Bottom.

Are we all met?

Quin.

Pat, pat; and here's a marvellous convenient place for our rehearsal. This green plot shall be our stage, this hauthorn-brake our tyring house, and we will do it in action, as we will do it before the Duke.

Bot.

Peter Quince.

Quin.

What say'st thou bully Bottom?

Bot.

There are things in this comedy of Pyramus and Thisby, that will never please. First, Pyramus must draw a sword to kill himself, which the ladies cannot abide. How answer you that?

Snout.

By'rlaken, a parlous fear!

Star.

I believe we must leave the killing out, when all is done.

Bot.

Not a whit, I have a device to make all well; write me a prologue, and let the prologue seem to say, we will do no harm with our swords, and that Pyramus is not kill'd indeed; and for more better assurance tell them, that I Pyramus am not Pyramus but Bottom the weaver; this will put them out of fear.

Quin.

Well, we will have such a prologue, and it shall be written in eight and six.

Bot.

No, make it two more; let it be written in eight and eight.

Snout.

Will not the ladies be afraid of the lion?

Star.

I fear it, I promise you.

Bot.

Masters, you ought to consider with your selves; to bring in, God shield us, a lion among ladies, is a most dreadful thing; for there is not a more fearful wild-fowl than your lion living; and we ought to look to it.

Snout.

Therefore another prologue must tell he is not a lion.

Bot.

Nay, you must name his name, and half his face must be seen through the lion's neck, and he himself must speak through, saying thus or to the same defect; ladies, or fair ladies, I would wish you, or I would request you, or I would intreat you, not to fear, not to tremble; my life for yours; if you think I come hither as a lion, it were pity of my life; no, I am no such thing, I am a man as other men are; and there indeed let him name his name and tell them plainly he is Snug the joiner.

Quin.

Well, it shall be so; but there is two hard things, that is, to bring the moon-light into a chamber; for you know Pyramus and Thisby meet by moon-light.

Snug.

Doth the moon shine that night we play our play?

Bot.

A kalendar, a kalendar! look in the almanack; find out moon-shine, find out moon-shine.

Quin.

Yes, it doth shine that night.

Bot.

Why then may you leave a casement of the great chamber window where we play open, and the moon may shine in at the casement.

Quin.

Ay, or else one must come in with a bush of thorns and a lanthorn, and say he comes to disfigure or to present the person of Moon-shine. Then there is another thing, we must have a wall in the great chamber, for Pyramus and Thisby (says the story) did talk through the chink of a wall.

Snug.

You can never bring in a wall. What say you, Bottom?

Bot.

Some man or other must present Wall, and let him have

some plaster, or some lome, or some rough-cast about him, to signify wall: Or let him hold his fingers thus; and through the cranny shall Pyramus and Thisby whisper.

Quin.

If that may be, then all is well. Come, sit down every mother's son, and rehearse your parts. Pyramus, you begin; when you have spoken your speech enter into that brake, and so every one according to his cue.