64

[yea,

but, for Alisander, alas, you see, how 'tis;--a little Dum. More calf, certain.
o'erparted:But there are worthies a-coming will Boyct. No; he is best iudu'd in the small.
speak their mind in some other sort.

Biron. This can't be Hector.
Biron. Stand aside, good Pompey,

Dum. He's a godor a painter; for he makes faces. Enter Holofernes for Judas, and Moth for Hercules. 5 Arm."

The armipotent Mars, of lances the alHol. “Great Hercules is presented by this imp,

- Gave Ilector a gift, —”.

[mighty, “Whose club kill'd Cerberus, that three-headed

Dum. A gilt nutmeg. canus;

Biron. A lemon. “ And, when he was a babe, a child, a shrimp, Long. Stuck with cloves *. “ Thus did he strangle serpents in his manus; 10 Dum. No, cloven

[the almighty, " Quoniam, he seemeth in minority;

Arm. Peace! “The armipotent Mars, of lances " Ergo, I come with this apology.

“Gave Hector a gift, the heir of lion! (ToMoth.] Keep some state in thy exit, and vanish. “A man so breath'd, that, certain, he would fight, Hol. “ Judas I am,"

[Exitloth.

“ From morn till night, out of his pavilion. Dum. A Judas!

15 “ I am that flower," Hol. Not Iscariot, sir.

Dum. That mint. “Judas I am, ycleped Macchabæus,"

Long. That columbine. Dum. Judas Macchabaus clipt, is plain Judas. Arn. Sweer lord Longaville, rein thy tongue. Biron. A kissing traitor;--How art thou provid Long.. I must rather give it the rein; for it Hol. “Judas I am,-

[Judas : 20 runs against Ilector. Dum. The more shame for you, Judas.

Dum. Ay, and Hector's a greyhound. Hol. What mean you, sir?

Arm. The sweet war-man is clead and rotten; Boyet. To make Judas hang himself.

sweet chucks, beat not the bones of the buried : Hol. Begin, sir; you are my elder. [elder. when he breathi’d, he was a man-But I will forBiron. Well follow'd; Judas was hanged on an 25 ward with my device; [To the Princess] sweet Hol. I will not be put out of countenance. royalty, bestow on me the sense of hearing. Biron. Because thou hast no face.

Prin. Speak, brave Hector; we are much deHol. What is this?

lighted. Boyet. A cittern' head.

Arm. I do adore thy sweet grace's slipper.
Dum. The head of a bodkin.

130 Boyet. Loves her by the foot.
Biron. A death's face in a ring. [seen. Dim. He may not by the yard.
Long. The face of an old Roman coin, scarce Arm. “This Hector far surmountedIlannibal,--."
Boyet. The pummel of Casaris taulchion. Cost. The party is gone, fellow Hector, she is
Dun. The carv'd-bone face on a flask'. Igone, she is two months on her way.
Biron. St. George's half-cheek in a brooch. 35 dim. What mean'st thou?
Dum. Ay, and in a brooch ot lead.

Cost. Faith, uniess you play the hone t Trojan, Biron. Ay, and worn in the cap of a tooth- the poor wench is cast away: she's quick; the drauer;

(tenance.

child brags in her belly already; 'tis yours. And now, forwarál; for we have put thee in comm. Arm. Dost thou infamonize me among poten

Hol. You have put me out of countenance. 40 tates: thou shalt die.
Liron. False; we have given thee faces.

Cost. Then shall Hector be whipp'd, for JaqueIlcl. But you have out-tac'd them all.

netta tliat is quick by bim; and hang'd, for Poule Biron. Anibou Wert a lion, we would do so. pey that is dead by him. Boyet. Therefore, as he is an ass, let him go.

Dum. Most rare Pompey! And! so adicu, sweet jude! nav,why dost thou stay : 45 Bott. Renowned l'ompey! Duin. For the latter end of his name.

