Act III, Scene I - Page 2

A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Act III, Scene I - Page 2

BOTTOM:: [Sings]
The finch, the sparrow, and the lark,
The plain-song cuckoo gray,
Whose note full many a man doth mark,
And dares not answer nay;—(125)

for, indeed, who would set his wit so foolish a bird?
Who would give a bird the , though he cry ‘cuckoo’
never ?

TITANIA:: I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing again.
Mine ear is much enamored of thy note;(130)
So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape;
And thy fair virtue's force perforce doth move me,
On the first view to say, to swear, I love thee.

BOTTOM:: Methinks, mistress, you should have little reason
for that. And yet, to say the truth, reason and love keep(135)
little company together now-a-days. The more the pity
that some honest neighbors will not make them friends.
Nay, I can gleek upon occasion.

BOTTOM:: Not so, neither; but if I had wit enough to get out(140)
of this wood, I have enough to serve mine own turn.

TITANIA:: 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;(145)
And I do love thee; therefore, go with me.
I'll give thee fairies to attend on thee;
And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep,
And sing, while thou on pressed flowers dost sleep;
And I will purge thy mortal grossness so(150)
That thou shalt like an airy spirit go.
Peaseblossom! Cobweb! Moth! and Mustardseed!

Enter four Fairies: Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustardseed

TITANIA:: Be kind and courteous to this gentleman;
Hop in his walks, and gambol in his eyes;
Feed him with apricocks and dewberries,(160)
With purple grapes, green figs, and mulberries;
The honey-bags steal from the humble-bees,
And for night-tapers crop their waxen thighs,
And light them at the fiery glow-worm's eyes,
To have my love to bed and to arise;(165)
And pluck the wings from painted butterflies,
To fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes.
Nod to him, elves, and do him courtesies.

BOTTOM:: I cry your worships mercy, heartily; I beseech
your worship's name.

BOTTOM:: I shall desire you of more acquaintance, good
Master Cobweb. If I cut my finger, I shall make bold
with you. Your name, honest gentleman?

BOTTOM:: I pray you, commend me to Mistress Squash, your(180)
mother, and to Master Peascod, your father. Good
Master Peaseblossom, I shall desire you of more
acquaintance too. Your name, I beseech you, sir?

BOTTOM:: Good Master Mustardseed, I know your(185)
patience well. That same cowardly giant-like ox-beef
hath devoured many a gentleman of your house. I promise
you your kindred hath made my eyes water ere now.
I desire your more acquaintance, good Master
Mustardseed.(190)

TITANIA:: 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.(195)

[Exeunt]

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