The moon methinks
lookswith herwateryeye.
and when she weeps.
weeps everylittle flower.
lamenting some enforced chastity.
[ Laughter ]
[ Braying ]
Come. lead him to mybower.
Tie mylove's tongue.
Bring him silently.
- [ Laughing ] - [ Braying ]
[ Laughs ]
[ Braying ]
Flowerofthis purple dye.
hitwith Cupid's archery.
sink in the apple ofhis eye.
When his love he doth espy.
lethershine as gloriously
as the Venus ofthe sky.
When thouwakestifshe be by.
beg ofherforremedy.
Captain of ourfairyband. Helena is here athand.
and the youth. mistook byme.
pleading fora lover's fee.
Shall we theirfond pageantsee?
Lord.what fools these mortals be.
Whyshould youthink
that I should woo in scorn?
Scorn and derision nevercome in tears.
Look.
When I vow. I weep.
and vows so born.
in theirnativity all truth appears.
How can these things in me
seem scorn to you.
bearing the badge offaith
to prove them true?
You do advance yourcunning more and more.
When truth kills truth.
O devilish-holy fray.
These vows are Hermia's.
Will you give hero'er?
Weigh oathwith oath.
and youwill nothing weigh.
I had no judgment when to her I swore.
Nornone. in mymind. nowyou give hero'er.
Demetrius loves her.
and he loves notyou.
Helen...
goddess...
nymph...
perfect...
divine.
To what. mylove. shall I compare thine eyne?
Crystal is muddy.
Oh. howripe in showthylips.
those kissing cherries. tempting grow.
Oh.
Helen.
Oh. spite.
Oh. hell.
I see you all are bent
to setagainstme foryourmerriment.
Can you nothate me. as I knowyou do.
butyou must join in souls
to mock me.too?
Demetrius: Helen.
Helen. it's notso.
Helen!
[Grunting ]
Oh. Lysander.
Lysander?
Love!
Oh.whyunkindly didstthou leave me so?
Whyshould he stay whom love doth press to go?
Whatlove could press Lysanderfrom myside?
Lysander's love. thatwould notlethim bide.
Whyseekestthou me?
Could notthis make thee know
the hate I bearthee
made me leave thee so.
You speak notasyouthink. Itcannotbe.
Lo. she is one ofthis confederacy.
Injurious Hermia.
Mostungrateful maid.
Have you conspired?
Have you.with--with these.
contrived to baitme
with this foul derision?
Is all the counsel
thatwe two have shared.
the sister'svows.
the hours thatwe have spent
when we have chid the hasty-footed time
forparting us--
Oh. is all forgot?
And will you rent ourancientlove asunder
to join with men
in scorning yourpoorfriend?
Itis not friendly. 'tis notmaidenly.
Oursex. aswell as I.
may chide you forit.
though I alone do feel the injury.
I understand not whatyou mean bythis.
Aye. do.
Persever. counterfeitsad looks.
make mouths upon me when I turn myback.
Ifyou have any pity. grace. ormanners.
youwould notmake me such an argument.
but fare youwell.
'Tis partlymy own fault.
which death orabsence soon shall remedy.
Helena. I love thee.
Bymylife. I do.
Oh. excellent.
I say I love thee more than he can do.
Hermia: Lysander. do you not jest?
Yes. sooth. and so do you.
Ow!
Am not I Hermia?
I am as fairnow as I was erewhile.
Whythen you leftme in earnest. shall I say?
And neverdid desire to see thee more.
Be certain. nothing truer. 'tis no jestthat I hate thee
and love Helena.
Oh. me.
You juggler!
You cankerblossom!
Youthief oflove.
What. have you come bynight
and stolen mylove's heart from him?
Oh. fine. in faith.
Have you no modesty.
no maiden shame. no touch ofbashfulness?
What? Will youtear impatientanswers
from my gentle tongue? Fie!
Fie.you counterfeit.
you puppetyou!