Biron. Greater than greai, great, great, great Biron. For the ass to the Jude; give it him: Pompey! Pompey the huge! Judas, away.

[ble. Dim. Hector ireibles, II. This is not generous, not gentle, not hum- Biron. Pompey is mov’d:--Vore Ates, more Bojci. Alighttor monsieurJudas; it grows dark, 50 Ates'; stir them on, stir them on! he may stumble.

Dum. Hector will challenge him. Prin. Alas, poor Macchabæus, how he hath! Biron. Ay, if he have no more man's blood in's been baited!

belly than will sup a flea, Enter ermudo, for Blector.

Arm. By the north pole, I do challenge thee. Biron. Hide thy head, chilies; here come: 53 Cost. I will not fight with a pole, like a northern Ilector in arins.

man: I'll slashi; I'll do't by the sword:- pray Dum. Though my mocks come home by me, you, let me borrow my arms again. I will now be merry:

(this.

Dum. Room for the incensed worthies.
King. Ilector was but a Trojan' in respect of Cost. I'll do it in my shirt.
Boyet. But is this Liector?

60 Dum. Most resolute Pompey! Duni. Ithink, llector was not so ciean timber'd. Moih. Vaster,letme takeyoua button-hole lower. Long. Ilis leg is too big for llector.

Do you not see, Pompey is uncasingforthe combat? A cittern was a musical instrument of the harp kind. ? That is, a soldier's powder-horn. A Trojan, in the time of Shakspeare', was a cant term for a thief. * An orange stuck zith clore: appears to have been a common new-year's gift. Ate was the heathen goddess who incited bloodsicu. • Aleaning the weapons and armour wlich be more in the character of Pompey:

a

6

a

S

What mean you? you will lose your reputation. All wanton as a child, skipping, and vain ;

Arm. Gentlemen, and soldiers, pardon me; I Form’d by the eye, and, therefore, like the eye, will not combat in my shirt.

Full of straying shapes, of habits, and of forms, Dum. You may not deny it; Pompey hath Varying in subjects as the eye doth roll made the challenge.

5 To every varied object in his glance: Arm. Sweet bloods, I both may and will. Which party-coated presence of loose love, Biron. What reason have you fort?

Put on by us, if, in your heavenly eyes, Arm. The naked truth of it is, I have no shirt; Have mišbecom'd our oaths and gravities, I go woolward' for penance.

Those heavenly eyes, that look into these faults, Boyet. True, and it was enjoin'd him in Rome 10 Suggested us to make: Therefore, ladies, for want of linen: since when, I'll be sworn, he Our love being yours, the error that love makes wore none, but a dish-clout of Jaquenetta's; and Is likewise yours: we to ourselves prove false, that a' sears next his heart for a favour.

By being once false for ever to be true
Entor Mercade.

To those that make us both, fair ladies, you; Mer. God save you, madam!

15 And even that falshood, in itself a sin, Prin. Welcome, Mercade;

Thus purifies itself, and turns to grace. But that thou interruptst our merriment. Prin. We have receiv'd your letters, full of love;

Mer. I am sorry, madam; for the news I bring, Your favours, the ambassadors of love; Is heavy in my tongue. The king your father And, in our maiden council, rated them Prin. Dead, for iny life.

20 At curtship, pleasant jest, and courtesy, Mer. Even so: my tale is told. [cloud. As bombast * and as lining to the time: Biron. Worthies, away; the scene begins to But more devout than this, in our respects, Arm. For mine own part, I breathe free breath: Have we not been; and therefore met your loves I have seen the days of wrong through the little In their own fashion, like a merriment. [than jest. hole of discretion, and I will

right myself like a 25 Dum. Our letters, madam, shew'd inuch more soldier.

[Ěxeunt Worthies. Long. So did our looks. King. How fares your majesty?

Ros. We did not quote them so. Prin. Boyet, prepare; I will away to-night. King. Now, at the latest minute of the hour, King. Madam, not so; I do beseech you, stay. Grant us your loves.

