A Midsummer Night's Dream

BOTTOM Peter Quince?

QUINCE What sayest thou, bully7 Bottom?

BOTTOM There are things in this comedy of Pyramus and Thisbe that will never please. First, Pyramus must draw a

sword to kill himself; which the ladies cannot abide. How

answer you that?

SNOUT By'r lakin, a parlous12 fear.

STARVELING I believe we must leave the killing out, when all is done14.

BOTTOM Not a whit: I have a device to make all well. Write15

me a prologue, and let the prologue seem to say we will do no

harm with our swords, and that Pyramus 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.

QUINCE Well, we will have such a prologue, and it shall be written in eight and six22.

BOTTOM No, make it two more: let it be written in eight and eight.

SNOUT Will not the ladies be afeard25 of the lion?

STARVELING I fear it26, I promise you.

BOTTOM Masters, you ought to consider with yourselves, to bring in -- God shield us! -- a lion among ladies is a most

dreadful thing. For there is not a more fearful wild-fowl29 than your lion living. And we ought to look to it.

SNOUT Therefore another prologue must tell he is not a lion.

BOTTOM 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 to the same defect35: 'Ladies' or 'Fair-ladies, I would wish you' or 'I would request you' or 'I

would entreat you, not to fear, not to tremble. My life for37

yours. If you think I come hither as a lion, it were pity of my38

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

plainly41 he is Snug the joiner.

QUINCE 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.

SNOUT Doth the moon shine that night we play our play?