A Midsummer Nights Dream

Act I, scene I, 16-19, 36-51, 62-78 THESEUS Hippolyta, I wood thee with my sword, And won thy lo e, doin! thee in"#ries$ %#t I will wed thee in another &ey, 'ith pomp, with tri#mph and with re ellin!( )(((* 'ith c#nnin! hast tho# +ilchd my da#!hter,s heart, -#rnd her o.edience, which is d#e to me, -o st#..orn harshness/ and, my !racio#s d#&e, %e it so she$ will not here .e+ore yo#r !race 0onsent to marry with 1emetri#s, I .e! the ancient pri ile!e o+ Athens, As she is mine, I may dispose o+ her/ 'hich shall .e either to this !entleman 2r to her death, accordin! to o#r law Immediately pro ided in that case( 'hat say yo#, Hermia3 .e ad ised +air maid/ -o yo# yo#r +ather sho#ld .e as a !od$ 2ne that composed yo#r .ea#ties, yea, and one -o whom yo# are .#t as a +orm in wa4 %y him imprinted and within his power -o lea e the +i!#re or dis+i!#re it( )(((* %#t I .eseech yo#r !race that I may &now -he worst that may .e+all me in this case, I+ I re+#se to wed 1emetri#s( 5ither to die the death or to a."#re 6or e er the society o+ men( -here+ore, +air Hermia, 7#estion yo#r desires$ 8now o+ yo#r yo#th, e4amine well yo#r .lood, 'hether, i+ yo# yield not to yo#r +athers choice, 9o# can end#re the li ery o+ a n#n, 6or aye to .e in shady cloister mewd, -o li e a .arren sister all yo#r li+e, 0hantin! +aint hymns to the cold +r#itless moon( -hrice-.lessed they that master so their .lood, -o #nder!o s#ch maiden pil!rima!e$ %#t earthlier happy is the rose distilld, -han that which witherin! on the ir!in thorn :rows, li es and dies in sin!le .lessedness(

EGEUS

THESEUS

HERMIA

THESEUS

A Midsummer Nights Dream

Act I, scene I, 226-251 HELENA How happy some oer other some can .e; -hro#!h Athens I am tho#!ht as +air as she( %#t what o+ that3 1emetri#s thin&s not so$ He will not &now what all .#t he do &now/ And as he errs, dotin! on Hermias eyes, <o I, admirin! o+ his 7#alities/ -hin!s .ase and ile, +oldin! no 7#antity, =o e can transpose to +orm and di!nity/ =o e loo&s not with the eyes, .#t with the mind$ And there+ore is win!d 0#pid painted .lind/ >or hath =o es mind o+ any "#d!ement taste$ 'in!s and no eyes +i!#re #nheedy haste/ And there+ore is =o e said to .e a child, %eca#se in choice he is so o+t .e!#iled( As wa!!ish .oys in !ame themsel es +orswear, <o the .oy =o e is per"#red e ery where/ 6or ere 1emetri#s loo&d on Hermias eyne, He haild down oaths that he was only mine$ And when this hail some heat +rom Hermia +elt, <o he dissol ed, and showers o+ oaths did melt( I will !o tell him o+ +air Hermias +li!ht/ -hen to the wood will he to-morrow ni!ht ?#rs#e her$ and +or this intelli!ence I+ I ha e than&s, it is a dear e4pense/ %#t herein mean I to enrich my pain, -o ha e his si!ht thither and .ac& a!ain(

Act II, scene II, 151-162 HERMIA @Awa&in!A Help me, =ysander, help me; do thy .est -o pl#c& this crawlin! serpent +rom my .reast; Ay me, +or pity; what a dream was here; =ysander, loo& how I do 7#a&e with +ear/ Betho#!ht a serpent eat my heart away, And yo# sat smilin! at his cr#el pray( =ysander; what, remo ed3 =ysander; lord; 'hat, o#t o+ hearin!3 !one3 no so#nd, no word3 Alac&, where are yo# spea&, an i+ yo# hear$ <pea&, o+ all lo es; I swoon almost with +ear( >o3 then I well percei e yo# all not ni!h 5ither death or yo# Ill +ind immediately(

