Translation

Script
ACT V

Act 5

SCENE I. Athens. The palace of

THESEUS.

Scene 1. Athens. The palace of Theseus.

Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE,

Lords and Attendants
HIPPOLYTA
'Tis strange my Theseus, that these
lovers speak of.
THESEUS
More strange than true: I never may believe
These antique fables, nor these fairy toys.
Lovers and madmen have such seething brains,
Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend
More than cool reason ever comprehends.
The lunatic, the lover and the poet
Are of imagination all compact:
One sees more devils than vast hell can hold,
That is, the madman: the lover, all as frantic,
Sees Helen's beauty in a brow of Egypt:
The poet's eye, in fine frenzy rolling,
Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to
heaven;
And as imagination bodies forth
The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen
Turns them to shapes and gives to airy nothing
A local habitation and a name.
Such tricks hath strong imagination,
That if it would but apprehend some joy,
It comprehends some bringer of that joy;
Or in the night, imagining some fear,
How easy is a bush supposed a bear!
HIPPOLYTA
But all the story of the night told over,
And all their minds transfigured so together,
More witnesseth than fancy's images
And grows to something of great constancy;
But, howsoever, strange and admirable.

Theseus, Hippolyta, Philostrate and other

lords and attendants enter the stage.
Hippolyta
Theseus, what these lovers speak of is weird.

THESEUS
Here come the lovers, full of joy and mirth.

Theseus
It is strange and fake: I dont believe old
fables, or fairy tales. Lovers and madmen
alike, see things that regular people dont
understand. Lunatics, lovers, and poets all
have active imaginations. The madman sees
many devils. For the lovers, all is frantic. They
see dark skinned gypsies look like Helen
(beautiful). Poets are looking around like they
are crazy; up and down. Their imagination
creates things that are fictional, and then they
write about them. These peoples
imaginations are so strong that they think a
godlike figure gives it to them. Or if they are
scared in the night, they might mistake a bush
for a bear!

Hippolyta
But the story that that I hear from them, and
all their minds coordinated together, how they
see the same things make me think that that
theres more going on than rubbish. It is
strange but admirable, and also consistent.
Theseus
The lovers are coming, full of joy and
amusement. Lysander, Demetrius, Hermia,

Enter LYSANDER, DEMETRIUS, HERMIA, and

HELENA
Joy, gentle friends! joy and fresh days of love
Accompany your hearts!
LYSANDER
More than to us
Wait in your royal walks, your board, your bed!
THESEUS
Come now; what masques, what dances shall we
have,
To wear away this long age of three hours
Between our after-supper and bed-time?
Where is our usual manager of mirth?
What revels are in hand? Is there no play,
To ease the anguish of a torturing hour?
Call Philostrate.
PHILOSTRATE
Here, mighty Theseus.
THESEUS
Say, what abridgement have you for this evening?
What masque? what music? How shall we beguile
The lazy time, if not with some delight?
PHILOSTRATE
There is a brief how many sports are ripe:
Make choice of which your highness will see first.
Giving a paper
THESEUS
[Reads] 'The battle with the Centaurs, to be sung
By an Athenian eunuch to the harp.'
We'll none of that: that have I told my love,
In glory of my kinsman Hercules.
Reads
'The riot of the tipsy Bacchanals,
Tearing the Thracian singer in their rage.'
That is an old device; and it was play'd
When I from Thebes came last a conqueror.
Reads
'The thrice three Muses mourning for the death
Of Learning, late deceased in beggary.'
That is some satire, keen and critical,
Not sorting with a nuptial ceremony.
Reads
'A tedious brief scene of young Pyramus

and Helena enter.

I hope you are happy my friends! I hope your
days ahead are joyful and full of love!
Lysander
Same to you. I hope you are filled with joy
when you walk, eat, and sleep!
Theseus
Now, what will we be entertained with during
the three hours between dinner and bedtime? Where is our entertainment manager?
What is going to be performed? Is there no
play to kill time before bed-time? Get
Philostrate.

