Prologue
If we offend, it is with our good will.
Prologue
That you should think, we come not to offend,
Prologue
But with good will. To show our simple skill,
Prologue
That is the true beginning of our end.
Prologue
Consider then we come but in despite.
Prologue
We do not come as minding to contest you,
Prologue
Our true intent is. All for your delight
Prologue
We are not here. That you should here repent you,
Prologue
The actors are at hand and by their show
Prologue
You shall know all that you are like to know.
THESEUS
This fellow doth not stand upon points.
LYSANDER
He hath rid his prologue like a rough colt; he knows
LYSANDER
not the stop. A good moral, my lord: it is not
LYSANDER
enough to speak, but to speak true.
HIPPOLYTA
Indeed he hath played on his prologue like a child
HIPPOLYTA
on a recorder; a sound, but not in government.
THESEUS
His speech, was like a tangled chain; nothing
THESEUS
impaired, but all disordered. Who is next?
Enter Pyramus and Thisbe, Wall, Moonshine, and Lion
Prologue
Gentles, perchance you wonder at this show;
Prologue
But wonder on, till truth make all things plain.
Prologue
This man is Pyramus, if you would know;
Prologue
This beauteous lady Thisby is certain.
Prologue
This man, with lime and rough-cast, doth present
Prologue
Wall, that vile Wall which did these lovers sunder;
Prologue
And through Wall's chink, poor souls, they are content
Prologue
To whisper. At the which let no man wonder.
Prologue
This man, with lanthorn, dog, and bush of thorn,
Prologue
Presenteth Moonshine; for, if you will know,
Prologue
By moonshine did these lovers think no scorn
Prologue
To meet at Ninus' tomb, there, there to woo.
Prologue
This grisly beast, which Lion hight by name,
Prologue
The trusty Thisby, coming first by night,
Prologue
Did scare away, or rather did affright;
Prologue
And, as she fled, her mantle she did fall,
Prologue
Which Lion vile with bloody mouth did stain.
Prologue
Anon comes Pyramus, sweet youth and tall,
Prologue
And finds his trusty Thisby's mantle slain:
Prologue
Whereat, with blade, with bloody blameful blade,
Prologue
He bravely broach'd is boiling bloody breast;
Prologue
And Thisby, tarrying in mulberry shade,
Prologue
His dagger drew, and died. For all the rest,
Prologue
Let Lion, Moonshine, Wall, and lovers twain
Prologue
At large discourse, while here they do remain.
Exeunt Prologue, Thisbe, Lion, and Moonshine
THESEUS
I wonder if the lion be to speak.
DEMETRIUS
No wonder, my lord: one lion may, when many asses do.
Wall
In this same interlude it doth befall
Wall
That I, one Snout by name, present a wall;
Wall
And such a wall, as I would have you think,
Wall
That had in it a crannied hole or chink,
Wall
Through which the lovers, Pyramus and Thisby,
Wall
Did whisper often very secretly.
Wall
This loam, this rough-cast and this stone doth show
Wall
That I am that same wall; the truth is so:
Wall
And this the cranny is, right and sinister,
Wall
Through which the fearful lovers are to whisper.
THESEUS
Would you desire lime and hair to speak better?
DEMETRIUS
It is the wittiest partition that ever I heard
DEMETRIUS
discourse, my lord.
THESEUS
Pyramus draws near the [Person 24]: silence!
Wall
[PERSON 1]: Pyramus draws near the silence!
Pyramus
O grim-look'd night! O night with hue so black!
Pyramus
O night, which ever art when day is not!
Pyramus
O night, O night! alack, alack, alack,
Pyramus
I fear my Thisby's promise is forgot!
Pyramus
And thou, O wall, O sweet, O lovely wall,
Pyramus
That stand'st between her father's ground and mine!
Pyramus
Thou wall, O wall, O sweet and lovely wall,
Pyramus
Show me thy chink, to blink through with mine eyne!
Wall holds up his fingers
Wall
[Person 25]: Thanks, courteous Jove shield thee well for this!
Pyramus
Thanks, courteous [Person 24]: Jove shield thee well for this!
Pyramus
But what see I? No Thisby do I see.
Pyramus
O wicked wall, through whom I see no bliss!
Pyramus
Cursed be thy stones for thus deceiving me!
THESEUS
The wall, methinks, being sensible, should curse again.
Pyramus
No, in truth, sir, he should not. 'Deceiving me'
Pyramus
is Thisby's cue: she is to enter now, and I am to
Pyramus
spy her through the wall. You shall see, it will
Pyramus
fall pat as I told you. Yonder she comes.
Thisbe
O wall, full often hast thou heard my moans,
Thisbe
For parting my fair Pyramus and me!
Thisbe
My cherry lips have often kiss'd thy stones,
Thisbe
Thy stones with lime and hair knit up in thee.
Pyramus
I see a voice: now will I to the chink,
Pyramus
To spy an I can hear my Thisby's face. Thisby!
Thisbe
My love thou art, my love I think.
Pyramus
Think what thou wilt, I am thy lover's grace;
Pyramus
And, like Limander, am I trusty still.
Thisbe
And I like Helen, till the Fates me kill.
Pyramus
Not Shafalus to Procrus was so true.
Thisbe
As Shafalus to Procrus, I to you.
Pyramus
O kiss me through the hole of this vile wall!
Thisbe
I kiss the wall's hole, not your lips at all.
Pyramus
Wilt thou at Ninny's tomb meet me straightway?
Thisbe
'Tide life, 'tide death, I come without delay.
Exeunt Pyramus and Thisbe
Wall
Thus have I, Wall, my part discharged so;
Wall
And, being done, thus Wall away doth go.