A Midsummer Nights Dream

PUCK

Fairy

!ER N TITANIA !ER N TITANIA

!ER N

-he &in! doth &eep his re els here to-ni!ht/ -a&e heed the 7#een come not within his si!ht$ 6or 2.eron is passin! +ell and wrath, %eca#se that she as her attendant hath A lo ely .oy, stolen +rom an Indian &in!$ <he ne er had so sweet a chan!elin!$ And "ealo#s 2.eron wo#ld ha e the child 8ni!ht o+ his train, to trace the +orests wild$ %#t she per+orce withholds the lo ed .oy, 0rowns him with +lowers and ma&es him all her "oy/ And now they ne er meet in !ro e or !reen, %y +o#ntain clear, or span!led starli!ht sheen, %#t, they do s7#are, that all their el es +or +ear 0reep into acorn-c#ps and hide them there( 5ither I mista&e yo#r shape and ma&in! 7#ite, 2r else yo# are that shrewd and &na ish sprite 0alld Do.in :ood+ellow/ are not yo# he -hat +ri!hts the maidens o+ the illa!ery$ <&im mil&, and sometimes la.o#r in the 7#ern And .ootless ma&e the .reathless ho#sewi+e ch#rn$ And sometime ma&e the drin& to .ear no .arm$ Bislead ni!ht-wanderers, la#!hin! at their harm3 -hose that Ho.!o.lin call yo# and sweet ?#c&, 9o# do their wor&, and they shall ha e !ood l#c& )E* Ill met .y moonli!ht, pro#d -itania( 'hat, "ealo#s 2.eron; 6airies, s&ip hence/ I ha e +orsworn his .ed and company( -arry, rash wanton/ am not I thy lord3 -hen I m#st .e thy lady/ .#t I &now 'hen tho# hast stolen away +rom +airy land, And in the shape o+ 0orin sat all day, ?layin! on pipes o+ corn and ersin! lo e -o amoro#s ?hillida( 'hy art tho# here, 0ome +rom the +arthest <teppe o+ India3 %#t that, +orsooth, the .o#ncin! AmaGon, 9o#r .#s&in,d mistress and yo#r warrior lo e, -o -hese#s m#st .e wedded, and yo# come -o !i e their .ed "oy and prosperity( How canst tho# th#s +or shame, -itania, :lance at my credit with Hippolyta, 8nowin! I &now thy lo e to -hese#s3 1idst tho# not lead him thro#!h the !limmerin! ni!ht 6rom ?eri!enia, whom he ra ished3 And ma&e him with +air A5!le .rea& his +aith, 'ith Ariadne and Antiopa3

Act II, scene I, 18-C1

Act II, scene I, 6F-8F

!ER N

!ER N

A Midsummer Nights Dream Ha in! once this "#ice, Ill watch -itania when she is asleep, And drop the li7#or o+ it in her eyes( -he ne4t thin! then she wa&in! loo&s #pon, %e it on lion, .ear, or wol+, or .#ll, 2n meddlin! mon&ey, or on .#sy ape, <he shall p#rs#e it with the so#l o+ lo e/ And ere I ta&e this charm +rom o++ her si!ht, As I can ta&e it with another her., I,ll ma&e her render #p her pa!e to me( %#t who comes here3 I am in isi.le$ And I will o erhear their con+erence( 'hat tho# seest when tho# dost wa&e, 1o it +or thy tr#e-lo e ta&e, =o e and lan!#ish +or his sa&e/ %e it o#nce, or cat, or .ear, ?ard, or .oar with .ristled hair, In thy eye that shall appear 'hen tho# wa&est, it is thy dear/ 'a&e when some ile thin! is near(

