| Original text | Modern text | Key line |
| Ill met by Moone-light. / Proud Tytania. | Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania! | MND II.i.60 |
| | | |
| Tarrie rash Wanton; am not I thy Lord? | Tarry, rash wanton! Am not I thy lord? | MND II.i.63 |
| | | |
| How canst thou thus for shame Tytania, | How canst thou thus, for shame, Titania, | MND II.i.74 |
| Glance at my credite, with Hippolita? | Glance at my credit with Hippolyta, | MND II.i.75 |
| Knowing I know thy loue to Theseus? | Knowing I know thy love to Theseus? | MND II.i.76 |
| Didst thou not leade him through the glimmering night | Didst thou not lead him through the glimmering night | MND II.i.77 |
| From Peregenia, whom he rauished? | From Perigenia, whom he ravished, | MND II.i.78 |
| And make him with faire Eagles breake his faith | And make him with fair Aegles break his faith, | MND II.i.79 |
| With Ariadne, and Atiopa? | With Ariadne and Antiopa? | MND II.i.80 |
| | | |
| Do you amend it then, it lies in you, | Do you amend it, then! It lies in you. | MND II.i.118 |
| Why should Titania crosse her Oberon? | Why should Titania cross her Oberon? | MND II.i.119 |
| I do but beg a little changeling boy, | I do but beg a little changeling boy | MND II.i.120 |
| To be my Henchman. | To be my henchman. | MND II.i.121.1 |
| | | |
| How long within this wood intend you stay? | How long within this wood intend you stay? | MND II.i.138 |
| | | |
| Giue me that boy, and I will goe with thee. | Give me that boy and I will go with thee. | MND II.i.143 |
| | | |
| Wel, go thy way: thou shalt not from this groue, | Well, go thy way. Thou shalt not from this grove | MND II.i.146 |
| Till I torment thee for this iniury. | Till I torment thee for this injury. | MND II.i.147 |
| My gentle Pucke come hither; thou remembrest | My gentle Puck, come hither. Thou rememberest | MND II.i.148 |
| Since once I sat vpon a promontory, | Since once I sat upon a promontory | MND II.i.149 |
| And heard a Meare-maide on a Dolphins backe, | And heard a mermaid on a dolphin's back | MND II.i.150 |
| Vttering such dulcet and harmonious breath, | Uttering such dulcet and harmonious breath | MND II.i.151 |
| That the rude sea grew ciuill at her song, | That the rude sea grew civil at her song, | MND II.i.152 |
| And certaine starres shot madly from their Spheares, | And certain stars shot madly from their spheres | MND II.i.153 |
| To heare the Sea-maids musicke. | To hear the sea-maid's music? | MND II.i.154.1 |
| | | |
| That very time I say (but thou couldst not) | That very time I saw – but thou couldst not – | MND II.i.155 |
| Flying betweene the cold Moone and the earth, | Flying between the cold moon and the earth | MND II.i.156 |
| Cupid all arm'd; a certaine aime he tooke | Cupid all armed. A certain aim he took | MND II.i.157 |
| At a faire Vestall, throned by the West, | At a fair vestal throned by the west, | MND II.i.158 |
| And loos'd his loue-shaft smartly from his bow, | And loosed his loveshaft smartly from his bow | MND II.i.159 |
| As it should pierce a hundred thousand hearts, | As it should pierce a hundred thousand hearts; | MND II.i.160 |
| But I might see young Cupids fiery shaft | But I might see young Cupid's fiery shaft | MND II.i.161 |
| Quencht in the chaste beames of the watry Moone; | Quenched in the chaste beams of the watery moon, | MND II.i.162 |
| And the imperiall Votresse passed on, | And the imperial votaress passed on | MND II.i.163 |
| In maiden meditation, fancy free. | In maiden meditation, fancy-free. | MND II.i.164 |
| Yet markt I where the bolt of Cupid fell. | Yet marked I where the bolt of Cupid fell: | MND II.i.165 |
| It fell vpon a little westerne flower; | It fell upon a little western flower, | MND II.i.166 |
