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All Site ContentMidsummer Night's DreamAct 5Scene 1
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Theseus, Philostrate, Lysander, Hippolyta, and Quince, Lines 107-126
Performance Videos
Act 5,
Scene 1
Lines 107-126

A performance of lines 107-126 by Theseus, Philostrate, Lysander, Hippolyta, and Quince in Act 5, Scene 1 of myShakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

myShakespeare | Midsummer Night's Dream 5.1 Performance: Theseus, Philostrate et al Lines 107-126

Philostrate

So please your grace, the Prologue is addressed.

Theseus

Let him approach.
[Trumpets sound. Enter Quince who awkwardly reads a prologue speech he has written as an introduction to the play.]

Quince (as Prologue)

If we offend, it is with our goodwill
That, you should think: we come not to offend
But with goodwill. To show our simple skill,
That is the true beginning of our end.
Consider then we come but in despite.
We do not come as minding to content you,
Our true intent is. All for your delight
We are not here. That you should here repent you
The actors are at hand. And by their show
You shall know all that you are like to know.

Theseus

This fellow doth not stand upon points.

Lysander

He hath rid his prologue like a rough colt — he
knows not the stop. A good moral, my lord: it is not
enough to speak, but to speak true.

Hippolyta

Indeed, he hath played on this prologue like a
child on a recorder: a sound, but not in government.

Theseus

His speech was like a tangled chain: nothing
impaired, but all disordered. Who is next?