When I had at my pleasure taunted her
And she in mild terms begged my patience,
I then did ask of her her changeling child,
Which straight she gave me and her fairy sent
To bear him to my bower in Fairyland.
45 And now I have the boy, I will undo
This hateful imperfection of her eyes.
And, gentle Puck, take this transformèd scalp
From off the head of this Athenian swain,
That, he awaking when the other do,
50 May all to Athens back again repair
And think no more of this night’s accidents
But as the fierce vexation of a dream.
But first I will release the fairy queen.
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OBERON Welcome, good Robin. Seest thou this sweet sight?
Her dotage now I do begin to pity.
For, meeting her of late behind the wood,
Seeking sweet favors from this hateful fool,
I did upbraid her and fall out with her.
For she his hairy temples then had rounded
With a coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers,
And that same dew, which sometime on the buds
Was wont to swell like round and orient pearls,
Stood now within the pretty flowerets' eyes
Like tears that did their own disgrace bewail.
When I had at my pleasure taunted her
And she in mild terms begged my patience,
I then did ask of her her changeling child,
Which straight she gave me and her fairy sent
To bear him to my bower in Fairyland.
And now I have the boy, I will undo
This hateful imperfection of her eyes.
And, gentle Puck, take this transformèd scalp
From off the head of this Athenian swain,
That, he awaking when the other do,
May all to Athens back again repair
And think no more of this night’s accidents
But as the fierce vexation of a dream.
But first I will release the fairy queen.
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(squeezing flower juice into TITANIA ’s eyes)
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(squeezing flower juice into TITANIA ’s eyes)
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Be as thou wast wont to be.
55 See as thou wast wont to see.
Dian’s bud o'er Cupid’s flower
Hath such force and blessèd power.
Now, my Titania, wake you, my sweet queen.
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Be as thou wast wont to be.
See as thou wast wont to see.
Dian’s bud o'er Cupid’s flower
Hath such force and blessèd power.
Now, my Titania, wake you, my sweet queen.
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TITANIA (waking) My Oberon, what visions have I seen!
60 Methought I was enamored of an ass.
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TITANIA (waking) My Oberon, what visions have I seen!
Methought I was enamored of an ass.
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OBERON There lies your love.
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OBERON There lies your love.
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TITANIA How came these things to pass?
Oh, how mine eyes do loathe his visage now!
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TITANIA How came these things to pass?
Oh, how mine eyes do loathe his visage now!
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OBERON Silence awhile.—Robin, take off this head.—
Titania, music call, and strike more dead
65 Than common sleep of all these five the sense.
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OBERON Silence awhile.—Robin, take off this head.—
Titania, music call, and strike more dead
Than common sleep of all these five the sense.
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TITANIA Music, ho! Music such as charmeth sleep!
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TITANIA Music, ho! Music such as charmeth sleep!
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Music
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Music
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ROBIN (taking the ass’s head off BOTTOM)
Now when thou wakest, with thine own fool’s eyes peep.
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ROBIN (taking the ass’s head off BOTTOM)
Now when thou wakest, with thine own fool’s eyes peep.
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OBERON Sound, music!—Come, my queen, take hands with me,
70 And rock the ground whereon these sleepers be.
(dances with TITANIA)
Now thou and I are new in amity,
And will tomorrow midnight solemnly
Dance in Duke Theseus' house triumphantly,
75 And bless it to all fair prosperity.
There shall the pairs of faithful lovers be
Wedded, with Theseus, all in jollity.
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OBERON Sound, music!—Come, my queen, take hands with me,
And rock the ground whereon these sleepers be.
(dances with TITANIA)
Now thou and I are new in amity,
And will tomorrow midnight solemnly
Dance in Duke Theseus' house triumphantly,
And bless it to all fair prosperity.
There shall the pairs of faithful lovers be
Wedded, with Theseus, all in jollity.
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ROBIN Fairy King, attend, and mark.
I do hear the morning lark.
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ROBIN Fairy King, attend, and mark.
I do hear the morning lark.
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OBERON 80 Then, my queen, in silence sad,
Trip we after the night’s shade.
We the globe can compass soon
Swifter than the wandering moon.
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OBERON Then, my queen, in silence sad,
Trip we after the night’s shade.
We the globe can compass soon
Swifter than the wandering moon.
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TITANIA Come, my lord, and in our flight
85 Tell me how it came this night
That I sleeping here was found
With these mortals on the ground.
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TITANIA Come, my lord, and in our flight
Tell me how it came this night
That I sleeping here was found
With these mortals on the ground.
