Bottom Well, I will undertake it. What beard were I best to play it in? Quince Why, what you will. Bottom I will discharge it in either your straw-color beard, your orange-tawny beard, your purple-in-grain beard, or your French-crown-color beard, your perfect yellow. Read more about Act 1, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "French-crown-color beard"
Bottom Well, I will undertake it. What beard were I best to play it in? Quince Why, what you will. Bottom I will discharge it in either your straw-color beard, your orange-tawny beard, your purple-in-grain beard, or your French-crown-color beard, your perfect yellow. Read more about Act 1, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "purple-in-grain"
Bottom Let me play the lion too. I will roar that I will do any man's heart good to hear me. I will roar that I will make the Duke say “Let him roar again, let him roar again.” Quince An you should do it too terribly you would fright the Duchess and the ladies that they would shriek, and that were enough to hang us all. All That would hang us, every mother's son. Bottom I grant you, friends, if you should fright the ladies out of their wits, they would have no more discretion but to hang us, but I will aggravate my voice so that I will roar you as gently as any sucking dove. I will roar you an 'twere any nightingale. Read more about Act 1, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "aggravate my voice"
Bottom Let me play the lion too. I will roar that I will do any man's heart good to hear me. I will roar that I will make the Duke say “Let him roar again, let him roar again.” Quince An you should do it too terribly you would fright the Duchess and the ladies that they would shriek, and that were enough to hang us all. All That would hang us, every mother's son. Bottom I grant you, friends, if you should fright the ladies out of their wits, they would have no more discretion but to hang us, but I will aggravate my voice so that I will roar you as gently as any sucking dove. I will roar you an 'twere any nightingale. Read more about Act 1, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "no more discretion"
Quince Snug the joiner, you the lion's part. And I hope here is a play fitted. Read more about Act 1, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "the lion's part"
Flute What is Thisbe? A wandering knight? Quince It is the lady that Pyramus must love. Flute Nay, faith, let not me play a woman. I have a beard coming. Quince That's all one. You shall play it in a mask, and you may speak as small as you will. Bottom An I may hide my face, let me play Thisbe too. I'll speak in a monstrous little voice: “Thisne, Thisne!” — “Ah Pyramus, my lover dear!" – "Thy Thisbe dear and lady dear!” Read more about Act 1, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "monstrous little"
Quince Flute, you must take Thisbe on you. Flute What is Thisbe? A wandering knight? Quince It is the lady that Pyramus must love. Flute Nay, faith, let not me play a woman. I have a beard coming. Read more about Act 1, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "wandering knight"
Bottom That will ask some tears in the true performing of it. If I do it, let the audience look to their eyes. I will move storms, I will condole in some measure. To the rest — yet my chief humor is for a tyrant. I could play Ercles rarely, or a part to tear a cat in, to make all split. The raging rocks And shivering shocks Shall break the locks Of prison gates, And Phibbus' car Shall shine from far And make and mar The foolish Fates. Read more about Act 1, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "Ercles"
Bottom First, good Peter Quince, say what the play treats on, then read the names of the actors, and so grow to a point. Quince Mary, our play is The Most Lamentable Comedy and Most Cruel Death of Pyramus and Thisbe. Bottom A very good piece of work, I assure you, and a merry. Now, good Peter Quince, call forth your actors by the scroll. Masters, spread yourselves. Read more about Act 1, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "Mary" and "merry"
Bottom then read the names of the actors, and so grow to a point. Read more about Act 1, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "grow to a point"
