I Pray Thee Mortal Sing Again

A Midsummer Night's Dream Translation Act 3, Scene 1

While TITANIA sleeps onstage, BOTTOM, QUINCE, FLUTE, SNUG, SNOUT, and STARVELING enter.

QUINCE

Pat, pat. And here's a marvelous convenient identify for our rehearsal. This greenish plot shall be our stage, this hawthorn-restriction our tiring-business firm, and we volition do it in activity every bit we will do information technology earlier the duke.

QUINCE

Right on time. And this is a corking identify for united states of america to rehearse. This immigration will be the phase, and this hawthorn bush will be our dressing room. We'll rehearse the play exactly the same way that we'll perform it for the duke.

QUINCE

What sayest thou, bully Bottom?

QUINCE

What is it, my fine friend Bottom?

BOTTOM

There are things in this comedy of Pyramus and Thisbe that will never please. First, Pyramus must draw a sword to impale himself, which the ladies cannot abide. How answer you that?

Bottom

There are things in this comedy of Pyramus and Thisbe that volition never please the audience. First of all, Pyramus has to take out a sword and use it to kill himself, which the women in the audience won't exist able to stand up. What practise you think nigh that?

SNOUT

Past 'r lakin, a parlous fright.

SNOUT

Past the Virgin Mary, that'south a serious problem.

STARVELING

I believe we must exit the killing out, when all is washed.

STARVELING

I think, in the stop, we'll have to leave out all the killing.

Bottom

Not a whit. I accept a device to make all well. Write me a prologue, and permit the prologue seem to say we will do no harm with our swords, and that Pyramus is not killed indeed. And for the more than better assurance, tell them that I, Pyramus, am non Pyramus, but Bottom the weaver. This will put them out of fearfulness.

BOTTOM

Not at all! I've got an thought that volition solve the trouble. Write, as I describe, a prologue that explains to the audition that we won't actually hurt anyone with our swords, and that Pyramus isn't really killed. And to make everyone even more comfy, explain that that while I look like Pyramus I'1000 not really him, I'm actually Lesser the weaver. That will stop the audience from being afraid.

QUINCE

Well. Nosotros volition accept such a prologue, and it shall be written in eight and six.

QUINCE

Skillful. We'll perform that prologue, and we'll write it in traditional ballad class, with alternating lines of eight- and vi-syllables.

BOTTOM

No, make information technology two more than. Let it be written in eight and eight.

BOTTOM

No, add two more. Write it with alternating lines of eight and 8 syllables.

SNOUT

Will not the ladies be afeard of the panthera leo?

SNOUT

Won't the women be frightened by the lion?

STARVELING

I fearfulness it, I promise you lot.

STARVELING

I'm very worried about that.

BOTTOM

Masters, you ought to consider with yourselves. To bring in—God shield us!—a lion amid ladies is a virtually dreadful affair. For there is non a more fearful wildfowl than your lion living. And we ought to look to 't.

BOTTOM

Sirs, you should all think most this: bringing in—God protect u.s.!—a lion in front of women is really an atrocious affair to do. Because at that place's not a more frightening wild bird living than the panthera leo. We should remember that.

SNOUT

Therefore another prologue must tell he is not a lion.

SNOUT

And so we'll take another prologue that explains he's not actually a lion.

Bottom

Nay, you must proper noun his name, and half his face up must exist seen through the lion's neck. And he himself must speak through, saying thus—or to the same defect—"Ladies," or "Fair ladies," "I would wish you" or "I would request you" or "I would entreat yous" "not to fear, not to tremble, my life for yours. If you call up I come up hither equally a king of beasts, it were pity of my life. No, I am no such thing. I am a homo as other men are." And at that place indeed allow him name his name, and tell them plainly he is Snug the joiner.

Bottom

No, you should announce to the audition his bodily name, and make information technology so that half of his confront is visible through the lion costume. And he himself should say something like the following, or something else to the same defect : "Ladies," or "Beautiful ladies," "I would ask you" or "I would request you" or "I would beg yous" "non to fear, non to tremble, considering I would defend your lives by giving up my own. If you thought I came here as a real lion, it would endanger my life. No, I am no king of beasts. I am a human, but like other men." And at that point he should say his name, and tell them apparently that he's Snug the carpenter.

QUINCE

Well, it shall be and then. Merely there is two hard things: that is, to bring the moonlight into a sleeping accommodation. For, yous know, Pyramus and Thisbe meet by moonlight.

QUINCE

Skilful, that'south what we'll do. But there are two more problems we have to solve. How are we going to bring moonlight into the room where we perform? Considering, you know, Pyramus and Thisbe meet in the moonlight.