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Exeunt OBERON , TITANIA , and ROBIN
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Exeunt OBERON , TITANIA , and ROBIN
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Wind horn within Enter THESEUS and all his train, EGEUS , and HIPPOLYTA
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Wind horn within Enter THESEUS and all his train, EGEUS , and HIPPOLYTA
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THESEUS Go, one of you, find out the forester.
For now our observation is performed.
90 And since we have the vaward of the day,
My love shall hear the music of my hounds.
Uncouple in the western valley. Let them go.
Dispatch, I say, and find the forester.
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THESEUS Go, one of you, find out the forester.
For now our observation is performed.
And since we have the vaward of the day,
My love shall hear the music of my hounds.
Uncouple in the western valley. Let them go.
Dispatch, I say, and find the forester.
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Exit one of the train
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Exit one of the train
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We will, fair queen, up to the mountain’s top,
95 And mark the musical confusion
Of hounds and echo in conjunction.
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We will, fair queen, up to the mountain’s top,
And mark the musical confusion
Of hounds and echo in conjunction.
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HIPPOLYTA I was with Hercules and Cadmus once,
When in a wood of Crete they bayed the bear
With hounds of Sparta. Never did I hear
100 Such gallant chiding. For, besides the groves,
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HIPPOLYTA I was with Hercules and Cadmus once,
When in a wood of Crete they bayed the bear
With hounds of Sparta. Never did I hear
Such gallant chiding. For, besides the groves,
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The skies, the fountains, every region near
Seemed all one mutual cry. I never heard
So musical a discord, such sweet thunder.
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The skies, the fountains, every region near
Seemed all one mutual cry. I never heard
So musical a discord, such sweet thunder.
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THESEUS My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind,
105 So flewed, so sanded, and their heads are hung
With ears that sweep away the morning dew,
Crook-kneed, and dew-lapped like Thessalian bulls,
Slow in pursuit, but matched in mouth like bells,
Each under each. A cry more tunable
110 Was never hollaed to, nor cheered with horn,
In Crete, in Sparta, nor in Thessaly.
Judge when you hear.
(sees the four sleeping lovers)
But, soft! What nymphs are these?
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THESEUS My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind,
So flewed, so sanded, and their heads are hung
With ears that sweep away the morning dew,
Crook-kneed, and dew-lapped like Thessalian bulls,
Slow in pursuit, but matched in mouth like bells,
Each under each. A cry more tunable
Was never hollaed to, nor cheered with horn,
In Crete, in Sparta, nor in Thessaly.
Judge when you hear.
(sees the four sleeping lovers)
But, soft! What nymphs are these?
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EGEUS My lord, this is my daughter here asleep.
115 And this, Lysander. This Demetrius is.
This Helena, old Nedar’s Helena.
I wonder of their being here together.
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EGEUS My lord, this is my daughter here asleep.
And this, Lysander. This Demetrius is.
This Helena, old Nedar’s Helena.
I wonder of their being here together.
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THESEUS No doubt they rose up early to observe
The rite of May, and hearing our intent
120 Came here in grace our solemnity.
But speak, Egeus. Is not this the day
That Hermia should give answer of her choice?
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THESEUS No doubt they rose up early to observe
The rite of May, and hearing our intent
Came here in grace our solemnity.
But speak, Egeus. Is not this the day
That Hermia should give answer of her choice?
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EGEUS It is, my lord.
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EGEUS It is, my lord.
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THESEUS Go, bid the huntsmen wake them with their horns.
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THESEUS Go, bid the huntsmen wake them with their horns.
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Exit one of the train
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Exit one of the train
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Wind horns and shout within LYSANDER , DEMETRIUS , HELENA , and HERMIA wake and start up
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Wind horns and shout within LYSANDER , DEMETRIUS , HELENA , and HERMIA wake and start up
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125 Good morrow, friends. Saint Valentine is past.
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Good morrow, friends. Saint Valentine is past.
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Begin these woodbirds but to couple now?
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Begin these woodbirds but to couple now?
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LYSANDER , DEMETRIUS , HELENA , and HERMIA kneel
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LYSANDER , DEMETRIUS , HELENA , and HERMIA kneel
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LYSANDER Pardon, my lord.
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LYSANDER Pardon, my lord.
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THESEUS I pray you all, stand up.
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THESEUS I pray you all, stand up.
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LYSANDER , DEMETRIUS , HELENA , and HERMIA stand
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LYSANDER , DEMETRIUS , HELENA , and HERMIA stand
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(to LYSANDER and DEMETRIUS)
I know you two are rival enemies.
130 How comes this gentle concord in the world,
That hatred is so far from jealousy
To sleep by hate and fear no enmity?
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(to LYSANDER and DEMETRIUS)
I know you two are rival enemies.
How comes this gentle concord in the world,
That hatred is so far from jealousy
To sleep by hate and fear no enmity?