Philostrate
Im here, Theseus.
Theseus
Tell us what play you have ready for us this
evening. What play, what music? How can we
pass time without entertainment?
Philostrate
Heres a list of what plays you will be seeing.
Choose the one you want to see first. Gives
paper.
Theseus
(Reads) The battle with the Centaurs, sung
by an Athenian eunuch with a harp. No, I
already told Hippolyta, in glory of my cousin
Hercules.
(Reads)
The riot of the tipsy Bacchanals, who tear
apart the Thracian singer because theyre
mad. Thats an old play; I saw it when I came
back from conquering Thebes.
(Reads)
The thrice three Muses mourning for the
death of learning, late deceased in beggary.
That is some keen satire, but not appropriate
of a wedding.
(Reads)
A tedious brief scene of young Pyramus and
his love Thisbe; very tragical mirth Happy
and sad? Short but still annoying? Thats like

And his love Thisbe; very tragical mirth.'

Merry and tragical? tedious and brief?
That is, hot ice and wondrous strange snow.
How shall we find the concord of this discord?
PHILOSTRATE
A play there is, my lord, some ten words long,
Which is as brief as I have known a play;
But by ten words, my lord, it is too long,
Which makes it tedious; for in all the play
There is not one word apt, one player fitted:
And tragical, my noble lord, it is;
For Pyramus therein doth kill himself.
Which, when I saw rehearsed, I must confess,
Made mine eyes water; but more merry tears
The passion of loud laughter never shed.
THESEUS
What are they that do play it?
PHILOSTRATE
Hard-handed men that work in Athens here,
Which never labour'd in their minds till now,
And now have toil'd their unbreathed memories
With this same play, against your nuptial.
THESEUS
And we will hear it.
PHILOSTRATE
No, my noble lord;
It is not for you: I have heard it over,
And it is nothing, nothing in the world;
Unless you can find sport in their intents,
Extremely stretch'd and conn'd with cruel pain,
To do you service.
THESEUS
I will hear that play;
For never anything can be amiss,
When simpleness and duty tender it.
Go, bring them in: and take your places, ladies.
Exit PHILOSTRATE
HIPPOLYTA
I love not to see wretchedness o'er charged
And duty in his service perishing.
THESEUS
Why, gentle sweet, you shall see no such thing.
HIPPOLYTA

hot ice and strange snow. I can this play be

so contradictory?
Philostrate
Its a play thats about ten words long, which
is the shortest play I have known; although it
would be better without those ten words. It's
hard work. In the whole play, not a single
word is written well, and none of the actors
are right for their part. Its also tragic since
Pyramus kills himself. I admit that when I saw
the rehearsal my eyes teared up, but they
were tears from laughter.
Theseus
Who performs this play?
Philostrate
Hard workers here in Athens, who have never
used their brains until now. All they have to
perform the play are their stupid minds for
your wedding.
Theseus
Lets watch it.
Philostrate
No, my lord; it isnt for you: Ive heard it
before, and it is worthless, unless you think
their efforts are funny.

Theseus
Ill watch that play, nothing can be bad if
simple and determined people make it. Bring
them in, and sit down, ladies.
Exit Philostrate
Hippolyta
I dont like to see poor people overworked or
looking bad when theyre trying for success.
Theseus
Honey, you wont see anything like that.
Hippolyta
He says they cant do that.
Theseus
Than were kinder to thank them for nothing.

He says they can do nothing in this kind.

THESEUS
The kinder we, to give them thanks for nothing.
Our sport shall be to take what they mistake:
And what poor duty cannot do, noble respect
Takes it in might, not merit.
Where I have come, great clerks have purposed
To greet me with premeditated welcomes;
Where I have seen them shiver and look pale,
Make periods in the midst of sentences,
Throttle their practised accent in their fears
And in conclusion dumbly have broke off,
Not paying me a welcome. Trust me, sweet,
Out of this silence yet I pick'd a welcome;
And in the modesty of fearful duty
I read as much as from the rattling tongue
Of saucy and audacious eloquence.
Love, therefore, and tongue-tied simplicity
In least speak most, to my capacity.
Re-enter PHILOSTRATE
PHILOSTRATE
So please your grace, the Prologue is address'd.
THESEUS
Let him approach.
Flourish of trumpets
Enter QUINCE for the Prologue
Prologue
If we offend, it is with our good will.
That you should think, we come not to offend,
But with good will. To show our simple skill,
That is the true beginning of our end.
Consider then we come but in despite.
We do not come as minding to contest you,
Our true intent is. All for your delight
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.
THESEUS
This fellow doth not stand upon points.
LYSANDER
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.

