Previous Next
 

Read and listen with a SparkNotes PLUS trial!

studyGuide_translation

No Fear Translations

noFear_audio

No Fear Audio

Original Text

Modern Text
Enter QUINCE , FLUTE , SNOUT , and STARVELING
Enter QUINCE , FLUTE , SNOUT , and STARVELING

QUINCE

Have you sent to Bottom’s house? Is he come home yet?

QUINCE

Have you sent to Bottom’s house? Is he come home yet?

STARVELING

He cannot be heard of. Out of doubt he is transported.

STARVELING

He cannot be heard of. Out of doubt he is transported.

FLUTE

If he come not, then the play is marred. It goes not forward. Doth it?

FLUTE

If he come not, then the play is marred. It goes not forward. Doth it?

QUINCE

It is not possible. You have not a man in all Athens able to discharge Pyramus but he.

QUINCE

It is not possible. You have not a man in all Athens able to discharge Pyramus but he.

FLUTE

No, he hath simply the best wit of any handicraft man in Athens.

FLUTE

No, he hath simply the best wit of any handicraft man in Athens.

QUINCE

Yea, and the best person too. And he is a very paramour for a sweet voice.

QUINCE

Yea, and the best person too. And he is a very paramour for a sweet voice.

FLUTE

You must say “paragon.” A “paramour” is, God bless us, a thing of naught.

FLUTE

You must say “paragon.” A “paramour” is, God bless us, a thing of naught.
Enter SNUG
Enter SNUG

SNUG

Masters, the duke is coming from the temple, and there is two or three lords and ladies more married. If our sport had gone forward, we had all been made men.

SNUG

Masters, the duke is coming from the temple, and there is two or three lords and ladies more married. If our sport had gone forward, we had all been made men.

FLUTE

O sweet bully Bottom! Thus hath he lost sixpence a day during his life. He could not have ’scaped sixpence a day. An the duke had not given him sixpence a day for playing Pyramus, I’ll be hanged.

FLUTE

O sweet bully Bottom! Thus hath he lost sixpence a day during his life. He could not have ’scaped sixpence a day. An the duke had not given him sixpence a day for playing Pyramus, I’ll be hanged.
He would have deserved it. Sixpence a day in Pyramus, or nothing. He would have deserved it. Sixpence a day in Pyramus, or nothing.
Enter BOTTOM
Enter BOTTOM

BOTTOM

Where are these lads? Where are these hearts?

BOTTOM

Where are these lads? Where are these hearts?

QUINCE

Bottom! O most courageous day! O most happy hour!

QUINCE

Bottom! O most courageous day! O most happy hour!

BOTTOM

Masters, I am to discourse wonders—but ask me not what, for if I tell you I am no true Athenian. I will tell you everything, right as it fell out.

BOTTOM

Masters, I am to discourse wonders—but ask me not what, for if I tell you I am no true Athenian. I will tell you everything, right as it fell out.

QUINCE

Let us hear, sweet Bottom.

QUINCE

Let us hear, sweet Bottom.

BOTTOM

Not a word of me. All that I will tell you is that the duke hath dined. Get your apparel together, good strings to your beards, new ribbons to your pumps. Meet presently at the palace. Every man look o'er his part. For the short and the long is, our play is preferred. In any case, let Thisbe have clean linen. And let not him that plays the lion pair his nails, for they shall hang out for the lion’s claws. And most dear actors, eat no onions nor garlic, for we are to utter sweet breath. And I do not doubt but to hear them say, “It is a sweet comedy.” No more words. Away, go away!

BOTTOM

Not a word of me. All that I will tell you is that the duke hath dined. Get your apparel together, good strings to your beards, new ribbons to your pumps. Meet presently at the palace. Every man look o'er his part. For the short and the long is, our play is preferred. In any case, let Thisbe have clean linen. And let not him that plays the lion pair his nails, for they shall hang out for the lion’s claws. And most dear actors, eat no onions nor garlic, for we are to utter sweet breath. And I do not doubt but to hear them say, “It is a sweet comedy.” No more words. Away, go away!
Exeunt
Exeunt

Original Text

Modern Text
Enter QUINCE , FLUTE , SNOUT , and STARVELING
Enter QUINCE , FLUTE , SNOUT , and STARVELING

QUINCE

Have you sent to Bottom’s house? Is he come home yet?

