Ob.
I wonder, if Titania be awak'd:
Then what it was that next came in her eye,
Which she must doat on in extremity. Enter Puck.
Here comes my messenger! how now, mad sprite,
What night-rule now about this haunted grove?

Puck.
My mistress with a monster is in love.
Near to her close and consecrated bower,
While she was in her dull and sleeping hour,
A crew of patches, rude mechanicals,
That work for bread upon Athenian stalls,
Were met together to rehearse a play,
Intended for great Theseus' nuptial day.
The shallow'st thick-skin of that barren sort,
Who Pyramus presented, in their sport

Forsook his scene, and enter'd in a brake;
When I did him at this advantage take,
An Ass's nole I fixed on his head;
Anon, his Thisby must be answered,
And forth my minnock comes: when they him spy,
As wild geese, that the creeping fowler eye,
Or russet-pated choughs, many in sort,
Rising and cawing at the gun's report,
Sever themselves, and madly sweep the sky;
So at his sight, away his fellows fly;
And, at our stamp, here o'er and o'er one falls;
He murder cries, and help from Athens calls.
Their sense thus weak, lost with their fears thus strong,
Made senseless things begin to do them wrong.
For briars and thorns at their apparel snatch,
Some, sleeves; some, hats; from yielders all things catch.
I led them on in this distracted fear,
And left sweet Pyramus translated there:
When in that moment (so it came to pass)
Titania wak'd, and straitway lov'd an ass.

Ob.
This falls out better, than I could devise.
But hast thou yet latch'd the Athenian's eyes
With the love-juice, as I did bid thee do?

Puck.
I took him sleeping; that is finish'd too;
And the Athenian woman by his side,
That when he wakes, of force she must be ey'd.

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