Well entertain ourselves by taking their

mistakes. When poor people cant do things
well, rich people can consider their effort
instead of the final product. When I traveled,
great clerks tried to greet me with memorized
speeches, instead I saw them turn pale,
pausing in the middle of sentences, and
choke their perfect tone in nervousness, only
to stop and never actually welcome me. Trust
me, honey I figured they tried to welcome be
from their silence; and it was clear from
someone modest as it is from someone loud
and audacious. In my opinion, tongue-tied
simplicity can speak the most, even when it
speaks the least.
Philostrate enter again

Philostrate
Your grace, the performer is ready.
Theseus
Let him come here.
Flourish of trumpets
Enter QUINCE for the Prologue
Prologue
If we offend you, it was on purpose. Dont
think we came here to offend, but understand
we offended with good intentions. Our plan to
show off our skill will get us executed. Keep in
mind we are here in to offend. Were not here
to try to make you happy. The actors are
ready to make you regret this decision. You
are about to know everything you probably
know.
Theseus
He doesnt pay attention to punctuation.
Lysander
He said that like he rode a wild horse; it was
bumpy and he could stop it. Moral is, you
cant just speak, you have speak correctly.
Hippolyta
Indeed, he said that like a child plays a
recorder, a sound, but not controlled.
Theseus

HIPPOLYTA
Indeed he hath played on his prologue like a child
on a recorder; a sound, but not in government.
THESEUS
His speech, was like a tangled chain; nothing
impaired, but all disordered. Who is next?
Enter Pyramus and Thisbe, Wall, Moonshine, and
Lion
Prologue
Gentles, perchance you wonder at this show;
But wonder on, till truth make all things plain.
This man is Pyramus, if you would know;
This beauteous lady Thisby is certain.
This man, with lime and rough-cast, doth present
Wall, that vile Wall which did these lovers sunder;
And through Wall's chink, poor souls, they are
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.
This grisly beast, which Lion hight by name,
The trusty Thisby, coming first by night,
Did scare away, or rather did affright;
And, as she fled, her mantle she did fall,
Which Lion vile with bloody mouth did stain.
Anon comes Pyramus, sweet youth and tall,
And finds his trusty Thisby's mantle slain:
Whereat, with blade, with bloody blameful blade,
He bravely broach'd is boiling bloody breast;
And Thisby, tarrying in mulberry shade,
His dagger drew, and died. For all the rest,
Let Lion, Moonshine, Wall, and lovers twain
At large discourse, while here they do remain.
Exeunt Prologue, Thisbe, Lion, and Moonshine
THESEUS
I wonder if the lion be to speak.
DEMETRIUS
No wonder, my lord: one lion may, when many
asses do.
Wall
In this same interlude it doth befall

It was like a tangled chain; not broken, but a

mess. Whos next?
Pyramus, Thisbe, Wall, Moonshine, and Lion
enter
Prologue
Ladies and gentlemen, you are probably
wondering what is going on. Wonder on, truth
will make things clear. This man is Pyramus,
and this beautiful lady is Thisbe. This man
with the limestone and cement represents a
wall, the wall that separates these lovers. And
these poor souls whisper through the walls
hole. No one should be surprised. This man,
with his lantern, dog, and thorn bush,
represents moonshine; because, if you will
know, these lovers did not scorn the thought
of meeting under moonshine at Ninus tomb
to seek affection. The beast, Lion, scared
away the trusty Thisbe, and as she ran, he
scarf fell, which the Lion stained with with
blood. Then comes Pyramus, sweet young
man and tall, finds the scarf and assumes
Thisbe is dead. He now takes his sword, with
bloody blade, and stabs open his boiling
bloody breast, and Thisbe, hiding in the
mulberry bush shade, takes his sword, and
kills herself. For the rest of the story, let Lion,
Moonshine, Wall and lovers two, talk more
while they are there.

Theseus
I wonder if the lion will speak.
Demetrius
Surely, my lord. If asses can, a lion should.
Wall
Now, I, Snout, present a wall; such a wall
where I pretend to have a hole, where the
lovers, Pyramus and Thisbe, often secretly
whispered through. This loam, cement, and
stone show that I am the same wall.

