DEMETRIUS The very best at a beast230, my lord, that e'er I saw.
LYSANDER This lion is a very fox for231 his valour.
THESEUS True, and a goose for his discretion232.
DEMETRIUS Not so, my lord, for his valour cannot carry his discretion, and the fox carries234 the goose.
THESEUS His discretion, I am sure, cannot carry his valour, for the goose carries not the fox. It is well. Leave it to his
discretion, and let us hearken to the moon.
MOONSHINE [STARVELING] This lantern doth the horned238 moon present--
DEMETRIUS He should have worn the horns on his head239.
THESEUS He is no crescent240, and his horns are invisible within the circumference.
MOONSHINE [STARVELING] This lantern doth the horned moon present: Myself the man i'th'moon doth seem to be.
THESEUS This is the greatest error of all the rest; the man should be put into the lantern. How is it else the man
i'th'moon?
DEMETRIUS He dares not come there for the candle. For you see it is already in snuff248.
HIPPOLYTA I am aweary of this moon; would he would change!
THESEUS It appears, by his small light of discretion, that he is in the wane. But yet, in courtesy, in all reason, we must stay251
the time.
LYSANDER Proceed, Moon.
MOONSHINE [STARVELING] All that I have to say is to tell you that the lantern is the moon; I, the man in the moon; this thorn-bush,
my thorn-bush; and this dog, my dog.
DEMETRIUS Why, all these should be in the lantern, for they are in the moon. But silence -- here comes Thisbe.
Enter Thisbe
THISBE [FLUTE] This is old Ninny's tomb. Where is my love?
LION [SNUG] O!
The lion roars. Thisbe runs off [dropping her mantle]
DEMETRIUS Well roared, Lion.
THESEUS Well run, Thisbe.
[Lion shakes Thisbe's mantle, and exits]
HIPPOLYTA Well shone, Moon. Truly, the moon shines with a good grace.
THESEUS Well moused265, Lion.
DEMETRIUS And then came Pyramus.