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LYSANDER My lord, I shall reply amazèdly,
Half sleep, half waking. But as yet, I swear,
135 I cannot truly say how I came here.
But as I think—for truly would I speak,
And now do I bethink me, so it is—
I came with Hermia hither. Our intent
Was to be gone from Athens, where we might,
140 Without the peril of the Athenian law—
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LYSANDER My lord, I shall reply amazèdly,
Half sleep, half waking. But as yet, I swear,
I cannot truly say how I came here.
But as I think—for truly would I speak,
And now do I bethink me, so it is—
I came with Hermia hither. Our intent
Was to be gone from Athens, where we might,
Without the peril of the Athenian law—
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EGEUS (to THESEUS) Enough, enough, my lord. You have enough!
I beg the law, the law, upon his head.—
They would have stol'n away, they would, Demetrius,
Thereby to have defeated you and me,
145 You of your wife and me of my consent,
Of my consent that she should be your wife.
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EGEUS (to THESEUS) Enough, enough, my lord. You have enough!
I beg the law, the law, upon his head.—
They would have stol'n away, they would, Demetrius,
Thereby to have defeated you and me,
You of your wife and me of my consent,
Of my consent that she should be your wife.
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DEMETRIUS (to THESEUS) My lord, fair Helen told me of their stealth,
Of this their purpose hither to this wood.
And I in fury hither followed them,
150 Fair Helena in fancy following me.
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DEMETRIUS (to THESEUS) My lord, fair Helen told me of their stealth,
Of this their purpose hither to this wood.
And I in fury hither followed them,
Fair Helena in fancy following me.
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But, my good lord, I wot not by what power—
But by some power it is—my love to Hermia,
Melted as the snow, seems to me now
As the remembrance of an idle gaud
155 Which in my childhood I did dote upon.
And all the faith, the virtue of my heart,
The object and the pleasure of mine eye,
Is only Helena. To her, my lord,
Was I betrothed ere I saw Hermia.
160 But like in sickness did I loathe this food.
But as in health, come to my natural taste,
Now I do wish it, love it, long for it,
And will for evermore be true to it.
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But, my good lord, I wot not by what power—
But by some power it is—my love to Hermia,
Melted as the snow, seems to me now
As the remembrance of an idle gaud
Which in my childhood I did dote upon.
And all the faith, the virtue of my heart,
The object and the pleasure of mine eye,
Is only Helena. To her, my lord,
Was I betrothed ere I saw Hermia.
But like in sickness did I loathe this food.
But as in health, come to my natural taste,
Now I do wish it, love it, long for it,
And will for evermore be true to it.
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THESEUS Fair lovers, you are fortunately met.
165 Of this discourse we more will hear anon.—
Egeus, I will overbear your will.
For in the temple by and by with us
These couples shall eternally be knit.—
And, for the morning now is something worn,
170 Our purposed hunting shall be set aside.
Away with us to Athens. Three and three,
We’ll hold a feast in great solemnity.
Come, Hippolyta.
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THESEUS Fair lovers, you are fortunately met.
Of this discourse we more will hear anon.—
Egeus, I will overbear your will.
For in the temple by and by with us
These couples shall eternally be knit.—
And, for the morning now is something worn,
Our purposed hunting shall be set aside.
Away with us to Athens. Three and three,
We’ll hold a feast in great solemnity.
Come, Hippolyta.
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Exeunt THESEUS , HIPPOLYTA , EGEUS , and train
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Exeunt THESEUS , HIPPOLYTA , EGEUS , and train
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DEMETRIUS These things seem small and undistinguishable,
175 Like far-off mountains turnèd into clouds.
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DEMETRIUS These things seem small and undistinguishable,
Like far-off mountains turnèd into clouds.
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HERMIA When everything seems double. Methinks I see these things with parted eye,
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HERMIA When everything seems double. Methinks I see these things with parted eye,
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HELENA So methinks.
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HELENA So methinks.
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And I have found Demetrius like a jewel,
Mine own, and not mine own.
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And I have found Demetrius like a jewel,
Mine own, and not mine own.
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DEMETRIUS Are you sure
That we are awake? It seems to me
180 That yet we sleep, we dream. Do not you think
The duke was here, and bid us follow him?
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DEMETRIUS Are you sure
That we are awake? It seems to me
That yet we sleep, we dream. Do not you think
The duke was here, and bid us follow him?
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HERMIA Yea, and my father.
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HERMIA Yea, and my father.
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HELENA And Hippolyta.
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HELENA And Hippolyta.
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LYSANDER And he did bid us follow to the temple.
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LYSANDER And he did bid us follow to the temple.
