Give special heed unto this gentleman,
Anticipate his ev’ry wish and feed
Him with the choicest cates the isle doth yield.
[Exeunt Titania and Bottom, attended by train.
Quince. Were this but told in Athens, now, ’twere not believed by aught, but we accredited liars all of the first water, and so esteemed.
All. ’Twere indeed but so, and truly, Peter Quince.
Quince. Therefore I hold that (an’ we once more come by our own firesides in Athens), we were best make no words of the happenings we have beheld but now, lest we be cried upon in the public streets as those that be counted no true men.
All. That were to shame us, every mother’s son.
Quince. Why you speak the very gizzard of the matter, my masters all, and we will be silent in such wise as I did perpetuate, and as for Nick Bottom, let his goblin mistress do with him as she listeth, for methinks we are well rid of his company, being, for ourselves, nothing loose-minded but sober, virtuous citizens all.
All. That are we, Peter Quince, and we thank God for’t.