Midsummer Night's Dream

[Enter Quince, Flute, Snout, and Starveling]

Quince

Did you send anyone to Bottom’s house? Has he come home yet? 

Starveling

No one knows where he is. No doubt he’s been kidnapped. 

Flute

If he doesn’t come back, then the play is ruined. We can’t go on, right? 

Quince

Right. It’s not possible to do the play without him. There’s no one else in Athens who could play Pyramus. 

[Enter Titania, Queen of Fairies, Bottom with the ass-head, and fairies Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Mote, and Mustardseed]

Titania

Come sit down on this flower-strewn bed while I stroke your friendly cheeks, stick muskroses in your hair, and kiss your big, beautiful ears. 

Bottom

Where is Peaseblossom?

Peaseblossom

At your service. 

Bottom

Scratch my head, Peaseblossom. Where is Master Cobweb?

[Enter Oberon]

Oberon

I wonder if Titania has woken up yet, and I wonder what she first saw — the thing she must have fallen deeply in love with. 

[Enter Robin (Puck)]

Here comes my messenger. How are you, crazy fairy? What mischief are you up to in this haunted forest tonight?

[Enter Quince, Snug, Bottom, Flute, Snout, and Starveling]

Bottom

Is everyone here?

Quince

Right on time. This is the perfect place for our rehearsal. This grass here will be our stage, and this stand of trees will be backstage, and we’ll rehearse the play just as we plan to perform it for the Duke. 

Bottom

Peter Quince?

Quince

What is it, Bottom, my good friend?

[Enter Titania, Queen of fairies, with her attendants]

Titania

Let’s have a dance and a fairy song, and then you should all head off to work: some of you will kill worms in rosebuds, some of you will fight bats for their leathery wings so that you can make coats for my small elves, and some of you will ward off the loud owl that hoots while we sleep. Sing me to sleep now. Then go do your jobs and let me rest. 

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