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DEMETRIUS Why then, we are awake. Let’s follow him
185 And by the way let us recount our dreams.
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DEMETRIUS Why then, we are awake. Let’s follow him
And by the way let us recount our dreams.
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Exeunt LYSANDER , DEMETRIUS , HELENA , and HERMIA
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Exeunt LYSANDER , DEMETRIUS , HELENA , and HERMIA
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BOTTOM (waking) When my cue comes, call me, and I will answer. My next is “Most fair Pyramus.” Heigh-ho! Peter Quince? Flute the bellows-mender? Snout the tinker? Starveling? God’s my life, stol'n hence, and left me asleep? I have had a most rare vision. I have had a dream—past the wit of man to say what dream it was. Man is but an ass if he go about to expound this dream. Methought I was—there is no man can tell what. Methought I was, and methought I had—but man is but a patched fool if he will offer to say what methought I had. The eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, man’s hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceive, nor his heart to report what my dream was. I will get Peter Quince to write a ballad of this dream.
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BOTTOM (waking) When my cue comes, call me, and I will answer. My next is “Most fair Pyramus.” Heigh-ho! Peter Quince? Flute the bellows-mender? Snout the tinker? Starveling? God’s my life, stol'n hence, and left me asleep? I have had a most rare vision. I have had a dream—past the wit of man to say what dream it was. Man is but an ass if he go about to expound this dream. Methought I was—there is no man can tell what. Methought I was, and methought I had—but man is but a patched fool if he will offer to say what methought I had. The eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, man’s hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceive, nor his heart to report what my dream was. I will get Peter Quince to write a ballad of this dream.
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It shall be called “Bottom’s Dream” because it hath no bottom. And I will sing it in the latter end of a play before the duke. Peradventure, to make it the more gracious, I shall sing it at her death.
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It shall be called “Bottom’s Dream” because it hath no bottom. And I will sing it in the latter end of a play before the duke. Peradventure, to make it the more gracious, I shall sing it at her death.
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Exit
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Exit
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Original Text |
Modern Text |
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LYSANDER , DEMETRIUS , HELENA , and HERMIA sleep. Enter TITANIA , Queen of the Fairies; and BOTTOM , with the ass’s head; and fairies PEASEBLOSSOM , COBWEB , MOTH , MUSTARDSEED ; OBERON the king behind them, unseen
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LYSANDER , DEMETRIUS , HELENA , and HERMIA sleep. Enter TITANIA , Queen of the Fairies; and BOTTOM , with the ass’s head; and fairies PEASEBLOSSOM , COBWEB , MOTH , MUSTARDSEED ; OBERON the king behind them, unseen
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TITANIA (to BOTTOM) Come, sit thee down upon this flowery bed
While I thy amiable cheeks do coy,
And stick musk roses in thy sleek, smooth head,
And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy.
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TITANIA (to BOTTOM) Come, sit thee down upon this flowery bed
While I thy amiable cheeks do coy,
And stick musk roses in thy sleek, smooth head,
And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy.
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BOTTOM 5 Where’s Peaseblossom?
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BOTTOM Where’s Peaseblossom?
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PEASEBLOSSOM Ready.
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PEASEBLOSSOM Ready.
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BOTTOM Scratch my head, Peaseblossom. Where’s Monsieur Cobweb?
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BOTTOM Scratch my head, Peaseblossom. Where’s Monsieur Cobweb?
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COBWEB Ready.
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COBWEB Ready.
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BOTTOM Monsieur Cobweb, good monsieur, get you your weapons in your hand and kill me a red-hipped humble-bee on the top of a thistle. And, good monsieur, bring me the honey bag. Do not fret yourself too much in the action, monsieur. And good monsieur, have a care the honey bag break not. I would be loath to have you overflown with a honey bag, signor.
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BOTTOM Monsieur Cobweb, good monsieur, get you your weapons in your hand and kill me a red-hipped humble-bee on the top of a thistle. And, good monsieur, bring me the honey bag. Do not fret yourself too much in the action, monsieur. And good monsieur, have a care the honey bag break not. I would be loath to have you overflown with a honey bag, signor.
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Exit COBWEB
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Exit COBWEB
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10 Where’s Monsieur Mustardseed?
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Where’s Monsieur Mustardseed?
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MUSTARDSEED Ready.
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MUSTARDSEED Ready.
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BOTTOM Give me your neaf, Monsieur Mustardseed. Pray you, leave your courtesy, good monsieur.
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BOTTOM Give me your neaf, Monsieur Mustardseed. Pray you, leave your courtesy, good monsieur.
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MUSTARDSEED What’s your will?
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MUSTARDSEED What’s your will?
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BOTTOM |
BOTTOM |
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TITANIA What, wilt thou hear some music, my sweet love?
