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All Site ContentMidsummer Night's DreamAct 5Scene 1
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Rhymes
Humor
Act 5,
Scene 1
Lines 285-300

An explanation of Bottom-as-Pyramus’ humorous rhymes in Act 5, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Bottom (as Pyramus)

O wherefore, nature, didst thou lions frame,
Since lion vile hath here deflowered my dear? —
Which is —
[Bottom is subtly interrupted by Quince who mouths something to him]
                    no, no, which was the fairest dame
That lived, that loved, that liked, that looked with cheer.
Come tears, confound.
Out sword, and wound
The pap of Pyramus.
Ay, that left pap,
Where heart doth hop.
Thus die I: thus, thus, thus.
[He stabs himself]
Now am I dead,
Now am I fled,
My soul is in the sky.
Tongue, lose thy light;
Moon, take thy flight.
[Exit Moonshine]
Now die, die, die, die, die.

“Light” does rhyme with “flight,” but while an eye can lose its light, a tongue certainly can’t.