A Midsummer Night's Dream

And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy.

|She fondles him|

BOTTOM Where's Peaseblossom?

PEASEBLOSSOM Ready.

BOTTOM Scratch my head, Peaseblossom. Where's Monsieur Cobweb?

COBWEB Ready.

BOTTOM Monsieur Cobweb, good monsieur, get you your weapons in your hand, and kill me a red-hipped humble-

bee on

the top of a thistle; and, good monsieur, bring me the honey-bag.

Do not fret yourself too much in the action, monsieur;

and, good monsieur, have a care the honey-bag break not. I

would be loath to have you overflown15 with a honey-bag,

signior. Where's Monsieur Mustardseed?

Cobweb may exit

MUSTARDSEED Ready.

BOTTOM Give me your neaf18, Monsieur Mustardseed. Pray you leave your courtesy19, good monsieur.

MUSTARDSEED What's your will?

BOTTOM Nothing, good monsieur, but to help Cavalery21

Cobweb22 to scratch. I must to the barber's, monsieur, for methinks I am marvellous23 hairy about the face. And I am such a tender ass, if my hair do but tickle me, I must scratch.

TITANIA What, wilt thou hear some music, my sweet love?

BOTTOM I have a reasonable good ear in music. Let us have

the tongs and the bones27.

Music: tongs, rural music

TITANIA Or say, sweet love, what thou desirest to eat.

BOTTOM Truly, a peck29 of provender; I could munch your good dry oats. Methinks I have a great desire to a bottle30 of hay: good hay, sweet hay, hath no fellow31.

TITANIA I have a vent'rous32 fairy that shall seek The squirrel's hoard, and fetch thee new nuts.

BOTTOM I had rather have a handful or two of dried peas.

But, I pray you let none of your people stir35 me. I have an exposition of36 sleep come upon me.

TITANIA Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms.

Fairies, begone, and be all ways away38.