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April 14, 2024 35 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Act three of A Midsummer Night's Dream. This is a
LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare, Act three, Scene one,

(00:25):
the wood Titania lying asleep. Enter Quince, snug bottom, flute,
snout and starveling.

Speaker 2 (00:37):
Are we all Matt, pet pet, And here's a marvelous
convenient place for a rehearsel. This screenplot shall be a stage,
this hawthorn break at tiring house, and we will do
it in action as we will do.

Speaker 3 (00:51):
It before the Duke Peter quinns.

Speaker 2 (00:54):
What sayest thou, bully Bottom?

Speaker 3 (00:56):
There are things in this comedy of Permis and thisbey
that will never please. First Peramus must draw a sword
to kill himself. Wish the ladies cannot aboid. I won't
see you that.

Speaker 4 (01:08):
By your lincoln a powerless fear.

Speaker 5 (01:11):
I believe we must leave the killing out when all
is done, not a whit.

Speaker 3 (01:17):
I have a device to make all well right me
a prologue, and let the prolog seem to say we
will do no arm with our swords, and that Pyramis
is not killed. Indeed, and for the more better assurance,
tell them that I Pyramus am not Pyramus, but Bottom
the weaver. This will put them out of fear.

Speaker 2 (01:39):
Well, we will have such a prologue, and it shall
be written in eight and six.

Speaker 3 (01:44):
No, make it two more. Let it be written in
A and a.

Speaker 4 (01:50):
Will not the ladies be a feared of the lion?

Speaker 6 (01:53):
I fear it, I promise you.

Speaker 3 (01:55):
Masters, you ought to consider with yourselves to bring in
God shield a lion among ladies. It is a most
dreadful thing. For there is not a more fearful wild
fowl than your lion living, and we ought to look
to it.

Speaker 4 (02:10):
Therefore, another prolog must tell he is not a lion.

Speaker 3 (02:16):
Nay, you must name his name, and half his face
must be seen through the lion's neck, and he himself
must speak through saying thus, or the same defect, ladies,
or fair ladies, I would wish you, or I would
request you, or I would entreat you not to fear,

(02:40):
not to tremble my life for yours. If you think
I come hither as a lion, it were pity of
my life. No, I am no such thing. I am
a man as other men are. And there indeed, let
him name his name and tell them plainly he is
snug the joiner.

Speaker 2 (02:58):
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 thisby meet by moonlight?

Speaker 4 (03:10):
Does the moonshine that night? We play?

Speaker 3 (03:12):
Our play a calendar, a calendar, look in the almanac,
find out moonshine. Find out moonshine.

Speaker 2 (03:19):
Yes, it does shine that night.

Speaker 3 (03:21):
Why then, may you leave a casement of the Great
Chamber window where we play open, and the moon may
shine in at the casement.

Speaker 2 (03:30):
I or else one must come in with a bush
of thorns and a landhorn, and say he comes to
disfigure or to present the person of moonshine. Then there
is another thing. We must have a war in the
Great Chamber for Pyramis. And thisby says the story. To
talk through the chink of a wall.

Speaker 4 (03:50):
You can never bring in a war, what say you
bottom hmm?

Speaker 3 (03:56):
Some man or other must present wall, And let him
have some plaster or some loam, or some rough cast
about him to signify wall. Let him hold his fingers
thus and through that cranny shall Pyramus, and thisby whisper.

Speaker 2 (04:16):
If that may be, then all is will come. Sit down,
every mother's son, and rehearse your parts. Pyramius. You begin,
when you have spoken your speech, Enter into that break
and sow every one according to his cue.

Speaker 5 (04:31):
Enter put behind what hempen homespuns. Have we swaggering here
so near the cradle of the fairy queen? What a
plate toward I'll be an auditor an actor too, perhaps
if I see cause.

Speaker 2 (04:47):
Speak Pyramis, thisby stand forth.

Speaker 3 (04:51):
This be the flowers of odious savors.

Speaker 2 (04:54):
Sweet odors, odors.

Speaker 3 (04:57):
Odors savors sweet, So have by breath, my dearest, there's
be deare, but hark a voice, stay thou but here
awhile and by and by I will do they appear exit.

