Page 2643 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

slow of study.

QUINCE

You may do it extempore, for it is nothing but roaring.

BOT T OM

Let me play the lion too. I will roar, that I will do any man’s heart good to
hear me. I will roar, that I will [65] make the Duke say: ‘Let him roar
again; let him roar again!’

QUINCE

And you should do it too terribly, you would fright theDuchess and the
ladies, that they would shriek; and that were enough to hang us all. [70]

ALL

That would hang us, every mother’s son.

BOT T OM

I grant you, friends, if you should fright the ladies out of their wits, they
would have no more discretion but to hang us. But I will aggravate my
voice so, that I will roar you as gently as any sucking dove; I [75] will roar
you and ’twere any nightingale.

QUINCE

You can play no part but Pyramus; for Pyramus is a sweet-faced man; a
proper man as one shall see in a summer’s day; a most lovely, gentleman-
like man; therefore you must needs play Pyramus. [80]

BOT T OM

Well, I will undertake it. What beard were I best to play it in?

QUINCE

Why, what you will.

BOT T OM

I will discharge it in either your straw-colour beard, your orange-tawny
beard, your purple-in-grain [85] beard, or your French-crown-colour beard,
your perfect yellow.

QUINCE