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TITANIA What, wilt thou hear some music, my sweet love?
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BOTTOM I have a reasonable good ear in music. Let’s have the tongs and the bones.
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BOTTOM I have a reasonable good ear in music. Let’s have the tongs and the bones.
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TITANIA Or say, sweet love, what thou desirest to eat.
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TITANIA Or say, sweet love, what thou desirest to eat.
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BOTTOM Truly, a peck of provender. I could munch your good dry oats. Methinks I have a great desire to a bottle of hay. Good hay, sweet hay, hath no fellow.
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BOTTOM Truly, a peck of provender. I could munch your good dry oats. Methinks I have a great desire to a bottle of hay. Good hay, sweet hay, hath no fellow.
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TITANIA 20 I have a venturous fairy that shall seek
The squirrel’s hoard and fetch thee new nuts.
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TITANIA I have a venturous fairy that shall seek
The squirrel’s hoard and fetch thee new nuts.
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BOTTOM I had rather have a handful or two of dried peas. But, I pray you, let none of your people stir me. I have an exposition of sleep come upon me.
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BOTTOM I had rather have a handful or two of dried peas. But, I pray you, let none of your people stir me. I have an exposition of sleep come upon me.
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TITANIA Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms.
Fairies, be gone, and be all ways away.
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TITANIA Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms.
Fairies, be gone, and be all ways away.
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Exeunt FAIRIES
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Exeunt FAIRIES
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25 So doth the woodbine the sweet honeysuckle
Gently entwist. The female ivy so
Enrings the barky fingers of the elm.
Oh, how I love thee! How I dote on thee!
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So doth the woodbine the sweet honeysuckle
Gently entwist. The female ivy so
Enrings the barky fingers of the elm.
Oh, how I love thee! How I dote on thee!
|
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TITANIA and BOTTOM sleep
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TITANIA and BOTTOM sleep
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Enter ROBIN
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Enter ROBIN |
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OBERON Welcome, good Robin. Seest thou this sweet sight?
30 Her dotage now I do begin to pity.
For, meeting her of late behind the wood,
Seeking sweet favors from this hateful fool,
I did upbraid her and fall out with her.
For she his hairy temples then had rounded
35 With a coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers,
And that same dew, which sometime on the buds
Was wont to swell like round and orient pearls,
Stood now within the pretty flowerets' eyes
Like tears that did their own disgrace bewail.
40 When I had at my pleasure taunted her
And she in mild terms begged my patience,
I then did ask of her her changeling child,
Which straight she gave me and her fairy sent
To bear him to my bower in Fairyland.
45 And now I have the boy, I will undo
This hateful imperfection of her eyes.
And, gentle Puck, take this transformèd scalp
From off the head of this Athenian swain,
That, he awaking when the other do,
50 May all to Athens back again repair
And think no more of this night’s accidents
But as the fierce vexation of a dream.
But first I will release the fairy queen.
|
OBERON Welcome, good Robin. Seest thou this sweet sight?
Her dotage now I do begin to pity.
For, meeting her of late behind the wood,
Seeking sweet favors from this hateful fool,
I did upbraid her and fall out with her.
For she his hairy temples then had rounded
With a coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers,
And that same dew, which sometime on the buds
Was wont to swell like round and orient pearls,
Stood now within the pretty flowerets' eyes
Like tears that did their own disgrace bewail.
When I had at my pleasure taunted her
And she in mild terms begged my patience,
I then did ask of her her changeling child,
Which straight she gave me and her fairy sent
To bear him to my bower in Fairyland.
And now I have the boy, I will undo
This hateful imperfection of her eyes.
And, gentle Puck, take this transformèd scalp
From off the head of this Athenian swain,
That, he awaking when the other do,
May all to Athens back again repair
And think no more of this night’s accidents
But as the fierce vexation of a dream.
But first I will release the fairy queen.
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(squeezing flower juice into TITANIA ’s eyes)
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(squeezing flower juice into TITANIA ’s eyes)
|
|
Be as thou wast wont to be.
55 See as thou wast wont to see.
Dian’s bud o'er Cupid’s flower
Hath such force and blessèd power.
Now, my Titania, wake you, my sweet queen.
|
Be as thou wast wont to be.
See as thou wast wont to see.
Dian’s bud o'er Cupid’s flower
Hath such force and blessèd power.
Now, my Titania, wake you, my sweet queen.
|
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TITANIA (waking) My Oberon, what visions have I seen!
60 Methought I was enamored of an ass.
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TITANIA (waking) My Oberon, what visions have I seen!
Methought I was enamored of an ass.
|
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OBERON There lies your love.
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OBERON There lies your love.
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TITANIA How came these things to pass?