| Before, milke-white; now purple with loues wound, | Before, milk-white; now purple with love's wound: | MND II.i.167 |
| And maidens call it, Loue in idlenesse. | And maidens call it ‘ love in idleness.’ | MND II.i.168 |
| Fetch me that flower; the hearb I shew'd thee once, | Fetch me that flower – the herb I showed thee once. | MND II.i.169 |
| The iuyce of it, on sleeping eye-lids laid, | The juice of it on sleeping eyelids laid | MND II.i.170 |
| Will make or man or woman madly dote | Will make or man or woman madly dote | MND II.i.171 |
| Vpon the next liue creature that it sees. | Upon the next live creature that it sees. | MND II.i.172 |
| Fetch me this hearbe, and be thou heere againe, | Fetch me this herb, and be thou here again | MND II.i.173 |
| Ere the Leuiathan can swim a league. | Ere the leviathan can swim a league. | MND II.i.174 |
| | | |
| Hauing once this iuyce, | Having once this juice | MND II.i.176.2 |
| Ile watch Titania, when she is asleepe, | I'll watch Titania when she is asleep, | MND II.i.177 |
| And drop the liquor of it in her eyes: | And drop the liquor of it in her eyes. | MND II.i.178 |
| The next thing when she waking lookes vpon, | The next thing then she, waking, looks upon – | MND II.i.179 |
| (Be it on Lyon, Beare, or Wolfe, or Bull, | Be it on lion, bear, or wolf, or bull, | MND II.i.180 |
| On medling Monkey, or on busie Ape) | On meddling monkey or on busy ape – | MND II.i.181 |
| Shee shall pursue it, with the soule of loue. | She shall pursue it with the soul of love. | MND II.i.182 |
| And ere I take this charme off from her sight, | And ere I take this charm from off her sight – | MND II.i.183 |
| (As I can take it with another hearbe) | As I can take it with another herb – | MND II.i.184 |
| Ile make her render vp her Page to me. | I'll make her render up her page to me. | MND II.i.185 |
| But who comes heere? I am inuisible, | But who comes here? I am invisible, | MND II.i.186 |
| And I will ouer-heare their conference. | And I will overhear their conference. | MND II.i.187 |
| | | |
| Fare thee well Nymph, ere he do leaue this groue, | Fare thee well, nymph. Ere he do leave this grove | MND II.i.245 |
| Thou shalt flie him, and he shall seeke thy loue. | Thou shalt fly him, and he shall seek thy love. | MND II.i.246 |
| | | |
| Hast thou the flower there? Welcome wanderer. | Hast thou the flower there? Welcome, wanderer. | MND II.i.247 |
| | | |
| I pray thee giue it me. | I pray thee give it me. | MND II.i.248.2 |
| I know a banke where the wilde time blowes, | I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, | MND II.i.249 |
| Where Oxslips and the nodding Violet growes, | Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows, | MND II.i.250 |
| Quite ouer-cannoped with luscious woodbine, | Quite overcanopied with luscious woodbine, | MND II.i.251 |
| With sweet muske roses, and with Eglantine; | With sweet muskroses and with eglantine. | MND II.i.252 |
| There sleepes Tytania, sometime of the night, | There sleeps Titania sometime of the night, | MND II.i.253 |
| Lul'd in these flowers, with dances and delight: | Lulled in these flowers with dances and delight. | MND II.i.254 |
| And there the snake throwes her enammel'd skinne, | And there the snake throws her enamelled skin, | MND II.i.255 |
| Weed wide enough to rap a Fairy in. | Weed wide enough to wrap a fairy in. | MND II.i.256 |
| And with the iuyce of this Ile streake her eyes, | And with the juice of this I'll streak her eyes | MND II.i.257 |
| And make her full of hatefull fantasies. | And make her full of hateful fantasies. | MND II.i.258 |
| Take thou some of it, and seek through this groue; | Take thou some of it, and seek through this grove. | MND II.i.259 |
| A sweet Athenian Lady is in loue | A sweet Athenian lady is in love | MND II.i.260 |