Speaker 5 (05:13):
A strange a paramus an air played.

Speaker 1 (05:16):
Here exit must I speak now, I.

Speaker 2 (05:21):
Marry monsieu, for you must understand. He goes, but to
see a noise that he heard, and is to come again.

Speaker 4 (05:28):
Most radiant pyramids, most lily white of hughe of coulor
like the red rosenfram for briar was frisky, juvenile and
e most lovely jew as true as truest horse and
never yet will tire.

Speaker 7 (05:36):
I'll meet thee pyramids at Ninnie's tomb.

Speaker 2 (05:39):
Ninna's too. Men, Why you must not speak that yet?
Let your answers to pymis. You speak all your parts
at once, cues and all permis enter your cue is past.
It is never tire, Oh.

Speaker 7 (05:56):
As true as drus horse that yet would never tire.

Speaker 1 (06:00):
Re enter puck and bottom with an ass's head.

Speaker 3 (06:05):
If I were fair, this be I were only thine.

Speaker 2 (06:10):
Home monstrous o strange. We are haunted pray masters, fly master's.

Speaker 1 (06:15):
Help, eggciant, quince, snug, flute, snout and starveling.

Speaker 5 (06:22):
I'll follow you. I'll lead you about a round through bog,
through bush, through breakthrough brier. Sometime a horse, I'll be,
sometime a hound, a hog, a headless bear, sometime a
fire and neigh and bark and grunt and roar and
burn like horse, hound, hog, bear, fire at every turn?

Speaker 3 (06:42):
Exit Will they run away? This is a knavery of
them to make me a feared re enter.

Speaker 4 (06:49):
Snout, oh bottom, thou art changed? What do I see
on thee?

Speaker 3 (06:56):
What do you see? You see an ass head of
your own?

Speaker 1 (06:58):
Do you exit it? Snout, re enter, quince.

Speaker 2 (07:03):
Bless thee bottom bless thee thou art translated.

Speaker 3 (07:07):
Exit, I see their knavery. This is to make an
ass of me, to fright me if they could. But
I will not stir from this place do what they can.
I will walk up and down here, and I will
sink that they shall hear. I am not afraid the

(07:28):
housel cocks ole black of you, with orange tarny bell,
the throstle, with his note so true.

Speaker 7 (07:37):
There and with little coal.

Speaker 8 (07:40):
Well, what angel wakes me from my flowery bed?

Speaker 3 (07:47):
I finch, the sparrow and the lark, the plain s
uncle cuckoo gray, whose note for many a man do
doth mark, and there's not answer for indeed would set
his wit to so foolish a bird who would give
a bird the lie? Though he cry gocko, never show.

Speaker 8 (08:07):
I pray thee gentle mortal sing again. Mine ear is
much enamored of thy note. So is mine eye, and
thrall it to thy shape and thy fair Virtue's force
perforce doth move me on the first view to say
to swear I love THEE.

Speaker 3 (08:29):
Methinks, mistress, you shall have little reason for that, and
yet to say the truth reason and love keep little
company together nowadays more of the petty that some man's
neighbors will not make them friends. Nay, I can go
leak upon occasion.

Speaker 8 (08:45):
Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful.

Speaker 3 (08:49):
Not so neither, But if I had wit enough to
get out of this wood, I have enough to serve
mine own turn.

Speaker 8 (08:55):
Out of this wood. Do not desire to go. Thou
shalt remain here, whether thou wilt or no. I am
a spirit of no common rate. The summer still doth
tend upon my state, and I do love thee. Therefore
go with me. I'll give thee fairies to attend on thee,

(09:17):
and they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep and
sing while thou, unpressed flowers dost sleep. And I will
purge thy mortal grossness, so that thou shalt, like an
airy spirit. Go pease blossom, cobweb, moth and mustard seed.

Speaker 1 (09:36):
Enter, pease blossom, cobweb, moth and mustard seed. Ready, and I.

Speaker 3 (09:44):
And I and I where shall we go?

