A Midsummer Night's Dream

THESEUS Why, gentle sweet, you shall see no such thing.

HIPPOLYTA

He says they can do nothing in this kind92.

THESEUS The kinder we, to give them thanks for nothing.

Our sport shall be to take94 what they mistake; And what poor duty cannot do, noble respect95

Takes it in might, not merit96.

Where I have come, great clerks97 have purposed To greet me with premeditated welcomes;

Where I have seen them shiver and look pale,

Make periods100 in the midst of sentences, Throttle their practised accent101 in their fears, And in conclusion dumbly have broke off,

Not paying me a welcome. Trust me, sweet,

Out of this silence yet I picked104 a welcome.

And in the modesty of fearful105 duty I read as much as from the rattling tongue

Of saucy and audacious eloquence.

Love, therefore, and tongue-tied simplicity

In least speak most, to my capacity109.

[Enter Egeus]

EGEUS So please your grace, the Prologue is addressed110.

THESEUS Let him approach.

Flourish [of] trumpets

Enter the Prologue: Quince

PROLOGUE [QUINCE] If we offend, it is with our good will112.

That you should think, we come not to offend,

But with good will114. To show our simple skill, That is the true beginning of our end115.

Consider then, we come but in despite116.

We do not come as minding to content you117, Our true intent is. All for your delight118

We are not here119. That you should here repent you, The actors are at hand; and by their show120, You shall know all that you are like121 to know.

THESEUS This fellow doth not stand upon points122.

LYSANDER He hath rid his prologue like a rough123 colt: he knows not the stop124. A good moral, my lord. It is not enough to speak, but to speak true.

HIPPOLYTA Indeed he hath played on his prologue like a child on a recorder: a sound, but not in government127.

THESEUS His speech was like a tangled chain: nothing128