The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (511 page)

But what does that mean since Demetrius does not?

He will not know what all but he do know:

He does not accept what everyone else seems to agree on

And as he errs, doting on Hermia's eyes,

And while he mistakenly obsesses over Hermia’s eyes

So I, admiring of his qualities:

So too I am mistaken in admiring him.

Things base and vile, folding no quantity,

Evil and disgusting qualities

Love can transpose to form and dignity:

Are transformed by love to fair and noble things.

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind;

Love does not look with the same eyes others have, but with one’s mind:

And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind:

This is why Cupid is painted as being blind

Nor hath Love's mind of any judgement taste;

And why Love does not have good judgement.

Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste:

With wings and no eyes, Cupid is hasty

And therefore is Love said to be a child,

And so Love is like a child

Because in choice he is so oft beguiled.

Making bad and reckless choices.

As waggish boys in game themselves forswear,

As playful boys jokingly lie,

So the boy Love is perjured every where:

So too does Love lie and break its promises:

For ere Demetrius look'd on Hermia's eyne,

Before Demetrius fell for Hermia’s beauty,

He hail'd down oaths that he was only mine;

He swore repeatedly to be true to me,

And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt,

And then when Hermia’s presence came into his mind,

So he dissolved, and showers of oaths did melt.

He weakened his vows to me.

I will go tell him of fair Hermia's flight:

I will tell him of Hermia’s plan

Then to the wood will he to-morrow night

And tomorrow night he will go to the forest

Pursue her; and for this intelligence

And follow her. Perhaps, after telling him this,

If I have thanks, it is a dear expense:

He will be grateful, and that will make it worthwhile,

But herein mean I to enrich my pain,

Although it will hurt me even more

To have his sight thither and back again.

To see him leave and then return again.

Exit

Athens. QUINCE'S house.

Enter QUINCE, SNUG, BOTTOM, FLUTE, SNOUT, and STARVELING

QUINCE

Is all our company here?

Is everyone here?

BOTTOM

You were best to call them generally, man by man,

It would be easier to take attendance individually

according to the scrip.

by a roll-call.

QUINCE

Here is the scroll of every man's name, which is

Here is the list of the actors

thought fit, through all Athens, to play in our

that all of Athens considers talented and are able to perform

interlude before the duke and the duchess, on his

in our skit for the duke and duchess

wedding-day at night.

at their wedding.

BOTTOM

First, good Peter Quince, say what the play treats

Peter Quince, you should first explain what the play is about,

on, then read the names of the actors, and so grow

and then read the cast,

to a point.

for clarity’s sake.

QUINCE

Marry, our play is, The most lamentable comedy, and

Of course: we will perform “The Sad Comedy and

most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisby.

Cruel Death of Pyramus and Thisby.”

BOTTOM

A very good piece of work, I assure you, and a

A very good play, I promise, and

merry. Now, good Peter Quince, call forth your

fun. Now, Peter Quince, call out

actors by the scroll. Masters, spread yourselves.

the actors. Everyone, spread out so you can hear.

QUINCE

Answer as I call you. Nick Bottom, the weaver.

Respond when I call you. Nick Bottom, the weaver.

BOTTOM

Ready. Name what part I am for, and proceed.

I’m here. Who am I playing?

QUINCE

You, Nick Bottom, are set down for Pyramus.

You will play Pyramus.

BOTTOM

What is Pyramus? a lover, or a tyrant?

And who is he? A lover, a villain?

QUINCE

A lover, that kills himself most gallant for love.

A lover who nobly kills himself for love.

BOTTOM

That will ask some tears in the true performing of

It sounds like I will have to cry in order to perform it well.

it: if I do it, let the audience look to their

If so, the audience should prepare themselves:

eyes; I will move storms, I will condole in some

I will cause storms and strongly emote my grief.

measure. To the rest: yet my chief humour is for a

Now continue– but you know I play

tyrant: I could play Ercles rarely, or a part to

the tyrant best. I would make a good Hercules, or any part

tear a cat in, to make all split.

where I could yell and shout angrily, listen:

The raging rocks

And shivering shocks

Shall break the locks

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 players.

How great was that! Now continue with the other actors–

This is Ercles' vein, a tyrant's vein; a lover is

so you know, that was Hercules as a tyrant. My lover part

more condoling.

will be much sadder.

QUINCE

Francis Flute, the bellows-mender.

Francis Flute, who repairs bellows.

FLUTE

Here, Peter Quince.

Here, Peter Quince.

QUINCE

Flute, you must take Thisby on you.

Flute, you will play Thisby.

FLUTE

What is Thisby? a wandering knight?

And who is Thisby? A knight on a quest?

QUINCE

It is the lady that Pyramus must love.

Thisby is the lady Pyramus loves.

FLUTE

Nay, faith, let me not play a woman; I have a beard coming.

No, please, do not make me play a woman. I have a beard coming in.

QUINCE

That's all one: you shall play it in a mask, and

That doesn’t matter – you will play it in a mask

you may speak as small as you will.

and you can make your voice high and disguised.

BOTTOM

An I may hide my face, let me play Thisby too, I'll

If Thisby requires a mask, let me play both!

speak in a monstrous little voice. 'Thisne,

I’ll speak in a little voice after playing Pyramus, saying,

Thisne;' 'Ah, Pyramus, lover dear! thy Thisby dear,

“Thisne! Thisne!” and then as Thisby, “Pyramus my love! I am here,

and lady dear!'

your dear lady!”

QUINCE

No, no; you must play Pyramus: and, Flute, you Thisby.

No – you will be Pyramus, and Flute will be Thisby.

BOTTOM

Well, proceed.

Fine, continue.

QUINCE

Robin Starveling, the tailor.

Robin Starveling, the tailor.

STARVELING

Here, Peter Quince.

Here, Peter Quince.

QUINCE

Robin Starveling, you must play Thisby's mother.

Robyn, you must be Thisby’s mother.

Tom Snout, the tinker.

Tom Snout, the repairman.

SNOUT

Here, Peter Quince.

Here, Peter Quince.

QUINCE

You, Pyramus' father: myself, Thisby's father:

You are Pyramus father, and I will play Thisby’s father.

Snug, the joiner; you, the lion's part: and, I

Snug the wood worker, you will be the lion, and

hope, here is a play fitted.

I think that is everyone.

SNUG

Have you the lion's part written? pray you, if it

Is the lion’s part finished? If so, please

be, give it me, for I am slow of study.

let me have it. It takes me a while to learn the lines.

QUINCE

You may do it extempore, for it is nothing but roaring.

You can make it all up, because it is simply roaring.

BOTTOM

Let me play the lion too: I will roar, that I will

Then let me play the lion as well. I will roar

do any man's heart good to hear me; I will roar,

so forcefully and everyone will love it,

that I will make the duke say 'Let him roar again,

and the duke will ask for me to roar

let him roar again.'

again and again.

QUINCE

An you should do it too terribly, you would fright

Then you would be too ferocious, and scare

the duchess and the ladies, that they would shriek;

the duchess and the women, and they would scream.

and that were enough to hang us all.

That would be enough to hang us all.

ALL

That would hang us, every mother's son.

They would hang every one of us!

BOTTOM

I grant you, friends, if that you should fright the

Granted, if I were to scare

ladies out of their wits, they would have no more

the women out of their minds, they would

discretion but to hang us: but I will aggravate my

surely hang us – but then I would change my

voice so that I will roar you as gently as any

voice so that my roar will be as gentle

sucking dove; I will roar you an 'twere any

as a dove, and when I roar you will think I was

nightingale.

a nightingale.

QUINCE

You can play no part but Pyramus; for Pyramus is a