A Midsummer Night's Dream Part 9

Sleepe.

Rob. Yet but three? Come one more, Two of both kindes makes vp foure.

Here she comes, curst and sad, Cupid is a knauish lad, Enter Hermia.

Thus to make poore females mad

Her. Neuer so wearie, neuer so in woe, Bedabbled with the dew, and torne with briars, I can no further crawle, no further goe; My legs can keepe no pace with my desires.

Here will I rest me till the breake of day, Heauens s.h.i.+eld Lysander, if they meane a fray

Rob. On the ground sleepe sound, Ile apply your eie gentle louer, remedy.

When thou wak'st, thou tak'st True delight in the sight of thy former Ladies eye, And the Country Prouerb knowne, That euery man should take his owne, In your waking shall be showne.

Iacke shall haue Iill, nought shall goe ill.

The man shall haue his Mare againe, and all shall bee well.

They sleepe all the Act.

Actus Quartus.

Enter Queene of Fairies, and Clowne, and Fairies, and the King behinde them.

t.i.ta. Come, sit thee downe vpon this flowry bed, While I thy amiable cheekes doe coy, And sticke muske roses in thy sleeke smoothe head, And kisse thy faire large eares, my gentle ioy

Clow. Where's Peaseblossome?

Peas. Ready

Clow. Scratch my head, Pease-blossome. Wher's Mounsieuer Cobweb

Cob. Ready

Clowne. Mounsieur Cobweb, good Mounsier get your weapons in your hand, & kill me a red hipt humble-Bee, on the top of a thistle; and good Mounsieur bring mee the hony bag. Doe not fret your selfe too much in the action, Mounsieur; and good mounsieur haue a care the hony bag breake not, I would be loth to haue you ouerflowne with a hony-bag signiour. Where's Mounsieur Mustardseed?

Mus. Ready

Clo. Giue me your neafe, Mounsieur Mustardseed.

Pray you leaue your courtesie good Mounsieur

Mus. What's your will?

Clo. Nothing good Mounsieur, but to help Caualery Cobweb to scratch. I must to the Barbers Mounsieur, for me-thinkes I am maruellous hairy about the face. And I am such a tender a.s.se, if my haire do but tickle me, I must scratch

t.i.ta. What, wilt thou heare some musicke, my sweet loue

Clow. I haue a reasonable good eare in musicke. Let vs haue the tongs and the bones.

Musicke Tongs, Rurall Musicke.

t.i.ta. Or say sweete Loue, what thou desirest to eat

Clowne. Truly a pecke of Prouender; I could munch your good dry Oates. Me-thinkes I haue a great desire to a bottle of hay: good hay, sweete hay hath no fellow

t.i.ta. I haue a venturous Fairy, That shall seeke the Squirrels h.o.a.rd, And fetch thee new Nuts

Clown. I had rather haue a handfull or two of dried pease. But I pray you let none of your people stirre me, I haue an exposition of sleepe come vpon me

Tyta. Sleepe thou, and I will winde thee in my arms, Fairies be gone, and be alwaies away.

So doth the woodbine, the sweet Honisuckle, Gently entwist; the female Iuy so Enrings the barky fingers of the Elme.

O how I loue thee! how I dote on thee!

Enter Robin goodfellow and Oberon.

Ob. Welcome good Robin: Seest thou this sweet sight?

Her dotage now I doe begin to pitty.

For meeting her of late behinde the wood, Seeking sweet sauours for this hatefull foole, I did vpbraid her, and fall out with her.

For she his hairy temples then had rounded, With coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers.

And that same dew which somtime on the buds, Was wont to swell like round and orient pearles; Stood now within the pretty flouriets eyes, Like teares that did their owne disgrace bewaile.

When I had at my pleasure taunted her, And she in milde termes beg'd my patience, I then did aske of her, her changeling childe, Which straight she gaue me, and her fairy sent To beare him to my Bower in Fairy Land.

And now I haue the Boy, I will vndoe This hatefull imperfection of her eyes.

And gentle Pucke, take this transformed scalpe, From off the head of this Athenian swaine; That he awaking when the other doe, May all to Athens backe againe repaire, And thinke no more of this nights accidents, But as the fierce vexation of dreame.

But first I will release the Fairy Queene.

Be thou as thou wast wont to be; See as thou wast wont to see.

Dians bud, or Cupids flower, Hath such force and blessed power.

Now my t.i.tania wake you my sweet Queene

t.i.ta. My Oberon, what visions haue I seene!

Me-thought I was enamoured of an a.s.se

Ob. There lies your loue

t.i.ta. How came these things to pa.s.se?

Oh, how mine eyes doth loath this visage now!

Ob. Silence a while. Robin take off his head: t.i.tania, musick call, and strike more dead Then common sleepe; of all these, fine the sense

t.i.ta. Musicke, ho musicke, such as charmeth sleepe.

Musick still.

Rob. When thou wak'st, with thine owne fooles eies peepe

Ob. Sound musick; come my Queen, take hands with me And rocke the ground whereon these sleepers be.

Now thou and I new in amity, And will to morrow midnight, solemnly Dance in Duke Theseus house triumphantly, And blesse it to all faire posterity.

There shall the paires of faithfull Louers be Wedded, with Theseus, all in iollity

Rob. Faire King attend, and marke, I doe heare the morning Larke, Ob. Then my Queene in silence sad, Trip we after the nights shade; We the Globe can compa.s.se soone, Swifter then the wandering Moone

t.i.ta. Come my Lord, and in our flight, Tell me how it came this night, That I sleeping heere was found,

Sleepers Lye still.

With these mortals on the ground.

Exeunt.