Come, trusty sword;

Come, blade, my breast imbrue :

And, farewell, friends;

Thus Thisby ends:

Adieu, adieu, adieu.

350

[Stabs herself.

[Dies.

The. Moonshine and Lion are left to bury the

dead.

Dem. Ay, and Wall too.

Bot. [Starting up] No, I assure

is down that parted their fathers.

you; the wall

Will it please

you to see the epilogue, or to hear a Bergomask 360 dance between two of our company?

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

The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve:
Lovers, to bed; 'tis almost fairy time.

I fear we shall out-sleep the coming morn
As much as we this night have overwatch'd.
This palpable-gross play hath well beguiled.
The heavy gait of night. Sweet friends, to bed.
A fortnight hold we this solemnity,
In nightly revels and new jollity.

Enter PUCK.

Puck. Now the hungry lion roars,

[Exeunt.

370

360. Bergomask dance, a the province of Bergamo in North

dance of rustics, or clowns, so called from the inhabitants of

Italy, whom their neighbours credited with a peculiar rusticity.

And the wolf behowls the moon;
Whilst the heavy ploughman snores,
All with weary task fordone.
Now the wasted brands do glow,

Whilst the screech-owl, screeching 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 sprite,
In the church-way paths to glide:
And we fairies, that do run

By the triple Hecate's team,
From the presence of the sun,
Following darkness like a dream,
Now are frolic: not a mouse
Shall disturb this hallow'd house:
I am sent with broom before,

To sweep the dust behind the door.

Enter OBERON and TITANIA with their train.

Obe. Through the house give glimmering light,
By the dead and drowsy fire:

Every elf and fairy sprite.

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

Sing, and dance it trippingly.

Tita. First, rehearse your song by rote,
To each word a warbling note:

Hand in hand, with fairy grace,
Will we sing, and bless this place.

[Song and dance.

380

390

400

team, the chariot of the diva triformis, Diana-Hecate-Phoebe. 394. frolic, jocund.

381. fordone, exhausted.

391. By the triple Hecate's

Obe. Now, until the break of day,
Through this house each fairy stray.
To the best bride-bed will we,
Which by us shall blessed be;
And the issue there create
Ever shall be fortunate.

So shall 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 scar,
Nor mark prodigious, such as are
Despised in nativity,

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

And each several chamber bless,

Through this palace, with sweet peace;

And the owner of it blest

430

420

Ever shall in safety rest.

Trip away; make no stay;

Meet me all by break of day.

[Exeunt Oberon, Titania, and train.

Puck. If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions 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 am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck

430

Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,

440

419. prodigious, monstrous. 440. the serpent's tongue, hissing.

We will make amends ere long ;
Else the Puck a liar call:

So, good night unto you all.

Give me your hands, if we be friends,

And Robin shall restore amends.

444. give me your hands, applaud.

[Exit.

END OF VOL. I.