| With a disdainefull youth: annoint his eyes, | With a disdainful youth – anoint his eyes; | MND II.i.261 |
| But doe it when the next thing he espies, | But do it when the next thing he espies | MND II.i.262 |
| May be the Lady. Thou shalt know the man, | May be the lady. Thou shalt know the man | MND II.i.263 |
| By the Athenian garments he hath on. | By the Athenian garments he hath on. | MND II.i.264 |
| Effect it with some care, that he may proue | Effect it with some care, that he may prove | MND II.i.265 |
| More fond on her, then she vpon her loue; | More fond on her than she upon her love. | MND II.i.266 |
| And looke thou meet me ere the first Cocke crow. | And look thou meet me ere the first cock crow. | MND II.i.267 |
| | | |
| What thou seest when thou dost wake, | What thou seest when thou dost wake, | MND II.ii.33 |
| Doe it for thy true Loue take: | Do it for thy true love take; | MND II.ii.34 |
| Loue and languish for his sake. | Love and languish for his sake. | MND II.ii.35 |
| Be it Ounce, or Catte, or Beare, | Be it ounce or cat or bear, | MND II.ii.36 |
| Pard, or Boare with bristled haire, | Pard, or boar with bristled hair | MND II.ii.37 |
| In thy eye that shall appeare, | In thy eye that shall appear | MND II.ii.38 |
| When thou wak'st, it is thy deare, | When thou wakest, it is thy dear. | MND II.ii.39 |
| Wake when some vile thing is neere. | Wake when some vile thing is near! | MND II.ii.40 |
| | | |
| I wonder if Titania be awak't; | I wonder if Titania be awaked; | MND III.ii.1 |
| Then what it was that next came in her eye, | Then what it was that next came in her eye, | MND III.ii.2 |
| Which she must dote on, in extremitie. | Which she must dote on, in extremity. | MND III.ii.3 |
| Here comes my messenger: | Here comes my messenger. | MND III.ii.4.1 |
| | | |
| how now mad spirit, | How now, mad spirit? | MND III.ii.4.2 |
| What night-rule now about this gaunted groue? | What night-rule now about this haunted grove? | MND III.ii.5 |
| | | |
| This fals out better then I could deuise: | This falls out better than I could devise! | MND III.ii.35 |
| But hast thou yet lacht the Athenians eyes, | But hast thou yet latched the Athenian's eyes | MND III.ii.36 |
| With the loue iuyce, as I bid thee doe? | With the love juice, as I did bid thee do? | MND III.ii.37 |
| | | |
| Stand close, this is the same Athenian. | Stand close. This is the same Athenian. | MND III.ii.41 |
| | | |
| What hast thou done? Thou hast mistaken quite | What hast thou done? Thou hast mistaken quite, | MND III.ii.88 |
| And laid the loue iuyce on some true loues sight: | And laid the love juice on some true love's sight. | MND III.ii.89 |
| Of thy misprision, must perforce ensue | Of thy misprision must perforce ensue | MND III.ii.90 |
| Some true loue turn'd, and not a false turn'd true. | Some true love turned, and not a false turned true. | MND III.ii.91 |
| | | |
| About the wood, goe swifter then the winde, | About the wood go swifter than the wind, | MND III.ii.94 |
| And Helena of Athens looke thou finde. | And Helena of Athens look thou find. | MND III.ii.95 |
| All fancy sicke she is, and pale of cheere, | All fancy-sick she is and pale of cheer | MND III.ii.96 |
| With sighes of loue, that costs the fresh bloud deare. | With sighs of love, that costs the fresh blood dear. | MND III.ii.97 |
| By some illusion see thou bring her heere, | By some illusion see thou bring her here. | MND III.ii.98 |
| Ile charme his eyes against she doth appeare. | I'll charm his eyes against she do appear. | MND III.ii.99 |
| | | |
| Flower of this purple die, | Flower of this purple dye, | MND III.ii.102 |
| Hit with Cupids archery, | Hit with Cupid's archery, | MND III.ii.103 |