Prin. Prepare, I say.--I thank you,gracious lords, 30 Frin. Å time, methinks, too short For all your fair endeavours; and entreat, To make a world-without-end bargain in: Out of a new-ad soul, that you vouchsafe No, no, my lord, your grace is perjur'd much, In your rich wisdom, to excuse, or hide, Full of dear guiltiness; and therefore this, The liberal' opposition of our spirits:

Jif for my love (as there is no such cause) If over-boldly we have borne ourselves 35 You will do aught, this shall you do for me: In the converse of breath, your gentleness Your oath I will not trust: but go with speed Was guilty of it. - Farewell, worthy lord!

To some forlorn and naked hermitage, A heavy heart bears not an humbie tongue: Remote from all the pleasures of the world; Escuse me so, coming so short of thanks

There stay, until the twelve cele tial signs For my great suit so easily obtain'd.

40 Have brought about their annual reckoning: King. The extreme parts of time extremely forms If this austere insociable lite All causes to the purpose of his speed;

Change not your offer made in heat of blood; And often, at his very loose, decides

If frosts, and fasts, hard lodging, and tirin weeds, That which long process could not arbitrate: Nip not the gaudy blossoms of your love; And though the mourning brow of progeny 45 But that it hear this trial, and last love; Forbid the smiling courtesy of love

Then, at the expiration of the year, The holy suit which fain it would convince; Come challenge, challenge me by these deserts, Yet, since love's argument was first on foot, And, by this virgin-palm, now kissing thine, Let not the cloud of sorrow justle it

I will be thine: and till that ins ani, shut From what it purpos'd; since, to wail friends lost, 50 My woeful self up in a mourning-house; Is not by much so wholesome, profitable,

Raining the tears of lainentation, As to rejoice at friends but newly found.

For the remembrance of my father's death. Pria. I understand you not, my griefs are double. of this thou do deny, let our hands part; Biron. Honest plain words best pierce the ear of Neither intitled in the other's heart. And by these badgesunderstand the king. [grief;-- 55 King. If this, or more than this, I would deny, For your fair sakes have we neglected time,

To fatter: up these powers of mine with rest, Play'dfoulplay withouroaths; your beauty, ladies, The sudden hand of death close up mine eje! Hath much deformod us, fashioning our humours Hence ever then my heart is in thy breast. Even to the opposed end of our intents :

Birun. And what to me, iny loves and whatio me! And what in us hath seem'd ridiculous, 60 Ros. You must be purged too, your sins are rank; As love is full of unbelitting strains ;

Tyour are attaint with fault and perjury: "To go woolward was a phrase appropriated to pilgrims and penitentiaries, and means, that he was clothed in woo, and not in linen. Liberal here signifies, as has been remarked in other places, free to excess. 3 That is, tempted us. * Bombast was a stull of loose texture, and used furmerly to swell the garment, and thence used to signity bulk, or shew without solidity. s'l bal is, to samk.

Ibcie ore, Therefore, if you my favour mean to get,

Biron. That's too long for a play. A twelve-month shall you spend, and never rest,

Enter Armado. But seek the weary beds of people sick.

Arm. Sweet majesty, vouchsafe me,Dum. But what to me, my love? but what to Prin. Was not that Hector? me?

[nesty: 5 Dum. That worthy knight of Troy.
Kath. A wife!-a beard, fair health, and ho- Arm. I will kiss thy royal finger, and take
With three-fold love I wish you all these three. leave: I am a votary; I have vow'd to Jaquenetta
Dum. O, shall I say, I thank you, gentle wife? to hold the plough for her sweet love three year.
Kath. Not so,my lord;--a twelve-month anda day But, most esteeni'd greatness, will you hear the di-
I'll inark no words that smooth-fac'd wooers say: '10 alogue that the two learned men have compiled,
Come when the king doth to my lady come, in praise of the owl and the cuckow it should
Then, if I have much love, I'll give you some. have follow'd in the end of our show.