That I, one Snout by name, present a wall;

And such a wall, as I would have you think,
That had in it a crannied hole or chink,
Through which the lovers, Pyramus and Thisby,
Did whisper often very secretly.
This loam, this rough-cast and this stone doth
show
That I am that same wall; the truth is so:
And this the cranny is, right and sinister,
Through which the fearful lovers are to whisper.
THESEUS
Would you desire lime and hair to speak better?
DEMETRIUS
It is the wittiest partition that ever I heard
discourse, my lord.
Enter Pyramus
THESEUS
Pyramus draws near the wall: silence!
Pyramus
O grim-look'd night! O night with hue so black!
O night, which ever art when day is not!
O night, O night! alack, alack, alack,
I fear my Thisby's promise is forgot!
And thou, O wall, O sweet, O lovely wall,
That stand'st between her father's ground and
mine!
Thou wall, O wall, O sweet and lovely wall,
Show me thy chink, to blink through with mine
eyne!
Wall holds up his fingers
Thanks, courteous wall: Jove shield thee well for
this!
But what see I? No Thisby do I see.
O wicked wall, through whom I see no bliss!
Cursed be thy stones for thus deceiving me!
THESEUS
The wall, methinks, being sensible, should curse
again.
Pyramus
No, in truth, sir, he should not. 'Deceiving 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 she comes.

Theseus
Can you speak any better?
Demetrius
Its the smartest wall Ive ever heard speak,
my lord.
Pyramus enters
Theseus
Pyramus is coming near the wall; silence!
Pyramus
Oh grim-looking night! Oh dark, dark night!
Oh night, always present when day is not!
Oh night, Oh night! So sad, sad, sad, I fear
Thisbe forgot her promise! And you wall, Oh
wall, Oh sweet, Oh lovely wall, that stands
between her fathers land and mine! Thou
wall, O wall, Oh sweet and lovely wall, Show
me your hole, so I can look through with my
eye!
Wall holds up two fingers
Thanks, courteous wall: You will be protected
for this! But I do not see Thisbe! Oh wicked
wall, through I see no happiness! Curse your
stones for deceiving me!

Theseus
I think that wall, being able to, should curse
back at him
Pyramus
Truthfully, he shouldnt, sir. Deceiving me is
Thisbes cue: She should enter now, and I will
see her through the wall. Youll see, it will
happen as I told you. Here she comes.
Thisbe enters
Thisbe
Oh wall, you always hear my moans, because
you have separated Pyramus and I! Ive have

Enter Thisbe
Thisbe
O wall, full often hast thou heard my moans,
For parting my fair Pyramus and me!
My cherry lips have often kiss'd thy stones,
Thy stones with lime and hair knit up in thee.
Pyramus
I see a voice: now will I to the chink,
To spy an I can hear my Thisby's face. Thisby!
Thisbe
My love thou art, my love I think.
Pyramus
Think what thou wilt, I am thy lover's grace;
And, like Limander, am I trusty still.
Thisbe
And I like Helen, till the Fates me kill.
Pyramus
Not Shafalus to Procrus was so true.
Thisbe
As Shafalus to Procrus, I to you.
Pyramus
O kiss me through the hole of this vile wall!
Thisbe
I kiss the wall's hole, not your lips at all.
Pyramus
Wilt thou at Ninny's tomb meet me straightway?
Thisbe
'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.
Exit
THESEUS
Now is the mural down between the two
neighbours.
DEMETRIUS
No remedy, my lord, when walls are so wilful to
hear
without warning.
HIPPOLYTA
This is the silliest stuff that ever I heard.
THESEUS

often kissed your stones that are sealed

tightly.
Pyramus
I hear her; I will look through the whole to see
if she is there. Thisbe!
Thisbe
My love, my love, I think.
Pyramus
Think what you want, I am your love. And I
like Limander, am loyal to you.
Thisbe
And like Helen, to the day I die.
Pyramus
I am more loyal than Shafalus to Procrus.
Thisbe
I am as loyal as Shafalus was to Procrus
Pyramus
O kiss me through the hole of this wall!
Thisbe
I dont kiss you, but I kiss the wall.
Pyramus
Will you meet me at Ninnys tomb right away?
Thisbe
Neither life or death will stop me from coming.
Pyramus and Thisbe exit
Wall
I, Wall, have done my part. I will leave now.
Wall exits
Theseus
Now the wall is down between Pyramus and
Thisbe.
Demetrius
You cant do anything, my lord, talking walls
do what they want.
Hippolyta
This is the silliest stuff Ive ever seen.
Theseus
The best plays arent real, and the worst and
any worse if you imagine they are good.

