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All Site ContentMidsummer Night's DreamAct 3Scene 1
Back to the Play
"eight and six"
Cultural Context
Act 3,
Scene 1
Lines 13-24

An explanation of the phrase “eight and six” in Act 3, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Starveling

I believe we must leave the killing out when
all is done.

Bottom

Not a whit. I have a device to make all well. Write
me a prologue, and let the prologue seem to say we will
do no harm with our swords, and that Pyramus is not
killed indeed, and for the more better assurance, tell
them that I, Pyramus, am not Pyramus, but Bottom the
weaver. This will put them out of fear.

Quince

Well, we will have such a prologue, and it shall be
written in eight and six.

Bottom

No, make it two more. Let it be written in eight
and eight.

This is the typical poetic form for a ballad, with alternating lines of eight and six syllables.