Original text | Modern text | Key line |
NOw faire Hippolita, our nuptiall houre | Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour | MND I.i.1 |
Drawes on apace: foure happy daies bring in | Draws on apace. Four happy days bring in | MND I.i.2 |
Another Moon: but oh, me thinkes, how slow | Another moon – but O, methinks how slow | MND I.i.3 |
This old Moon wanes; She lingers my desires | This old moon wanes! She lingers my desires, | MND I.i.4 |
Like to a Step-dame, or a Dowager, | Like to a stepdame or a dowager | MND I.i.5 |
Long withering out a yong mans reuennew. | Long withering out a young man's revenue. | MND I.i.6 |
| | |
Go Philostrate, | Go, Philostrate, | MND I.i.11.2 |
Stirre vp the Athenian youth to merriments, | Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments. | MND I.i.12 |
Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth, | Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth. | MND I.i.13 |
Turne melancholy forth to Funerals: | Turn melancholy forth to funerals: | MND I.i.14 |
The pale companion is not for our pompe, | The pale companion is not for our pomp. | MND I.i.15 |
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Hippolita, I woo'd thee with my sword, | Hippolyta, I wooed thee with my sword, | MND I.i.16 |
And wonne thy loue, doing thee iniuries: | And won thy love doing thee injuries; | MND I.i.17 |
But I will wed thee in another key, | But I will wed thee in another key: | MND I.i.18 |
With pompe, with triumph, and with reuelling. | With pomp, with triumph, and with revelling. | MND I.i.19 |
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Thanks good Egeus: what's the news with thee? | Thanks, good Egeus. What's the news with thee? | MND I.i.21 |
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What say you Hermia? be aduis'd faire Maide, | What say you, Hermia? Be advised, fair maid: | MND I.i.46 |
To you your Father should be as a God; | To you your father should be as a god; | MND I.i.47 |
One that compos'd your beauties; yea and one | One that composed your beauties – yea, and one | MND I.i.48 |
To whom you are but as a forme in waxe | To whom you are but as a form in wax | MND I.i.49 |
By him imprinted: and within his power, | By him imprinted, and within his power | MND I.i.50 |
To leaue the figure, or disfigure it: | To leave the figure or disfigure it. | MND I.i.51 |
Demetrius is a worthy Gentleman. | Demetrius is a worthy gentleman. | MND I.i.52 |
| | |
In himselfe he is. | In himself he is; | MND I.i.53.2 |
But in this kinde, wanting your fathers voyce. | But in this kind, wanting your father's voice, | MND I.i.54 |
The other must be held the worthier. | The other must be held the worthier. | MND I.i.55 |
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Rather your eies must with his iudgment looke. | Rather your eyes must with his judgement look. | MND I.i.57 |
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Either to dye the death, or to abiure | Either to die the death, or to abjure | MND I.i.65 |
For euer the society of men. | For ever the society of men. | MND I.i.66 |
Therefore faire Hermia question your desires, | Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires, | MND I.i.67 |
Know of your youth, examine well your blood, | Know of your youth, examine well your blood, | MND I.i.68 |
Whether (if you yeeld not to your fathers choice) | Whether, if you yield not to your father's choice, | MND I.i.69 |
You can endure the liuerie of a Nunne, | You can endure the livery of a nun, | MND I.i.70 |
For aye to be in shady Cloister mew'd, | For aye to be in shady cloister mewed, | MND I.i.71 |
To liue a barren sister all your life, | To live a barren sister all your life, | MND I.i.72 |
Chanting faint hymnes to the cold fruitlesse Moone, | Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon. | MND I.i.73 |
Thrice blessed they that master so their blood, | Thrice blessed they that master so their blood | MND I.i.74 |
To vndergo such maiden pilgrimage, | To undergo such maiden pilgrimage; | MND I.i.75 |