Dum. I'll serve thee true and faithfully till then. King. Call them forth quickly, we will do so.
Kath. Yet swear not, lest you be forsworn again. Arm. Holloa! approach. —
Long. What says Maria

15

Enter all for a song. Mar. At the twelve-inonth's end,

This side is Hiems; winter.

[ow!, I'll change my black gown for a faithful friend. This Ver, the spring; the one maintain'd by the

Long. I'll stay with patience; but thetime is long. The other by the cuckow.
Mar. The liker you; few taller are so young.

Ver, begin.
Biron. Studies my lady? mistress, look on me, 20

SON G.
Behold the window of my heart, mine eye,
What humble suit attends thy answer there;

S P R I N G.
Inpose some service on me for thy love.

When daizies pied, and violets blue, Řos. Oft have I heard of you, my lord Biron, And lady-smocks all silver-white, Before I saw you, and the world's large tongue 25

And cuckow-buds of yellow hue, Proclaims you for a man replete with mocks;

Du paint the meadows with delight, Full of comparisons, and wounding flouts ;

The cuckow then, on every tree, Which you on all estates will execute,

Mocks marry'd men, for thus sings he,
That lie within the mercy of your wit:

Cuckow;
To weed this wormwood from your faithful brain; 30 Cuckow, cuckow,-0word of fear,
And therewithal, to win me, if you please,

Unpleasing to a married eur? (Without the which I am not to be won)

When shepherds pipe on oaten straws, You shall this twelve-inonth term from day to day And nierry larks are plowmen's clocks, Visit the speechless sick, and still converse

When turtles treud, and rooks, and darus, With groaning wretches; and your task shall be, 35 And maidens bleach their summer smocks, With all the tierce' endeavour of your wit,

The cuckow then, on every tree,
To enforce the pained impotent to sinile. [death: Mocks married men, for thus sings he,
Biron. To move wild laughter in the throat of

Cuckow;
It cannot be; it is impossible :

Cuckow, cuckow,- word of fear, Mirth cannot move a soul in agony.

140

Unpleasing to a married ear!
Ros. Why, that's the way to choak a gibing spirit,
Whose influence is begot of that loose grace,

W IN T E R.
Which shallow laughing hearers give to fools: When icicles hang by the wall,
A jest's prosperity lies in the ear

And Dick the shepherd blows his nail,
of him that hears it, never in the tongue 45 And Tom bears logs into the hall,
Of hini that makes it: then, if sickly ears,

And milk comes frozen home in pail, Deaf'd with the clamours of their own dear' groans, When blood is nipt, and ways be foul, Will hear your idle scorns, continue then,

Then nightly sings the staring ou:l,
And I will have you, and that fault withal ;

To-uho;
But, if they will not, throw away that spirit, 50 Tu-whit, to-who, a merry note,
And I shall find you empty of that fault,

While greasy Joan doth keel the pot'.
Right joyful of your reformation.

When all aloud the wind doth blow, Biron. A twelve-month? well, befal what will And coughing drowns the parson's sate*, befal,

And birds sit brooding in the snow, I'll jest a twelve-month in an hospital.

55

And Marian's nose looks red and rate, Prin. Ay, my sweet lord; and so I take my When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl, leave.

[To the King Then nightly sings the staring oul, King. No, madam; we will bring you on your

To-who; way.

[play: Tu-whit, to-who, a merry note, Biron. Our wooing doth not end like an old 60 While

greusy Joan doth keel the pot. Jack hath not Jill: these ladies' courtesy. Might well have made our sport a comedy. Arm. The words of Mercury are harsh after the

King. Come, sir, it wants a twelve-inonth and songs of Apollo. You, that way; we, this way. And then 'twill end. [a day,

[Exeunt omnes. · Fierce here means vehement, rapid. Dr. Johnson thinks, that dear should here, as in many other places, be dçre, sad, odious. i.e. Scum the pot. The word is yet used in Ireland. *i. e. his discourse.

