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Bottom

had a most rare vision. I have had a dream past the wit
of man to say what dream it was. Man is but an ass if he
go about to expound this dream. Methought I was —
there is no man can tell what methought I was and
methought I had — but man is but a patched fool if he
will offer to say what methought I had. The eye of man
hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, man's
hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceive, nor his
heart to report what my dream was. I will get Peter
Quince to write a ballad of this dream. It shall be called
“Bottom's Dream,” because it hath no bottom, and I will
sing it in the latter end of a play, before the Duke.
Peradventure, to make it the more gracious, I shall sing
it at her death.
[Exit Bottom]

Theseus

Go, one of you, find out the forester.
For now our observation is performed,
And since we have the vanguard of the day,
My love shall hear the music of my hounds.
Uncouple in the western valley; let them go.
Dispatch, I say, and find the forester.
[Exit servant]
We will, fair Queen, up to the mountain's top,
And mark the musical confusion
Of hounds and echo in conjunction.

Hippolyta

I was with Hercules and Cadmus once
When in a wood of Crete they bayed the bear
With hounds of Sparta. Never did I hear
Such gallant chiding, for besides, the groves,
The skies, the fountains, every region near
Seemed all one mutual cry. I never heard
So musical a discord, such sweet thunder.

Titania

                                    How came these things to pass?
O, how mine eyes do loathe his visage now!

Oberon

Silence awile – Robin, take off this head –
Titania, music call, and strike more dead
Than common sleep, of all these five, the sense.

Titania

Music, ho, music such as charmeth sleep.
[Soothing music]

Robin 

[Removing the ass's head from Bottom]
Now, when thou wak’st, with thine own fool's eyes peep.

Oberon

Sound, music.
[The music changes; it's still soothing but something to which they can dance.]
[Oberon and Titania dance]

Robin

Oberon

Titania

[Exit Oberon, Titania, and Robin. The two Athenians couples and Bottom remin asleep on the stage. Horns sound off stage. Enter Duke Theseus, his soon to be Queen, Hippolyta, the nobleman Egeus, and their attendants.]

Theseus

[Exit servant]

Hippolyta

Theseus

[Seeing the four lovers and Bottom asleep]

Egeus

Theseus

Egeus

Theseus

[Exit servant. Shout off stage: “Horns.” The horns sound, and the lovers wake, startled to find themselves lying next to each other, and to find themselves in the presence of the Duke.]

Lysander

[The lovers kneel before the Duke]

Theseus

[The lovers stand]

Lysander

Egeus

Demetrius

Theseus

[Exit Duke Theseus, Hippolyta, Egeus, and the Duke’s attendants. The lovers are disoriented from having been up most of the night, especially Lysander and Demetrius who are suffering the after-effects of the magic potions.]

Demetrius

Hermia

Helena

Demetrius

Hermia

Helena

Lysander

Demetrius

[Exit the lovers. Bottom wakes]

Bottom

[Exit Bottom]

Bottom

But I pray you, let none of your people stir me. I have an
exposition of sleep come upon me.

Titania

Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms.
Fairies, begone, and be always away.
[Exit fairies]
So doth the woodbine the sweet honeysuckle
Gently entwist; the female ivy so
Enrings the barky fingers of the elm.
O how I love thee, how I dote on thee!

Bottom

But I pray you, let none of your people stir me. I have an
exposition of sleep come upon me.

Titania

Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms.
Fairies, begone, and be always away.
[Exit fairies]
So doth the woodbine the sweet honeysuckle
Gently entwist; the female ivy so
Enrings the barky fingers of the elm.
O how I love thee, how I dote on thee!

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.

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