QUINCE

Is all our company here? Here is the scroll of every men name, which is thought fit, through all Athens, to play in our Interlude, be before the Duke, & the Duchess, on his wedding day at night. Marry, our Play is the most lamentable comedy, and most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisbe. Answer, as I call you. Neck Bottom, the Weaver? You, Neck Bottom are set down for Pyramus. A lover that kills himself, most gallant, for love. Francis Flute, the Bellows mender? Flute, you must take Thisbe, on you. It is the Lady, that Pyramus must love. Thats all one: you shall play it in a Mask: and you may speak as small as you will. Robin Starveling, you must play Thysbyes mother Tom Snout, the Tinker? You, Pyramus father; my self, Thisbies father; Snug, the Joiner, you the Lyons partly: And I hope here is a Play fitted. You may do it, extempore: for it is nothing but roaring. And you should do it too terribly, you would fright the Duchess, and the Ladies, that they would shriek: and that were enough to hang us all. You can play no partly but Piramus : for Piramus is a sweet faced man; a proper man as one shall see in a some mers day; a most lovely gentlemanlike man: therefore you must needs play Piramus. Why? what you will. Some of your french crowns have no hair at all; and then you will play bore faced. But masters here are your parts, and I am to entreat you, request you, and desire you, to con them by to morrow night: and meet me in the palace wood, a mile without the town, by Moon light; there will we rehearse: for if we meet in the city, we shall be dogd with company, and our devises known. In the mean time, I will draw a bill of properties, such as our play wants. I pray you fail me not. At the Dukes oak we meet. Pat, pat: and heres a marvels convenient place, for our rehearsal. This green plot shall be our stage, this hauthorne brake our tiring house, and we will do it in Actium, as we will do it before the Duke. What sayest thou, bully, Bottom? Well: we will have such a Prologue, and it shall be written in eight and six. Well: it shall be so: but there is two hard things; that is, to bring the Moonlight into a chamber: for you know, Pyramus and Thisbe meet by Moonlight. Yes: it does shine that night. I: or else, one must come in, with a bush of thorns, & a la ̄ tern, and say he comes to disfigure, or to present the person of Moonshine. Then, there is another thing; we must have a wall in the great cham ̄ ber: for Pyramus & This by (says the story) did talk through the chink of a wall. If that may be, then all is well. Come, fit down e very mother's son, and rehearse your parts. Pyramus, you begin: when you have spoken your speech, enter into that Brake, and so every one according to his cue. Speak Pyramus: Thysby stand forth. Odours, odorous. A stranger Pyramus, then ere played here. I marry must you. For you must understand ̄ worser, he goes but to see a noise, that he herd, and is to come again. Ninus tomb, man. Why? you must not speak That yet. That you answer to Pyramus. You speak All your partly at once, cues, and, all. Pyramus, enter: your cue is passed: It is; never tire. Oh monstrous! Oh strange! We are haunted. Pray ma sters: fly Master's: help. Bless thee Bottom, bless thee. Thou art tram ̄ slated. Exit. Have you sent to Bottoms house? Is he come home, yet? It is not possible. You have not a man, in all A them, able to discharge Pyramus, but he. Yea, and the best person to, and he is a very Paramour, for a sweet voice. Let us hear, sweet Bottom. Robin Starveling, the Tailer? Bottom, o most courageous day! Oh most happy hour! 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 content 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 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 Thsby is certain. This man, with lime and roughcast, does present Wall, that vile wall, which did these lovers sunder: And through walls chink, poor souls, they are content To whisper. At the which, let no man wonder. This man, with lantern, dog, and bush of thorn, Presents moonshine. For if you will know, By moonshine did these lovers think no scorn To meet at Ninus tomb, there, there to woo This grizzly beast (which Lion hight by name) The trusty Thysby, coming first by night, Did scar away, or rather did affright: And as she fled, her mantle she did fallen: Which Lion vile with bloody mouth did stain. Anon comes Pyramus, sweet youth, and tall, And finds his trusty Thisbyes mantle slain: Whereat, with blade, with bloody blameful blade, He bravely broached his boiling bloody breast. And Thisbe, 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,