| Sinke in apple of his eye, | Sink in apple of his eye. | MND III.ii.104 |
| | | |
| When his loue he doth espie, | When his love he doth espy, | MND III.ii.105 |
| Let her shine as gloriously | Let her shine as gloriously | MND III.ii.106 |
| As the Venus of the sky. | As the Venus of the sky. | MND III.ii.107 |
| When thou wak'st if she be by, | When thou wakest, if she be by, | MND III.ii.108 |
| Beg of her for remedy. | Beg of her for remedy. | MND III.ii.109 |
| | | |
| Stand aside: the noyse they make, | Stand aside. The noise they make | MND III.ii.116 |
| Will cause Demetrius to awake. | Will cause Demetrius to awake. | MND III.ii.117 |
| | | |
| This is thy negligence, still thou mistak'st, | This is thy negligence. Still thou mistakest, | MND III.ii.345 |
| Or else committ'st thy knaueries willingly. | Or else committest thy knaveries wilfully. | MND III.ii.346 |
| | | |
| Thou seest these Louers seeke a place to fight, | Thou seest these lovers seek a place to fight. | MND III.ii.354 |
| Hie therefore Robin, ouercast the night, | Hie therefore, Robin, overcast the night. | MND III.ii.355 |
| The starrie Welkin couer thou anon, | The starry welkin cover thou anon | MND III.ii.356 |
| With drooping fogge as blacke as Acheron, | With drooping fog as black as Acheron, | MND III.ii.357 |
| And lead these testie Riuals so astray, | And lead these testy rivals so astray | MND III.ii.358 |
| As one come not within anothers way. | As one come not within another's way. | MND III.ii.359 |
| Like to Lysander, sometime frame thy tongue, | Like to Lysander sometime frame thy tongue, | MND III.ii.360 |
| Then stirre Demetrius vp with bitter wrong; | Then stir Demetrius up with bitter wrong, | MND III.ii.361 |
| And sometime raile thou like Demetrius; | And sometime rail thou like Demetrius; | MND III.ii.362 |
| And from each other looke thou leade them thus, | And from each other look thou lead them thus | MND III.ii.363 |
| Till ore their browes, death-counterfeiting, sleepe | Till o'er their brows death-counterfeiting sleep | MND III.ii.364 |
| With leaden legs, and Battie-wings doth creepe: | With leaden legs and batty wings doth creep. | MND III.ii.365 |
| Then crush this hearbe into Lysanders eie, | Then crush this herb into Lysander's eye – | MND III.ii.366 |
| Whose liquor hath this vertuous propertie, | Whose liquor hath this virtuous property, | MND III.ii.367 |
| To take from thence all error, with his might, | To take from thence all error with his might, | MND III.ii.368 |
| And make his eie-bals role with wonted sight. | And make his eyeballs roll with wonted sight. | MND III.ii.369 |
| When they next wake, all this derision | When they next wake, all this derision | MND III.ii.370 |
| Shall seeme a dreame, and fruitlesse vision, | Shall seem a dream and fruitless vision, | MND III.ii.371 |
| And backe to Athens shall the Louers wend | And back to Athens shall the lovers wend | MND III.ii.372 |
| With league, whose date till death shall neuer end. | With league whose date till death shall never end. | MND III.ii.373 |
| Whiles I in this affaire do thee imply, | Whiles I in this affair do thee employ | MND III.ii.374 |
| Ile to my Queene, and beg her Indian Boy; | I'll to my Queen and beg her Indian boy, | MND III.ii.375 |
| And then I will her charmed eie release | And then I will her charmed eye release | MND III.ii.376 |
| From monsters view, and all things shall be peace. | From monster's view, and all things shall be peace. | MND III.ii.377 |
| | | |
| But we are spirits of another sort: | But we are spirits of another sort. | MND III.ii.388 |
| I, with the mornings loue haue oft made sport, | I with the morning's love have oft made sport, | MND III.ii.389 |
| And like a Forrester, the groues may tread, | And like a forester the groves may tread | MND III.ii.390 |
