Page 2645 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

ACT II IT

Scene I IT

Enter a Fairy at one door, and Puck at another.

PUCK

How now, spirit! Whither wander you?

FAIRY

Over hill, over dale,
Thorough bush, thorough briar,

Over park, over pale,
Thorough flood, thorough fire, [5]

I do wander everywhere,
Swifter than the moon’s sphere;
And I serve the Fairy Queen,
To dew her orbs upon the green.
The cowslips tall her pensioners be, [10]
In their gold coats spots you see;
Those be rubies, fairy favours,
In those freckles live their savours.
I must go seek some dew-drops here,
And hang a pearl in every cowslip’s ear. [15]
Farewell, thou lob of spirits; I’ll be gone;
Our Queen and all her elves come here anon.

PUCK

The King doth keep his revels here tonight;
Take heed the Queen come not within his sight;
For Oberon is passing fell and wrath, [20]
Because that she as her attendant hath
A lovely boy, stol’n from an Indian king -
She never had so sweet a changeling;
And jealous Oberon would have the child
Knight of his train, to trace the forests wild: [25]