But earthlier happie is the Rose distil'd, | But earthlier happy is the rose distilled, | MND I.i.76 |
Then that which withering on the virgin thorne, | Than that which, withering on the virgin thorn, | MND I.i.77 |
Growes, liues, and dies, in single blessednesse. | Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness. | MND I.i.78 |
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Take time to pause, and by the next new Moon | Take time to pause, and by the next new moon – | MND I.i.83 |
The sealing day betwixt my loue and me, | The sealing day betwixt my love and me | MND I.i.84 |
For euerlasting bond of fellowship: | For everlasting bond of fellowship – | MND I.i.85 |
Vpon that day either prepare to dye, | Upon that day either prepare to die | MND I.i.86 |
For disobedience to your fathers will, | For disobedience to your father's will, | MND I.i.87 |
Or else to wed Demetrius as hee would, | Or else to wed Demetrius, as he would, | MND I.i.88 |
Or on Dianaes Altar to protest | Or on Diana's altar to protest | MND I.i.89 |
For aie, austerity, and single life. | For aye austerity and single life. | MND I.i.90 |
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I must confesse, that I haue heard so much, | I must confess that I have heard so much, | MND I.i.111 |
And with Demetrius thought to haue spoke thereof: | And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof; | MND I.i.112 |
But being ouer-full of selfe-affaires, | But, being overfull of self affairs, | MND I.i.113 |
My minde did lose it. But Demetrius come, | My mind did lose it. But Demetrius, come; | MND I.i.114 |
And come Egeus, you shall go with me, | And come, Egeus. You shall go with me. | MND I.i.115 |
I haue some priuate schooling for you both. | I have some private schooling for you both. | MND I.i.116 |
For you faire Hermia, looke you arme your selfe, | For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself | MND I.i.117 |
To fit your fancies to your Fathers will; | To fit your fancies to your father's will; | MND I.i.118 |
Or else the Law of Athens yeelds you vp | Or else the law of Athens yields you up – | MND I.i.119 |
(Which by no meanes we may extenuate) | Which by no means we may extenuate – | MND I.i.120 |
To death, or to a vow of single life. | To death or to a vow of single life. | MND I.i.121 |
Come my Hippolita, what cheare my loue? | Come, my Hippolyta. What cheer, my love? | MND I.i.122 |
Demetrius and Egeus go along: | Demetrius and Egeus, go along; | MND I.i.123 |
I must imploy you in some businesse | I must employ you in some business | MND I.i.124 |
Against our nuptiall, and conferre with you | Against our nuptial, and confer with you | MND I.i.125 |
Of something, neerely that concernes your selues. | Of something nearly that concerns yourselves. | MND I.i.126 |
| | |
Goe one of you, finde out the Forrester, | Go, one of you; find out the forester; | MND IV.i.102 |
For now our obseruation is perform'd; | For now our observation is performed. | MND IV.i.103 |
And since we haue the vaward of the day, | And since we have the vaward of the day, | MND IV.i.104 |
My Loue shall heare the musicke of my hounds. | My love shall hear the music of my hounds. | MND IV.i.105 |
Vncouple in the Westerne valley, let them goe; | Uncouple in the western valley; let them go. | MND IV.i.106 |
Dispatch I say, and finde the Forrester. | Dispatch, I say, and find the forester. | MND IV.i.107 |
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We will faire Queene, vp to the Mountaines top, | We will, fair Queen, up to the mountain's top, | MND IV.i.108 |
And marke the musicall confusion | And mark the musical confusion | MND IV.i.109 |
Of hounds and eccho in coniunction. | Of hounds and echo in conjunction. | MND IV.i.110 |
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My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kinde, | My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind; | MND IV.i.118 |
So flew'd, so sanded, and their heads are hung | So flewed, so sanded; and their heads are hung | MND IV.i.119 |
With eares that sweepe away the morning dew, | With ears that sweep away the morning dew; | MND IV.i.120 |