| Euen till the Easterne gate all fierie red, | Even till the eastern gate all fiery red | MND III.ii.391 |
| Opening on Neptune, with faire blessed beames, | Opening on Neptune with fair blessed beams | MND III.ii.392 |
| Turnes into yellow gold, his salt greene streames. | Turns into yellow gold his salt green streams. | MND III.ii.393 |
| But notwithstanding haste, make no delay: | But notwithstanding, haste, make no delay; | MND III.ii.394 |
| We may effect this businesse, yet ere day. | We may effect this business yet ere day. | MND III.ii.395 |
| | | |
| Welcome good Robin: / Seest thou this sweet sight? | Welcome, good Robin. Seest thou this sweet sight? | MND IV.i.45 |
| Her dotage now I doe begin to pitty. | Her dotage now I do begin to pity. | MND IV.i.46 |
| For meeting her of late behinde the wood, | For, meeting her of late behind the wood | MND IV.i.47 |
| Seeking sweet sauors for this hatefull foole, | Seeking sweet favours from this hateful fool, | MND IV.i.48 |
| I did vpbraid her, and fall out with her. | I did upbraid her and fall out with her, | MND IV.i.49 |
| For she his hairy temples then had rounded, | For she his hairy temples then had rounded | MND IV.i.50 |
| With coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers. | With a coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers. | MND IV.i.51 |
| And that same dew which somtime on the buds, | And that same dew which sometime on the buds | MND IV.i.52 |
| Was wont to swell like round and orient pearles; | Was wont to swell, like round and orient pearls, | MND IV.i.53 |
| Stood now within the pretty flouriets eyes, | Stood now within the pretty flowerets' eyes | MND IV.i.54 |
| Like teares that did their owne disgrace bewaile. | Like tears that did their own disgrace bewail. | MND IV.i.55 |
| When I had at my pleasure taunted her, | When I had at my pleasure taunted her, | MND IV.i.56 |
| And she in milde termes beg'd my patience, | And she in mild terms begged my patience, | MND IV.i.57 |
| I then did aske of her, her changeling childe, | I then did ask of her her changeling child, | MND IV.i.58 |
| Which straight she gaue me, and her Fairy sent | Which straight she gave me, and her fairy sent | MND IV.i.59 |
| To beare him to my Bower in Fairy Land. | To bear him to my bower in Fairyland. | MND IV.i.60 |
| And now I haue the Boy, I will vndoe | And now I have the boy I will undo | MND IV.i.61 |
| This hatefull imperfection of her eyes. | This hateful imperfection of her eyes. | MND IV.i.62 |
| And gentle Pucke, take this transformed scalpe, | And, gentle Puck, take this transformed scalp | MND IV.i.63 |
| From off the head of this Athenian swaine; | From off the head of this Athenian swain, | MND IV.i.64 |
| That he awaking when the other doe, | That, he awaking when the other do, | MND IV.i.65 |
| May all to Athens backe againe repaire, | May all to Athens back again repair | MND IV.i.66 |
| And thinke no more of this nights accidents, | And think no more of this night's accidents | MND IV.i.67 |
| But as the fierce vexation of a dreame. | But as the fierce vexation of a dream. | MND IV.i.68 |
| But first I will release the Fairy Queene. | But first I will release the Fairy Queen. | MND IV.i.69 |
| | | |
| Be thou as thou wast wont to be; | Be as thou wast wont to be; | MND IV.i.70 |
| See as thou wast wont to see. | See as thou wast wont to see. | MND IV.i.71 |
| Dians bud, or Cupids flower, | Dian's bud o'er Cupid's flower | MND IV.i.72 |
| Hath such force and blessed power. | Hath such force and blessed power. | MND IV.i.73 |
| Now my Titania wake you my sweet Queene. | Now, my Titania, wake you, my sweet Queen! | MND IV.i.74 |
| | | |
| There lies your loue. | There lies your love. | MND IV.i.77.1 |