The best in this kind are but shadows; and the

worst
are no worse, if imagination amend them.
HIPPOLYTA
It must be your imagination then, and not theirs.
THESEUS
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
A lion-fell, nor else no lion's dam;
For, if I should as lion come in strife
Into this place, 'twere pity on my life.
THESEUS
A very gentle beast, of a good conscience.
DEMETRIUS
The very best at a beast, my lord, that e'er I saw.
LYSANDER
This lion is a very fox for his valour.
THESEUS
True; and a goose for his discretion.
DEMETRIUS
Not so, my lord; for his valour cannot carry his
discretion; and the fox carries the goose.
THESEUS
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.
Moonshine
This lanthorn doth the horned moon present;-DEMETRIUS
He should have worn the horns on his head.
THESEUS
He is no crescent, and his horns are

Hippolyta
You must be imagining, not them.
Theseus
If we imagine them as they think of
themselves, they could pass for excellent
actors. Here comes the man and the lion.
Lion and Moonshine Enter
Lion
Ladies, with your gentle hearts, fear the
smallest monstrous mouse that crawls on the
floor, may now get scared here, when the lion
roars hear. Know that I, Snug the Joiner, am
not a lion or lioness; for if I were a lion, I
would come in conflict, I would be taking my
own life.

Theseus
A beast of good conscience.
Demetrius
The best played beast Ive ever seen, my
lord.
Lysander
The lion is as brave as a fox.
Theseus
True. And wise as a goose.
Demetrius
I disagree, my lord, He isnt brave enough to
be wise; and the fox carries the goose.
Theseus
He isnt smart enough to be brave. Its fine,
leave it to his smarts, listen to the moon.

Moonshine
The lantern represents the horned moon-Demetrius
He should have worn the thorns on his head.
Theseus
He is no crescent moon, and his horns are
invisible in the circumference.
Moonshine

invisible within the circumference.

Moonshine
This lanthorn doth the horned moon present;
Myself the man i' the moon do seem to be.
THESEUS
This is the greatest error of all the rest: the man
should be put into the lanthorn. How is it else the
man i' the moon?
DEMETRIUS
He dares not come there for the candle; for, you
see, it is already in snuff.
HIPPOLYTA
I am aweary of this moon: would he would
change!
THESEUS
It appears, by his small light of discretion, that
he is in the wane; but yet, in courtesy, in all
reason, we must stay the time.
LYSANDER
Proceed, Moon.
Moonshine
All that I have to say, is, to tell you that the
lanthorn is the moon; I, the man in the moon; this
thorn-bush, my thorn-bush; and this dog, my dog.
DEMETRIUS
Why, all these should be in the lanthorn; for all
these are in the moon. But, silence! here comes
Thisbe.
Enter Thisbe
Thisbe
This is old Ninny's tomb. Where is my love?
Lion
[Roaring] Oh-Thisbe runs off
DEMETRIUS
Well roared, Lion.
THESEUS
Well run, Thisbe.
HIPPOLYTA
Well shone, Moon. Truly, the moon shines with a
good grace.
The Lion shakes Thisbe's mantle, and exit
THESEUS

The lantern represents the horned moon; I

am the man in the moon.
Theseus
This is the greatest error of all time; the man
should be in the lantern, how else is he the
man in the moon?
Demetrius
He cant go in there because the candle
makes it too hot.
Hippolyta
Im done with the moon. I wish he would just
get off the stage!
Theseus
It seems that he is in wane, but, to be polite,
we must stay the time.
Lysander
Proceed, Moon
Moonshine
All I have to tell you is that the lantern is the
moon, and I am the man in the moon, this my
thorn bush, and this my dog.
Demetrius
These should all be in the lantern; for all
these are in the moon, but silence! Here
comes Thisbe.
Enter Thisbe
Thisbe
This is old Ninnys tomb. Where is Pyramus?
Lion
(Roars)Oh-Thisbe runs away
Demetrius
Good roar, Lion.
Theseus
Way to run, Thisbe.
Hippolyta
Way to shine moon. Truthfully, the moon
shines with grace
The Lion shakes Thisbes scarf, and exits
Theseus
Good job, Lion.
Lysander

Well moused, Lion.