Crooke kneed, and dew-lapt, like Thessalian Buls, | Crook-kneed, and dewlapped like Thessalian bulls; | MND IV.i.121 |
Slow in pursuit, but match'd in mouth like bels, | Slow in pursuit, but matched in mouth like bells, | MND IV.i.122 |
Each vnder each. A cry more tuneable | Each under each. A cry more tuneable | MND IV.i.123 |
Was neuer hallowed to, nor cheer'd with horne, | Was never hallooed to nor cheered with horn | MND IV.i.124 |
In Creete, in Sparta, nor in Thessaly; | In Crete, in Sparta, nor in Thessaly. | MND IV.i.125 |
Iudge when you heare. | Judge when you hear. | MND IV.i.126.1 |
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But soft, what nimphs are these? | But soft, what nymphs are these? | MND IV.i.126.2 |
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No doubt they rose vp early, to obserue | No doubt they rose up early to observe | MND IV.i.131 |
The right of May; and hearing our intent, | The rite of May, and hearing our intent | MND IV.i.132 |
Came heere in grace of our solemnity. | Came here in grace of our solemnity. | MND IV.i.133 |
But speake Egeus, is not this the day | But speak, Egeus: is not this the day | MND IV.i.134 |
That Hermia should giue answer of her choice? | That Hermia should give answer of her choice? | MND IV.i.135 |
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Goe bid the hunts-men wake them with their hornes. | Go, bid the huntsmen wake them with their horns. | MND IV.i.137 |
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Good morrow friends: Saint Valentine is past, | Good morrow, friends – Saint Valentine is past! | MND IV.i.138 |
Begin these wood birds but to couple now? | Begin these woodbirds but to couple now? | MND IV.i.139 |
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I pray you all stand vp. | I pray you all, stand up. | MND IV.i.140.2 |
I know you two are Riuall enemies. | I know you two are rival enemies. | MND IV.i.141 |
How comes this gentle concord in the world, | How comes this gentle concord in the world, | MND IV.i.142 |
That hatred is is so farre from iealousie, | That hatred is so far from jealousy | MND IV.i.143 |
To sleepe by hate, and feare no enmity. | To sleep by hate, and fear no enmity? | MND IV.i.144 |
| | |
Faire Louers, you are fortunately met; | Fair lovers, you are fortunately met. | MND IV.i.176 |
Of this discourse we shall heare more anon. | Of this discourse we more will hear anon. | MND IV.i.177 |
Egeus, I will ouer-beare your will; | Egeus, I will overbear your will; | MND IV.i.178 |
For in the Temple, by and by with vs, | For in the temple by and by with us | MND IV.i.179 |
These couples shall eternally be knit. | These couples shall eternally be knit. | MND IV.i.180 |
And for the morning now is something worne, | And – for the morning now is something worn – | MND IV.i.181 |
Our purpos'd hunting shall be set aside. | Our purposed hunting shall be set aside. | MND IV.i.182 |
Away, with vs to Athens; three and three, | Away with us to Athens. Three and three, | MND IV.i.183 |
Wee'll hold a feast in great solemnitie. | We'll hold a feast in great solemnity. | MND IV.i.184 |
Come Hippolita. | Come, Hippolyta. | MND IV.i.185 |
| | |
More strange then true. I neuer may beleeue | More strange than true. I never may believe | MND V.i.2 |
These anticke fables, nor these Fairy toyes, | These antique fables, nor these fairy toys. | MND V.i.3 |
Louers and mad men haue such seething braines, | Lovers and madmen have such seething brains, | MND V.i.4 |
Such shaping phantasies, that apprehend | Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend | MND V.i.5 |
more / Then coole reason euer comprehends. | More than cool reason ever comprehends. | MND V.i.6 |
The Lunaticke, the Louer, and the Poet, | The lunatic, the lover, and the poet | MND V.i.7 |
Are of imagination all compact. | Are of imagination all compact. | MND V.i.8 |
One sees more diuels then vaste hell can hold; | One sees more devils than vast hell can hold. | MND V.i.9 |
