Bot. What do you fee? you see an afs-head of your own, do you? Enter Quince. Quin. Blefs thee, Bottom, blefs thee; thou art tranflated. [Exit. Bot. I fee their knavery, this is to make an afs of me, to fright me if they could; but I will not stir from this place, do what they can; I will walk up and down here, and I will fing, that they fhall hear I am not afraid. The oufel cock, fo black of hue, With orange-tawny bill, The throftle with his note fo true, The wren with little quill. [Sings. Queen. What angel wakes me from my flow'ry bed? [waking. Bot. The finch, the fparrow, and the lark, [Sings. The plain-fong cuckow gray, Whofe note full many a man doth mark, And dares not answer, nay. For, indeed, who would fet his wit to fo foolish a bird ? who would give a bird the lye, tho' he cry cuckow never fo? Queen. I pray thee, gentle mortal, fing again; And thy fair virtue's force (perforce) doth move me, Bot. Methinks, Mistress, you should have little reafon for that: and yet, to say the truth, reafon and love keep little company together now-a-days. The (16) Mine ear is much enamour'd of thy note, On the firft view to fay, to fwear, I love thee; So is mine eye enthralled to thy fhape, And thy fair virtue's force (perforce) doth move me.] Thus the generality of the impreffions have fhuffled, and confused thefe verfes, to the utmoft degree of obscurity and nonsense: but I have from one of the old Quarto's reduced 'em to clearness and order: and as, without knowing fuch an authority for it, Dr. Thirlby ingeniously hinted to me, they fhould be placed. 2. more more the pity, that fome honeft neighbours will not make them friends. Nay, I can gleek upon occafion. Queen. Thou art as wife, as thou art beautiful. Bot. Not fo neither: but if I had wit enough to get out of this wood, I have enough to ferve mine own turn. Queen. Out of this wood do not defire to go, Thou shalt remain here, whether thou wilt or no. I am a fpirit of no common rate; The fummer still doth tend upon my state, And I do love thee; therefore, go with me, And they fhall fetch thee jewels from the deep, Peafebloffem! Cobweb! Meth! and Mustardfeed! (17) 1 Fair. Ready, 2 Fair. And I. 3 Fair. And I. 4 Fair. And I, where fhall we go? Queen. Be kind, and courteous to this gentleman; And pluck the wings from painted butterflies, 1 Fair. Hail, mortal, hail! (17) Enter Peafebloffom, Cobweb, Moth, Muftardfeed, and four Fairies.] Here the common editions have been fo extravagant as to fplit four Fairies into eight: but the old Quarto impreffions both come in to my affiftance to reduce 'em to their right number. The Queen calls them by their respective names, and immediately the four Fairies enter upon call. 2 Fair. 2 Fair. Hail! 3 Fair. Hail! Bot I cry your worship's mercy heartily; I befeech, your worship's name Cob. Cobweb. Bot. I fhall defire of you more acquaintance, good mafter Cobweb; if I cut my finger, I fhall make bold with you. Your name, honeft gentleman ? Peafe. Peafebloon. Bot. I pray you, commend me to miftrefs Squash your mother, and to mafter Peafcod your father. Good mafter Peafebloom, I fhall defire of you more acquaintance. too. Your name, I befeech you, Sir? Muf. Muftardfeed. Bot. Good mafter Muftardfeed, I know your patience well that fame cowardly giant-like ox-beef hath devour'd many a gentleman of your houfe. I promife you, your kindred hath made my eyes water ere now. I defire more of your acquaintance, good master Mustardfeed Queen. Come, wait upon him, lead him to my bower. The moon, methinks, looks with a watry eye, And when the weeps, weep ev'ry little flower, Lamenting fome enforced chastity! Tie up my love's tongue, bring him filently. [Exeunt. Enter King of Fairies. Ob. I wonder, if Titania be awak'd: Then what it was that next came in her eye, Which the must doat on in extremity. Enter Puck. ? Here comes my meffenger! how now, mad fprite, Were Were met together to rehearse a play, And forth my minnock comes: when they him spy, And, at our ftamp, here o'er and o'er one falls; Their fenfe thus weak, loft with their fears thus ftrong, Some fleeves, fome hats; from yielders all things catch, And left sweet Pyramus tranflated there : Ob. This falls out better, than I could devise. Puck. I took him fleeping; that is finish'd too; That, when he wakes, of force she must be ey'd. Qb. Stand clofe, this is the fame Athenian. Her. Now I but chide, but I fhould use thee worse : Being o'er fhoes in blood, plunge in the deep, The 1 The fun was not fo true unto the day, As he to me. Would he have ftol'n away Her. What's this to my Lyfander? where is he? Dem. I'ad rather give his carcafs to my hounds. Durft thou have look'd upon him, being awake? Dem. You fpend your paffion on a mispris'd mood; Nor is he dead, for aught that I can tell. Her. I pray thee, tell me then that he is well. And from thy hated prefence part I fo: See me no more, whether he's dead or no. [Exit. Dem. There is no following her in this fierce vein, For debt, that bankrupt sleep doth forrow owe; If for his tender here I make fome stay. [Lies down. Of |