THESEUS
THESEUS
Now is the mural down between the two neighbours.
DEMETRIUS
DEMETRIUS
No remedy, my lord, when walls are so wilful to hear
DEMETRIUS
DEMETRIUS
without warning.
HIPPOLYTA
HIPPOLYTA
This is the silliest stuff that ever I heard.
THESEUS
THESEUS
The best in this kind are but shadows; and the worst
THESEUS
THESEUS
are no worse, if imagination amend them.
HIPPOLYTA
HIPPOLYTA
It must be your imagination then, and not theirs.
THESEUS
THESEUS
If we imagine no worse of them than they of
THESEUS
THESEUS
themselves, they may pass for excellent men. Here
THESEUS
THESEUS
come two noble beasts in, a man and a lion.
Enter Lion and Moonshine
Lion
Lion
You, ladies, you, whose gentle hearts do fear
Lion
Lion
The smallest monstrous mouse that creeps on floor,
Lion
Lion
May now perchance both quake and tremble here,
Lion
Lion
When lion rough in wildest rage doth roar.
Lion
Lion
Then know that I, one SNUG the joiner, am
Lion
Lion
A lion-fell, nor else no lion's dam;
Lion
Lion
For, if I should as lion come in strife
Lion
Lion
Into this place, 'twere pity on my life.
THESEUS
THESEUS
A very gentle beast, of a good conscience.
DEMETRIUS
DEMETRIUS
The very best at a beast, my lord, that e'er I saw.
LYSANDER
LYSANDER
This lion is a very fox for his valour.
THESEUS
THESEUS
True; and a goose for his discretion.
DEMETRIUS
DEMETRIUS
Not so, my lord; for his valour cannot carry his
DEMETRIUS
DEMETRIUS
discretion; and the fox carries the goose.
THESEUS
THESEUS
His discretion, I am sure, cannot carry his valour;
THESEUS
THESEUS
for the goose carries not the fox. It is well:
THESEUS
THESEUS
leave it to his discretion, and let us listen to the moon.
Moonshine
Moonshine
This lanthorn doth the horned moon present;--
DEMETRIUS
DEMETRIUS
He should have worn the horns on his head.
THESEUS
THESEUS
He is no crescent, and his horns are
THESEUS
THESEUS
invisible within the circumference.
Moonshine
Moonshine
This lanthorn doth the horned moon present;
Moonshine
Moonshine
Myself the man i' the moon do seem to be.
THESEUS
THESEUS
This is the greatest error of all the rest: the man
THESEUS
THESEUS
should be put into the lanthorn. How is it else the
THESEUS
THESEUS
man i' the moon?
DEMETRIUS
DEMETRIUS
He dares not come there for the candle; for, you
DEMETRIUS
DEMETRIUS
see, it is already in snuff.
HIPPOLYTA
HIPPOLYTA
I am aweary of this moon: would he would change!
THESEUS
THESEUS
It appears, by his small light of discretion, that
THESEUS
THESEUS
he is in the wane; but yet, in courtesy, in all
THESEUS
THESEUS
reason, we must stay the time.
LYSANDER
LYSANDER
Proceed, Moon.
Moonshine
Moonshine
All that I have to say, is, to tell you that the
Moonshine
Moonshine
lanthorn is the moon; I, the man in the moon; this
Moonshine
Moonshine
thorn-bush, my thorn-bush; and this dog, my dog.
DEMETRIUS
DEMETRIUS
Why, all these should be in the lanthorn; for all
DEMETRIUS
DEMETRIUS
these are in the moon. But, silence! here comes Thisbe.
Enter Thisbe
Thisbe
Thisbe
This is old Ninny's tomb. Where is my love?
Lion roars.
Thisbe runs off
DEMETRIUS
DEMETRIUS
Well roared, Lion.
THESEUS
THESEUS
Well run, Thisbe.
HIPPOLYTA
HIPPOLYTA
Well shone, Moon. Truly, the moon shines with a
HIPPOLYTA
HIPPOLYTA
good grace.
The Lion shakes Thisbe's mantle, and exit
THESEUS
THESEUS
Well moused, Lion.
LYSANDER
LYSANDER
And so the lion vanished.
DEMETRIUS
DEMETRIUS
And then came Pyramus.
Enter Pyramus
Pyramus
Pyramus
Sweet Moon, I thank thee for thy sunny beams;
Pyramus
Pyramus
I thank thee, Moon, for shining now so bright;
Pyramus
Pyramus
For, by thy gracious, golden, glittering gleams,
Pyramus
Pyramus
I trust to take of truest Thisby sight.
Pyramus
Pyramus
But stay, O spite!
Pyramus
Pyramus
But mark, poor knight,
Pyramus
Pyramus
What dreadful dole is here!
Pyramus
Pyramus
Eyes, do you see?
Pyramus
Pyramus
How can it be?
Pyramus
Pyramus
O dainty duck! O dear!
Pyramus
Pyramus
Thy mantle good,
Pyramus
Pyramus
What, stain'd with blood!
Pyramus
Pyramus
Approach, ye Furies fell!
Pyramus
Pyramus
O Fates, come, come,
Pyramus
Pyramus
Cut thread and thrum;
Pyramus
Pyramus
Quail, crush, conclude, and quell!
THESEUS
THESEUS
This passion, and the death of a dear friend, would
THESEUS
THESEUS
go near to make a man look sad.
HIPPOLYTA
HIPPOLYTA
Beshrew my heart, but I pity the man.
Pyramus
Pyramus
O wherefore, Nature, didst thou lions frame?
Pyramus
Pyramus
Since lion vile hath here deflower'd my dear:
Pyramus
Pyramus
Which is--no, no--which was the fairest dame
Pyramus
Pyramus
That lived, that loved, that liked, that look'd
Pyramus
Pyramus
with cheer.
Pyramus
Pyramus
Come, tears, confound;
Pyramus
Pyramus
Out, sword, and wound
Pyramus
Pyramus
The pap of Pyramus;
Pyramus
Pyramus
Ay, that left pap,
Pyramus
Pyramus
Where heart doth hop:
Stabs himself
Pyramus
Pyramus
Thus die I, thus, thus, thus.
Pyramus
Pyramus
Now am I dead,
Pyramus
Pyramus
Now am I fled;
Pyramus
Pyramus
My soul is in the sky:
Pyramus
Pyramus
Tongue, lose thy light;
Pyramus
Pyramus
Moon take thy flight:
Exit Moonshine
Pyramus
Pyramus
Now die, die, die, die, die.
Dies
THESEUS
THESEUS