Puppet?
Whyso?
Aye.thatway goes the game.
Now I perceive thatshe hath
made compare between ourstatures.
She hath urged herheight.
and with herpersonage.
hertall personage.
herheight. forsooth.
she hath prevailed with him.
And are you grown so... high in his esteem
because I am so dwarfish and so low?
Well. howlow am I.
thou painted maypole?
Speak.
Howlow am I?
I'm notyetso low
butthatmynails
can reach into thine eyes.
-Aah! - Rrr!
[Screaming ]
Oh. I prayyou.though you mock me. gentlemen.
do notletherhurtme.
You perhaps maythink
because she is somewhat lowerthan myself.
that I can match her!
Lower?! Hark again!
Good Hermia. do notbe so bitterwith me.
And now. so youwill letme quiet go.
to Athenswill I bearmy follyback
and followyou no further.
Letme go.You see how simple and how fond I am.
Why. getyou gone.
Who is'tthathindersyou?
Helena:Afoolish heart that I do leave here behind.
What.with Lysander?
With Demetrius!
Be notafraid. She shall notharm thee. Helena!
No. sir! She shall not.
thoughyoutake herpart.
She was a vixen when she wentto school.
and though she be butlittle...
Little?
She is fierce.
Little? Little again?
Nothing butlow and little?
Whywill you sufferher to floutme thus?
Letme come to her!
Getyou home.you dwarf.
you minimus ofhindering knot-grass made.
you bead.you acorn.
Nowshe holds me not.
Now followifthou darest.
to trywhose right.
Ofthine ormine. is mostin Helena.
Follow? Nay. I'll go with thee.
cheek by jowl.
You. mistress...
all this coil is 'long ofyou.
Nay. go notback.
Oh...
I will nottrustyou. I.
norlongerstay in yourcursed company.
Yourhands than mine are quickerfora fray.
Mylegs are longerthough. to run away!
Ohh! Ohh!
I am amazed and knownotwhatto say.
Ohh!
This is thynegligence.
Still. still. still!
Thou mistakest. Orelse...
committ'stthyknaveries willfully. hmm?
Believe me. king ofshadows.
I mistook.
Did notyoutell me I would knowthe man
bythe Athenian garments thathe had on?
Thou see'stthese lovers seek a place to fight.
Hie therefore. Robin. overcastthe night.
the starrywelkin coverthou anon
with drooping fog as black as acheron.
and lead these testyrivals so astray
thatone come notwithin the other'sway.then...
crush this herb into Lysander's...
Lysander's eye.
Whiles I in this affair do thee employ.
I'll to my queen...
and beg her Indian boy.
And then I will hercharmed eye release from monster'sview...
and all things shall be peace.
Up and down. up and down.
I will lead them up and down.
I am fear'd in field and town.
Goblin. lead them up and down.
Ah. ha ha ha ha!
-Ah. here comes one. - [ Honks Horn ]
Where artthou. proud Demetrius?
Demetrius: Here.villain! Where artthou?
I'll be with thee straight.
Lysander! Speak again!
Thou runaway! Thou coward!
Artthou fled?
Come. recreant.
Come.thou child.
Yea! Artthouthere?
Followmyvoice.
We'll tryno manhood here.
Oh.the villain is much lighter-heeled than I.
I follow'd fast. but fasterhe did fly.
Then fallen am I in dark uneven way.
and here will restme.
O come.thou gentle day.
Come hither! I am here!
[ Honk Honk ]
Nay.then.Thou mock'stme?
Thou shaltbuythis dear
if ever I thy face by daylightsee!
Now go thyway.
Faintness constraineth me
to measure outmylength on this cold bed.
By day's approach...
look to be visited.
Neverso weary...
neverso in woe.
I can no furthercrawl. no further go.
Here I will restme till the break ofday.
Heavens shield Lysander. iftheymean a fray.
Helena: O wearynight...
