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All Site ContentMidsummer Night's DreamAct 3Scene 1
Back to the Play
"made my eyes water"
Cultural Context
Act 3,
Scene 1
Lines 184-190

An explanation of Bottom’s reference to mustardseed making his eyes water in Act 3, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Bottom

acquaintance too — Your name, I beseech you, sir?

Mustardseed

Mustardseed.

Bottom

Good Master Mustardseed, I know your patience
well. That same cowardly giantlike ox-beef hath
devoured many a gentleman of your house. I promise
you, your kindred hath made my eyes water ere now. I
desire you of more acquaintance, good Master Mustardseed.

Mustard, so strong it can make your eyes water, was — and sometimes still is — served with beef.