Speaker 8 (09:48):
Be kind and courteous to this gentleman, hop in his
walks and gambol in his eyes. Feed him with apricocks
and dewberries, with purple grapes, green figs, and mulber is.
The honeybags steal from the humble bees, and for night
tapers crop their waxen thighs and light them at the

(10:09):
fiery glow worm's eyes. To have my love to bed,
and to arise, and pluck the wings from painted butterflies,
to fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes. Nod to him, elves,
and do him courtesies. Hail Mortal, Hail, Hail hal.

Speaker 3 (10:29):
I cry your worship's mercy. Heartily, I beseech your worship's name, Cobweb.
I shall desire you of more acquaintance, Good Master Cobweb.
If I cut my finger, I shall make bold with
you your name, honest gentlemen, Peace Blossom, I pray you
commend me to Mistress Squash, your mother and a master

(10:50):
piece God your father, Good Master peace Blossom, I shall
desire you of more acquaintance too, your name, I beseech you, Sir,
must stared Seed, Good Master Mustard Seed. I know your
patients well. That same cowardly giant like ox Beef, hath
devoured many a gentleman of your house. I promise you

(11:11):
your kindred had made my eyes water air Now I
desire your more acquaintance, Good master mustard Seed.

Speaker 8 (11:18):
Come wait upon him, Lead him to my bower. The moon, methinks,
looks with a watery eye, and when she weeps, weeps
every little flower, lamenting some enforced chastity. Tie up my
love's tongue. Bring him silently.

Speaker 1 (11:38):
Excellent scene too, another part of the wood. Enter Oberon.

Speaker 9 (11:50):
I wonder if Titania be awaked, then what it was
that next came in her eye, which she must dote
on in extremity. Enter Puck, Here comes my messenger, How now,
mad spirit? What night? Rule? Now about this haunted grove.

Speaker 5 (12:08):
My mistress with monsters in love near to her close
and consecrated bower. While she was in her dull and
sleeping hour, a crew of patches, rude mechanicals that work
for bread upon Athenian stalls were met together to rehearse
a play intended for Great Theseus's nuptial day. The shallowest
thick skin of that barren sort who Pyramus presented in

(12:28):
their sport, forsook his scene and entered in a break.
When I did him at this advantage, take an asses
null lie fixed on his head, Anon his this be
must be answered. And forth my mimic comes when they
hymn spy as wild geese, that the creeping fowler eye
or Russid painted truffs many in sort, rising and cawing

(12:49):
at the gun's report, severed themselves in madly sweep the sky.
So at his sight away his fellows fly, and at
our stamp here are and awe one falls he murder, cries,
and help from Athen's calls. Their sense thus weak, lost,
with their fears thus strong made senseless things begin to

(13:10):
do them wrong, For briars and thorns of their apparel snatch,
some sleeves, some hats from yield, as all things catch.
I let them on in this distracted fear, and left
sweet Pyramus translated there when in that moment, so it
came to pass Titania waked and straightway loved an ass.

Speaker 9 (13:30):
This falls out better than I could devise. But hast
thou yet latched the Athenian's eyes with the love juice,
as I did bid thee do.

Speaker 5 (13:38):
I took him sleeping. That is finished too, and the
Athenian woman by his side, that when he waked of force,
she must be eyed.

Speaker 1 (13:46):
Enter hermia and Demetrius.

Speaker 9 (13:49):
Stand close. This is the same Athenian.

Speaker 5 (13:53):
This is the woman, but not this the man.

Speaker 10 (13:57):
Oh, why rebuke you him that loves you so oh
laid breath so bitter on your bitter foe.

Speaker 6 (14:04):
Now I but chiede, But I should use thee worse
for thou, I fear hast given me cause to curse.
If thou hast slain Lysander in his sleep, being o'er
shoes and blood, plunge in the deep and kill me too.
The sun was not so true unto the day as
he to me. Would he have stolen away from sleeping Hermia.
I'll believe as soon this whole earth may be bored,

(14:26):
and that the moon may through the center creep, and
so displease her brother's noontide with Antipodes. It cannot be.
But thou hast murdered him. So should a murderer look
so dead, so grim?

Speaker 10 (14:39):
So should the murdered look, And so should I pierce
through the heart with your stern cruelty. Yet you, the murderer,
look as bright as clear as yonder Venus in her
glimmering sphere.

