Act IV · Scene II
Athens. QUINCE'S house.
Hover a speech to translate it — or press play to hear it performed.
Enter QUINCE, FLUTE, SNOUT, and STARVELING
QUINCE
Have you sent to Bottom's house ? is he come home yet?
STARVELING
He cannot be heard of. Out of doubt he istransported.
FLUTE
If he come not, then the play is marred: it goesnot forward, doth it?
QUINCE
It is not possible: you have not a man in allAthens able to discharge Pyramus but he.
FLUTE
No, he hath simply the best wit of any handicraftman in Athens.
QUINCE
Yea and the best person too; and he is a veryparamour for a sweet voice.
FLUTE
You must say 'paragon:' a paramour is, God bless us,a thing of naught.
Enter SNUG
SNUG
Masters, the duke is coming from the temple, andthere is two or three lords and ladies more married:if our sport had gone forward, we had all been mademen.
FLUTE
O sweet bully Bottom! Thus hath he lost sixpence aday during his life; he could not have 'scapedsixpence a day: an the duke had not given himsixpence a day for playing Pyramus, I'll be hanged;he would have deserved it: sixpence a day inPyramus, or nothing.
Enter BOTTOM
BOTTOM
Where are these lads? where are these hearts?
QUINCE
Bottom! O most courageous day! O most happy hour!
BOTTOM
Masters, I am to discourse wonders: but ask me notwhat; for if I tell you, I am no true Athenian. Iwill tell you every thing, right as it fell out.
QUINCE
Let us hear, sweet Bottom.
BOTTOM
Not a word of me. All that I will tell you is, thatthe duke hath dined. Get your apparel together,good strings to your beards, new ribbons to yourpumps; meet presently at the palace; every man looko'er his part; for the short and the long is, ourplay is preferred. In any case, let Thisby haveclean linen; and let not him that plays the lionpair his nails, for they shall hang out for thelion's claws. And, most dear actors, eat no onionsnor garlic, for we are to utter sweet breath; and Ido not doubt but to hear them say, it is a sweetcomedy. No more words: away! go, away!
Exeunt