O long and tedious night.
abate thyhours.
shine comforts from the east
that I mayback to Athens by daylight.
from these that my poorcompany detest.
And sleep.thatsometimes shuts up sorrow's eye.
steal me awhile from mine own...company.
Titania: Come. sitthee down
upon this flowerybed.
while I thy amiable cheeks do coy.
and stick musk-roses
in thysleek. smooth head.
and kiss thy fairlarge ears.
my gentle joy.
Hmm. I mustto the barber's.
Methinks I'm marvelous hairy aboutthe face.
and I am such a tenderass.
Ifmyhairdo buttickle me. I mustscratch.
What.wiltthou hearsome music.
mysweetlove?
Orsay. sweetlove.
whatthou desirestto eat.
Truly. a peck ofprovender.
I could munch your good dryoats.
Methinks I have a greatdesire to a bottle ofhay.
Good hay. sweethay. hath no fellow.
But. I prayyou. letnone ofyourpeople stirme.
I have an exposition ofsleep come upon me.
Sleep thou. and I will wind thee in my arms.
Fairies. begone. and be all ways away.
So doth the woodbine.
the sweethoneysuckle gently entwist...
Mmm.
The female ivyso enrings
the barky fingers ofthe elm.
Mmm...
Oh. how I love thee!
How I dote on thee!
[Yawns Loudly ]
Puck: On the ground. sleep sound.
I'll applyto...
your eye... gentle lover...
remedy. Heh heh heh.
When thouwakest. thoutakesttrue delight
in the sight of thyformer lady's eye.
jack shall havejill. Naughtshall go ill.
The man shall have his mare again...
and all shall be well.
Welcome. good Robin. See'stthouthis sweetsight?
Herdotage now I do begin to pity.
I shall undo this hateful imperfection ofhereyes.
Be as thouwastwontto be.
See as thouwastwontto see.
Now. myTitania...
wake you. mysweetqueen.
[Gasps ]
Oh. my Oberon.
Oh.whatvisions have I seen.
Methought I was enamored of an ass.
There liesyourlove.
[Gasps ]
How came these things to pass?
Silence a while.
Fairyking. attend and mark.
I do hearthe morning lark.
Then. my queen. in silence sad.
trip we afternight's shade.
We the globe can compass soon.
swifterthan the wandering moon.
Come. mylord. and in ourflight.
Tell me howitcame this night
that I sleeping here was found
with these mortals on the ground.
We will. fairqueen.
up to the mountain's top.
and mark the musical confusion
ofhounds and echo in conjunction.
Myhounds are bred out ofthe spartan kind.
so flew'd. so sanded.
and theirheads are hung--
With ears.
[ Riders Shouting ]
Butsoft.
Whatnymphs are these?
Mylord.this is my daughterhere asleep.
And this. Lysander.
This. Demetrius is.
This. Helena. Old Nedar's Helena.
I wonderofthem being here together.
No doubttheyrose up early
to observe the rite ofMay.
Good morrow. friends.
Saint Valentine is past.
Begin these wood-birds butto couple now?
I prayyou all. stand up.
I knowyoutwo are rival enemies.
How comes this gentle concord in the world.
thathatred is so farfrom jealousy.
to sleep byhate and fearno enmity?
Mylord. I shall reply amazedly.
halfsleep. halfwaking...
Butas I think--
fortrulywould I speak--
I came with Hermia hither.
Ourintentwas to be gone from Athens
where we might withoutthe peril
-ofthe Athenian law-- - Enough!
Mylord. you have heard enough.
I beg the law-- the law. upon his head.
Theywould have stolen away.
Theywould. Demetrius.thereby to have defeated you and me--
you ofyourwife. and me ofmy consent.
ofmy consentthat she should be yourwife.
My good lord. I wotnotbywhatpower.
butbysome poweritis.
mylove to Hermia melted as the snow.
and all the faith. the virtue ofmyheart.
the objectand the pleasure ofmine eye
is only Helena.
