Page 2704 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

T HESEUS

His speech was like a tangled chain; nothing impaired, but all disordered.
Who is next? [125]

Enter, with a Trumpeter before them, (Bottom as) Pyramusand (Flute
as) Thisbe, and (Snout as) Wall, and (Starveling as) Moonshine, and (Snug

as) Lion.

PROLOGUE

Gentles, perchance you wonder at this show;
But wonder on, till truth make all things plain.
This man is Pyramus, if you would know;
This beauteous lady Thisbe is certain.
This man, with lime and rough-cast, doth present [130]
Wall, that vile wall which did these lovers sunder;
And through Wall’s chink, poor souls, they are content
To whisper. At the which let no man wonder.
This man, with lantern, dog, and bush of thorn,
Presenteth Moonshine; for, if you will know, [135]
By moonshine did these lovers think no scorn
To meet at Ninus’ tomb, there, there to woo.
This grisly beast, which Lion hight by name,
The trusty Thisbe, coming first by night,
Did scare away, or rather did affright; [140]
And as she fled, her mantle she did fall,
Which Lion vile with bloody mouth did stain.
Anon comes Pyramus, sweet youth and tall,
And finds his trusty Thisbe’s mantle slain;
Whereat with blade, with bloody blameful blade, [145]
He bravely broach’d his boiling bloody breast;
And Thisbe, tarrying in mulberry shade,
His dagger drew, and died. For all the rest,
Let Lion, Moonshine, Wall, and lovers twain
At large discourse, while here they do remain. [150]

Exeunt Prologue, Pyramus, Thisbe, Lion, and Moonshine.

T HESEUS

I wonder if the lion be to speak?

DEMET RIUS

No wonder, my lord; one lion may when many asses do.