SNOUT

Doth the moon shine that nighttime we play our play?

SNOUT

Will the moon be shining on the dark nosotros're performing our play?

Lesser

A calendar, a agenda! Wait in the annual. Find out moonshine, detect out moonshine!

BOTTOM

A agenda; we need a calendar! Expect in an almanac. Look up when the moon shines, look up when the moon shines!

QUINCE

[Takes out a book] Yes, it doth polish that night.

QUINCE

[He takes out and consults a book] Yes, the moon volition smoothen that night.

BOTTOM

Why and then, may you get out a casement of the corking chamber window where nosotros play open, and the moon may smooth in at the casement.

Bottom

Well then, you could exit a window open in the not bad room where we'll be performing, and the moon will shine in through the window.

QUINCE

Ay. Or else one must come in with a bush of thorns and a lantern, and say he comes to disfigure, or to present, the person of Moonshine. So, in that location is some other matter: we must have a wall in the great sleeping room. For Pyramus and Thisbe, says the story, did talk through the chink of a wall.

QUINCE

Yes, or else someone will have to come up in conveying a bundle of sticks and a lantern and say he's come to disfigure , or represent, the character of Moonshine. And so at that place's another problem: nosotros demand to have a wall in the swell room. Because Pyramus and Thisbe talked to each other through a piffling pigsty in a wall, every bit the story goes.

SNOUT

You can never bring in a wall. What say you, Bottom?

SNOUT

Y'all'll never be able to bring in a wall. What do y'all retrieve, Bottom?

Bottom

Some man or other must present Wall. And let him take some plaster, or some loam, or some roughcast about him to signify wall. And let him hold his fingers thus, and through that cranny shall Pyramus and Thisbe whisper.

BOTTOM

Someone has to play the role of Wall. For a costume, he tin be covered in some plaster or clay with pebbles stuck to him to show that he's a wall. Then he can hold his fingers similar this [He holds upwards his hand with ii fingers divide slightly apart] , and Pyramus and Thisbe can whisper to each other through that crack.

QUINCE

If that may be and so all is well. Come, sit down down, every female parent'southward son, and rehearse your parts. Pyramus, you begin. When y'all accept spoken your spoken language, enter into that brake. So anybody according to his cue.

QUINCE

If we practice that, everything volition be fine. Now sit down everyone and rehearse your parts. Pyramus, you start. When you've said your lines, go behind that bush-league as if it were a pall offstage. Everyone else, practice the same according to whether you should be on or offstage.

ROBIN

[Aside] What hempen homespuns have nosotros swaggering here, So almost the cradle of the fairy queen? What, a play toward? I'll be an auditor. An actor likewise, perchance, if I see cause.

ROBIN

[To himself] Who are these country bumpkins making so much noise then shut to the fairy queen's bed? What? Are they about to perform a play? I'll be the audience. And I'll act in information technology, too, if I meet a reason to.

QUINCE

Speak, Pyramus. Thisbe, stand up along.

QUINCE

Speak, Pyramus. Thisbe, come up forward.

BOTTOM

[As PYRAMUS] Thisbe, the flowers of odious savors sweet—

BOTTOM

[As PYRAMUS] Thisbe, flowers with odious smelling sweet—

BOTTOM

[Every bit PYRAMUS] —odors savors sweet, So hath thy breath, my love Thisbe dearest. But hark, a voice! Stay thou but here awhile, And past and by I volition to thee announced.

BOTTOM

[As PYRAMUS] —odors smelling sweet, are like your breath, my dearest Thisbe dear. But listen, a voice! Expect here for a moment, and I'll be dorsum soon!

ROBIN

[Aside] A stranger Pyramus than due east'er played hither.

ROBIN

[To himself] A stranger Pyramus has never been performed anywhere.

QUINCE

Ay, marry, must you. For you must understand he goes but to see a racket that he heard, and is to come up again.

QUINCE

Yes, you should. You're supposed to show that y'all remember that Pyramus just went to check on a noise he heard and volition presently come back.

FLUTE

[Equally THISBE] Most radiant Pyramus, most lily-white of hue, Of color similar the blood-red rose on triumphant brier, Nigh brisky juvenal and eke virtually lovely Jew, As true as truest horse that yet would never tire. I'll meet thee, Pyramus, at Ninny'southward tomb.

FLUTE

[Every bit THISBE] My shining Pyramus, you are as white as a lily, the color of a red rose on a splendid rosebush, a lively beau and also a lovely Jew, every bit trustworthy as a horse that never gets tired. I'll see you, Pyramus, at Ninny's grave.

