And farewell, friends ;

Thus Thisbe ends:

Adieu, adieu, adieu.'

[dies.

The. Moonshine and Lion are left to bury the

dead.

Dem. Ay, and Wall too.

Bot. No, I assure you; the wall is down that parted their fathers. Will it please you to see the epilogue, or to hear a Bergomask dance,1 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.

[here a dance of Clowns.

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 o'erwatch'd.
This palpable-gross play hath well beguiled
The heavy gait 2 of night.-Sweet friends, to bed.—
A fortnight hold we this solemnity,

In nightly revels, and new jollity.

[Exeunt.

A dance after the manner of the peasants of Bergomasco, a

country in Italy belonging to the Venetians.

2 Slow passage.

SCENE II.

Enter PUCK.

Puck. Now the hungry lion roars,
And the wolf behowls the moon,
Whilst the heavy ploughman snores,
All with weary task fordone.1
Now the wasted brands do glow,

Whilst the scritch-owl, scritching 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 Hecat'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 traın.

Obe. Through this house give glimmering

light,

By the dead and drowsy fire:

Overcome.

Every elf, and fairy sprite,

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

Sing, and dance it trippingly.

Tit. First, rehearse this 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.

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,1 such as are
Despised in nativity,

Shall upon their children be.-
With this field-dew consecrate,

Every fairy take his gait; 2

And each several chamber bless;
Through this palace with sweet peace

1 Portentous.

SHAK.

Direct his steps.

111.

Ever shall in safety rest,

And the owner of it bless'd.
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'm an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck

Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,1
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.

[Exit.

'If we be dismissed without hisses.

LOVE'S LABOR'S LOST.