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 ^note come not, then the play is mar'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, God bless us! a thing of naught. ^note

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 ^note Athenian.

I will tell you every thing, right as it ^note 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.14Q0258 In any case, let Thisby have clean linnen; and let not him, that plays the lion, pare his ^note nails, for they shall hang out for the lion's claws. And, most dear actors, eat no onions, nor garlick, 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.