Oh, how mine eyes do loathe his visage now!
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TITANIA How came these things to pass?
Oh, how mine eyes do loathe his visage now!
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OBERON Silence awhile.—Robin, take off this head.—
Titania, music call, and strike more dead
65 Than common sleep of all these five the sense.
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OBERON Silence awhile.—Robin, take off this head.—
Titania, music call, and strike more dead
Than common sleep of all these five the sense.
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TITANIA Music, ho! Music such as charmeth sleep!
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TITANIA Music, ho! Music such as charmeth sleep!
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Music
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Music
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ROBIN (taking the ass’s head off BOTTOM)
Now when thou wakest, with thine own fool’s eyes peep.
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ROBIN (taking the ass’s head off BOTTOM)
Now when thou wakest, with thine own fool’s eyes peep.
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OBERON Sound, music!—Come, my queen, take hands with me,
70 And rock the ground whereon these sleepers be.
(dances with TITANIA)
Now thou and I are new in amity,
And will tomorrow midnight solemnly
Dance in Duke Theseus' house triumphantly,
75 And bless it to all fair prosperity.
There shall the pairs of faithful lovers be
Wedded, with Theseus, all in jollity.
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OBERON Sound, music!—Come, my queen, take hands with me,
And rock the ground whereon these sleepers be.
(dances with TITANIA)
Now thou and I are new in amity,
And will tomorrow midnight solemnly
Dance in Duke Theseus' house triumphantly,
And bless it to all fair prosperity.
There shall the pairs of faithful lovers be
Wedded, with Theseus, all in jollity.
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ROBIN Fairy King, attend, and mark.
I do hear the morning lark.
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ROBIN Fairy King, attend, and mark.
I do hear the morning lark.
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OBERON 80 Then, my queen, in silence sad,
Trip we after the night’s shade.
We the globe can compass soon
Swifter than the wandering moon.
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OBERON Then, my queen, in silence sad,
Trip we after the night’s shade.
We the globe can compass soon
Swifter than the wandering moon.
|
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TITANIA Come, my lord, and in our flight
85 Tell me how it came this night
That I sleeping here was found
With these mortals on the ground.
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TITANIA Come, my lord, and in our flight
Tell me how it came this night
That I sleeping here was found
With these mortals on the ground.
|
|
Exeunt OBERON , TITANIA , and ROBIN
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Exeunt OBERON , TITANIA , and ROBIN
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Wind horn within Enter THESEUS and all his train, EGEUS , and HIPPOLYTA
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Wind horn within Enter THESEUS and all his train, EGEUS , and HIPPOLYTA
|
|
THESEUS Go, one of you, find out the forester.
For now our observation is performed.
90 And since we have the vaward of the day,
My love shall hear the music of my hounds.
Uncouple in the western valley. Let them go.
Dispatch, I say, and find the forester.
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THESEUS Go, one of you, find out the forester.
For now our observation is performed.
And since we have the vaward of the day,
My love shall hear the music of my hounds.
Uncouple in the western valley. Let them go.
Dispatch, I say, and find the forester.
|
|
Exit one of the train
|
Exit one of the train
|
|
We will, fair queen, up to the mountain’s top,
95 And mark the musical confusion
Of hounds and echo in conjunction.
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We will, fair queen, up to the mountain’s top,
And mark the musical confusion
Of hounds and echo in conjunction.
|
|
HIPPOLYTA I was with Hercules and Cadmus once,
When in a wood of Crete they bayed the bear
With hounds of Sparta. Never did I hear
100 Such gallant chiding. For, besides the groves,
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HIPPOLYTA I was with Hercules and Cadmus once,
When in a wood of Crete they bayed the bear
With hounds of Sparta. Never did I hear
Such gallant chiding. For, besides the groves,
|
|
The skies, the fountains, every region near
Seemed all one mutual cry. I never heard
So musical a discord, such sweet thunder.
|
The skies, the fountains, every region near
Seemed all one mutual cry. I never heard
So musical a discord, such sweet thunder.
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THESEUS My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind,
105 So flewed, so sanded, and their heads are hung
With ears that sweep away the morning dew,
Crook-kneed, and dew-lapped like Thessalian bulls,
Slow in pursuit, but matched in mouth like bells,
Each under each. A cry more tunable
110 Was never hollaed to, nor cheered with horn,
In Crete, in Sparta, nor in Thessaly.
Judge when you hear.
(sees the four sleeping lovers)
But, soft! What nymphs are these?
|
THESEUS My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind,
So flewed, so sanded, and their heads are hung
With ears that sweep away the morning dew,
Crook-kneed, and dew-lapped like Thessalian bulls,
Slow in pursuit, but matched in mouth like bells,
Each under each. A cry more tunable
Was never hollaed to, nor cheered with horn,
In Crete, in Sparta, nor in Thessaly.