Speaker 6 (14:52):
What's this to my Lysander? Where is he?

Speaker 10 (14:55):
Ah?

Speaker 6 (14:55):
Good, Demetrius wilt thou give him me?

Speaker 10 (14:57):
I had rather give his carcass to my.

Speaker 6 (15:01):
Out dog, out cur thout drivest me past the bounds
of maiden's patience. Hast thou slain him? Then, henceforth be
never numbered among men? Oh, once, tell true, Tell true,
even for my sake, darst thou have looked upon him
being awake, and hast thou killed him sleeping? Oh, brave touch,
could not a worm an adder do so much? An

(15:24):
adder did it for with a doubler tongue than thine, thou, serpent,
never adder stung, you.

Speaker 10 (15:30):
Spend your passion on a misprized mood. I am not
guilty of Lysander's blood, nor is he dead. For aught
that I could.

Speaker 6 (15:38):
Tell, I pray thee tell me then that he is well?

Speaker 10 (15:42):
And if I could, what should I get?

Speaker 11 (15:43):
There?

Speaker 6 (15:44):
For a privilege never to see me more? And from
thy hated presence part I sow see me no more,
whether he be dead or no exit, There.

Speaker 10 (15:55):
Is no following her in this fierce vain Here. Therefore
for a while I will remain.

Speaker 11 (16:02):
So Sorrow's heaviness doth heavier grow for debt that bankrupt
sleep doth sorrow, Oh which now in some slight measure,
it will pay if for his tender here I make
some stay.

Speaker 1 (16:17):
Lies down and sleeps.

Speaker 9 (16:20):
What hast thou done? Thou hast mistaken quite and laid
the love juice on some true love. Sight of thy
misprison must perforce ensue some true love turned, and not
a false turn true.

Speaker 5 (16:33):
Then fate or rules that one man holding troph a
million fail confounding oath.

Speaker 9 (16:38):
On oath about the wood, go swifter than the wind,
and Helena of Athens, look thou find all fancy. Sick
she is and pale of cheer, with sighs of love
that cost the fresh blood deer by some illusions. See
thou bring her here, I'll charm his eyes against she
do appear?

Speaker 5 (16:56):
I go, I go, Look how I go, swifter than
arrow from the tata's bow.

Speaker 9 (17:00):
Exit flower of this purple dye, hit with Cupid's archery,
sink in apple of his eye. When his love he
doth a spy. Let her shine as gloriously as the
venus of the sky. When thou wakest, if she be
by beg of her for remedy, re enter.

Speaker 5 (17:20):
Puck, captain of our fairy band. Helena is here at hand,
and the youth mistook by me pleading for a lover's fee.
Shall we there fond pageantcy Lord, what fools these mortals be?

Speaker 9 (17:33):
Stand aside? The noise they make will cause Demetrius to awake.

Speaker 5 (17:38):
Then will two at once woo one that must needs
be spot alone? And those things do best please me?
That befall preposterously.

Speaker 1 (17:47):
Enter Lysander and Helena.

Speaker 7 (17:50):
Why should you think that I should woo in scorn?
Scorn and derision never come in tears. Look when I vow,
I weep, and vows so born in their nativity, all
truth appears. How can these things in me seem scorn
to you? Bearing the badge of faith to prove them true?

Speaker 12 (18:10):
You do advance your cunning more and more when truth
kills truth, Oh devilish, holy fray. These vows are hermias.
Will you give her? Are weigh oath with oath, and
you will nothing weigh Your vows to her and me
put in two scales will even weigh, and both as
light as tails.

Speaker 7 (18:27):
I had no judgment when to her I swore.

Speaker 12 (18:31):
Nor none in my mind. Now you give her?

Speaker 7 (18:33):
Are Demitrius loves her, and.

Speaker 10 (18:35):
He loves not you, Oh Helena, goddess Nymph, perfect divine
to what my love? Shall I compare thine eye crystal
is muddy? Oh how ripe? And show thy lips those
kissing cherries tempting grow That pure congealed white high tarus

(18:56):
snow fanned with the eastern wind, turns to a crow
when thou hold'st up thy hand. Oh let me kiss
this princess of pure white, the seal of bliss.

