thorns and a lanthorn, and say, he comes to disfigure, or to present, the Person of moon-shine. Then there is another thing; we must have a wall in the great chamber, for Pyramus and Thisby (says the story) did talk thro the chink of a wall.

Snug. You never can bring in a wall. What say

you, Bottom?

Bot. Some man or other must present Wall ; and let him have some plaifter, or some lome, or some rough-cast about him, to signify wall: Or let him hold his fingers thus; and through the cranny shall Pyramus and Thisby whisper.

Quin. If that may be, then all is well. Come, fit down every mother's son, and rehearse your parts. Pyra’nus, you begin; when you have spoken your speech, enter into that brake; and so every one according to his cue.

Enter Puck behind.
Puck. What hempen home-spuns have we swag.

gering here,
So near the cradle of the fairy Queen?
What, a play tow’rd ? I'll be an auditor ;
An Actor too, perhaps, if I fee cause.

Quin. Speak, Pyramus; Thisby stand forth.
Pyr. Thisby, the flower of odicus savours sweet.
Quin. Odours, odours.
Pyr. Odours, favours sweet.

So doth thy breath, my dearest Thilby, dear ;
But hark, a voice! stay thou but here a whit; ?
And, by and by, I will to thee appear.

[Exit Pyramus. 2 In the old Editions,

- stay thou but here a whit; . - stay thou here a while ;] The Verses should be alternately in

i e. a little while: for so it figo Rhyme: but sweet in the Clofe nifies, as also any thing of no of the first Line, and while in Price, or Confideration; a dife: the third, will not do for this in which Sente it is very frequent purpose. The Author, doubt- with our Author. THE OBALD. less gave it;

Puck. A stranger Pyramusthan e'er plaid here! [ Aside.
This. Must I speak now?

Quin. Ay, marry, must you ; for you must understand, he goes but to see a noise that he heard, and is to come again.

This. Most radiant Pyramus, most lily-white of hue,

Of colour like the red rose on triumphant brier, Most briskly Juvenile, and eke most lovely few,

As true as truest horse, that yet would never tire, I'll meet thee, Pyramus, at Ninny's tomb.

Quin. Ninus' tomb, man; why you must not speak that yet : that you answer to Pyramus ; you speak all your part at once, cues and all. Pyramus, enter; your cue is past; it is, never tire.

Re-enter Botton, wilh an Ass head. This. 0!-As true as cruest horse, that yet would

never tire. Pyr. If I were fair, Thisby, I were only thine.

Quin. O monstrous ! O ftrange! we are haunted; pray, masters ; fly, masters; help! [The Clowns Exeunt.

Puck. I'll follow you, I'll lead you about a round. Through bog, through bush, through brake, through

bryer ; Sometimes a horse I'll be, sometimes a hound, A hog, a headless bear, sometimes a fire, And neigh, and bark, and grunt, and roar and burn, Like horse, hound, hog, bear, fire, at every turn. [ Exit.

Bot. Why do they run away ? this is a knavery of them to make me afeard.

Enter Snout. Snout. O Bottom, thou art chang’d; what do I see on thee? i

Bot. What do you see? you fee an ass-head of your own, do you?

Enter 3 Here are two syllables want. 'It is plain by Bottom's answer ing. Perhaps it was written, that Snout mentioned an Ass's through bog, through mire. Head. Therefore we should read, Vol. I.

K

Srout

3

Enter Quince. Quin. Bless thée, Bottom, bless thee; thou art translated.

Bot. I see their knavery, this is to make an ass of me, to frighe me if they can; but I will not stir from this place, do what they can ; I will walk up and down here, and I will sing, that they shall hear I am not afraid.

[Sings. The Ousel cock, so black of hue,

With orange-tawny bill,
The throftle with his note so true,

The wren with little quill.
Queen. What angel wakes me from my flow'ry bed?

[Waking Bot. The Finch, the sparrow, and the lark, [Sings.