LYSANDER
And so the lion vanished.
DEMETRIUS
And then came Pyramus.
Enter Pyramus
Pyramus
Sweet Moon, I thank thee for thy sunny beams;
I thank thee, Moon, for shining now so bright;
For, by thy gracious, golden, glittering gleams,
I trust to take of truest Thisby sight.
But stay, O spite!
But mark, poor knight,
What dreadful dole is here!
Eyes, do you see?
How can it be?
O dainty duck! O dear!
Thy mantle good,
What, stain'd with blood!
Approach, ye Furies fell!
O Fates, come, come,
Cut thread and thrum;
Quail, crush, conclude, and quell!
THESEUS
This passion, and the death of a dear friend, would
go near to make a man look sad.
HIPPOLYTA
Beshrew my heart, but I pity the man.
Pyramus
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 lived, that loved, that liked, that look'd
with cheer.
Come, tears, confound;
Out, sword, and wound
The pap of Pyramus;
Ay, that left pap,
Where heart doth hop:
Stabs himself
Thus die I, thus, thus, thus.
Now am I dead,
Now am I fled;

The lion has vanished.

Demetrius
Pyramus has come.
Enter Pyramus
Pyramus
Sweet Moon, thanks for your bright beams; I
thank you for shining so bright; because
under your golden, glittering beams, I will see
Thisbe. But wait, Oh spite! Look, a dreadful
tragedy has happened! Is this real? How can
it be? Oh dainty duck! Oh dear! The good
scarf stained with blood! Furies, come. Fates,
come and cut the thread of my life. Quail,
crush, conclude, and quell!

Theseus
The passion, the death of a dear friend, would
nearly make a man look sad.
Hippolyta
Deprave my heart of if I dont feel sorry.
Pyramus
Oh Nature, why are there lions? A lion has
devoured my dear: Which is--no-- which was
the fairest lady that lived, that loved, that
liked, that look'd with cheer. I am crying; Out,
sword, and wound the chest of Pyramus; the
left of the chest, where the heart is:
Stabs himself
Now I die, now, now, now. Now I am dead, my
soul has left my body, tongue, sees no light,
Moon, leave:
Exit Moonshine
Now I die, die, die, die, die.
Dies

My soul is in the sky:

Tongue, lose thy light;
Moon take thy flight:
Exit Moonshine
Now die, die, die, die, die.
Dies
DEMETRIUS
No die, but an ace, for him; for he is but one.
LYSANDER
Less than an ace, man; for he is dead; he is
nothing.
THESEUS
With the help of a surgeon he might yet recover,
and
prove an ass.
HIPPOLYTA
How chance Moonshine is gone before Thisbe
comes
back and finds her lover?
THESEUS
She will find him by starlight. Here she comes;
and
her passion ends the play.
Re-enter Thisbe
HIPPOLYTA
Methinks she should not use a long one for such a
Pyramus: I hope she will be brief.
DEMETRIUS
A mote will turn the balance, which Pyramus,
which
Thisbe, is the better; he for a man, God warrant
us;
she for a woman, God bless us.
LYSANDER
She hath spied him already with those sweet eyes.
DEMETRIUS
And thus she means, videlicet:-Thisbe
Asleep, my love?
What, dead, my dove?
O Pyramus, arise!
Speak, speak. Quite dumb?

Demetrius
No die, but an ace, for there is only one of
him.
Lysander
Hes not an ace, hes dead; hes nothing.
Theseus
He could be revived with the help of a doctor
and prove to be an ass.
Hippolyta
How can Thisbe find Pyramus dead without
Moonshine?
Theseus
Shell see him with the light of the stars. Here
she comes; her passion will end the play
Thisbe re-enters
Hippolyta
I think that she shouldnt be so long like
Pyramus; I hope shell be breif
Demetrius
I dont know who is better. If its Pyramus,
God warrant us; if its Thisbe, God bless us.

Theseus
She saw them with her sweet eyes.
Demetrius
And this moans, videlicet:-Thisbe
My love, are you asleep? Are you dead?
Pyramus, wake up! Speak! Are you dumb?
Dead, dead? You must be placed in a tomb.
Your lips, your nose, your yellow cowslip
cheeks, are gone: Lovers, cry: His eyes were
green as leeks. Three sisters come, to me,