QUINCE

"Ninus' tomb," man. Why, you must non speak that still. That yous answer to Pyramus. You lot speak all your part at once, cues and all. Pyramus, enter. Your cue is by. It is "never tire."

QUINCE

That's "Ninus' grave," man. And likewise, don't say that function however, because you lot're supposed to say it to Pyramus. You just said all your lines at once, cues and all. Enter, Pyramus. You lot missed your cue. It's "never gets tired."

FLUTE

Oh. [As Thisbe] Every bit true as truest equus caballus that however would never tire.

FLUTE

Oh! [As THISBE] Equally trustworthy as a horse that never gets tired.

BOTTOM

[As PYRAMUS] If I were fair, Thisbe, I were only thine.

BOTTOM

[Every bit PYRAMUS] If I were handsome, my lovely Thisbe, I would still exist entirely yours.

BOTTOM enters, with an ass' head instead of his own. ROBIN also enters.

QUINCE

Oh, monstrous! Oh, strange! We are haunted. Pray, masters! Fly, masters! Help!

QUINCE

Oh! A monster! How strange! We're being haunted. Pray, gentlemen! Run, gentlemen! Assistance!

QUINCE, FLUTE, SNUG, SNOUT, and STARVELING get out.

ROBIN

I'll follow you. I'll lead you about a round Through bog, through bush, through brake, through brier. Sometime a horse I'll exist, sometime a hound, A grunter, a headless conduct, sometime a fire. And neigh, and bark, and grunt, and roar, and fire, Like horse, hound, hog, deport, fire, at every turn.

ROBIN

I'll follow you. I'll pb you all in circles, through bogs, through bushes, through hedges, and through thorns. Sometimes I'll take the shape of a horse, sometimes a dog or a pig or a headless bear. Sometimes I'll be A fire! And I'll neigh like a horse, bark like a dog, grunt similar a hog, growl like a conduct, and burn down like a burn down wherever y'all run.

BOTTOM

Why do they run away? This is a knavery of them to make me afeard.

BOTTOM

Why are they running away? This is some practical joke of theirs to endeavour to scare me.

SNOUT

O Lesser, thou art changed! What do I see on thee?

SNOUT

Oh, Bottom, yous've been changed! What practice you have on your head?

Lesser

What practice you see? You see an ass head of your ain, do y'all?

BOTTOM

What do y'all recall I have on my head? You run into something you've imagined with your own hare-brained head, right?

SNOUT exits. QUINCE enters.

QUINCE

Bless thee, Bottom, anoint thee. Thou fine art translated.

QUINCE

God bless yous, Bottom, God bless you. You lot've been transformed.

BOTTOM

I run across their knavery: this is to make an ass of me, to fright me if they could. But I will not stir from this place, do what they tin. I will walk up and down here and I volition sing, that they shall hear I am not agape. [Sings] The ouzel erect, so blackness of hue With orange-tawny bill, The throstlewith his note so true, The wren with little quill—

Lesser

I see what joke they're trying to pull. They want to make an ass of me, to scare me if they can. But I won't motility from this spot, whatever they practise. I'll walk back and forth and sing a song and so that they'll hear me and know I'thou not afraid.
[Singing]
The blackbird, and so blackness in color
With an orange-and-tan beak,
The thrush with its cute voice,
The wren with its high piping voice—

TITANIA

[Waking] What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?

TITANIA

[Waking upwards] What angel wakes me from my bed of flowers?

BOTTOM

[Sings] The finch, the sparrow, and the distraction, The plainsong cuckoo gray, Whose note full many a man doth marker And dares not respond "Nay"— For indeed, who would set up his wit to so foolish a bird? Who would give a bird the lie, though he cry "cuckoo" never so?

Bottom

[Singing]
The finch, the sparrow, and the lark,
The gray cuckoo with his unchanging song
Whose voice so many men hear
But don't dare say no to it—
Indeed, who would try to win an argument with a stupid bird?
Who would say that a bird was lying, at present matter how many times the bird chosen out that his wife was cheating on him?

TITANIA

I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing again. Mine ear is much enamored of thy notation. Then is mine heart enthrallèd to thy shape. And thy fair virtue'southward force perforce doth movement me On the first view to say, to swear, I love thee.

TITANIA

Noble homo, I beg you, sing over again. My ears cannot get enough of your voice, and my eyes are entranced past your looks. Though this is the first fourth dimension I have ever seen you, the ability of your beauty compels me to swear that I honey yous.

