The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 2 of 9]Shakespeare, William
General
The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 2 of 9]
Shakespeare, William
English drama
_Bot._ Mounsieur Cobweb, good mounsieur, get you your 10
weapons in your hand, and kill me a red-hipped humble-bee
on the top of a thistle; and, good mounsieur, bring me
the honey-bag. Do not fret yourself too much in the action,
mounsieur; and, good mounsieur, have a care the honey-bag
break not; I would be loth to have you overflown with a 15
honey-bag, signior. Where’s Mounsieur Mustardseed.
_Mus._ Ready.
_Bot._ Give me your neaf, Mounsieur Mustardseed.
Pray you, leave your courtesy, good mounsieur.
_Mus._ What’s your will? 20
_Bot._ Nothing, good mounsieur, but to help Cavalery
Cobweb to scratch. I must to the barber’s, mounsieur; for
methinks I am marvellous hairy about the face; and I am
such a tender ass, if my hair do but tickle me, I must scratch.
_Tita._ What, wilt thou hear some music, my sweet love? 25
_Bot._ I have a reasonable good ear in music. Let’s
have the tongs and the bones.
_Tita._ Or say, sweet love, what thou desirest to eat.
_Bot._ Truly, a peck of provender: I could munch your
good dry oats. Methinks I have a great desire to a bottle 30
of hay: good hay, sweet hay, hath no fellow.
_Tita._ I have a venturous fairy that shall seek
The squirrel’s hoard, and fetch thee new nuts.
_Bot._ I had rather have a handful or two of dried peas.
But, I pray you, let none of your people stir me: I have an 35
exposition of sleep come upon me.
_Tita._ Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms.
Fairies, be gone, and be all ways away. [_Exeunt Fairies._
So doth the woodbine the sweet honeysuckle
Gently entwist; the female ivy so 40
Enrings the barky fingers of the elm.
O, how I love thee! how I dote on thee! [_They sleep._
_Enter_ PUCK.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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