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I dreamt a dream to-night.

Mer. And fo did I.

Rom. Well; what was yours?

Mer. That dreamers often lie.

Rom. things true.

In bed afleep; while they do dream

Mer. Ŏ then I fee Queen Mab hath been with you.
She is the 'fancy's mid-wife, and she comes
In fhape no bigger than an agat-ftone
On the fore-finger of an alderman,
Drawn with a team of little atomies,
Athwart mens nofes as they lie afleep:
Her waggon-fpokes made of long spinners legs;
The cover, of the wings of grafhoppers;
The traces, of the fmalleft spider's web;
The collars, of the moonshine's watry beams;
Her whip, of cricket's bone; the lash, of film;
Her waggoner a fmall grey-coated gnat,
Not half fo big as a round little worm,
Prickt from the lazy finger of a maid.
Her chariot is an empty hazel-nut,
Made by the joyner fquirrel or old grub,
Time out of mind the fairies coach-makers:
And in this ftate fhe gallops night by night,
Through lovers brains, and then they dream of love:
O'er courtiers knees, that dream on curtfies ftrait:
O'er lawyers fingers, who ftrait dream on fees:

Q 2

If thou art dun, we'll draw thee from the mire;

Or, fave your reverence, love, wherein thou stickeft

Up to the ears: come, we burn day-light, ho.

Rom. Nay, that's not fo.

Mer. I mean, Sir, we delay.

We burn our lights by night, like lamps by day. [Ed. 1]

Take our good meaning, for our judgment fits

Five times a day, ere once in her right wits. [Ed. 1.]

Rom. And we mean well in going to this mask;

But 'tis no wit to go.

Mer. Why? may one ask?

Rom. I dreamt a dream, &c.

4 Fairies. . . old edit. Warb. emend.

O'er

O'er ladies lips, who ftrait on kiffes dream,
Which oft the angry Mab with blifters plagues,
Because their breaths with fweet-meats tainted are.
Sometimes the gallops o'er a lawyer's nofe,
And then dreams he of fmelling out a fuit:
And fometimes comes fhe with a tith-pig's tail,
Tickling a parfon as he lyes afleep;

Then dreams he of another benefice.

Sometimes the driveth o'er a foldier's neck,
And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats,
Of breaches, ambuscadoes, Spanish blades,
Of healths five fathom deep; and then anon
Drums in his ears, at which he starts and wakes,
And being thus frighted, swears a prayer or two,
And fleeps again. This is that very Mab
That plats the manes of horfes in the night,
And cakes the elf-locks in foul fluttish hairs,
Which once untangled, much misfortune bodes.
This is the hag, when maids lye on their backs,
That preffes them, and learns them first to bear,
Making them women of good carriage:
'This, this is fhe

Rom. Peace, peace, Mercutio, peace;
Thou talk'ft of nothing.

Mer. True, I talk of dreams;

Which are the children of an idle brain,
Begot of nothing, but vain phantafie,
Which is as thin of fubftance as the air,
And more unconftant than the wind, who wooes
Ev'n now the frozen bofom of the north,

And being anger'd puffs away from thence,

Turning his face to the dew dropping fouth.

Ben. This wind you talk of blows us from our felves;

Supper is done, and we fhall come too late.

Rom. I fear, too early; for my mind mifgives,

Some confequence, ftill hanging in the ftars,
Shall bitterly begin his fearful date

5 This is fhe

With

With this night's revels; and expire the term
Of a defpifed life clos'd in my breaft,
By fome vile forfeit of untimely death.
But he that hath the fteerage of my course,
Direct my fuit! On, lufty gentlemen.
Ben. Strike, drum.

1 Ser.

[They march about the ftage, and Exeunt.

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Here's Potpan, that he helps not to take away? he fhift a trencher! he fcrape a trencher ! 2 Ser. When good manners fhall lye all in one or two mens hands, and they unwash'd too, 'tis a foul thing.