Speaker 13 (19:08):
Oh spite, Oh hell, I see you all are bent
to set against me for your merriment. If you were
civil in new courtesy, you would not do me this
much injury. Can you not hate me?

Speaker 12 (19:19):
As I know you do? But you must join in
souls to mock me too? If you were men, as
men you are in show, you would not use a
gentle lady so to vowl and swear and super praise
my parts. When I am sure you hate me with
your hearts. You both are rivals, and love Hermia, and
now both rivals to mack Helena, a trim exploit a

(19:40):
manly enterprise to conjure tears up in a poor maid's
eyes with your derision. None of noble sort would so
offend a virgin and extort a poor soul's patience, all
to make you sport.

Speaker 7 (19:51):
You are unkind to Demetrius, be not so, for you
love Hermia. This you know, I though, and here with
all goodwill, with all my heart in Hermia's love, I
yield you up my part and yours of Helena to me.
Bequeath whom I do love and will do till my death.

Speaker 12 (20:11):
Never did makers waste more idle.

Speaker 10 (20:13):
Breath, Lysander, keep thy Hermia.

Speaker 14 (20:16):
I will none if e'er I loved her all that
love is gone my heart to her.

Speaker 10 (20:21):
But as guest wise, sojourn and now to Helen. Is
it home? Returned there to remain Helen?

Speaker 15 (20:29):
It is not so disparage not the faith thou dost
not know, blest to thy peril, Thou abide it, dear,
look where thy love comes yonder is thy dear re
enter Hermia.

Speaker 6 (20:43):
Dark knight, that from the eye his function takes the
ear more quick of apprehension makes wherein it doth impair
the seeing sense, it pays the hearing double recompense. Thou
art not by mine eye, Lysander found mine ear. I
thank it brought me to thy sound. But why unkindly
didst thou leave me.

Speaker 7 (21:02):
So why should he stay whom love doth pressed to go?

Speaker 6 (21:07):
What love could press Lysander from my side?

Speaker 7 (21:10):
Lysander's love that would not let him bide? Fair Helena,
who more in guilds the night than all you, fiery
ohs and eyes of light? Why seeks thou me? Could
not this make THEE know the hate I bear? THEE
made me leave thee?

Speaker 6 (21:26):
So you speak not as you think it cannot be lo.

Speaker 12 (21:31):
She is one of this confederacy. Now I perceive they
have conjoined all three to fashion this false sport in
spite of me. Injurious, Hermia, most ungrateful maid, have you conspired?
Have you with these contrived to baite me with this
foul derision? Is all the counsel that we two have shared,
the sisters vows, the hours that we have spent when

(21:53):
we have chid, the hasty footed time for parting us? Oh?
Is it all forgot? All school day's friends, childhood innocence?
We Hermia, like two artificial gods, have with our needles,
created both one flower, both on one sampler, sitting on
one cushion, both warbling of one song, both in one key,
as if our hands, our sides, voices and minds had

(22:15):
been in corporate. So we grow together, like to a
double cherry, seeming parted, but yet a union in partition,
two lovely berries molded on one stem, so with two
seeming bodies, but one heart, two of the first, like
coats in heraldry, do but to one, and crowned with
one crest. And will you rent our ancient love asunder

(22:36):
to join with men in scorning your poor friend? It
is not friendly, It is not maidenly our sex, as
well as I may chide you for it, though I
alone do feel the injury.

Speaker 6 (22:46):
I am amazed at your passionate words. I scorn you
not it seems that you scorn me?

Speaker 12 (22:52):
Have you not set Lysander as in scorn, to follow
me and praise my eyes and face? And made your
other love Demitrius, who even but now did spurn me
with his foot, to call me goddess nymph, divine and rare,
precious celestial. Wherefore speaks Ee this to her he hates?
And wherefore doth Lysander deny your love so rich within

(23:12):
his soul, and tender me forsooth affection? But by your
setting on, but by your consent? What though I be
not so ingrace as you so hung upon with love,
so fortunate but miserable most to love unloved. This you
should pity rather than despise.

