The. She will find him by star-light.-Here she comes; and her passion ends the play. Enter Thisbe. Hip. Methinks, she should not use a long one, for such a Pyramus: I hope, she will be brief. Dem. A mote will turn the balance, which Py ramus, which Thisbe, is the better. Lys. She hath spied him already with those sweet eyes. Dem. And thus she moans, videlicet. O Pyramus, arise, Speak, speak. Quite dumb? 'Dead, dead? A tomb 'Must cover thy sweet eyes. These lily brows, This cherry nose, These yellow cowslip cheeks, 'Are gone, are gone: 'His eyes were green as leeks. 'Come, come, to me, 'With shears his thread of silk. Tongue, not a word :— 'Come, trusty sword; 'Come, blade, my breast imbrue; And farewell, friends; Thus, Thisby ends: 'Adieu, adieu, adieu.' [Dies. The. Moonshine and Lion are left to bury the dead. Dem. Ay, and Wall too. Bot. No, I assure you; the wall is down that parted their fathers. Will it please you to see the epilogue, or to hear a Bergomask dance, between two of our company? The. No epilogue, I pray you; for your play needs no excuse. Never excuse; for when the players are all dead, there need none to be blamed. Marry, if he that writ it had play'd Pyramus, and hanged himself in Thisbe's garter, it would have been a fine tragedy and so it is, truly; and very notably discharged. But come, your Bergomask : let your epilogue alone. [Here a dance of Clowns. The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve:Lovers, to bed; 'tis almost fairy time. I fear we shall out-sleep the coming morn, [Exeunt. SCENE II.-Enter Puck. In remembrance of a shroud. Now it is the time of night, That the graves, all gaping wide, By the triple Hecate's team, Now are frolic; not a mouse (1) Progress. (2) Overcome. I am sent, with broom before, To sweep the dust behind the door. Enter Oberon and Titania, with their Train. Obe. Through this house give glimmering light, By the dead and drowsy fire: Every elf, and fairy sprite, Hop as light as bird from brier; And this ditty, after me, Sing and dance it trippingly. Tita. First rehearse this song by rote: To each word a warbling note, Hand in hand, with fairy grace. Will we sing, and bless this place. SONG, AND DANCE. Obe. Now, until the break of day, Shall upon their children be.-- Every fairy take his gait ;2 And each several chamber bless, Through this palace with sweet peace : E'er shall it in safety rest, And the owner of it blest. Trip away; Meet me all by break of day. [Exeunt Oberon, Titania, and Train. Puck. If we shadows have offended, So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends, [Exit. Wild and fantastical as this play is, all the parts in their various modes are well written, and give the kind of pleasure which the author designed. Fairies in his time were much in fashion; common tradition had made them familiar, and Spencer's poem had made them great. JOHNSON. |