The plain-fong cuckow gray,
Whose note full many a man doch mark,

And dares not answer, nay. For, indeed, who would set his wit to so foolish a bird? who would give a bird the lye, tho' he cry cuckow never so ?

Queen. I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing again ; 4 Mine ear is much enamour'd of thy note, So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape ;

Snous. O Bottom, thou art So is mine eye enthralled to thy changed, what do I fee on thee? Jhape, An Ais's head ?

And ihy fair virtue's force (per4 These lines are in one quarto force) doth move me. of 1600, the first folio of 1623. This reading I have inserted, not the second of 1632, and the third that it can fuggeit any thing betof 1644, &c. ranged in the fo! ter than the order to which the lowing order:

lines have been restored by Mr.

Tbeobald from another 4to, but to Mine ear is much enamour'd of shew that some liberty of conjec. tly note,

ture must be allowed in the revi. On the first view to fay, to fwearfal of works so inaccurately printI love thee;

ed and so long neglected.

And

And thy fair virtue's force (perforce) doth move me, On the first view to say, to swear, I love thee.

Bot. Methinks, mistress, you should have little reafon for that: and yet, to say the truth, reason and love keep little company together now a days. The more the pity, that some honest neighbours will not make them friends. Nay, I can s gleek upon occafion.

Queen. Thou art as wise, as thou art beautiful.

Bot. Not so neither : but if I had wit enough to get out of this wood, I have enough to serve mine own turn.

Queen Out of this wood do not desire to go,
Thou shalt remain here, whither thou wilt or no.
I am a spirit of no common rate;
The summer still doth tend upon my state,
And I do love thee: therefore, go with me,
I'll give thee fairies to attend on thee;
And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep,
And sing, while thou on pressed Aowers doft sleep:
And I will purge thy mortal grossness fo,
That thou shalt like an airy spirit go.
Peafeblossom! Cobweb! Moth! and Mustardfeed!

1 Fair. Ready.
2 Fair. And I.
3 Fair. And I.
4 Fair. And I: where shall we go?

Queen. Be kind and courteous to this gentleman ;
Hop in his walks, and gamble in his eyes;
Feed him with apricocks and dewberries,
With purple grapes, green figs and mulberries,
The honey-bags steal from the humble bees,
5--gleck ] Joke or Scoff. POPE,

And

K 2

6

with you.

And for night-tapers crop their waxen thighs,
And light them at the fiery glow-worm's eyes,
To have my love to bed, and to arise :
And pluck the wings from painted butterflies,
To fan the moon-beams from his sleeping eyes;
Nod to him, elves, and do him curtefies.

1 Fair. Hail, mortal, hail ! .
2 Fair. Hail !
3 Fair. Hail!

Bot. I cry your worship’s mercy heartily; I beseech, your worship's name.

Cob. Cobreeb.

Bit. I shall desire of you more acquaintance, good master Colweb; if I cut my finger, I shall make bold

Your name, honelt gentleman. Perfe. Peafebloljom.

Bit. I pray you, commend me to mistress Squash your mother, and to master Peafecod your father. Good master Peesebloljom, I shall desire of you more acquaint

Your name, I befeech you, Sir. Muf. Mustard seed.

Bot. Good master Mufiardfeed, I know your ? patience well: that same cowardly giant-like Ox-beef hath devour'd many a gentleman of your house. I promise you, your kindred hath made my eyes water

I de fire more of your acquaintance, good master Mustard seed.

Queen. Come, wait upon him, lead him to my bower.

The moon, methinks, looks with a watry eye; And when she weeps, weep ev'ry little flower,

Lamenting fone enforced chastity ! Tie up my love's tongue, bring him silently. (Exeunt.

ance too.

ere now.

6

7

The fiery glow.worms in his eyes, which is only in his

I know not bow Shuke tail.: prore, who commonly derived - patience.] The Ox. bi, knowledge of nature from ford Edition reads, I know your his own ob ervation, happened parentage well. I believe the to place the glow-worm's light correction is right.

SCENE