Fairlovers...
you are fortunatelymet.
Egeus. I will overbearyourwill.
forin the temple by and bywith us
these couples shall eternallybe knit.
Awaywith us to Athens. three and three.
We'll hold a feast in greatsolemnity!
Come. Hippolyta.
When my cue comes. call me. and I will answer.
Mynext is ''Most fair Pyramus...''
Heigh-ho.
PeterQuince?
Flute!
Snoutthe tinker!
Starveling!
God's mylife. stolen hence. and leftme asleep!
I have had a mostrare vision.
I have had a dream...
pastthe witofman to say whatdream itwas--
Man is butan ass
ifhe go about to expound this dream.
Methought I was...
There is no man can tell what.
Methought I was...
Methought I had...
Butman is buta patched fool
ifhe will offerto say whatmethought I had.
The eye ofman hath notheard.
The earofman hath notseen.
Man's hand is notable to taste.
his tongue to conceive.
norhis heartto report whatmy dream was.
I will get PeterQuince to write a ballad ofthis dream.
Itshall be called Bottom's...
Dream...
because ithath no bottom.
And I will sing it in the latterend of a play
before the duke.
Peradventure.to make it the more gracious.
I shall sing itatherdeath.
Have you sentto Bottom's house?
Has he come home yet?
He cannotbe heard of.
Outofdoubt. he is transported.
Ifhe come not. then the playis marred.
It goes not forward. doth it?
Masters!
The duke is coming from the temple.
and there's two orthree
lords and ladies more married.
If oursporthad gone forward.
we had all been made men.
O sweetbully Bottom!
Thus hath he lostsixpence a day during his life.
Had the duke had not given him sixpence
forplaying Pyramus. I'll be hanged.
He would've deserved it.
Sixpence a dayin Pyramus. ornothing.
[CartApproaching ]
Where are these lads?
- Bottom! - Bottom!
Where are these hearts?
- Bottom! -O courageous day!
- Bottom! - Bottom!
O mosthappyhour!
Masters. I am to discourse wonders.
butask me notwhat.
Letus hear. sweet Bottom.
Nota word ofme.
All I will tell you is thatthe duke hath dined.
Getyourapparel together.
Everyman. look o'erhis part.
LetThisbyhave clean linen.
and letnothim thatplays the lion pare his nails.
fortheyshall hang out forthe lion's claws!
[Operatic Tenor Singing In Italian ]
Rrahhrr!
If itplease you.
These things seem small and indistinguishable.
like far-offmountains turning into clouds.
And I have found my Demetrius
like a jewel mine own. and notmine own.
Oh.
'Tis strange. myTheseus.
thatthese lovers speak of.
More strange than true.
I nevermaybelieve these antique fables.
northese fairytoys.
Lovers and madmen have such seething brains.
such shaping fantasies thatapprehend more
than coolerreason evercomprehends.
Such tricks hath strong imagination.
thatifitwould butapprehend some joy.
itcomprehends some bringerofthe joy.
Butall the story ofthe nighttold over.
and all theirminds
transfigured so together.
more witnesseth than fancyimages
and grows to something of greatconstancy.
but. howsoever. strange and admirable.
[Tapping Glass ]
joy. gentle friends.
joy and fresh days oflove accompanyyourhearts.
More than to uswait in yourroyal walks.
yourboard.yourbed.
[ Bangs Down Fork ]
[Quartet Resumes Playing ]
Come now.whatmasques. whatdances shall we have
to wearawaythis long age of3 hours
between ourafter-supper and bedtime?
Where is ourusual managerofmirth?
Here. mightyTheseus.
Whatrevels are in hand? Is there no play
to ease the anguish of a torturing hour?
There is a briefhow manysports are ripe.
''Battle with thecentaurs,
to be sung by an Athenian eunuch to the harp.''
We'll none ofthat.
''The riot ofthetipsybacchanals,
tearing the Thraciansinger intheirrage.''