That is the mad man. The Louer, all as franticke, | That is the madman. The lover, all as frantic, | MND V.i.10 |
Sees Helens beauty in a brow of Egipt. | Sees Helen's beauty in a brow of Egypt. | MND V.i.11 |
The Poets eye in a fine frenzy rolling, | The poet's eye, in fine frenzy rolling, | MND V.i.12 |
doth glance / From heauen to earth, from earth to heauen. | Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven. | MND V.i.13 |
And as imagination bodies forth | And as imagination bodies forth | MND V.i.14 |
the forms of things / Vnknowne; the Poets pen | The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen | MND V.i.15 |
turnes them to shapes, / And giues to aire nothing, | Turns them to shapes, and gives to airy nothing | MND V.i.16 |
a locall habitation, / And a name. | A local habitation and a name. | MND V.i.17 |
Such tricks hath strong imagination, | Such tricks hath strong imagination | MND V.i.18 |
That if it would but apprehend some ioy, | That if it would but apprehend some joy, | MND V.i.19 |
It comprehends some bringer of that ioy. | It comprehends some bringer of that joy. | MND V.i.20 |
Or in the night, imagining some feare, | Or in the night, imagining some fear, | MND V.i.21 |
Howe easie is a bush suppos'd a Beare? | How easy is a bush supposed a bear? | MND V.i.22 |
| | |
Heere come the louers, full of ioy and mirth: | Here come the lovers, full of joy and mirth. | MND V.i.28 |
Ioy, gentle friends, ioy and fresh dayes / Of loue | Joy, gentle friends, joy and fresh days of love | MND V.i.29 |
accompany your hearts. | Accompany your hearts. | MND V.i.30.1 |
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Come now, what maskes, what dances shall we haue, | Come now, what masques, what dances shall we have | MND V.i.32 |
To weare away this long age of three houres, | To wear away this long age of three hours | MND V.i.33 |
Between our after supper, and bed-time? | Between our after-supper and bedtime? | MND V.i.34 |
Where is our vsuall manager of mirth? | Where is our usual manager of mirth? | MND V.i.35 |
What Reuels are in hand? Is there no play, | What revels are in hand? Is there no play | MND V.i.36 |
To ease the anguish of a torturing houre? | To ease the anguish of a torturing hour? | MND V.i.37 |
Call Egeus. | Call Philostrate. | MND V.i.38.1 |
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Say, what abridgement haue you for this euening? | Say, what abridgement have you for this evening? | MND V.i.39 |
What maske? What musicke? How shall we beguile | What masque, what music? How shall we beguile | MND V.i.40 |
The lazie time, if not with some delight? | The lazy time if not with some delight? | MND V.i.41 |
| | |
The battell with the Centaurs to be sung | The Battle with the Centaurs, ‘ to be sung | MND V.i.44 |
By an Athenian Eunuch, to the Harpe. | By an Athenian eunuch to the harp.’ | MND V.i.45 |
The. Wee'l none of that. That haue I told my Loue | We'll none of that. That have I told my love | MND V.i.46 |
In glory of my kinsman Hercules. | In glory of my kinsman, Hercules. | MND V.i.47 |
Lis. The riot of the tipsie Bachanals, | The riot of the tipsy Bacchanals, | MND V.i.48 |
Tearing the Thracian singer, in their rage? | Tearing the Thracian singer in their rage. | MND V.i.49 |
The. That is an old deuice, and it was plaid | That is an old device, and it was played | MND V.i.50 |
When I from Thebes came last a Conqueror. | When I from Thebes came last a conqueror. | MND V.i.51 |
Lis. The thrice three Muses, mourning for the death | The thrice three Muses mourning for the death | MND V.i.52 |
of learning, late deceast in beggerie. | Of learning, late deceased in beggary. | MND V.i.53 |
The. That is some Satire keene and criticall, | That is some satire keen and critical, | MND V.i.54 |
Not sorting with a nuptiall ceremonie. | Not sorting with a nuptial ceremony. | MND V.i.55 |
Lis. A tedious breefe Scene of yong Piramus, | A tedious brief scene of young Pyramus | MND V.i.56 |
And his loue Thisby; very tragicall mirth. | And his love Thisbe; ‘ very tragical mirth.’ | MND V.i.57 |