Act II, scene I, 176-188

Act II, scene II, 33-CF

! TT M TITANIA ! TT M

TITANIA

! TT M

TITANIA

Act III, scene I, 118-1CF @SingsA -he o#sel coc& so .lac& o+ h#e, H 'ith oran!e-tawny .ill, -he throstle with his note so tr#e, H -he wren with little 7#ill,-@Awa&in!A 'hat an!el wa&es me +rom my +lowery .ed3 @<in!sA -he +inch, the sparrow and the lar&, H -he plain-son! c#c&oo !ray, 'hose note +#ll many a man doth mar&, H And dares not answer nay$-+or, indeed, who wo#ld set his wit to so +oolish a .ird3 who wo#ld !i e a .ird the lie, tho#!h he cry Ic#c&oo ne er so3 I pray thee, !entle mortal, sin! a!ain/ Bine ear is m#ch enamo#rd o+ thy note$ <o is mine eye enthralled to thy shape$ And thy +air irt#es +orce per+orce doth mo e me 2n the +irst iew to say, to swear, I lo e thee( Bethin&s, mistress, yo# sho#ld ha e little reason +or that/ and yet, to say the tr#th, reason and lo e &eep little company to!ether now-a-days$ the more the pity that some honest nei!h.o#rs will not ma&e them +riends( >ay, I can !lee& #pon occasion( -ho# art as wise as tho# art .ea#ti+#l( )E* Act III, scene I, 159-162 -he honey-.a!s steal +rom the h#m.le-.ees, And +or ni!ht-tapers crop their wa4en thi!hs And li!ht them at the +iery !low-worms eyes, -o ha e my lo e to .ed and to arise$ -ie #p my lo e,s ton!#e .rin! him silently( Act III, scene I, 191

A Midsummer Nights Dream DEMETRIUS -hese thin!s seem small and #ndistin!#isha.le, =i&e +ar-o++ mo#ntains t#rnKd into clo#ds( HERMIA Bethin&s I see these thin!s with parted eye, 'hen e erythin! seems do#.le( HELENA <o methin&s/ And I ha e +o#nd 1emetri#s li&e a "ewel, Bine own, and not mine own( DEMETRIUS Are yo# s#re -hat we are awa&e3 It seems to me -hat yet we sleep, we dream( 1o not yo# thin& -he d#&e was here, and .id #s +ollow him3 HERMIA 9ea$ and my +ather( HELENA And Hippolyta( L"SANDER And he did .id #s +ollow to the temple( DEMETRIUS 'hy, then, we are awa&e/ lets +ollow him And .y the way let #s reco#nt o#r dreams( ! TT M Act IJ, scene 1, 186-197

I ha e had a most rare ision( I ha e had a dream, Act IJ, sc 1, 2F1-215 past the wit o+ man to say what dream it was/ man is .#t an ass, i+ he !o a.o#t to e4po#nd this dream( Betho#!ht I was L there is no man can tell what( Betho#!ht I was, L and metho#!ht I had, L .#t man is .#t a patched +ool, i+ he will o++er to say what metho#!ht I had( -he eye o+ man hath not heard, the ear o+ man hath not seen, mans hand is not a.le to taste, his ton!#e to concei e, nor his heart to report, what my dream was( I will !et ?eter M#ince to write a .allad o+ this dream/ it shall .e called %ottoms 1ream, .eca#se it hath no .ottom$ and I will sin! it in the latter end o+ a play, .e+ore the d#&e/ perad ent#re, to ma&e it the more !racio#s, I shall sin! it at her death( Basters, I am to disco#rse wonders/ .#t as& me not what$ +or i+ I tell yo#, I am no tr#e Athenian( I will tell yo# e erythin!, ri!ht as it +ell o#t( =et #s hear, sweet %ottom( >ot a word o+ me( I+ we shadows ha e o++ended, -hin& .#t this, and all is mended, -hat yo# ha e .#t sl#m.erd here 'hile these isions did appear( And this wea& and idle theme, >o more yieldin! .#t a dream, Act IJ, sc 2, 26-3F

! TT M #UINCE ! TT M PUCK

:entles, do not reprehend/ i+ yo# pardon, we will mend/ And, as I am an honest ?#c&, I+ we ha e #nearned l#c& >ow to scape the serpents ton!#e, 'e will ma&e amends ere lon!$ 5lse the ?#c& a liar call$ <o, !ood ni!ht #nto yo# all( :i e me yo#r hands, i+ we .e +riends, And Do.in shall restore amends(