Thatis an old device. and itwas played
when I from Thebes came lasta conqueror.
''Thethricethree muses
mourning for thedeathoflearning,
latedeceased in beggary.''
Thatis some satire. keen and critical.
notsorting with a nuptial ceremony.
''Atedious briefscene
ofyoung Pyramus and his love Thisby.
Verytragical mirth.''
Merry and tragical? Tedious and brief?
Thatis hotice and wondrous strange snow.
Whatare theythatdo playit?
Hard-handed men thatwork in Athens here.
which neverlabored in theirmind till now.
and nowhave toiled
theirunbreathed memories
with this same play againstyournuptial.
We will hearit.
No. no. mylord.
I did hearitover. and itis nothing.
nothing in the world.
I will hearthatplay.
The. um. short and the long is...
ourplayis preferred.
Forneveranything can be amiss
when simpleness and dutytenderit.
[ Praying ]
[ Procession Plays ]
Moonshine shall shine in atthe casement.
So please.your grace. the prologue is addressed.
Lethim approach.
Courage. man. courage.
In this same interlude itdoth befall that I.
one Snoutbyname. presenta wall.
And such a wall as I would have youthink thathad in it
a crannied hole... orchink...
throughwhich the lovers--
Pyramus and Thisby.
[ Louder ] Pyramus and Thisby.
Pyramus and Thisby!
Pyramus and Thisby did whisperoften verysecretly.
And this the crannyis. rightand sinister.
throughwhich the fearful lovers are to--
Whisper.
[Audience Laughs ]
Would you desire lime and hair to speak better?
Itis the wittiestpartition
as ever I heard discourse. mylord.
Pyramus draws nearthe wall. Silence.
O grim-looked night!
O nightwith hue so black!
O night.
which everartwhen dayis not.
O night! O night!
Alack. alack. alack!
I fearmyThisby's promise is forgot.
And thou. O wall.
O sweet. O lovelywall. thatstands
between herfather's ground and mine.
Thouwall. O wall.
O sweetand lovelywall.
showme thy chink
to blink throughwith mine eyne.
Thanks. courteouswall.
jove. shield thee well forthis.
Butwhatsee I?
No Thisby do I see.
Oh.wicked wall
throughwhom I see no bliss.
curse be thystones
forthus deceiving me.
The wall. methinks. being sensible. should curse again.
No. in truth. sire. he should not.
''Deceiving me'' is Thisby's cue.
He--She is to enternow.
and I am to spyher through the wall.
You shall see itwill fall pat. as I told you.
Yondershe comes.
[ Falsetto Voice ] Oh.wall.
full often hastthou heard mymoans
for--
[Audience Laughing ]
Forparting--
Forparting my fair Pyramus and me.
My ch-cherrylips have often kissed thystones--
thystoneswith lime and hairknitup in thee.
I see a voice.
Nowwill I to the chink to spy
and I can hearmyThisby's face.
Thisby...
mylove?
Thou artmylove. I think.
Think whatthouwilt. I am thylover's grace.
And like Limander. am I trustystill.
And I. like Helen. till the fates me kill.
Oh. kiss me through the hole ofthisvile wall.
I kiss the wall's hole. notyourlips atall.
Wiltthou at Ninny's tomb--
That's Ninus'tomb.
That's Ninus'tomb-- Meetme straightway?
'Tide life. 'tide death. I come withoutdelay.
Thus have I.wall. my partdischarged so.
And being done. thuswall away doth go.
Here come two noble beasts in.
a man and a lion.
You ladies.you. whose gentle hearts do fear
the smallestmonstrous mouse
thatcreeps on floor.
maynowperchance both quake and tremble here
when lion rough in wildestrage doth roar.
Rrrroowwrr!
Forknowthat I. as Snug the joiner.
am a lion-fell
norelse no lion's dam.
ForifI should as lion
come in strife into this place.
'twere pity on mylife.
Rowr!