Dead, dead? A tomb

Must cover thy sweet eyes.
These My lips,
This cherry nose,
These yellow cowslip cheeks,
Are gone, are gone:
Lovers, make moan:
His eyes were green as leeks.
O Sisters Three,
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;
Come, blade, my breast imbrue:
Stabs herself
And, farewell, friends;
Thus Thisby ends:
Adieu, adieu, adieu.
Dies
THESEUS
Moonshine and Lion are left to bury the dead.
DEMETRIUS
Ay, and Wall too.
BOTTOM
[Starting up] No assure you; the wall is down that
parted their fathers. Will it please you to see the
epilogue, or to hear a Bergomask dance between
two
of our company?
THESEUS
No epilogue, I pray you; for your play needs no
excuse. Never excuse; for when the players are all
dead, there needs none to be blamed. Marry, if he
that writ it had played Pyramus and hanged
himself
in Thisbe's garter, it would have been a fine
tragedy: and so it is, truly; and very notably
discharged. But come, your Bergomask: let your
epilogue alone.
A dance

with white hands; Lay them in gore, since you

cut his thread of life with shears. Dont speak,
come trusty sword, come blade, into my
breast:
Stabs herself
Good bye friends, Now Thisbe ends, Bye,
Bye, Bye.
Dies

Theseus
Moonshine and Lion are left to bury the dead.
Demetrius
And Wall too.
Bottom
(Not Pyramus) No, surely, there is no wall. Do
you want to see an epilogue or hear a
Bergomask dance between two of us?

Theseus
Please, no epilogue; you dont need an
excuse. No excuse; the actors are all dead,
nobody needs to be blamed. Even, if
Pyramus hung himself with Thisbes belt, that
would have been a fine tragedy: and so it is,
truly: well done. But well see your dance,
leave the epilogue alone.

A dance
The clock has struck midnight: Lovers, sleep;
its almost fairy time. Im worried we will sleep

The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve:

Lovers, to bed; 'tis almost fairy time.
I fear we shall out-sleep the coming morn
As much as we this night have overwatch'd.
This palpable-gross play hath well beguiled
The heavy gait of night. Sweet friends, to bed.
A fortnight hold we this solemnity,
In nightly revels and new jollity.
Exeunt
Enter PUCK
PUCK
Now the hungry lion roars,
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,
Now are frolic. Not a mouse
Shall disturb this hallow'd house.
I am sent with broom before,
To sweep the dust behind the door.
Enter OBERON and TITANIA with their train
OBERON
Through the house give gathering light,
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.
TITANIA
First, rehearse your song by rote
To each word a warbling note:
Hand in hand, with fairy grace,

in too late, as long as we stayed up. This play

devoured the time . Friends, lets go to bed.
Well hold this solemnity, in nightly
celebrations of fun.
Exit
Puck Enters

Puck
Now the hungry lion roars and the wolf howls
at the moon; The farmer is asleep, he is tired
from the hard work he has done, The
branches glow in the fire, While the owl
screeches, Makes the old man remember
death. Now its night time, when graves open
wide. All the spirits are free where they glide
over church-way paths; And fairies that do run
by the triple Hecates team, from the sun,
following darkness like a dream, now are
frolic. Not even a mouse will disturb this
haunted house. I was sent to clean before.

Oberon and Titania enter with their followers

Oberon
Through the house there is light, thanks to the
dying fire. Every elf and fairy hop like birds
form briers; And sing and dance this song
with me.

Titania
First practice your song, with each note good.
Hold hands, with the grace of a fairy, we will
sing, and bless this place.
Song and Dance

Will we sing, and bless this place.

Song and dance
OBERON
Now, until the break of day,
Through this house each fairy stray.
To the best bride-bed will we,
Which by us shall blessed be;
And the issue there create
Ever shall be fortunate.
So shall all the couples three
Ever true in loving be;
And the blots of Nature's hand
Shall not in their issue stand;
Never mole, hare lip, nor scar,
Nor mark prodigious, such as are
Despised in nativity,
Shall upon their children be.
With this field-dew consecrate,
Every fairy take his gait;
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,
Think but this, and all is mended-That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend:
if you pardon, we will mend.
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,
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.

Oberon
Now, until dawn, all fairies should come
through this house. We will go to the best
bride-bed and bless it. And it should always
have good luck. So should the three couples
always be loyal, and their children will be
perfect. Take this dew from the field and bless
every room throughout this palace with
peace. And the owner of it will always be
safe. Go along, dont stay, meet me at dawn.
Oberon, Titania, and their followers exit

Puck
If we have offended you, Think this, and youll
be healed-- That you have slept here and you
saw these visions. And this stupid theme, was
no more than just a dream, Ladies and
Gentlemen, do not be upset, if you pardon us,
well heal. And, as I am an honest Puck, if
were lucky, we will escape the hiss, we will
make long amends, If not, you can call me a
liar. So good night to you all. Clap for me, if
we are friends, and Robin will make it up to
you.