Midsummer Night's Dream

Snout

Will not the ladies be afeard of the lion?

Starveling

I fear it, I promise you.

Bottom

Masters, you ought to consider with yourself: to
bring in — God shield us — a lion among ladies is a most
dreadful thing, for there is not a more fearful wild fowl
than your lion living, and we ought to look to't.

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.

Helena

Yet Hermia still loves you; then be content.

Lysander

Content with Hermia? No, I do repent
The tedious minutes I with her have spent.
Not Hermia but Helena I love.
Who will not change a raven for a dove?
The will of man is by his reason swayed,
And reason says you are the worthier maid.
Things growing are not ripe until their season;
So I, being young, till now not ripe to reason.
And touching now the point of human skill,
Reason becomes the marshal to my will,
And leads me to your eyes, where I o'erlook
Love's stories written in love's richest book.

Lysander

Transparent Helena, nature shows art,
That through thy bosom makes me see thy heart.
Where is Demetrius? O, how fit a word
Is that vile name to perish on my sword!

Helena

Do not say so, Lysander; say not so.
What though he love your Hermia? Lord, what though?
Yet Hermia still loves you; then be content.

Lysander

Content with Hermia? No, I do repent
The tedious minutes I with her have spent.
Not Hermia but Helena I love.
Who will not change a raven for a dove?
The will of man is by his reason swayed,
And reason says you are the worthier maid.

Helena

O, I am out of breath in this fond chase.
The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace.
Happy is Hermia wheresoe'er she lies,
For she hath blessèd and attractive eyes.
How came her eyes so bright? Not with salt tears —
If so, my eyes are oftener washed than hers.
No, no, I am as ugly as a bear,
For beasts that meet me run away for fear.
Therefore no marvel though Demetrius
Do as a monster fly my presence thus.
What wicked and dissembling glass of mine
Made me compare with Hermia's sphery eyne?
[Helena sees Lysander asleep, but not Hermia]
But who is here? Lysander, on the ground?
Dead or asleep? I see no blood, no wound.
Lysander if you live, good sir, awake.
[Enter Titania, Queen of the fairies, with her attendants]

Titania

Come, now a roundel and a fairy song,
Then for the third part of a minute hence:
Some to kill cankers in the musk-rose buds,
Some war with reremice for their leathern wings
To make my small elves coats, and some keep back
The clamorous owl that nightly hoots and wonders
At our quaint spirits. Sing me now asleep.
Then to your offices and let me rest.
[She lies down. Fairies sing and dance]

First Fairy

You spotted snakes with double tongue,
    Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen.
Newts and blindworms, do no wrong,
    Come not near our Fairy Queen.

Oberon

Hast thou the flower there? Welcome, wanderer.

Robin (Puck)

Ay, there it is.

Oberon

                         I pray thee give it me.
I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows
Quite overcanopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses, and with eglantine.
There sleeps Titania sometime of the night,
Lulled in these flowers with dances and delight;
And there the snake throws her enamelled skin,
Weed wide enough to wrap a fairy in.
And with the juice of this I'll streak her eyes
And make her full of hateful fantasies.
[Oberon gives some of the flowers to Robin]
Take thou some of it, and seek through this grove.
A sweet Athenian lady is in love
With a disdainful youth. Anoint his eyes,
But do it when the next thing he espies
May be the lady. Thou shalt know the man
By the Athenian garments he hath on.
Effect it with some care, that he may prove
More fond on her than she upon her love.
And look thou meet me ere the first cock crow.

Robin

Fear not, my lord. Your servant shall do so.
[Exit Robin and Oberon separately]

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