SCENE III
(Enter Titania and Bottom; Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, Mustardseed, and other Fairies attending; Oberon behind, unseen.)
Titania.
Come, sit thee down upon this flowery bed,
While I thy amiable cheeks do coy
And stick musk-roses in thy sleek smooth head.
Bottom. Where's Peaseblossom?
Peaseblossom. Ready.
Bottom.
Scratch my head, Peaseblossom.—Where's
Monsieur Cobweb?
Cobweb. Ready.
Bottom.
Monsieur Cobweb, good monsieur,
get your weapons in your hand, and kill me
a red-hipped humble-bee on the top of a
thistle; and, good monsieur, bring me the
honey-bag. Do not fret yourself too much
in the action, monsieur; and, good monsieur,
have a care the honey-bag break not; I
would be loath to have you overflown with
a honey-bag, signior. Where's Monsieur
Mustardseed?
Mustardseed (bowing). Ready.
Bottom.
Give me your neaf, Monsieur
Mustardseed. Pray you, leave your courtesy,
good monsieur.
Mustardseed. What's your will?
Bottom.
Nothing, good monsieur, but to
help Cavalery Cobweb to scratch. I must
to the barber's, monsieur, for methinks I
am marvellous hairy about the face; and I
am such a tender ass, if my hair do but
tickle me I must scratch.
Titania.
What, wilt thou hear some music, my sweet
love?
Bottom.
I have a reasonable good ear in
music. Let's have the tongs and the bones.
(Rough music is played)
Titania.
Or say, sweet love, what thou desir'st to eat.
Bottom.
Truly, a peck of provender; I
could munch your good dry oats. Methinks
I have a great desire to a bottle of
hay: good hay, sweet hay, hath no fellow.
Titania.
I have a venturous fairy that shall
seek the squirrel's hoard, and fetch thee
thence new nuts.
Bottom.
I had rather have a handful or two
of dried peas. But, I pray you, let none of
your people stir me. I have an exposition
of sleep come upon me.
Titania.
Sleep thou:
Fairies, be gone, and be all ways away.
(Exeunt Fairies)
(Enter Puck)
Oberon (advancing).
Welcome, good Robin. See'st thou this sweet sight?
Her dotage now I do begin to pity;
For, meeting her of late behind the wood,
Seeking sweet favours for this hateful fool,
I did upbraid her and fall out with her:
For she his hairy temples then had rounded
With coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers;
And that same dew, which sometime on the buds
Was wont to swell like round and orient pearls,
Stood now within the pretty flowerets' eyes
Like tears that did their own disgrace bewail.
When I had at my pleasure taunted her
And she in mild terms begg'd my patience,
I then did ask of her her changeling child,
Which straight she gave me, and her fairies sent
To bear him to my bower in Fairyland.
And now I have the boy, I will undo
This hateful imperfection of her eyes:
And, gentle Puck, take this transformed scalp
From off the head of this Athenian swain;
That, he awaking ...
May to Athens back again repair
And think no more of this night's accidents
But as the fierce vexation of a dream.
But first I will release the Fairy Queen.
(Oberon touches the queen's eyes with an
herb which lifts the charm)
Be as thou wast wont to be,
See as thou wast wont to see:
Dian's bud o'er Cupid's flower
Hath such force and blessed power.
Now, my Titania; wake you, my sweet Queen!
Titania.
My Oberon! what visions have I seen!
Methought I was enamour'd of an ass.
Oberon.
Sound music! Come, my Queen, take hands with me....
Puck.
Fairy King, attend and mark:
I do hear the morning lark.
Oberon.
Then, my Queen, in silence sad,
Trip we after the night shade:
We the globe can compass soon
Swifter than the wand'ring moon.
Titania.
Come, my lord.
(Exeunt Oberon, Titania, and train)
Puck.
If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumberéd here
While these visions did appear.
So, good-night unto you all;
Give me your hands if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.
William Shakespeare.