MIDSUMMER

2

PERSONS REPRESENTE D..

Theseus, Duke of Athens.

Helena, in love with Demetriuș,
Egeus, Father to Hermia.
LYSANDER, in love with Hermia.

Attendants.
DEMETRIUS, in love with Hermia.
PHILOSTRATE, Master of the sports to Theseus. OBERON, King of the Fairies.
QUINCE, the Carpenter.

TITANIA, Queen of the Fairies.
SxUG, the Joiner.

Puck, or ROBIN-GOODFELLOW, a Fuiry. BOTTOM, the Weaver.

PEASEBLOSSOM, FLUTE, the Bellows-mender.

COBWEB,

Fairies. SNOUT, the Tinker.

Мотн, STARVELING, the Taylor.

MUSTARD-SEED,

Pyramus, HIPPOLITA, Queen of the Amazons, betrothed Thisbe,

Characters in the Interlude, pcrto Theseus.

l'all, Hermia, Daughter of Egeus, in love with Ly- Moonshine,

formed by the Clorons. sander.

Lyon,
Other Fairies attending their King and Queen: Attendants on Theseus and Hippolita.

SCENE, Athens, and a Hood not far from it.

SCENE 1.

Hippolita, I woo'd thee with my sword,
The Palace of Theseus, in Athens.

And won thy love, doing thee injuries;

But I will wed thee in another key, Enter Theseus, Hippolita, Philostrate, wilb Attendants.

With pomp, with triumph, and with revelling. The. Now, fair Hippolita, our nuptial hour 5 Enter Egeus, Hermia, Lysander, and Demetrius.

Draws on apace ; four happy days Ege. Happy be Theseus, our renowned duke bring in

The. Thanks, good Egeus: What's the news Another moon: but, oh, methinks, how slow

With thee? This old moon wanes! she lingers my desires, Ege. Full of vexation come I, with complaint Like to a step-dame, or a dowager,

10 Against my child, my daughter Hermia. Long withering out a young man's revenue. Stand forth, Demetrius ;-My noble lord, Hip. Four days will quickly steep themselves This man hath my consent to marry her: in nights;

Stand forth, Lysander;-and, my gracious duke, Four nights will quickly dream away the time; This man hath witch'd the bosom of my child: And then the moon, like to a silver bow 15 Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhimes, New bent in heaven, shall behold the night And interchang'd love-tokens with my child: Of our solemnities.

Thou hast by moon-light at her window sung, The. Go, Philostrate,

With feigning voice, verses of feigning love: Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments; And stoln the impression of her fantasy Awake the pert and niinble spirit of mirth; 20 With bracelets of ihy hair, rings, gawds', conceits, Turn melancholy forth to funerals,

Knacks, tritles, nosegays, sweet-meats, messengers The pale companion is not for our pomp: Of strong prevailinent in unharden'd youth:

[Exit Phi. With cunning last thou fich'd my daughter's heart; : i. e, baubles, toys.

Turn'a

with me,

Turn d her obedience, which is due to me, Ege. Scornful Lysander ! true, he hath my love;
To stubborn harshness: And, my gracious duke, And what is mine, my love shall render him:
Be it so she will not here before your grace And she is mine; and all my right of her
Consent to marry withi Demetrius,

I do estate unto Demetrius.
I beg the ancient privilege of Athens ;

5 Lys. I am, my lord, as well deriv'd as he, As she is unine, I inay dispose of her:

As well possess'd; my love is more than his; Which shall be either to this gentleman,

My fortunes every way as fairly rank’d, Or to her death; according to our law,

It not with vantage, as Demetrius'; Immediately provided in that case. (inaid: And, which is more than all these boasts can be,

The. What say you, Hermia? be advised, fair 101 am belov'd of beauteolis llermia: To you your father should be as a god;

Why should not I then prosecute my right? One that compos'd your beauties; yea, and one Demetrius, I'll arouch it to his head, To whom you are but as a form in wax,

Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena, By him imprinted, and within his power

And won her soul; and she, sweet lady, dotes, To leave the figure, or distigure it.

