THESEUS
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NOw faire Hippolita, our nuptiall houreNow, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hourMND I.i.1
Drawes on apace: foure happy daies bring inDraws on apace. Four happy days bring inMND I.i.2
Another Moon: but oh, me thinkes, how slowAnother moon – but O, methinks how slowMND I.i.3
This old Moon wanes; She lingers my desiresThis old moon wanes! She lingers my desires,MND I.i.4
Like to a Step-dame, or a Dowager,Like to a stepdame or a dowagerMND I.i.5
Long withering out a yong mans reuennew.Long withering out a young man's revenue.MND I.i.6
   
Go Philostrate,Go, Philostrate,MND I.i.11.2
Stirre vp the Athenian youth to merriments,Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments.MND I.i.12
Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth,Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth.MND I.i.13
Turne melancholy forth to Funerals:Turn melancholy forth to funerals:MND I.i.14
The pale companion is not for our pompe,The pale companion is not for our pomp.MND I.i.15
   
Hippolita, I woo'd thee with my sword,Hippolyta, I wooed thee with my sword,MND I.i.16
And wonne thy loue, doing thee iniuries:And won thy love doing thee injuries;MND I.i.17
But I will wed thee in another key,But I will wed thee in another key:MND I.i.18
With pompe, with triumph, and with reuelling.With pomp, with triumph, and with revelling.MND I.i.19
   
Thanks good Egeus: what's the news with thee?Thanks, good Egeus. What's the news with thee?MND I.i.21
   
What say you Hermia? be aduis'd faire Maide,What say you, Hermia? Be advised, fair maid:MND I.i.46
To you your Father should be as a God;To you your father should be as a god;MND I.i.47
One that compos'd your beauties; yea and oneOne that composed your beauties – yea, and oneMND I.i.48
To whom you are but as a forme in waxeTo whom you are but as a form in waxMND I.i.49
By him imprinted: and within his power,By him imprinted, and within his powerMND I.i.50
To leaue the figure, or disfigure it:To leave the figure or disfigure it.MND I.i.51
Demetrius is a worthy Gentleman.Demetrius is a worthy gentleman.MND I.i.52
   
In himselfe he is.In himself he is;MND I.i.53.2
But in this kinde, wanting your fathers voyce.But in this kind, wanting your father's voice,MND I.i.54
The other must be held the worthier.The other must be held the worthier.MND I.i.55
   
Rather your eies must with his iudgment looke.Rather your eyes must with his judgement look.MND I.i.57
   
Either to dye the death, or to abiureEither to die the death, or to abjureMND I.i.65
For euer the society of men.For ever the society of men.MND I.i.66
Therefore faire Hermia question your desires,Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires,MND I.i.67
Know of your youth, examine well your blood,Know of your youth, examine well your blood,MND I.i.68
Whether (if you yeeld not to your fathers choice)Whether, if you yield not to your father's choice,MND I.i.69
You can endure the liuerie of a Nunne,You can endure the livery of a nun,MND I.i.70
For aye to be in shady Cloister mew'd,For aye to be in shady cloister mewed,MND I.i.71
To liue a barren sister all your life,To live a barren sister all your life,MND I.i.72
Chanting faint hymnes to the cold fruitlesse Moone,Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon.MND I.i.73
Thrice blessed they that master so their blood,Thrice blessed they that master so their bloodMND I.i.74
To vndergo such maiden pilgrimage,To undergo such maiden pilgrimage;MND I.i.75
But earthlier happie is the Rose distil'd,But earthlier happy is the rose distilled,MND I.i.76
Then that which withering on the virgin thorne,Than that which, withering on the virgin thorn,MND I.i.77
Growes, liues, and dies, in single blessednesse.Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness.MND I.i.78
   
Take time to pause, and by the next new MoonTake time to pause, and by the next new moon – MND I.i.83
The sealing day betwixt my loue and me,The sealing day betwixt my love and meMND I.i.84
For euerlasting bond of fellowship:For everlasting bond of fellowship – MND I.i.85
Vpon that day either prepare to dye,Upon that day either prepare to dieMND I.i.86
For disobedience to your fathers will,For disobedience to your father's will,MND I.i.87
Or else to wed Demetrius as hee would,Or else to wed Demetrius, as he would,MND I.i.88
Or on Dianaes Altar to protestOr on Diana's altar to protestMND I.i.89
For aie, austerity, and single life.For aye austerity and single life.MND I.i.90
   
