Enter QUINCE for the Prologue. Prol. If we offend, it is with our good will. We do not come as minding to content you, Our true intent is. All for your delight, 110 We are not here. That you should here repent you, The actors are at hand; and, by their show, You shall know all that you are like to know. The. This fellow doth not stand upon points. Lys. He hath rid his prologue like a rough colt; he knows not the stop. A good moral, my lord: it is not enough to speak, but to speak true. Hip. Indeed he hath played on his prologue like a child on a recorder; a sound, but not in government. The. His speech was like a tangled chain; nothing impaired, but ali disordered. Who is next? Enter PYRAMUS and THISBE, Wall, Moonshine, and Lion, as in dumb-show. content To whisper, at the which let no man wonder. This man, with lanthorn, dog, and bush of thorn, Presenteth Moonshine; for, if you will know, By moonshine did these lovers think no scorn To meet at Ninus' tomb, there, there to woo. Which Lion vile with bloody mouth did stain. Anon comes Puramus, sweet youth and tall, And finds his trusty Thisby's mantle slain: Whereat with blade, with bloody blameful blade, He bravely broach'd his boiling bloody breast; And Thisby, tarrying in mulberry shade, Pyr. No, in truth, sir, he should not. ceiving me,' is Thisby's cue: she is to enter now, and I am to spy her through the wall. You shall see, it will fall pat as I told you. Yonder This. My love thou art my love, I think. Pyr. Think what thou wilt, I am thy lover's grace; 140 And, like Limander, am I trusty still. His dagger drew, and died. For all the rest, 150 Let Lion, Moonshine, Wall, and lovers twain, At large discourse, while here they do remain. Exeunt Prologue, THISBE, Lion, and Moonshine. The. I wonder if the lion be to speak. Dem. No wonder, my lord: one lion may, when many asses do. Wall. In this same interlude it doth befall This loam, this rough-cast, and this stone doth show The. Would you desire lime and hair to speak better? This. And I like Helen, till the Fates me kill. 200 Exit. This. 'Tide life, 'tide death, I come without delay. Exeunt PYRAMUS and THISBE. Wall. Thus have I, Wall, my part discharged so; And, being done, thus Wall away doth go. The. Now is the mural down between the two neighbours. Dem. No remedy, my lord, when walls are so wilful to hear without warning. 210 Hip. This is the silliest stuff that e'er I heard. The. The best in this kind are but shadows, and the worst are no worse, if imagination amend them. Hip. It must be your imagination then, and not theirs. The. If we imagine no worse of them than they of themselves, they may pass for excellent men. Here come two noble beasts in, a man and a lion. Enter Lion and Moonshine. Lion. You, ladies, you, whose gentle hearts do fear The smallest monstrous mouse that creeps on floor, May now perchance both quake and tremble here, When lion rough in wildest rage doth roar. Then know, that I, one Snug the joiner, am The. A very gentle beast, and of a good conscience. 231 Dem. The very best at a beast, my lord, that e'er I saw. Lys. This lion is a very fox for his valour. The. True; and a goose for his discretion. Dem. Not so, my lord; for his valour cannot carry his discretion, and the fox carries the goose. The. His discretion, I am sure, cannot carry his valour, for the goose carries not the fox. It is well leave it to his discretion, and let us listen to the moon. 241 Dem. Why, all these should be in the lantern ; for all these are in the moon. But, silence! here comes Thisbe. Enter THISBE, The. This passion, and the death of a dear friend, would go near to make a man look sad. Hip. Beshrew my heart, but I pity the man. Pyr. O wherefore, Nature, didst thou lions frame, Since lion vile hath here deflower'd my dear? Which is no, no—which was the fairest dame That liv'd, that lov'd, that lik'd, that look'd with cheer. Come, tears, confound; 300 Stabs himself. Hip. Methinks she should not use a long one for such a Pyramus: I hope she will be brief. Dem. A mote will turn the balance, which Pyramus, which Thisbe, is the better: he for a This. This is old Ninny's tomb. Where is my love? man, God warrant us; she for a woman, God Lion. Oh bless us. Lys. She hath spied him already with those sweet eyes. Dem. And thus she moans, videlicet: This. shines with a good grace. Asleep, my love? What, dead, my dove? O Pyramus, arise! Speak, speak! Quite dumb? Dead, dead! A tomb Must cover thy sweet eyes. These lily lips, This cherry nose, These yellow cowslip checks, His eyes were green as leeks. Come, come to me, With hands as pale as milk; Lay them in gore, Since you have shore With shears his thread of silk. Tongue, not a word: Come, trusty sword; 330 340 Puck. Now the hungry lion roars, Exeunt. 380 And the wolf behowls the moon ; Whilst the heavy ploughman snores, All with weary task fordone. Now the wasted brands do glow, Whilst the screech-owl, screeching loud, Puts the wretch that lies in woe In remembrance of a shroud. Now it is the time of night That the graves, all gaping wide, Every one lets forth his sprite, In the church-way paths to glide: And we fairies, that do run By the triple Hecate's team, From the presence of the sun, Following darkness like a dream, To sweep the dust behind the door. 390 Enter OBERON and TITANIA, with their Train. Obe. By the dead and drowsy fire; Every elf and fairy sprite Hop as light as bird from brier; And this ditty after me Sing, and dance it trippingly. 400 410 Tita. First, rehearse your song by rote, Shall upon their children be. 420 And each several chamber bless, Through this palace with sweet peace; And the owner of it blest, Ever shall in safety rest. Trip away; Make no stay; Meet me all by break of day. Exeunt OBERON, TITANIA, and Train. Puck. If we shadows have offended, 430 Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue, 410 We will make amends ere long; Else the Puck a liar call: So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends, And Robin shall restore amends. Exit. Magnificoes of Venice, Officers of the Court of Justice, Gaoler, Servants to Portia, and other Attendants. SCENE.-Partly at Venice, and partly at Belmont, the seat of Portia, on the Continent. ACT I. SCENE I.-Venice. A Street. Enter ANTONIO, SALARINO, and SALANIO. And such a want-wit sadness makes of me, Salar. Your mind is tossing on the ocean; 20 Nature hath fram'd strange fellows in her time: That they'll not show their teeth in way of smile. Enter BASSANIO, LORENZO, and GRATIANO. Salan. Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman. Gratiano, and Lorenzo. Fare ye well: If worthier friends had not prevented me. 60 Bass. Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? | Nor do I now make moan to be abridg'd You grow exceeding strange: must it be so? We two will leave you; but at dinner-time, 70 Gra. You look not well, Signior Antonio; Gra. 81 Let me play the fool: 90 Sleep when he wakes, and creep into the jaundice I'll tell thee more of this another time: Lor. Well, we will leave you then till dinner- I must be one of these same dumb wise men, From such a noble rate; but my chief care 130 Ant. I pray you, good Bassanio, let me know it; 140 Bass. In my school-days, when I had lost one I shot his fellow of the self-same flight Ant. You know me well, and herein spend but To wind about my love with circumstance; Bass. In Belmont is a lady richly left, Gra. Well,keep me company but two years more, Thou shalt not know the sound of thine own tongue. Ant. Farewell: I'll grow a talker for this gear. Gra. Thanks, i' faith; for silence is only commendable 111 170 Ant. Thou know'st that all my fortunes are at sea; Neither have I money, nor commodity SCENE II.-Belmont. A Room in PORTIA'S Enter PORTIA and NERISSA. Por. By my troth, Nerissa, my little body is aweary of this great world. |