The. Merry and tragicall? Tedious, and briefe? | Merry and tragical? Tedious and brief? | MND V.i.58 |
That is, hot ice, and wondrous strange snow. | That is, hot ice and wondrous strange snow. | MND V.i.59 |
How shall wee finde the concord of this discord? | How shall we find the concord of this discord? | MND V.i.60 |
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What are they that do play it? | What are they that do play it? | MND V.i.71 |
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And we will heare it. | And we will hear it. | MND V.i.76.1 |
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I will heare that play. | I will hear that play, | MND V.i.81.2 |
For neuer any thing / Can be amisse, | For never anything can be amiss | MND V.i.82 |
when simplenesse and duty tender it. | When simpleness and duty tender it. | MND V.i.83 |
Goe bring them in, and take your places, Ladies. | Go bring them in; and take your places, ladies. | MND V.i.84 |
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Why gentle sweet, you shall see no such thing. | Why, gentle sweet, you shall see no such thing. | MND V.i.87 |
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The kinder we, to giue them thanks for nothing | The kinder we, to give them thanks for nothing. | MND V.i.89 |
Our sport shall be, to take what they mistake; | Our sport shall be to take what they mistake; | MND V.i.90 |
And what poore duty cannot doe, noble respect | And what poor duty cannot do, noble respect | MND V.i.91 |
Takes it in might, not merit. | Takes it in might, not merit. | MND V.i.92 |
Where I haue come, great Clearkes haue purposed | Where I have come, great clerks have purposed | MND V.i.93 |
To greete me with premeditated welcomes; | To greet me with premeditated welcomes, | MND V.i.94 |
Where I haue seene them shiuer and looke pale, | Where I have seen them shiver and look pale, | MND V.i.95 |
Make periods in the midst of sentences, | Make periods in the midst of sentences, | MND V.i.96 |
Throttle their practiz'd accent in their feares, | Throttle their practised accent in their fears, | MND V.i.97 |
And in conclusion, dumbly haue broke off, | And in conclusion dumbly have broke off, | MND V.i.98 |
Not paying me a welcome. Trust me sweete, | Not paying me a welcome. Trust me, sweet, | MND V.i.99 |
Out of this silence yet, I pickt a welcome: | Out of this silence yet I picked a welcome, | MND V.i.100 |
And in the modesty of fearefull duty, | And in the modesty of fearful duty | MND V.i.101 |
I read as much, as from the ratling tongue | I read as much as from the rattling tongue | MND V.i.102 |
Of saucy and audacious eloquence. | Of saucy and audacious eloquence. | MND V.i.103 |
Loue therefore, and tongue-tide simplicity, | Love, therefore, and tongue-tied simplicity | MND V.i.104 |
In least, speake most, to my capacity. | In least speak most, to my capacity. | MND V.i.105 |
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Let him approach. | Let him approach. | MND V.i.107 |
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This fellow doth not stand vpon points. | This fellow doth not stand upon points. | MND V.i.118 |
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His speech was like a tangled chaine: nothing | His speech was like a tangled chain: nothing | MND V.i.124 |
impaired, but all disordered. Who is next? | impaired, but all disordered. Who is next? | MND V.i.125 |
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I wonder if the Lion be to speake. | I wonder if the lion be to speak. | MND V.i.151 |
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Would you desire Lime and Haire to speake better? | Would you desire lime and hair to speak better? | MND V.i.163 |
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Pyramus drawes neere the Wall, silence. | Pyramus draws near the wall. Silence! | MND V.i.166 |
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The wall me-thinkes being sensible, should curse | The wall, methinks, being sensible, should curse | MND V.i.179 |
againe. | again. | MND V.i.180 |