| | | |
| Silence a while. Robin take off his head: | Silence awhile! Robin, take off this head. | MND IV.i.79 |
| Titania, musick call, and strike more dead | Titania, music call, and strike more dead | MND IV.i.80 |
| Then common sleepe; of all these, fine the sense. | Than common sleep of all these five the sense. | MND IV.i.81 |
| | | |
| Sound musick; come my Queen, take hands with me. | Sound, music! (Music) Come, my Queen, take hands with me, | MND IV.i.84 |
| And rocke the ground whereon these sleepers be. | And rock the ground whereon these sleepers be. | MND IV.i.85 |
| | | |
| Now thou and I new in amity, | Now thou and I are new in amity, | MND IV.i.86 |
| And will to morrow midnight, solemnly | And will tomorrow midnight solemnly | MND IV.i.87 |
| Dance in Duke Theseus house triumphantly, | Dance in Duke Theseus' house triumphantly, | MND IV.i.88 |
| And blesse it to all faire posterity. | And bless it to all fair prosperity. | MND IV.i.89 |
| There shall the paires of faithfull Louers be | There shall the pairs of faithful lovers be | MND IV.i.90 |
| Wedded, with Theseus, all in iollity. | Wedded with Theseus all in jollity. | MND IV.i.91 |
| | | |
| Then my Queene in silence sad, | Then, my queen, in silence sad, | MND IV.i.94 |
| Trip we after the nights shade; | Trip we after night's shade. | MND IV.i.95 |
| We the Globe can compasse soone, | We the globe can compass soon, | MND IV.i.96 |
| Swifter then the wandering Moone. | Swifter than the wandering moon. | MND IV.i.97 |
| | | |
| Through the house giue glimmering light, | Through the house give glimmering light | MND V.i.381 |
| By the dead and drowsie fier, | By the dead and drowsy fire; | MND V.i.382 |
| Euerie Elfe and Fairie spright, | Every elf and fairy sprite | MND V.i.383 |
| Hop as light as bird from brier, | Hop as light as bird from briar, | MND V.i.384 |
| And this Ditty after me, | And this ditty after me | MND V.i.385 |
| sing and dance it trippinglie. | Sing, and dance it trippingly. | MND V.i.386 |
| | | |
| Now vntill the breake of day, | Now until the break of day | MND V.i.391 |
| Through this house each Fairy stray. | Through this house each fairy stray. | MND V.i.392 |
| To the best Bride-bed will we, | To the best bride bed will we, | MND V.i.393 |
| Which by vs shall blessed be: | Which by us shall blessed be; | MND V.i.394 |
| And the issue there create, | And the issue there create | MND V.i.395 |
| Euer shall be fortunate: | Ever shall be fortunate. | MND V.i.396 |
| So shall all the couples three, | So shall all the couples three | MND V.i.397 |
| Euer true in louing be: | Ever true in loving be, | MND V.i.398 |
| And the blots of Natures hand, | And the blots of nature's hand | MND V.i.399 |
| Shall not in their issue stand. | Shall not in their issue stand. | MND V.i.400 |
| Neuer mole, harelip, nor scarre, | Never mole, harelip, nor scar, | MND V.i.401 |
| Nor marke prodigious, such as are | Nor mark prodigious, such as are | MND V.i.402 |
| Despised in Natiuitie, | Despised in nativity, | MND V.i.403 |
| Shall vpon their children be. | Shall upon their children be. | MND V.i.404 |
| With this field dew consecrate, | With this field dew consecrate | MND V.i.405 |
| Euery Fairy take his gate, | Every fairy take his gait, | MND V.i.406 |
| And each seuerall chamber blesse, | And each several chamber bless | MND V.i.407 |
| Through this Pallace with sweet peace, | Through this palace with sweet peace; | MND V.i.408 |
| And the owner of it blest. | And the owner of it blessed | MND V.i.409 |
| Euer shall in safety rest, | Ever shall in safety rest. | MND V.i.410 |
| Trip away, make no stay; | Trip away; make no stay. | MND V.i.411 |
| Meet me all by breake of day. | Meet me all by break of day. | MND V.i.412 |