Judge when you hear.
(sees the four sleeping lovers)
But, soft! What nymphs are these?
|
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EGEUS My lord, this is my daughter here asleep.
115 And this, Lysander. This Demetrius is.
This Helena, old Nedar’s Helena.
I wonder of their being here together.
|
EGEUS My lord, this is my daughter here asleep.
And this, Lysander. This Demetrius is.
This Helena, old Nedar’s Helena.
I wonder of their being here together.
|
|
THESEUS No doubt they rose up early to observe
The rite of May, and hearing our intent
120 Came here in grace our solemnity.
But speak, Egeus. Is not this the day
That Hermia should give answer of her choice?
|
THESEUS No doubt they rose up early to observe
The rite of May, and hearing our intent
Came here in grace our solemnity.
But speak, Egeus. Is not this the day
That Hermia should give answer of her choice?
|
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EGEUS It is, my lord.
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EGEUS It is, my lord.
|
|
THESEUS Go, bid the huntsmen wake them with their horns.
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THESEUS Go, bid the huntsmen wake them with their horns.
|
|
Exit one of the train
|
Exit one of the train
|
|
Wind horns and shout within LYSANDER , DEMETRIUS , HELENA , and HERMIA wake and start up
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Wind horns and shout within LYSANDER , DEMETRIUS , HELENA , and HERMIA wake and start up
|
|
125 Good morrow, friends. Saint Valentine is past.
|
Good morrow, friends. Saint Valentine is past.
|
|
Begin these woodbirds but to couple now?
|
Begin these woodbirds but to couple now?
|
|
LYSANDER , DEMETRIUS , HELENA , and HERMIA kneel
|
LYSANDER , DEMETRIUS , HELENA , and HERMIA kneel
|
|
LYSANDER Pardon, my lord.
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LYSANDER Pardon, my lord.
|
|
THESEUS I pray you all, stand up.
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THESEUS I pray you all, stand up.
|
|
LYSANDER , DEMETRIUS , HELENA , and HERMIA stand
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LYSANDER , DEMETRIUS , HELENA , and HERMIA stand
|
|
(to LYSANDER and DEMETRIUS)
I know you two are rival enemies.
130 How comes this gentle concord in the world,
That hatred is so far from jealousy
To sleep by hate and fear no enmity?
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(to LYSANDER and DEMETRIUS)
I know you two are rival enemies.
How comes this gentle concord in the world,
That hatred is so far from jealousy
To sleep by hate and fear no enmity?
|
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LYSANDER My lord, I shall reply amazèdly,
Half sleep, half waking. But as yet, I swear,
135 I cannot truly say how I came here.
But as I think—for truly would I speak,
And now do I bethink me, so it is—
I came with Hermia hither. Our intent
Was to be gone from Athens, where we might,
140 Without the peril of the Athenian law—
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LYSANDER My lord, I shall reply amazèdly,
Half sleep, half waking. But as yet, I swear,
I cannot truly say how I came here.
But as I think—for truly would I speak,
And now do I bethink me, so it is—
I came with Hermia hither. Our intent
Was to be gone from Athens, where we might,
Without the peril of the Athenian law—
|
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EGEUS (to THESEUS) Enough, enough, my lord. You have enough!
I beg the law, the law, upon his head.—
They would have stol'n away, they would, Demetrius,
Thereby to have defeated you and me,
145 You of your wife and me of my consent,
Of my consent that she should be your wife.
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EGEUS (to THESEUS) Enough, enough, my lord. You have enough!
I beg the law, the law, upon his head.—
They would have stol'n away, they would, Demetrius,
Thereby to have defeated you and me,
You of your wife and me of my consent,
Of my consent that she should be your wife.
|
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DEMETRIUS (to THESEUS) My lord, fair Helen told me of their stealth,
Of this their purpose hither to this wood.
And I in fury hither followed them,
150 Fair Helena in fancy following me.
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DEMETRIUS (to THESEUS) My lord, fair Helen told me of their stealth,
Of this their purpose hither to this wood.
And I in fury hither followed them,
Fair Helena in fancy following me.
|
|
But, my good lord, I wot not by what power—
But by some power it is—my love to Hermia,
Melted as the snow, seems to me now
As the remembrance of an idle gaud
155 Which in my childhood I did dote upon.
And all the faith, the virtue of my heart,
The object and the pleasure of mine eye,
Is only Helena. To her, my lord,
Was I betrothed ere I saw Hermia.