Speaker 6 (23:29):
I understand not what you mean by this.

Speaker 12 (23:32):
Ay, do persevere, counterfeit, sad looks, make mouths upon me
when I turn my back, wink at each other. Hold
the sweet jest up. This sport well carried shall be chronicled.
If you have any pity, grace, or manners, you would
not make me such an argument. But fare you well
tis partly my own fault, which death or absence soon

(23:52):
show remedy.

Speaker 7 (23:54):
Stay gentle, helemnah, hear my excuse, my love, my life,
my soul.

Speaker 10 (23:59):
Fair Helena, oh.

Speaker 6 (24:01):
Excellent sweet, Do not scorn her.

Speaker 10 (24:04):
So if she cannot entreat, I can compel.

Speaker 7 (24:08):
Thou canst compel no more than she entreat. Thy threats
have no more strength than her weak prayers, Helen. I
love THEE by my life.

Speaker 1 (24:19):
I do.

Speaker 7 (24:20):
I swear by that which I will lose for THEE
to prove him false. That says I love THEE.

Speaker 10 (24:25):
Not I say I love THEE more than he can do.

Speaker 7 (24:28):
If thou say so, withdraw and prove it too quick.

Speaker 6 (24:32):
Come Lysander, where too, tens all this.

Speaker 14 (24:36):
Away you ethyope, no, no, he'll seem to break loose,
take on as you would follow. But yet come not
you are a tame man.

Speaker 7 (24:45):
Go hang off thou cat, thou burr vile thing. Let loose,
or I will shake THEE from me like a serpent.

Speaker 6 (24:53):
Why are you grown so rude? What change is this?
Sweet love?

Speaker 7 (24:57):
Thy love? Out? He taught her out out, loathed medicine,
hated potion.

Speaker 6 (25:04):
Hence do you not jest?

Speaker 4 (25:07):
Yes?

Speaker 7 (25:07):
Sooth? And so do you, Demetrius. I will keep my
word with THEE.

Speaker 14 (25:12):
Why would I had your bond? For I perceive a
weak bond holds you. I'll not trust your word.

Speaker 7 (25:18):
What should I hurt her? Strike her, kill her dead?
Although I hate her, I'll not harm her.

Speaker 6 (25:25):
So what can you do me greater harm than hate?
Hate me? We'refore? Oh me?

Speaker 2 (25:32):
What news? My love?

Speaker 6 (25:34):
Am I not Hermia?

Speaker 1 (25:36):
Are not you?

Speaker 6 (25:36):
Lysander? I am as fair now as I was Erewhile
since knight you loved me, Yet since night you left me?
Why then you left me?

Speaker 10 (25:47):
Oh?

Speaker 6 (25:47):
The gods forbid in earnest? Shall I say?

Speaker 7 (25:51):
I buy my life and never did desire to see
THEE more? Therefore be out of hope, of question of doubt.
Be certain, nothing truer tis no jest that I do
hate thee and love Helena.

Speaker 6 (26:06):
Oh me, you juggler, you canker blossom, you thief of love?
What have you come by night and stolen my love's
heart from him?

Speaker 12 (26:15):
Fine a faith?

Speaker 7 (26:16):
Have you?

Speaker 12 (26:17):
No modesty, no maiden shame, no touch of bashfulness? What
will you tear? Impatient answers from my gentle tongue. Fie, fie,
you counterfeit, you puppet, you puppet?

Speaker 6 (26:29):
Why so ay? That way goes the game?

Speaker 1 (26:33):
Now?

Speaker 6 (26:34):
I perceive that she hath made compare between our statures.
She hath urged her height and with her personage, her
tall personage, her height. Forsooth she hath prevailed with him.
Are you grown so high in his esteem? Because I
am so dwarfish? And so low? Hell am i? Thou
painted mapole speak? How low am I? I am? Not

(26:57):
yet so low? But that my nails can reach unto
thine eyes?

Speaker 12 (27:01):
I pray you, though you mock me, gentlemen, let her
not hurt me. I was never cursed. I have no
gift at all in shrewishness. I am a right maid
for my cowardice. Let her not strike me.