A Midsummer Nights Dream Act J, scene 1, 1-27 HIPP L"TA THESEUS -is stran!e my -hese#s, that these lo ers spea& o+( Bore stran!e than tr#e/ I ne er may .elie e -hese anti7#e +a.les, nor these +airy toys( =o ers and madmen ha e s#ch seethin! .rains, <#ch shapin! +antasies, that apprehend Bore than cool reason e er comprehends( -he l#natic, the lo er and the poet Are o+ ima!ination all compact/ 2ne sees more de ils than ast hell can hold, -hat is, the madman/ the lo er, all as +rantic, <ees Helens .ea#ty in a .row o+ 5!ypt/ -he poets eye, in +ine +renGy rollin!, 1oth !lance +rom hea en to earth, +rom earth to hea en$ And as ima!ination .odies +orth -he +orms o+ thin!s #n&nown, the poets pen -#rns them to shapes and !i es to airy nothin! A local ha.itation and a name( <#ch tric&s hath stron! ima!ination, -hat i+ it wo#ld .#t apprehend some "oy, It comprehends some .rin!er o+ that "oy$ 2r in the ni!ht, ima!inin! some +ear, How easy is a .#sh s#pposed a .ear; %#t all the story o+ the ni!ht told o er, And all their minds trans+i!#red so to!ether, Bore witnesseth than +ancys ima!es And !rows to somethin! o+ !reat constancy$ %#t, howsoe er, stran!e and admira.le(

HIPP L"TA

A Midsummer Nights Dream L"SANDER @DeadsA IA tedio#s .rie+ scene o+ yo#n! ?yram#s And his lo e -his.e$ ery tra!ical mirth( THESEU Berry and tra!ical; tedio#s and .rie+; -hat is, hot ice and wondro#s stran!e snow( How shall we +ind the concord o+ this discord3 A play there is, my lord, some ten words lon!, 'hich is as .rie+ as I ha e &nown a play$ %#t .y ten words, my lord, it is too lon!, 'hich ma&es it tedio#s$ +or in all the play -here is not one word apt, one player +itted/ And tra!ical, my no.le lord, it is$ 6or ?yram#s therein doth &ill himsel+( 'hich, when I saw rehearsed, I m#st con+ess, Bade mine eyes water$ .#t more merry tears -he passion o+ lo#d la#!hter ne er shed( 'hat are they that do play it3 Hard-handed men that wor& in Athens here, 'hich ne er la.o#rd in their minds till now, And now ha e toild their #n.reathed memories 'ith this same play, a!ainst yo#r n#ptial( And we will hear it( >o, my no.le lord$ It is not +or yo#/ I ha e heard it o er, And it is nothin!, nothin! in the world$ )E* I will hear that play$ 6or ne er anythin! can .e amiss, 'hen simpleness and d#ty tender it( :o, .rin! them in/ and ta&e yo#r places, ladies( I lo e not to see wretchedness oer char!ed And d#ty in his ser ice perishin!( 'hy, !entle sweet, yo# shall see no s#ch thin!( He says they can do nothin! in this &ind( -he &inder we, to !i e them than&s +or nothin!( 2#r sport shall .e to ta&e what they mista&e/ And what poor d#ty cannot do, no.le respect -a&es it in mi!ht, not merit( 'here I ha e come, !reat cler&s ha e p#rposed -o !reet me with premeditated welcomes$ 'here I ha e seen them shi er and loo& pale, Ba&e periods in the midst o+ sentences, Act J, scene 1, 56-78

PHIL STRATE

THESEUS PHIL STRATE

THESEUS PHIL STRATE THESEUS

Act J, scene 1, 81-1F5

HIPP L"TA THESEUS HIPP L"TA THESEUS

-hrottle their practised accent in their +ears And in concl#sion d#m.ly ha e .ro&e o++, >ot payin! me a welcome( -r#st me, sweet, 2#t o+ this silence yet I pic&d a welcome$ And in the modesty o+ +ear+#l d#ty I read as m#ch as +rom the rattlin! ton!#e 2+ sa#cy and a#dacio#s elo7#ence( =o e, there+ore, and ton!#e-tied simplicity In least spea& most, to my capacity(