I must confesse, that I haue heard so much,I must confess that I have heard so much,MND I.i.111
And with Demetrius thought to haue spoke thereof:And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof;MND I.i.112
But being ouer-full of selfe-affaires,But, being overfull of self affairs,MND I.i.113
My minde did lose it. But Demetrius come,My mind did lose it. But Demetrius, come;MND I.i.114
And come Egeus, you shall go with me,And come, Egeus. You shall go with me.MND I.i.115
I haue some priuate schooling for you both.I have some private schooling for you both.MND I.i.116
For you faire Hermia, looke you arme your selfe,For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourselfMND I.i.117
To fit your fancies to your Fathers will;To fit your fancies to your father's will;MND I.i.118
Or else the Law of Athens yeelds you vpOr else the law of Athens yields you up – MND I.i.119
(Which by no meanes we may extenuate)Which by no means we may extenuateMND I.i.120
To death, or to a vow of single life.To death or to a vow of single life.MND I.i.121
Come my Hippolita, what cheare my loue?Come, my Hippolyta. What cheer, my love?MND I.i.122
Demetrius and Egeus go along:Demetrius and Egeus, go along;MND I.i.123
I must imploy you in some businesseI must employ you in some businessMND I.i.124
Against our nuptiall, and conferre with youAgainst our nuptial, and confer with youMND I.i.125
Of something, neerely that concernes your selues.Of something nearly that concerns yourselves.MND I.i.126
   
Goe one of you, finde out the Forrester,Go, one of you; find out the forester;MND IV.i.102
For now our obseruation is perform'd;For now our observation is performed.MND IV.i.103
And since we haue the vaward of the day,And since we have the vaward of the day,MND IV.i.104
My Loue shall heare the musicke of my hounds.My love shall hear the music of my hounds.MND IV.i.105
Vncouple in the Westerne valley, let them goe;Uncouple in the western valley; let them go.MND IV.i.106
Dispatch I say, and finde the Forrester.Dispatch, I say, and find the forester.MND IV.i.107
   
We will faire Queene, vp to the Mountaines top,We will, fair Queen, up to the mountain's top,MND IV.i.108
And marke the musicall confusionAnd mark the musical confusionMND IV.i.109
Of hounds and eccho in coniunction.Of hounds and echo in conjunction.MND IV.i.110
   
My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kinde,My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind;MND IV.i.118
So flew'd, so sanded, and their heads are hungSo flewed, so sanded; and their heads are hungMND IV.i.119
With eares that sweepe away the morning dew,With ears that sweep away the morning dew;MND IV.i.120
Crooke kneed, and dew-lapt, like Thessalian Buls,Crook-kneed, and dewlapped like Thessalian bulls;MND IV.i.121
Slow in pursuit, but match'd in mouth like bels,Slow in pursuit, but matched in mouth like bells,MND IV.i.122
Each vnder each. A cry more tuneableEach under each. A cry more tuneableMND IV.i.123
Was neuer hallowed to, nor cheer'd with horne,Was never hallooed to nor cheered with hornMND IV.i.124
In Creete, in Sparta, nor in Thessaly;In Crete, in Sparta, nor in Thessaly.MND IV.i.125
Iudge when you heare.Judge when you hear.MND IV.i.126.1
   
But soft, what nimphs are these?But soft, what nymphs are these?MND IV.i.126.2
   
No doubt they rose vp early, to obserueNo doubt they rose up early to observeMND IV.i.131
The right of May; and hearing our intent,The rite of May, and hearing our intentMND IV.i.132
Came heere in grace of our solemnity.Came here in grace of our solemnity.MND IV.i.133
But speake Egeus, is not this the dayBut speak, Egeus: is not this the dayMND IV.i.134
That Hermia should giue answer of her choice?That Hermia should give answer of her choice?MND IV.i.135
   
Goe bid the hunts-men wake them with their hornes.Go, bid the huntsmen wake them with their horns.MND IV.i.137
   
Good morrow friends: Saint Valentine is past,Good morrow, friends – Saint Valentine is past!MND IV.i.138
Begin these wood birds but to couple now?Begin these woodbirds but to couple now?MND IV.i.139
   
I pray you all stand vp.I pray you all, stand up.MND IV.i.140.2
I know you two are Riuall enemies.I know you two are rival enemies.MND IV.i.141
How comes this gentle concord in the world,How comes this gentle concord in the world,MND IV.i.142
That hatred is is so farre from iealousie,That hatred is so far from jealousyMND IV.i.143
To sleepe by hate, and feare no enmity.To sleep by hate, and fear no enmity?MND IV.i.144
   