QUINCE

Have you sent to Bottom’s house? Is he come home yet?

STARVELING

He cannot be heard of. Out of doubt he is transported.

STARVELING

He cannot be heard of. Out of doubt he is transported.

FLUTE

If he come not, then the play is marred. It goes not forward. Doth it?

FLUTE

If he come not, then the play is marred. It goes not forward. Doth it?

QUINCE

It is not possible. You have not a man in all Athens able to discharge Pyramus but he.

QUINCE

It is not possible. You have not a man in all Athens able to discharge Pyramus but he.

FLUTE

No, he hath simply the best wit of any handicraft man in Athens.

FLUTE

No, he hath simply the best wit of any handicraft man in Athens.

QUINCE

Yea, and the best person too. And he is a very paramour for a sweet voice.

QUINCE

Yea, and the best person too. And he is a very paramour for a sweet voice.

FLUTE

You must say “paragon.” A “paramour” is, God bless us, a thing of naught.

FLUTE

You must say “paragon.” A “paramour” is, God bless us, a thing of naught.
Enter SNUG
Enter SNUG

SNUG

Masters, the duke is coming from the temple, and there is two or three lords and ladies more married. If our sport had gone forward, we had all been made men.

SNUG

Masters, the duke is coming from the temple, and there is two or three lords and ladies more married. If our sport had gone forward, we had all been made men.

FLUTE

O sweet bully Bottom! Thus hath he lost sixpence a day during his life. He could not have ’scaped sixpence a day. An the duke had not given him sixpence a day for playing Pyramus, I’ll be hanged.

FLUTE

O sweet bully Bottom! Thus hath he lost sixpence a day during his life. He could not have ’scaped sixpence a day. An the duke had not given him sixpence a day for playing Pyramus, I’ll be hanged.
He would have deserved it. Sixpence a day in Pyramus, or nothing. He would have deserved it. Sixpence a day in Pyramus, or nothing.
Enter BOTTOM
Enter BOTTOM

BOTTOM

Where are these lads? Where are these hearts?

BOTTOM

Where are these lads? Where are these hearts?

QUINCE

Bottom! O most courageous day! O most happy hour!

QUINCE

Bottom! O most courageous day! O most happy hour!

BOTTOM

Masters, I am to discourse wonders—but ask me not what, for if I tell you I am no true Athenian. I will tell you everything, right as it fell out.

BOTTOM

Masters, I am to discourse wonders—but ask me not what, for if I tell you I am no true Athenian. I will tell you everything, right as it fell out.

QUINCE

Let us hear, sweet Bottom.

QUINCE

Let us hear, sweet Bottom.

BOTTOM

Not a word of me. All that I will tell you is that the duke hath dined. Get your apparel together, good strings to your beards, new ribbons to your pumps. Meet presently at the palace. Every man look o'er his part. For the short and the long is, our play is preferred. In any case, let Thisbe have clean linen. And let not him that plays the lion pair his nails, for they shall hang out for the lion’s claws. And most dear actors, eat no onions nor garlic, for we are to utter sweet breath. And I do not doubt but to hear them say, “It is a sweet comedy.” No more words. Away, go away!

BOTTOM

Not a word of me. All that I will tell you is that the duke hath dined. Get your apparel together, good strings to your beards, new ribbons to your pumps. Meet presently at the palace. Every man look o'er his part. For the short and the long is, our play is preferred. In any case, let Thisbe have clean linen. And let not him that plays the lion pair his nails, for they shall hang out for the lion’s claws. And most dear actors, eat no onions nor garlic, for we are to utter sweet breath. And I do not doubt but to hear them say, “It is a sweet comedy.” No more words. Away, go away!
Exeunt
Exeunt
Previous page Act 4, Scene 1 Next page Act 5, Scene 1
Test your knowledge

Take the Act 4, scene 2 Quick Quiz
Read the Summary

Read the Summary of Act 4, scene 2.
Shakespeare’s Life & Times

Dive into our comprehensive guide to ace your Shakespeare assignments

Popular pages: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Take a Study Break