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