Faire Louers, you are fortunately met;Fair lovers, you are fortunately met.MND IV.i.176
Of this discourse we shall heare more anon.Of this discourse we more will hear anon.MND IV.i.177
Egeus, I will ouer-beare your will;Egeus, I will overbear your will;MND IV.i.178
For in the Temple, by and by with vs,For in the temple by and by with usMND IV.i.179
These couples shall eternally be knit.These couples shall eternally be knit.MND IV.i.180
And for the morning now is something worne,And – for the morning now is something worn – MND IV.i.181
Our purpos'd hunting shall be set aside.Our purposed hunting shall be set aside.MND IV.i.182
Away, with vs to Athens; three and three,Away with us to Athens. Three and three,MND IV.i.183
Wee'll hold a feast in great solemnitie.We'll hold a feast in great solemnity.MND IV.i.184
Come Hippolita. Come, Hippolyta.MND IV.i.185
   
More strange then true. I neuer may beleeueMore strange than true. I never may believeMND V.i.2
These anticke fables, nor these Fairy toyes,These antique fables, nor these fairy toys.MND V.i.3
Louers and mad men haue such seething braines,Lovers and madmen have such seething brains,MND V.i.4
Such shaping phantasies, that apprehendSuch shaping fantasies, that apprehendMND V.i.5
more / Then coole reason euer comprehends.More than cool reason ever comprehends.MND V.i.6
The Lunaticke, the Louer, and the Poet,The lunatic, the lover, and the poetMND V.i.7
Are of imagination all compact.Are of imagination all compact.MND V.i.8
One sees more diuels then vaste hell can hold;One sees more devils than vast hell can hold.MND V.i.9
That is the mad man. The Louer, all as franticke,That is the madman. The lover, all as frantic,MND V.i.10
Sees Helens beauty in a brow of Egipt.Sees Helen's beauty in a brow of Egypt.MND V.i.11
The Poets eye in a fine frenzy rolling,The poet's eye, in fine frenzy rolling,MND V.i.12
doth glance / From heauen to earth, from earth to heauen.Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven.MND V.i.13
And as imagination bodies forthAnd as imagination bodies forthMND V.i.14
the forms of things / Vnknowne; the Poets penThe forms of things unknown, the poet's penMND V.i.15
turnes them to shapes, / And giues to aire nothing,Turns them to shapes, and gives to airy nothingMND V.i.16
a locall habitation, / And a name.A local habitation and a name.MND V.i.17
Such tricks hath strong imagination,Such tricks hath strong imaginationMND V.i.18
That if it would but apprehend some ioy,That if it would but apprehend some joy,MND V.i.19
It comprehends some bringer of that ioy.It comprehends some bringer of that joy.MND V.i.20
Or in the night, imagining some feare,Or in the night, imagining some fear,MND V.i.21
Howe easie is a bush suppos'd a Beare?How easy is a bush supposed a bear?MND V.i.22
   
Heere come the louers, full of ioy and mirth:Here come the lovers, full of joy and mirth.MND V.i.28
Ioy, gentle friends, ioy and fresh dayes / Of loue Joy, gentle friends, joy and fresh days of loveMND V.i.29
accompany your hearts.Accompany your hearts.MND V.i.30.1
   
Come now, what maskes, what dances shall we haue,Come now, what masques, what dances shall we haveMND V.i.32
To weare away this long age of three houres,To wear away this long age of three hoursMND V.i.33
Between our after supper, and bed-time?Between our after-supper and bedtime?MND V.i.34
Where is our vsuall manager of mirth?Where is our usual manager of mirth?MND V.i.35
What Reuels are in hand? Is there no play,What revels are in hand? Is there no playMND V.i.36
To ease the anguish of a torturing houre?To ease the anguish of a torturing hour?MND V.i.37
Call Egeus.Call Philostrate.MND V.i.38.1
   
Say, what abridgement haue you for this euening? Say, what abridgement have you for this evening?MND V.i.39
What maske? What musicke? How shall we beguileWhat masque, what music? How shall we beguileMND V.i.40
The lazie time, if not with some delight?The lazy time if not with some delight?MND V.i.41
   