BOTTOM

Methinks, mistress, you should have little reason for that. And yet, to say the truth, reason and dear go along little company together nowadays. The more the pity that some honest neighbors will not make them friends. Nay, I tin gleek upon occasion.

BOTTOM

I don't think you should have a good reason to love me. And still, to be honest, reason and dear are seldom found together these days. It'southward a shame that some mutual friend of theirs doesn't innovate them. Ha, I've been known to tell a joke from time to time.

TITANIA

Thou fine art as wise equally thou art cute.

TITANIA

You're every bit wise equally you are cute.

Lesser

Not then, neither. Simply if I had wit enough to exit of this woods, I have enough to serve mine own plow.

Bottom

That's not true, either. But if I were wise enough to get out of this forest, I'd have all the wisdom I needed.

TITANIA

Out of this wood do not desire to go. Thou shalt remain here whether thousand wilt or no. I am a spirit of no common charge per unit. The summer still doth tend upon my state. And I exercise love thee. Therefore go with me. I'll give thee fairies to nourish on thee. And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, And sing while thou on pressèd flowers dost slumber. And I will purge thy mortal grossness so That thou shalt like an blusterous spirit go. Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustardseed!

TITANIA

Please don't wish that you could exit this wood. You will stay hither whether you want to or not. I'thou non some ordinary fairy. The summer itself serves me equally one of my followers. And I love y'all. So come with me. I'll requite you lot fairies to serve you, and they'll bring y'all jewels from the sea depths, and sing to you lot as y'all slumber on a bed of pressed flowers. And I'll remove yous from your physical body, so you will be a spirit of the air. Peaseblossom, Fiber, Moth, and Mustardseed, come here!

Four fairies enter: 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 apricoks and dewberries, With purple grapes, green figs, and mulberries. The honey bags steal from the apprehensive-bees, And for night tapers crop their waxen thighs And light them at the fiery glowworms' eyes To accept my love to bed and to arise. And pluck the wings from painted butterflies To fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes. Nod to him, elves, and do him courtesies.

TITANIA

Exist kind and considerate to this admirer. Follow where he walks. Run and leap joyfully where he can watch you lot. Feed him apricots and blackberries, along with purple grapes, greenish figs, and mulberries. Steal honey from the bumblebees, and brand candles from beeswax taken from the bees' legs. Then low-cal the candles with the fire from glowworms' optics then that my dearest will have light when he goes to bed and wakes up. Pluck the wings from colorful collywobbles, and then use them to fan moonbeams away from his sleeping eyes. Fairies, bow and curtsy to him.

PEASEBLOSSOM

Hail, mortal.

PEASEBLOSSOM

Hullo, mortal!

Lesser

I weep your worships' mercy, heartily. I beseech your worship's name.

BOTTOM

I beg your pardon, sirs, very much. Volition yous tell me your names, sirs?

BOTTOM

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

Lesser

I would like to get to know you amend, good Mister Cobweb. If I cut my finger, I'll use you as a bandage. And your proper name, good sir?

PEASEBLOSSOM

Peaseblossom.

PEASEBLOSSOM

Peaseblossom.

Bottom

I pray you, commend me to Mistress Squash, your mother, and to Master Peascod, your father. Adept Main Peaseblossom, I shall want you of more than acquaintance too. Your name, I beseech you, sir?

BOTTOM

Please, give my regards to Mrs. Peapod, your mother, and to Mr. Peapod, your father. Skillful Mr. Peaseblossom, I'd like to get to know you lot better too. And now, may I enquire what your name is, sir?

Lesser

Skilful Master Mustardseed, I know your patience well. That same cowardly, giantlike ox-beefiness hath devoured many a admirer of your house. I hope you your kindred hath made my eyes water ere now. I want you of more acquaintance, skillful Master Mustardseed.

Bottom

Good Mr. Mustardseed, I know how you accept patiently suffered, and how those cowardly, gigantic sides of beefiness have caused so many of your family unit members to get eaten. I promise you lot that many of your mustard relatives have made my eyes h2o before now. I'd like to get to know you better, skilful Mr. Mustardseed.

TITANIA

Come, look upon him. Lead him to my bower. The moon methinks looks with a watery eye. And when she weeps, weeps every picayune bloom, Lamenting some enforcèd chastity. Tie up my love's natural language. Bring him silently.

TITANIA

Serve him well, and lead him to the identify I sleep. I retrieve the moon looks sad, and when she cries, every piffling blossom cries, lamenting the fact that they are forced to remain chaste. Brand my lover stay quiet. Bring him to me in silence.

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Source: https://www.litcharts.com/shakescleare/shakespeare-translations/a-midsummer-nights-dream/act-3-scene-1

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