Qui.

Have you sent to Bottom's house? is he come home yet?

Sta.

He cannot be heard of. Out of doubt, he is transported.

Flu.

If he come not, then the play is marr'd; it goes not forward, doth it?

Qui.

It is not possible: you have not a man, in all Athens, able to discharge Pyramus, but he.

Flu.

No; he hath simply the best wit of any handycraft man in Athens.

Qui.

Yea, and the best person too: and he is a very paramour, for a sweet voice.

Flu.

You must say, paragon: a paramour is, Heav'n bless us! a thing of naught.

Snu.

Masters, the Duke is coming from the temple, and there is two or three lords and ladies more marry'd: If our sport had gone forward, we had all been made men.

Flu.

O sweet bully Bottom! Thus hath he lost sixpence a day, during his life; he could not have 'scap'd sixpence a day: an the Duke had not given him sixpence a day for playing Pyramus, I'll be hang'd; he would have deserv'd it: sixpence a day, in Pyramus, or nothing.

Bot.

Where are these lads? where are these hearts?

Qui.

Bottom!—O most courageous day! O most happy hour!

Bot.

Masters, I am to discourse wonders: but ask me not what; for if I tell you, I am no true Athenian. I will tell you every thing, right as it fell out.

Qui.

Let us hear, sweet Bottom.

Bot.

Not a word of me. All that I will tell you, is, that the Duke hath dined: Get your apparel together; good strings to your beards, new ribbands to your pumps, meet presently at the palace, every man look o'er his part; for, the short and the long is, our play is prefer'd. In any case, let Thisby have clean linnen; and let not him, that plays the lion, pare his nails, for they shall hang out for the lion's claws. And, most

dear actors, eat no onions, nor garlic, for we are to utter sweet breath; and I do not doubt but to hear them say, it is a sweet comedy. No more words; away, go, away* ^note.