Quin. Marry, our play is, The most lamentable comedy, and most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisby. Bot. A very good piece of work, I assure you, and a merry. Now, good Peter Quince, call forth your actors by the scroll. Masters, spread yourselves. Quin. Answer as I call you. Nick Bottom, the weaver. Bot. Ready. Name what part I am for, and proceed. 20 Quin. A lover, that kills himself most gallant for love. of it if I do it, let the audience look to their The raging rocks And shivering shocks Of prison-gates; And Phibbus' car Shall shine from far, And make and mar The foolish Fates. This was lofty! Now name the rest of the Quin. Francis Flute, the bellows-mender. Flu. Here, Peter Quince. 30 40 Quin. Flute, you must take Thisby on you. Flu. Nay, faith, let not me play a woman; I have a Quin. That's all one: you shall play it in a mask, and you may speak as small as you will. Bot. An I may hide my face, let me play Thisby too, 50 Thisne;' 'Ah Pyramus, my lover dear! thy Quin. No, no; you must play Pyramus: and, Flute, Bot. Well, proceed. Quin. Robin Starveling, the tailor. Star. Here, Peter Quince. Quin. Robin Starveling, you must play Thisby's mother. Tom Snout, the tinker. Snout. Here, Peter Quince. Quin. You, Pyramus' father: myself, Thisby's father: Snug, the joiner; you, the lion's part: and, I hope, here is a play fitted. Snug. Have you the lion's part written? pray you, if it be, give it me, for I am slow of study. Quin. You may do it extempore, for it is nothing but roaring. Bot. Let me play the lion too: I will roar, that I will 60 do any man's heart good to hear me; I will roar, 70 that I will make the duke say, 'Let him roar again, let him roar again.' Quin. An you should do it too terribly, you would fright the duchess and the ladies, that they would shriek; and that were enough to All. That would hang us, every mother's son. Bot. I grant you, friends, if you should fright the ladies out of their wits, they would have no more discretion but to hang us: but I will 80 aggravate my voice so, that will roar you as gently as any sucking dove; I will roar you an 'twere any nightingale. Quin. You can play no part but Pyramus; for Pyramus is a sweet-faced man; a proper man, as one shall see in a summer's day; a most lovely, gentleman-like man: therefore you must needs play Pyramus. Bot. Well, I will undertake it. What beard were I best to play it in? Quin. Why, what you will. Bot. I will discharge it in either your straw colour beard, your orange-tawny beard, your purplein-grain beard, or your French crown colour beard, your perfect yellow. 90 Quin. Some of your French crowns have no hair at all, and then you will play barefaced. But, masters, here are your parts: and I am to entreat you, request you, and desire you, to con them by to-morrow night; and meet me in the 100 palace wood, a mile without the town, by moonlight; there will we rehearse, for if we meet in the city, we shall be dogged with company, and our devices known. In the mean time I will draw a bill of properties, such as our play wants. I pray you, fail me not. |