A Midsummer Nights Dream Pr$%$gue I+ we o++end, it is with o#r !ood will( Act J, scene 1, 1F8-118 -hat yo# sho#ld thin&, we come not to o++end, %#t with !ood will( -o show o#r simple s&ill, -hat is the tr#e .e!innin! o+ o#r end( 0onsider then we come .#t in despite( 'e do not come as mindin! to content yo#, 2#r tr#e intent is( All +or yo#r deli!ht 'e are not here( -hat yo# sho#ld here repent yo#, -he actors are at hand and .y their show 9o# shall &now all that yo# are li&e to &now( -his +ellow doth not stand #pon points( )E* I wonder i+ the lion .e to spea&( Act J, sc 1, 151-152 >o wonder, my lord/ one lion may, when many asses do( )E* 2 !rim-loo&d ni!ht; 2 ni!ht with h#e so .lac&; Act J, sc 1, 168-175 2 ni!ht, which e er art when day is not; 2 ni!ht, 2 ni!ht; alac&, alac&, alac&, I +ear my -his.es promise is +or!ot; And tho#, 2 wall, 2 sweet, 2 lo ely wall, -hat standst .etween her +athers !ro#nd and mine; -ho# wall, 2 wall, 2 sweet and lo ely wall, <how me thy chin&, to .lin& thro#!h with mine eyne; )E* I see a oice/ now will I to the chin&, Act J, sc 1, 191-196 -o spy an I can hear my -his.es +ace( -his.e; By lo e L tho# art my lo e, I thin&( -hin& what tho# wilt, I am thy lo ers !race$ And, li&e =emander, am I tr#sty still( And I li&e Helen, till the 6ates me &ill( )E* -his is the silliest st#++ that e er I heard( Act J, sc 1, 2F9-225 -he .est in this &ind are .#t shadows$ and the worst are no worse, i+ ima!ination amend them( It m#st .e yo#r ima!ination then, and not theirs( I+ we ima!ine no worse o+ them than they o+ themsel es, they may pass +or e4cellent men( Here come two no.le .easts in, a man and a lion( 9o#, ladies, yo#, whose !entle hearts do +ear -he smallest monstro#s mo#se that creeps on +loor, Bay now perchance .oth 7#a&e and trem.le here, 'hen lion ro#!h in wildest ra!e doth roar( -hen &now that I, one <n#! the "oiner, am A lion-+ell, nor else no lions dam$ 6or, i+ I sho#ld as lion come in stri+e Into this place, twere pity on my li+e( A ery !entle .east, o+ a !ood conscience( )E* -his lanthorn doth the horned moon present$ Act J, sc 1, 235-262

THESEUS DEMETRIUS Pyramus

This&e Pyramus This&e HIPP L"TA THESEUS HIPP L"TA THESEUS Li$'

THESEUS M$$'shi'e

DEMETRIUS THESEUS M$$'shi'e THESEUS HIPP L"TA THESEUS L"SANDER M$$'shi'e DEMETRIUS This&e Li$' @Doarin!A DEMETRIUS THESEUS HIPP L"TA

He sho#ld ha e worn the horns on his head( He is no crescent, and his horns are in isi.le within the circ#m+erence( -his lanthorn doth the horned moon present$ Bysel+ the man I the moon do seem to .e( -his is the !reatest error o+ all the rest/ the man sho#ld .e p#t into the lanthorn( How is it else the man I the moon3 )E* I am aweary o+ this moon/ wo#ld he wo#ld chan!e; It appears, .y his small li!ht o+ discretion, that he is in the wane$ .#t yet, in co#rtesy, in all reason, we m#st stay the time( ?roceed, Boon( All that I ha e to say, is, to tell yo# that the lanthorn is the moon$ I, the man in the moon$ this thorn-.#sh, my thorn-.#sh$ and this do!, my do!( 'hy, all these sho#ld .e in the lanthorn$ +or all these are in the moon( %#t, silence; here comes -his.e( -his is old >innys tom.( 'here is my lo e3 2hE @Thisbe runs offA 'ell roared, =ion( 'ell r#n, -his.e( 'ell shone, Boon( -r#ly, the moon shines with a !ood !race( )E* Act J, sc 1, 29C-262

Pyramus @Stabs himselfA -h#s die I, th#s, th#s, th#s( >ow am I dead, >ow am I +led$ By so#l is in the s&y/ -on!#e, lose thy li!ht$ Boon ta&e thy +li!ht/ @Exit MoonshineA >ow die, die, die, die, die( @DiesA