The battell with the Centaurs to be sungThe Battle with the Centaurs, ‘ to be sungMND V.i.44
By an Athenian Eunuch, to the Harpe.By an Athenian eunuch to the harp.’MND V.i.45
The. Wee'l none of that. That haue I told my LoueWe'll none of that. That have I told my loveMND V.i.46
In glory of my kinsman Hercules.In glory of my kinsman, Hercules.MND V.i.47
Lis. The riot of the tipsie Bachanals,The riot of the tipsy Bacchanals,MND V.i.48
Tearing the Thracian singer, in their rage?Tearing the Thracian singer in their rage.MND V.i.49
The. That is an old deuice, and it was plaidThat is an old device, and it was playedMND V.i.50
When I from Thebes came last a Conqueror.When I from Thebes came last a conqueror.MND V.i.51
Lis. The thrice three Muses, mourning for the deathThe thrice three Muses mourning for the deathMND V.i.52
of learning, late deceast in beggerie.Of learning, late deceased in beggary.MND V.i.53
The. That is some Satire keene and criticall,That is some satire keen and critical,MND V.i.54
Not sorting with a nuptiall ceremonie.Not sorting with a nuptial ceremony.MND V.i.55
Lis. A tedious breefe Scene of yong Piramus,A tedious brief scene of young PyramusMND V.i.56
And his loue Thisby; very tragicall mirth.And his love Thisbe; ‘ very tragical mirth.’MND V.i.57
The. Merry and tragicall? Tedious, and briefe?Merry and tragical? Tedious and brief?MND V.i.58
That is, hot ice, and wondrous strange snow.That is, hot ice and wondrous strange snow.MND V.i.59
How shall wee finde the concord of this discord?How shall we find the concord of this discord?MND V.i.60
   
What are they that do play it?What are they that do play it?MND V.i.71
   
And we will heare it.And we will hear it.MND V.i.76.1
   
I will heare that play.I will hear that play,MND V.i.81.2
For neuer any thing / Can be amisse,For never anything can be amissMND V.i.82
when simplenesse and duty tender it.When simpleness and duty tender it.MND V.i.83
Goe bring them in, and take your places, Ladies.Go bring them in; and take your places, ladies.MND V.i.84
   
Why gentle sweet, you shall see no such thing.Why, gentle sweet, you shall see no such thing.MND V.i.87
   
The kinder we, to giue them thanks for nothingThe kinder we, to give them thanks for nothing.MND V.i.89
Our sport shall be, to take what they mistake;Our sport shall be to take what they mistake;MND V.i.90
And what poore duty cannot doe, noble respectAnd what poor duty cannot do, noble respectMND V.i.91
Takes it in might, not merit.Takes it in might, not merit.MND V.i.92
Where I haue come, great Clearkes haue purposedWhere I have come, great clerks have purposedMND V.i.93
To greete me with premeditated welcomes;To greet me with premeditated welcomes,MND V.i.94
Where I haue seene them shiuer and looke pale,Where I have seen them shiver and look pale,MND V.i.95
Make periods in the midst of sentences,Make periods in the midst of sentences,MND V.i.96
Throttle their practiz'd accent in their feares,Throttle their practised accent in their fears,MND V.i.97
And in conclusion, dumbly haue broke off,And in conclusion dumbly have broke off,MND V.i.98
Not paying me a welcome. Trust me sweete,Not paying me a welcome. Trust me, sweet,MND V.i.99
Out of this silence yet, I pickt a welcome:Out of this silence yet I picked a welcome,MND V.i.100
And in the modesty of fearefull duty,And in the modesty of fearful dutyMND V.i.101
I read as much, as from the ratling tongueI read as much as from the rattling tongueMND V.i.102
Of saucy and audacious eloquence.Of saucy and audacious eloquence.MND V.i.103
Loue therefore, and tongue-tide simplicity,Love, therefore, and tongue-tied simplicityMND V.i.104
In least, speake most, to my capacity.In least speak most, to my capacity.MND V.i.105
   
Let him approach. Let him approach.MND V.i.107
   
This fellow doth not stand vpon points.This fellow doth not stand upon points.MND V.i.118
   
His speech was like a tangled chaine: nothingHis speech was like a tangled chain: nothingMND V.i.124
impaired, but all disordered. Who is next?impaired, but all disordered. Who is next?MND V.i.125
   
I wonder if the Lion be to speake.I wonder if the lion be to speak.MND V.i.151
   
Would you desire Lime and Haire to speake better?Would you desire lime and hair to speak better?MND V.i.163
   
Pyramus drawes neere the Wall, silence.Pyramus draws near the wall. Silence!MND V.i.166
   
