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All Site ContentMidsummer Night's DreamAct 4Scene 1
Back to the Play
"Cavaliery"
Humor
Act 4,
Scene 1
Lines 5-26

An explanation of the humor in Bottom’s addresses to the fairies in Act 4, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Bottom

Where's Peaseblossom?

Peaseblossom

Ready.

Bottom

Scratch my head, Peaseblossom. Where's
Monsieur Cobweb?

Cobweb

Ready.

Bottom

Monsieur Cobweb, good monsieur, get you your
weapons in your hand and kill me a red-hipped bumble-bee
on the top of a thistle; and, good monsieur, 
bring me the honeybag. Do not fret yourself too much in the
action, monsieur; and, good monsieur, have a care 
the honeybag break not. I would be loath to have you
overflown with a honeybag, signor.
[Exit Cobweb]
Where's Monsieur Mustardseed?

Mustardseed

Ready.

Bottom

Give me your neaf, Monsieur Mustardseed. Pray
you, leave your courtesy, good monsieur.

Mustardseed

What's your will?

Bottom

Nothing, good monsieur, but to help Cavaliery
Peaseblossom to scratch. I must to the barber's,
monsieur, for methinks I am marvellous hairy about
the face; and I am such a tender ass, if my hair do
but tickle me I must scratch.

Bottom is really getting into his role as the Fairy Queen's consort, addressing his staff of elves with the pretentious sounding titles of Monsieur (French), Signor (Spanish), and Cavaliery (Italian).