Speaker 13 (27:10):
You perhaps may think, because she is something lower than myself,
that I can.

Speaker 12 (27:13):
Match her lower.

Speaker 13 (27:15):
Hark again, good, Hermia, do not be so bitter with me.
I evermore did love you, Hermia? Did ever keep your counsels?
Never wronged you? Save that in love? Unto Demetrius, I
told him of your stealth, unto this wood, he followed
you for love. I followed him, But he hath chidded
me hence and threatened me to strike me, spurn me,
nayt to kill me too. And now so you will
let me quiet go to Athens? Will I bear my

(27:37):
folly back and follow you no further?

Speaker 12 (27:40):
Let me go? You see how simple and how fond
I am?

Speaker 6 (27:43):
Why get you gone? Who is it that hinders you?

Speaker 12 (27:46):
A foolish heart that I leave here behind?

Speaker 6 (27:49):
What with Lysander?

Speaker 12 (27:50):
With Demetrius?

Speaker 7 (27:52):
Be not afraid. She shall not harm thee Helena, No.

Speaker 10 (27:56):
Sir, she shall not, though you take her part.

Speaker 12 (28:00):
Oh, when she's angry, she is keen and shrewd. She
was a vixen when she went to school. And though
she be but little, she is fierce.

Speaker 6 (28:07):
Little again, nothing but low and little? Why will you
suffer her to flout me. Thus, let me come to her.

Speaker 7 (28:13):
Get you gone, you dwarf, you minimus of hindering. Not
grass made you, bead you acorn.

Speaker 10 (28:23):
You are too officious in her behalf that scorns your services.
Let her alone. Speak not of Helena, take not her part.

Speaker 14 (28:31):
For if thou dost intend, never so little show of
love to her, thou shalt aby it.

Speaker 7 (28:36):
Now she holds me. Not now follow if thou darest
to try, whose right of thine or mine is most
in Helena?

Speaker 10 (28:44):
Follow? Nay, I'll go with thee cheek by.

Speaker 1 (28:48):
Joel, ancient Lysander and Demetrius.

Speaker 6 (28:53):
You, mistress, all this coil is long of you. Nay,
go not back.

Speaker 12 (28:58):
I will not trust you. I no longer stay in
your cursed company. Your hands than mine are quicker for
a fray, My legs are longer though to run away.

Speaker 1 (29:07):
Exit.

Speaker 6 (29:08):
I am amazed and know not what to say.

Speaker 1 (29:12):
Exit.

Speaker 9 (29:13):
This is thine negligence. Still thou mistakest or else committest
thy knaveries, wilfully.

Speaker 5 (29:19):
Believe me, King of Shadows, I mistook? Did not you
tell me? I should know the man by the Athenian
garment he had on? And so far blameless proves my
enterprise that I have anointed in Athenian's eyes, And so
far am I glad it so did sort as this
their jangling I esteem a sport.

Speaker 9 (29:36):
Thou seest these lovers seek a place to fight, hie thee.
Therefore robin or cast the knight the starry welcn cover
thou anon with drooping fog as black as acharn, and
lead these testy rivals so astray as one come not
within another's way, like to thy Sander, sometime frame thy tongue,
then stir Demetrius up with bitter wrong, and sometime rail

(29:58):
Thou like Demetrius, and from each other look Thou lead
them thus till o'er their brow's death. Counterfeiting sleep with
leaden legs and baddy wings doth creep. Then crush this
herb into Lysander's eye, whose liquor hath this virtuous property
to take from thence all error with his might, and
make his eyeballs roll with wonted sight. When they next wake,

(30:21):
all this derision shall seem a dream and fruitless vision.
And back to Athens shall the lover's wend with league,
whose date till death shall never end. Whilst I in
this affair to the employ, I'll to my queen and
beg her Indian boy, and then I will her charmid
eye release from monster's view, and all things shall be peace.

Speaker 5 (30:45):
My fairy lord, this must be done with haste. For
night swift dragons cut the clouds full fast and yonder
shines Aurora as harbinger, at whose approach. Ghosts wandering here
and their troop home to churchyards. Damned spirits, all the
crossways and floods have burial already to their wormy beds
are gone. For fear lest they should look their shames upon,

(31:06):
they wilfully themselves exile from light and must. For I
consort with black browed night.