The wall me-thinkes being sensible, should curseThe wall, methinks, being sensible, should curseMND V.i.179
againe.again.MND V.i.180
   
Now is the morall downe between the twoNow is the mural down between the twoMND V.i.203
Neighbors.neighbours.MND V.i.204
   
The best in this kind are but shadowes, and theThe best in this kind are but shadows; and theMND V.i.208
worst are no worse, if imagination amend them.worst are no worse, if imagination amend them.MND V.i.209
   
If wee imagine no worse of them then they ofIf we imagine no worse of them than they ofMND V.i.212
themselues, they may passe for excellent men. Here comthemselves, they may pass for excellent men. Here comeMND V.i.213
two noble beasts, in a man and a Lion.two noble beasts in: a man and a lion.MND V.i.214
   
A verie gentle beast, and of good conscience.A very gentle beast, of a good conscience.MND V.i.223
   
True, and a Goose for his discretion.True; and a goose for his discretion.MND V.i.227
   
His discretion I am sure cannot carrie hisHis discretion, I am sure, cannot carry hisMND V.i.230
valor: for the Goose carries not the Fox. It is well; leauevalour; for the goose carries not the fox. It is well: leaveMND V.i.231
it to his discretion, and let vs hearken to the Moone.it to his discretion, and let us listen to the moon.MND V.i.232
   
Hee is no crescent, and his hornes are inuisible,He is no crescent, and his horns are invisibleMND V.i.235
within the circumference.within the circumference.MND V.i.236
   
This is the greatest error of all the rest; the manThis is the greatest error of all the rest; the manMND V.i.239
Should be put into the Lanthorne. How is it els the manshould be put into the lanthorn. How is it else the manMND V.i.240
i'th Moone?i'th' moon?MND V.i.241
   
It appeares by his smal light of discretion, thatIt appears by his small light of discretion thatMND V.i.246
he is in the wane: but yet in courtesie, in all reason, wehe is in the wane. But yet in courtesy, in all reason, weMND V.i.247
must stay the time.must stay the time.MND V.i.248
   
Well run Thisby.Well run, Thisbe!MND V.i.258
   
Wel mouz'd Lion.Well moused, Lion!MND V.i.261
   
This passion, and the death of a deare friend,This passion, and the death of a dear friend,MND V.i.280
Would go neere to make a man looke sad.would go near to make a man look sad.MND V.i.281
   
With the helpe of a Surgeon, he might yet recouer,With the help of a surgeon he might yet recover,MND V.i.302
and proue an Asse.and prove an ass.MND V.i.303
   
She wil finde him by starre-light. / Heere she comes,She will find him by starlight. Here she comes;MND V.i.306
and her passion ends the play.and her passion ends the play.MND V.i.307
   
Moone-shine & Lion are left to burie the dead.Moonshine and Lion are left to bury the dead.MND V.i.340
   
No Epilogue, I pray you; for your play needs noNo epilogue, I pray you; for your play needs noMND V.i.346
excuse. Neuer excuse; for when the plaiers are all dead,excuse. Never excuse; for when the players are all dead,MND V.i.347
there need none to be blamed. Marry, if hee that writ itthere needs none to be blamed. Marry, if he that writ itMND V.i.348
had plaid Piramus, and hung himselfe in Thisbieshad played Pyramus and hanged himself in Thisbe'sMND V.i.349
garter, it would haue beene a fine Tragedy: and so it isgarter, it would have been a fine tragedy. And so it is,MND V.i.350
truely, and very notably discharg'd. But come, yourtruly, and very notably discharged. But come, yourMND V.i.351
Burgomaske; let your Epilogue alone.Bergomask; let your epilogue alone.MND V.i.352
   
The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelue.The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve.MND V.i.353
Louers to bed, 'tis almost Fairy time.Lovers, to bed; 'tis almost fairy time.MND V.i.354
I feare we shall out-sleepe the comming morne,I fear we shall outsleep the coming mornMND V.i.355
As much as we this night haue ouer-watcht.As much as we this night have overwatched.MND V.i.356
This palpable grosse play hath well beguil'dThis palpable-gross play hath well beguiledMND V.i.357
The heauy gate of night. Sweet friends to bed.The heavy gait of night. Sweet friends, to bed.MND V.i.358
A fortnight hold we this solemnity.A fortnight hold we this solemnityMND V.i.359
In nightly Reuels; and new iollitie. In nightly revels and new jollity.MND V.i.360
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