Page 2660 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

ACT III IT

Scene I IT

(Titania still lying asleep.) Enter Quince, Bottom, Snug, Flute, Snout,
and Starveling.

BOT T OM

Are we all met?

QUINCE

Pat, pat; and here’s a marvellous convenient place for our rehearsal. This
green plot shall be our stage, this hawthorn-brake our tiring-house; and we
will do it in action, as we will do it before the Duke. [5]

BOT T OM

Peter Quince!

QUINCE

What sayest thou, bully Bottom?

BOT T OM

There are things in this comedy of Pyramus and Thisbe that will never
please. First, Pyramus must draw a sword to kill himself; which the ladies
cannot abide. [10] How answer you that?

SNOUT

Byrlakin, a parlous fear.

ST ARVELING

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

BOT T OM

Not a whit; I have a device to make all well. [15] Write me a prologue, and
let the prologue seem to say we will do no harm with our swords, and that