15 Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolaty, Demetrius is a worthy gentleman.

Upon th s spotted and inconstant man. Her. So is Lysander.

The. I must contess, that I have heard so much, The. In himself he is:

And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof; Put, in this kind, wanting your father's voice, But, being over-full of self-affairs, The other must be held the wortbier.

20 My mind did lose it.-But, Demetrius, come; Her. I would my father look'd but with my eyes. And come, Egeus; you shall go The. Rather your eyes must with his judgment I have some private schooling for you both. look.

For you, tair liermia, look you arm yourself Her. I do intreat your grace to pardon me. To fit your fancies to your father's will; I know not by what power I am made bold;

25 Or else the law of Athens yields you up Nor how it may concern my moclesty,

(Which by no means we may extenuate) In such a presence here, to plead my thoughts: To death, or to a vow of single lile.But I beseech your grace, that I may know Come, my Hlippolita; What cheer, my love? The worst that may befal me in this case, Demetrius, and Egeus, go along: If I refuse to wed Demetrius.

301 must empioy you in some business The. Either to die the death, or to abjure Against our nuptial; and confer with you For ever the society of men.

Of something, nearly that concerns yourselves. Thereiore, fair llermia, question your desires, Ege. With duty, and desire, we follow you. know of your youth', examine well your blood [Excunt Thes. Hip. Egeus, Dem. and train. Whether, if you vield not to your father's choice, 35 Lys. Ilow now, my love? Why is your check You can endure the livery of a nun;

so pale? For aye to be in shady cloister mew'd,

How chance the roses there do fade so fast? (well To live a barren sister all your lite,

Her. Belike, for want of rain; which I could Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon.

Beteem? them from the teinpest of mine eyes. Thrice blessed they, that master so their biood, 40 Lus. Al me! for aught that I could ever read, To undergo such maiden pilgrimage:

Could ever hear by tale or history, But earthlier happy is the rose distilld,

The course of true love never did run smooth. Than that which, withering on the virgin thorn, But, either it was different in blood ;Grows, lives, and dies, in single blessedness. Hier. O cross! too high to be enthralld to low!

ller. So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord, 4.5 Lys. Or else misgratied, in respect of years :Ere I will yield my virgin patent up

ber. O spight! too old to be engag'd to young! Upto his lordship, to wlove unwislid yoke

Lys.Orelseitstood upon the choice of friends :My soul consents not to give sovereignty.

Thur. O hell! to chuse love by another's eye! The. Take time to pause; and by the next new Lys. Or if there were a sympathy in choice, moon,

50 War, death, or sickness, did lay siege to it; (The sealing-clay betwixt my love and me, Making it momentary as a sound, For everlasting bond of fellowship)

Swift as a shallow, short as any dream; Upon that day either prepare to die,

Brief as the lightning in the colly'd' night For disobedience to your father's will;

That, in a spleen', untolds both heaven and earth, Or eise to wed Demetrius, as he would; 133 and ere a man hath power to say,- Behold! Ozon Diana's altar to protest,

The jaws of darkness do devour it up: For aye, austerity anci single life. [yield so quick bright things come to confusion.

Der. Relent, sweet llermia ;--And, Lysander, lier. If then true lovers have been ever cross'd, Thy crazed title to my certain right.

It stands as an edict in destiny:
Lys. You have her father's love, Demetrius; 60 Then let us teach our tryal patience,
Let me bave termia's: do you marry him.

Because it is a customary cross; 'i. e. consider your youth. ? i.e. give them. i.e. black. Meaning, in a sudden hasty fit.

* ,

As

a