Speaker 9 (31:13):
But we are spirits of another sort. I, with the
morning's love, have off made sport, and like a forester
the groves may tread even till the eastern gate. All
fiery red opening on Neptune with fair blessed beams turns
into yellow gold his salt green streams. But notwithstanding haste,
make no delay, we may effect this business.

Speaker 1 (31:35):
Yet ere day exert.

Speaker 5 (31:38):
Up and down, up and down. I will lead them
up and down. I am feared in field and town.
Goblin lead them up and down. Here comes one.

Speaker 7 (31:48):
Re Enter Lysander, where art thou proud Demetrius speak thou now.

Speaker 5 (31:55):
Here villain drawn and ready?

Speaker 12 (31:57):
Where art thou I will be with these straight follow
me then to plain a ground.

Speaker 1 (32:03):
Exit Lysander as following the voice, re enter Demetrius.

Speaker 16 (32:11):
Lysander speak again, Thou run away, thou coward art thou
fled Speak in some bush where dost thou hide thy head?

Speaker 5 (32:22):
Thou coward art thou bragging to the stars, telling the
bushes that thou look'st for wars and wilt not come.
Come recreant, Come thou child, I'll whip thee with a rod.
He is defiled, that draws a sword on thee.

Speaker 10 (32:36):
Yay, art thou there follow my voice.

Speaker 5 (32:39):
We'll try no manhood here.

Speaker 1 (32:42):
Exitant, re enter Lysander.

Speaker 7 (32:47):
He goes before me and still dares me on When
I come where he calls, then he is gone. The
villain is much lighter healed than I. I followed fast,
but faster did he fly? That fallen? Am I in
dark uneven way? And here will rest.

Speaker 1 (33:06):
Me lies down?

Speaker 7 (33:09):
Come thou gentle day for if but once thou show
me thy gray light, I'll find Demetrius and revenge, this spite.

Speaker 1 (33:19):
Sleeps, re enter puck and demetrius ha coward.

Speaker 10 (33:27):
Why comest thou not abide me?

Speaker 14 (33:29):
If thou darest for well, I WoT thou runnest before me,
shifting every place, and darest not stand nor look me
in the face?

Speaker 4 (33:39):
Wear art thou.

Speaker 5 (33:39):
Now come hither I am here.

Speaker 10 (33:43):
Nay, then thou markest me. Thou shalt buy this, dear.
If ever I thy face by daylight, see now go
thy way. Faintness constraineth me to measure out my length
on this cold bed. My day's approach looked to be visited.

Speaker 1 (33:59):
Lies down and sleeps. Re enter Helena.

Speaker 17 (34:04):
Oh weary night, Oh long and tedious night, abate thy
hour shine, comforts from the east that I may back
to Athens by daylight, from these that my poor company detest,
and sleep that sometimes shuts up sorrow's eye steal me
away from mine own company.

Speaker 1 (34:22):
Lies down and sleeps.

Speaker 5 (34:25):
Yet, but three come one more. Two of both kinds
make up four. Here she comes cursed and sad. Cupid
is a knavish lad. Thus to make poor females mad
re enter hermia, never so.

Speaker 6 (34:41):
Weary, never so in woe, but babbled with the dew
and torn with briars. I can no further crawl, no
further go. My legs can keep no pace with my desires.
Here will I rest me till the break of day.
Heaven shield Lysander. If they mean a fray.

Speaker 1 (35:00):
Lies down and sleeps on.

Speaker 5 (35:04):
The ground, sleep sound. I'll apply to your eye, gentle lover, remedy.

Speaker 1 (35:11):
Squeezing the juice on Lysander's eyes.

Speaker 5 (35:14):
When thou wakest, thou takest true delight in the sight
of thy former lady's eye. And the country proverb known
that every man should take his own in your waking
shall be shown. Jack shall have jill, naught shall go ill,
the man shall have his mare again, and all shall
be well.

Speaker 1 (35:33):
Exit end of Act three of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
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