Ege. Heere mighty Theseus The. Say, what abridgement haue you for this euening? What maske? What musicke? How shall we beguile The lazie time, if not with some delight? Ege. There is a breefe how many sports are rife: Make choise of which your Highnesse will see first Lis. The battell with the Centaurs to be sung By an Athenian Eunuch, to the Harpe The. Wee'l none of that. That haue I told my Loue In glory of my kinsman Hercules Lis. The riot of the tipsie Bachanals, Tearing the Thracian singer, in their rage? The. That is an old deuice, and it was plaid When I from Thebes came last a Conqueror Lis. The thrice three Muses, mourning for the death of learning, late deceast in beggerie The. That is some Satire keene and criticall, Not sorting with a nuptiall ceremonie Lis. A tedious breefe Scene of yong Piramus, And his loue Thisby; very tragicall mirth The. Merry and tragicall? Tedious, and briefe? That is, hot ice, and wondrous strange snow. How shall wee finde the concord of this discord? Ege. A play there is, my Lord, some ten words long, Which is as breefe, as I haue knowne a play; But by ten words, my Lord, it is too long; Which makes it tedious. For in all the play, There is not one word apt, one Player fitted. And tragicall my noble Lord it is: for Piramus Therein doth kill himselfe. Which when I saw Rehearst, I must confesse, made mine eyes water: But more merrie teares, the passion of loud laughter Neuer shed Thes. What are they that do play it? Ege. Hard handed men, that worke in Athens heere, Which neuer labour'd in their mindes till now; And now haue toyled their vnbreathed memories With this same play, against your nuptiall The. And we will heare it Hip. No my noble Lord, it is not for you. I haue heard It ouer, and it is nothing, nothing in the world; Vnless you can finde sport in their intents, Extreamely stretched, and cond with cruell paine, To doe you seruice Thes. I will heare that play. For neuer any thing Can be amisse, when simplenesse and duty tender it. Goe bring them in, and take your places, Ladies Hip. I loue not to see wretchednesse orecharged; And duty in his seruice perishing Thes. Why gentle sweet, you shall see no such thing Hip. He saies, they can doe nothing in this kinde