160 But like in sickness did I loathe this food.
But as in health, come to my natural taste,
Now I do wish it, love it, long for it,
And will for evermore be true to it.
|
But, my good lord, I wot not by what power—
But by some power it is—my love to Hermia,
Melted as the snow, seems to me now
As the remembrance of an idle gaud
Which in my childhood I did dote upon.
And all the faith, the virtue of my heart,
The object and the pleasure of mine eye,
Is only Helena. To her, my lord,
Was I betrothed ere I saw Hermia.
But like in sickness did I loathe this food.
But as in health, come to my natural taste,
Now I do wish it, love it, long for it,
And will for evermore be true to it.
|
|
THESEUS Fair lovers, you are fortunately met.
165 Of this discourse we more will hear anon.—
Egeus, I will overbear your will.
For in the temple by and by with us
These couples shall eternally be knit.—
And, for the morning now is something worn,
170 Our purposed hunting shall be set aside.
Away with us to Athens. Three and three,
We’ll hold a feast in great solemnity.
Come, Hippolyta.
|
THESEUS Fair lovers, you are fortunately met.
Of this discourse we more will hear anon.—
Egeus, I will overbear your will.
For in the temple by and by with us
These couples shall eternally be knit.—
And, for the morning now is something worn,
Our purposed hunting shall be set aside.
Away with us to Athens. Three and three,
We’ll hold a feast in great solemnity.
Come, Hippolyta.
|
|
Exeunt THESEUS , HIPPOLYTA , EGEUS , and train
|
Exeunt THESEUS , HIPPOLYTA , EGEUS , and train
|
|
DEMETRIUS These things seem small and undistinguishable,
175 Like far-off mountains turnèd into clouds.
|
DEMETRIUS These things seem small and undistinguishable,
Like far-off mountains turnèd into clouds.
|
|
HERMIA When everything seems double. Methinks I see these things with parted eye,
|
HERMIA When everything seems double. Methinks I see these things with parted eye,
|
|
HELENA So methinks.
|
HELENA So methinks.
|
|
And I have found Demetrius like a jewel,
Mine own, and not mine own.
|
And I have found Demetrius like a jewel,
Mine own, and not mine own.
|
|
DEMETRIUS Are you sure
That we are awake? It seems to me
180 That yet we sleep, we dream. Do not you think
The duke was here, and bid us follow him?
|
DEMETRIUS Are you sure
That we are awake? It seems to me
That yet we sleep, we dream. Do not you think
The duke was here, and bid us follow him?
|
|
HERMIA Yea, and my father.
|
HERMIA Yea, and my father.
|
|
HELENA And Hippolyta.
|
HELENA And Hippolyta.
|
|
LYSANDER And he did bid us follow to the temple.
|
LYSANDER And he did bid us follow to the temple.
|
|
DEMETRIUS Why then, we are awake. Let’s follow him
185 And by the way let us recount our dreams.
|
DEMETRIUS Why then, we are awake. Let’s follow him
And by the way let us recount our dreams.
|
|
Exeunt LYSANDER , DEMETRIUS , HELENA , and HERMIA
|
Exeunt LYSANDER , DEMETRIUS , HELENA , and HERMIA
|
|
BOTTOM (waking) When my cue comes, call me, and I will answer. My next is “Most fair Pyramus.” Heigh-ho! Peter Quince? Flute the bellows-mender? Snout the tinker? Starveling? God’s my life, stol'n hence, and left me asleep? I have had a most rare vision. I have had a dream—past the wit of man to say what dream it was. Man is but an ass if he go about to expound this dream. Methought I was—there is no man can tell what. Methought I was, and methought I had—but man is but a patched fool if he will offer to say what methought I had. The eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, man’s hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceive, nor his heart to report what my dream was. I will get Peter Quince to write a ballad of this dream.
|
BOTTOM (waking) When my cue comes, call me, and I will answer. My next is “Most fair Pyramus.” Heigh-ho! Peter Quince? Flute the bellows-mender? Snout the tinker? Starveling? God’s my life, stol'n hence, and left me asleep? I have had a most rare vision. I have had a dream—past the wit of man to say what dream it was. Man is but an ass if he go about to expound this dream. Methought I was—there is no man can tell what. Methought I was, and methought I had—but man is but a patched fool if he will offer to say what methought I had. The eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, man’s hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceive, nor his heart to report what my dream was. I will get Peter Quince to write a ballad of this dream.
|
|
It shall be called “Bottom’s Dream” because it hath no bottom. And I will sing it in the latter end of a play before the duke. Peradventure, to make it the more gracious, I shall sing it at her death.
|
It shall be called “Bottom’s Dream” because it hath no bottom. And I will sing it in the latter end of a play before the duke. Peradventure, to make it the more gracious, I shall sing it at her death.
|
|
Exit
|
Exit
|
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