ACT 1
Scene 2
...and back again.
Enter Quince the carpenter, and Snug the joiner, and Bottom the weaver, and Flute the bellows-mender, and Snout the tinker, and Starveling the tailor.
...Flute, the bellows-mender.
Here, Peter Quince.
...Thisbe on you.
What is Thisbe—a wand’ring knight?
...Pyramus must love.
Nay, faith, let not me play a woman. I have a
beard coming.
...hang us all.
That would hang us, every mother’s son.
...or cut bowstrings.
They exit.
ACT 3
Scene 1
...I’ll find immediately.
With Titania still asleep onstage, enter the Clowns, Bottom, Quince, Snout, Starveling, Snug, and Flute.
...e’er played here.
Must I speak now?
...to come again.
as Thisbe
Most radiant Pyramus, most lily-white of hue,
Of color like the red rose on triumphant brier,
Most brisky juvenal and eke most lovely Jew,
As true as truest horse, that yet would never tire.
I’ll meet thee, Pyramus, at Ninny’s tomb.
...is “never tire.”
O!
As Thisbe.
As true as truest horse, that yet would never tire.
...fly, masters! Help!
Quince, Flute, Snout, Snug, and Starveling exit.
ACT 4
Scene 2
...at her death.
Enter Quince, Flute, Snout, and Starveling.
...he is transported.
If he come not, then the play is marred. It goes
not forward, doth it?
...Pyramus but he.
No, he hath simply the best wit of any handicraftman
in Athens.
...a sweet voice.
You must say “paragon.” A “paramour” is (God
bless us) a thing of naught.
...been made men.
O, sweet bully Bottom! Thus hath he lost sixpence
a day during his life. He could not have
’scaped sixpence a day. An the Duke had not given
him sixpence a day for playing Pyramus, I’ll be
hanged. He would have deserved it. Sixpence a day
in Pyramus, or nothing!
...Away! Go, away!
They exit.
ACT 5
Scene 1
...Who is next?
Enter Pyramus (Bottom), and Thisbe (Flute), and Wall (Snout), and Moonshine (Starveling), and Lion (Snug), and Prologue (Quince).
...many asses do.
Lion, Thisbe, Moonshine, and Prologue exit.
...Yonder she comes.
Enter Thisbe (Flute).
as Thisbe
O wall, full often hast thou heard my moans
For parting my fair Pyramus and me.
My cherry lips have often kissed thy stones,
Thy stones with lime and hair knit up in thee.
...Thisbe’s face. Thisbe?
as Thisbe
My love! Thou art my love, I think.
...I trusty still.
as Thisbe
And I like Helen, till the Fates me kill.
...was so true.
as Thisbe
As Shafalus to Procrus, I to you.
...this vile wall.
as Thisbe
I kiss the wall’s hole, not your lips at all.
...meet me straightway?
as Thisbe
’Tide life, ’tide death, I come without delay.
Bottom and Flute exit.
...Here comes Thisbe.
Enter Thisbe (Flute).
as Thisbe
This is old Ninny’s tomb. Where is my love?
... O!
Thisbe runs off, dropping her mantle.
...him by starlight.
Enter Thisbe (Flute).
...she means, videlicet—
as Thisbe
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 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! Thisbe stabs herself.
And farewell, friends.
Thus Thisbe ends.
Adieu, adieu, adieu.
Thisbe falls.
...and Wall too.
Bottom and Flute arise.
...your epilogue alone.
Dance, and the players exit.