Imatges de pàgina
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Dem. Ay, and wall too.

Bot. No, I affure you; the wall is down that parted their fathers. Will it please you to fee the epilogue, or to hear a Bergomask dance, between two of our

company.

The. No epilogue, I pray you; for your play needs no excufe. Never excufe; for when the players are all dead, there need none to be blamed. Marry, if he that writ it, had play'd Pyramus, and hang'd himself in Thisbe's garter, it would have been a fine tragedy: and fo it is, truly; and very notably discharg'd. But come, your Bergomask: let your epilogue alone.

[Here a dance of Clowns. The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve ;Lovers, to bed; 'tis almost fairy time. I fear, we fhall out-fleep the coming morn, As much as we this night have overwatch'd. This palpable-grofs play hath well beguil'd The heavy gait of night.-Sweet friends, to bed. A fortnight hold we this folemnity,

In nightly revels, and new jollity.

SCENE II.

Enter PUCK.

Puck. Now the hungry lion roars,
And the wolf behowls the moon;
Whilst the heavy ploughman fnores,
All with weary task fordone.
Now the wasted brands do glow,

[Exeunt

Whilst the fcritch-owl, fcritching loud,
Puts the wretch, that lies in woe,
In remembrance of a shroud.
Now it is the time of night,

That the graves, all gaping wide,

Every one lets forth his fpright,
In the church-way paths to glide:
And we fairies, that do run
By the triple Hecate's team,
From the presence of the fun,
Following darkness like a dream,
Now are frolic; not a mouse
Shall difturb this hallow'd house:
I am fent, with broom, before,
To sweep the duft behind the door.

Enter OBERON and TITANIA, with their Train.
Ob. Through the houfe give glimmering light,
By the dead and drowsy fire:
Every elf and fairy fprite,

Hop as light as bird from brier;
And this ditty, after me,

Sing, and dance it trippingly.

Tita. First, rehearse this fong by rote:
To each word a warbling note,
Hand in hand, with fairy grace,
Will we fing, and bless this place.

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SONG, and DANCE.

Ob. Now, until the break of day
Through this house each fairy stray.
To the best bride-bed will we,
Which by us fhall blessed be;
And the iffue, there create,
Ever fhall be fortunate.
So fhall all the couples three
Ever true in loving be:
And the blots of nature's hand

Shall not in their issue stand;

Never mole, hare-lip, nor fcar,
Nor mark prodigious, such as are
Defpifed in nativity,

Shall upon their children be.—
With this field-dew confecrate,
Every fairy take his gait;

And each feveral chamber bless,
Through this palace, with fweet peace:
E'er fhall it in fafety reft,

And the owner of it blest.
Trip away;

Make no stay;

Meet me all by break of day.

[Exeunt OBERON, TITANIA, and Train,

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Puck. If we fhadows have offended,
Think but this (and all is mended),
That you have but flumber'd here,
While thefe vifions did appear,
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend;
If you pardon, we will mend.
And as I'm an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to 'Scape the ferpent's tongue,
We will make amends, ere long:

Elfe the Puck a liar call.

So, good night unto you all.

Give me your hands, if we be friends,

And Robin fhall reftore amends.

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[Exit

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