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Charles Kean [1856], Shakespeare's play of a Midsummer Night's Dream arranged for representation at the Princess's Theatre, with historical and explanatory notes, by Charles Kean. As first performed on Wednesday, October 15th, 1856 (Printed by John K. Chapman and Co. [etc.], London) [word count] [S36000].
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Scene I. —TITANIA'S BOWER. Titania and Bottom, Fairies attending. Music.

Tit.
Come, sit thee down upon this flowery bed,
  While I thy amiable cheeks do coy,1 note
And stick musk-roses in thy sleek, smooth head,
  And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy.

Bot.

Where's Peas-blossom?

Pea.

Ready.

Bot.

Scratch my head, Peas-blossom.—Where's Cobweb?

Cob.

Ready.

Bot.

Good Cobweb, get your weapons in your hand, and kill me a red-hipped humble-bee on the top of a thistle; and, good Cobweb, bring me the honey-bag. Where's Mustard-seed?

Mus.

Ready.

Bot.

Give me your neif,2 note Mustard-seed.

Mus.

What's your will?

Bot.

Nothing, good sir, but to help Peas-blossom to scratch. I must to the barber's; for, methinks, I am marvellous hairy about the face: and I am such a tender ass, if my hair do but tickle me, I must scratch.

Tit.
What, wilt thou hear some music?
Or, say, sweet love, what thou desir'st to eat?

Bot.

Truly, a peck of provender; I could munch your good dry oats. Methinks, I have a great desire to a bottle of hay; good hay, sweet hay, hath no fellow.

-- 45 --

Tit.
I have a venturous fairy that shall seek
The squirrel's hoard, and fetch thee new nuts.

Bot.

I had rather have a handful or two of dried peas. But, I pray you, let none of your people stir me; I have an exposition of sleep come upon me.

Tit.
Fairies, begone, and be a while away.3 note
[Exeunt Fairies. [They sleep. Music. Oberon advances. Enter Puck.

Obe.
Welcome, good Robin. See'st thou this sweet sight?
Her dotage now I do begin to pity.
For meeting her of late, behind the wood,
She, in mild terms, did beg my patience;
I then did ask of her her changeling child;
Which straight she gave me, and her fairy sent
To bear him to my bower in fairy land.
And now I have the boy, I will undo
This hateful imperfection of her eyes.


INCANTATION.
  Be, as thou was wont to be; [Touching her eyes with an herb.
  See, as thou was wont to see:
  Dian's bud o'er Cupid's flower4 note
  Hath such force and blessed power.
Now, my Titania; wake you, my sweet queen.

Tit.
My Oberon! what visions have I seen!
Methought, I was enamour'd of an ass.

Obe.
There lies your love.

Tit.
How came these things to pass?
O, how mine eyes do loath his visage now!

Obe.
Silence, a while.—Robin take off this head.—
[Puck takes the ass's head off Bottom, and flies away.

-- 46 --

Obe.
Sound, musick. [Music.] Come, my queen, take hands with me;
Now thou and I are new in amity;
We will, to-morrow midnight, solemnly,
Dance in Prince Theseus' house triumphantly,
And bless it to all fair posterity.


TRIO. 1st Fai.
  Fairy king, attend and mark;
  I do hear the morning lark. Obe.
  Then, my queen, in silence sad,
  Trip we after the night's shade:
  We the globe can compass soon,
  Swifter than the wand'ring moon. 2nd Fai.
  Fairy king, attend and mark,
  I do hear the morning lark. 1st Fai.
  Come, my lord; and in our flight,
  Tell me how it came this night,
  Sleeping here our queen was found,
  With this mortal on the ground.
[Exeunt. [As they go out Bottom awakes.

Bot.

When my cue comes, call me, and I will answer:— my next is, Most fair Pyramus.—Hey, ho!—Peter Quince! Flute, the bellows-mender! Snout, the tinker! Starveling! stolen hence, and left me asleep! I have had a most rare vision. I have had a dream,—past the wit of man to say what dream it was: Man is but an ass, if he go about to expound this dream. Methought I was—there is no man can tell what. Methought I was, and methought I had,—But man is but a patched fool,5 note if he will offer to say what methought I had. The eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen: man's hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceive, nor his heart to report, what my dream was. I will get Peter Quince to write a ballad of this dream: it shall be called Bottom's Dream, because it hath no bottom; and I will sing it in the latter end of the play, before the prince: Peradventure, to make it the more gracious, I shall sing it at Thisbe's death.

[Exit.

-- 47 --

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Charles Kean [1856], Shakespeare's play of a Midsummer Night's Dream arranged for representation at the Princess's Theatre, with historical and explanatory notes, by Charles Kean. As first performed on Wednesday, October 15th, 1856 (Printed by John K. Chapman and Co. [etc.], London) [word count] [S36000].
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