that I will make the duke say, Let him roar again, let him roar again. Quin. 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. Bot. I grant you, friends, if that 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. Quin. You can play no part but Pyramus: for Pyramus is a sweet-faced man: a proper man, as one shall see in a summer's day; a most lovely, gentleman-like man; therefore you must needs play Pyramus. Bot. Well, I will undertake it. What beard were I best to play it in? Quin. Why, what you will. Bot. I will discharge it in either your straw-coloured beard", your orange-tawny beard, your purplein-grain beard, or your French-crown-colour beard, your perfect yellow. Quin. Some of your French-crowns have no hair at all 16, and then you will play bare-faced.-But, masters, here are your parts: and I am to entreat you, request you, and desire you, to con them by to-morrow night; and meet me in the palace wood, a mile without the town, by moon-light; there will we rehearse for if we meet in the city, we shall be dog'd with company, and our devices known. In the mean time, I will draw a bill of properties, such as our play wants. I pray you, fail me not. Bot. We will meet; and there we may rehearse more obscenely, and courageously. Take pains, be perfect; adieu. Quin. At the duke's oak we meet. Bot. Enough; Hold, or cut bow-strings". [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. A wood near Athens. Enter a Fairy at one door, and Puck at another. Puck. How now, spirit! whither wander you? Thorough bush, thorough briar, Thorough flood, thorough fire, In those freckles live their savours: Farewel, thou lob of spirits, I'll be gone; Puck. The king doth keep his revels here to night; Because that she, as her attendant, hath 21 Fai. Either I mistake your shape and making quite, Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite, Puck. Thou speak'st aright; I am that merry wanderer of the night. 125; I jest to Oberon, and make him smile, And, when she drinks, against her lips I bob, And then the whole quire hold their hips, and loffe; and swear A merrier hour was never wasted there. But room, Faery, here comes Oberon. Fai. And here my mistress:-'Would that he were gone! SCENE II. Enter OBERON, at one door, with his train, and TITANIA, at another, with hers. Obe. Ill met by moon-light, proud Titania. Obe. Tarry, rash wanton; Am not I thy lord? Playing on pipes of corn, and versing love Obe. How canst thou thus, for shame, Titania, Knowing I know thy love to Theseus? Didst thou not lead him through the glimmering night From Perigenia, whom he ravished? And make him with fair Æglé break his faith, With Ariadne, and Antiopa? Tita. These are the forgeries of jealousy: And never, since the middle summer's spring 27, Or on the beached margent of the sea, To dance our ringlets to the whistling wind, |