[ LouderApplause ]
Moonshine.
Letme playthe moon.
I--
This lantern doth the horned moon present--
[ Laughter ]
This lantern doth the horned moon present
myselfthe man in the moon do seem to be--
[ Laughter ]
All I have to sayis to tell you thatthis lantern
is the moon. I'm the man in the moon.
this thornbush. mythornbush--
[ Barks ]
And this dog...my dog.
Oh. Oh. silence. Here comes Thisby.
Where is mylove?
- [ Roars ] - [Screams ]
[ Barking ]
Well roared. lion.
Well run.Thisby.
Well shone. moon.
And then came Pyramus.
Sweetmoon. I thank thee forthysunnybeams.
I thank thee. moon. forshining nowso bright.
Forbythy gracious. golden. glittering gleams
I trustto take oftruestThisbysight.
Butstay...O spite.
Butmark.
O light. whatdreadful dole is here?
Eyes. do you see?
How can itbe?
O dainty duck...
O dear.thymantle good.
What. stained with blood?
Approach.ye furies fell.
[ Dog Barks ]
O fates. come. come...
Cutthread and thrum.
Quail. crush.
conclude. and quell!
[ LaughterAnd Applause ]
O wherefore. nature. didstthou lions frame?
Since lion vile hath here deflowered my dear.
Devoured!
Which is--no...
no--whichwas the fairestdame thatlived.
thatloved.thatlicked. thatliked.that--line?
Thatlooked!
Thatlooked with cheer.
Come.tears. confound.
Out. sword. and wound
the pap ofPyramus.
Aye.thatleftpap where heartdoth hop.
Thus die I.
thus...
thus.
[Applause ]
Thou am I dead.
thou am I fled.
No.
Mysoul is in the sky.
Tongue. lose thylight.
moon.take thy flight.
Now die...
die...
die.
[Applause ]
Asleep. mylove?
[ Laughter ]
What. dead. my dove?
Oh!
[ Normal Voice ] O Pyramus...arise.
Speak. speak. Quite dumb?
Dead. dead?
Atomb mustcover thysweeteyes.
These lilylips. this cherrynose.
these yellow cowslip cheeks are gone. are gone.
His eyeswere green as leeks.
O sisters three. come. come to me
with hands as pale as milk.
Laythem in gore.
since you have shore with shears his thread ofsilk.
Tongue. nota word.
Come.trustysword.
Come. blade...
mybreastimbrue.
And farewell. friends. thus Thisby ends.
Adieu, adieu...
adieu.
[Applause ]
Moonshine and lion are left to burythe dead.
Aye. and wall.too.
No. I assure you. the wall is down
thatparted theirfathers.
Will itplease you to see the epilogue.
orheara Bergonmask dance
between two of ourcompany?
No epilogue. I prayyou.
foryourplayneeds no excuse.
Neverexcuse
forwhen the players are all dead.
there need none to be blamed.
[Applause ]
When the players are all dead...
there need none to be blamed.
''Verynotably discharged.''
[ Laughs ]
O happyhour!
The iron tongue ofmidnight hath told 12:00.
Lovers.to bed.
'tis almost fairytime.
Oberon: Nowuntil the break ofday
through this house each fairystray.
To the bestbride bed will we
which byus shall blessed be.
and the issue there create
evershall be fortunate.
So shall all the couples three evertrue in loving be.
And each several chamberbless
through this palace with sweetpeace.
And the ownerofitblest
evershall in safetyrest.
Trip away. make no stay.
meetme all bybreak ofday.
Verynotably discharged!
Ifwe shadows have offended.
think butthis. and all is mended.
Thatyou have butslumbered here
while these visions did appear.
And thisweak and idle theme.
no more yielding buta dream.
Gentles. do notreprehend.
Ifyou pardon.we will mend.
else the Puck a liarcall.
And so. good nightunto you all.
Give me yourhands. ifwe be friends.
and Robin shall restore amends.