[195] Dem. Why, then, we are awake: let’s follow him;
[196] And by the way let us recount our dreams. [Exeunt.
[197] Bot. [Awaking] When my cue comes, call me, and I will answer: my next is, ‘Most fair Pyramus.’ Heigh-ho! Peter Quince! Flute, the bellows-mender! Snout, the 200 tinker! Starveling! God’s my life, stolen hence, and left [201] me asleep! I have had a most rare vision. I have had a dream, past the wit of man to say what dream it was: man [203] is but an ass, if he go about to expound this dream. Methought I was—there is no man can tell what. Methought I was.—and methought I had,—but man is but a patched [205] fool, if he will offer to say what methought I had. The eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, man’s hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceive, nor his heart to report, what my dream was. I will get Peter Quince 210 to write a ballad of this dream: it shall be called Bottom’s Dream, because it hath no bottom; and I will sing it in the [212] latter end of a play, before the Duke: peradventure, to make [213] it the more gracious, I shall sing it at her death. [Exit.
[000] Scene II. Athens. Quince’s house.
MSND IV. 2 Enter Quince, Flute, Snout, and Starveling.
[001] Quin. Have you sent to Bottom’s house? is he come home yet?
[003] Star. He cannot be heard of. Out of doubt he is transported.
[005] Flu. If he come not, then the play is marred: it goes not forward, doth it?
Quin. It is not possible: you have not a man in all Athens able to discharge Pyramus but he.
Flu. No, he hath simply the best wit of any handicraft 010 man in Athens.