1 Ser. Away with the joint-ftools, remove the courtcup-board, look to the plate: good thou, fave me a piece of march-pane; and as thou loveft me, let the porter let in Sufan Grindstone, and Nell. Anthony, and Pot

pan!

2 Ser. Ay, boy, ready.

1 Ser. You are look'd for, call'd for, ask'd for, and fought for, in the great chamber.

2 Ser. We cannot be here and there too; cheerly, boys; be brisk a while, and the longer liver take all.

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[Exeunt.

Enter all the Guests and Ladies with the maskers.

61 1 Cap. Gentlemen, welcome. Ladies that have your feet

Unplagu'd with corns, we'll have a bout with you.
Ah me, my miftreffes, which of you all

Will now deny to dance? She that makes dainty

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I'll fwear hath corns; am I come near ye now?
Welcome all, gentlemen; I've seen the day
That I have worn a vifor, and could tell
A whispering tale in a fair Lady's ear,

Such as would pleafe: 'tis gone; 'tis gone; 'tis gone!
[Mufick plays, and they dance.
More light, ye knaves, and turn the tables up;
And quench the fire, the room is grown too hot.
Ah, Sirrah, this unlook'd for fport comes well.
Nay fit, nay fit, good coufin Capulet,
For you and I are paft our dancing days:
How long is't now fince last your self and I
Were in a mask?

2 Cap. By'r Lady, thirty years.

1 Cap. What, man! 'tis not fo much, 'tis not fo much; 'Tis fince the nuptial of Lucentio,

Come Pentecoft as quickly as it will,

Some five and twenty years, and then we mask'd.

2 Cap. 'Tis more, 'tis more; his fon is elder, Sir: His fon is thirty.

1 Cap. Will you tell me that?

His fon was but a ward two years ago.

Rom. What Lady's that which doth enrich the hand

Of yonder Knight?

Ser. I know not, Sir.

Rom. O, fhe doth teach the torches to burn bright;
Her beauty hangs upon the cheek of night,

Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear:
Beauty too rich for ufe, for earth too dear!
So fhows a flowy dove trooping with crows,
As yonder Lady o'er her fellows fhows.

The meafure done, I'll watch her place of ftand,
And touching hers, make happy my rude hand.
Did my heart love till now? forfwear it, fight;
I never faw true beauty 'till this night.

Tyb. This by his voice fhould be a Mountague.
Fetch me my rapier, boy: what! dares the flave
Come hither cover'd with an antick face,

Το

To fleer and fcorn at our folemnity?
Now by the stock and honour of my kin,
To ftrike him dead I hold it not a fin.

Cap. Why, how now, kinfman, wherefore storm
Tyb. Uncle, this is a Mountague, our foe:
A villain that is hither come in fpight,

To fcorn at our folemnity this night.
Cap. Young Romeo, is't?

Tyb. That villain Romeo.

Cap. Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone,
He bears him like a portly gentleman :
And to fay truth, Verona brags of him,
To be a virtuous and well-govern'd youth.
I would not for the wealth of all this town
Here in my houfe do him difparagement.
Therefore be patient, take no note of him;
It is my will, the which if thou refpect,
Shew a fair presence, and put off these frowns,
An ill-befeeming femblance of a feast.

Tyb. It fits, when fuch a villain is a guest.
I'll not endure him.

Cap. He fhall be endur'd, a

you fo?

Be quiet, or (more light, more light, for fhame)
I'll make you quiet-What? cheerly, my hearts!

Tyb. Patience perforce with wilful choler meeting,
Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting.
I will withdraw; but this intrufion fhall,
Now seeming sweet, convert to bitter gall.

(a) He fhall be endur'd.

Q4

What, goodman-boy-I fay he fhall. Go to-
Am I the matter here, or you? go to~~~

You'll not endure him! God fhall mend my foul,

You'll make a mutiny among my guests!

You will fet cock-a-hoop! you'll be the man!
Tyb. Why, uncle, 'tis a fhame.

Cap. Go to, go to,

You are a faucy boy-is't fo indeed ?

This trick may chance to fcathe you; I know what.
Be quiet, &c.

Rom.

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