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Now is the morall downe between the two | Now is the mural down between the two | MND V.i.203 |
Neighbors. | neighbours. | MND V.i.204 |
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The best in this kind are but shadowes, and the | The best in this kind are but shadows; and the | MND V.i.208 |
worst are no worse, if imagination amend them. | worst are no worse, if imagination amend them. | MND V.i.209 |
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If wee imagine no worse of them then they of | If we imagine no worse of them than they of | MND V.i.212 |
themselues, they may passe for excellent men. Here com | themselves, they may pass for excellent men. Here come | MND V.i.213 |
two noble beasts, in a man and a Lion. | two noble beasts in: a man and a lion. | MND V.i.214 |
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A verie gentle beast, and of good conscience. | A very gentle beast, of a good conscience. | MND V.i.223 |
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True, and a Goose for his discretion. | True; and a goose for his discretion. | MND V.i.227 |
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His discretion I am sure cannot carrie his | His discretion, I am sure, cannot carry his | MND V.i.230 |
valor: for the Goose carries not the Fox. It is well; leaue | valour; for the goose carries not the fox. It is well: leave | MND V.i.231 |
it to his discretion, and let vs hearken to the Moone. | it to his discretion, and let us listen to the moon. | MND V.i.232 |
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Hee is no crescent, and his hornes are inuisible, | He is no crescent, and his horns are invisible | MND V.i.235 |
within the circumference. | within the circumference. | MND V.i.236 |
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This is the greatest error of all the rest; the man | This is the greatest error of all the rest; the man | MND V.i.239 |
Should be put into the Lanthorne. How is it els the man | should be put into the lanthorn. How is it else the man | MND V.i.240 |
i'th Moone? | i'th' moon? | MND V.i.241 |
| | |
It appeares by his smal light of discretion, that | It appears by his small light of discretion that | MND V.i.246 |
he is in the wane: but yet in courtesie, in all reason, we | he is in the wane. But yet in courtesy, in all reason, we | MND V.i.247 |
must stay the time. | must stay the time. | MND V.i.248 |
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Well run Thisby. | Well run, Thisbe! | MND V.i.258 |
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Wel mouz'd Lion. | Well moused, Lion! | MND V.i.261 |
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This passion, and the death of a deare friend, | This passion, and the death of a dear friend, | MND V.i.280 |
Would go neere to make a man looke sad. | would go near to make a man look sad. | MND V.i.281 |
| | |
With the helpe of a Surgeon, he might yet recouer, | With the help of a surgeon he might yet recover, | MND V.i.302 |
and proue an Asse. | and prove an ass. | MND V.i.303 |
| | |
She wil finde him by starre-light. / Heere she comes, | She will find him by starlight. Here she comes; | MND V.i.306 |
and her passion ends the play. | and her passion ends the play. | MND V.i.307 |
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Moone-shine & Lion are left to burie the dead. | Moonshine and Lion are left to bury the dead. | MND V.i.340 |
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No Epilogue, I pray you; for your play needs no | No epilogue, I pray you; for your play needs no | MND V.i.346 |
excuse. Neuer excuse; for when the plaiers are all dead, | excuse. Never excuse; for when the players are all dead, | MND V.i.347 |
there need none to be blamed. Marry, if hee that writ it | there needs none to be blamed. Marry, if he that writ it | MND V.i.348 |
had plaid Piramus, and hung himselfe in Thisbies | had played Pyramus and hanged himself in Thisbe's | MND V.i.349 |
garter, it would haue beene a fine Tragedy: and so it is | garter, it would have been a fine tragedy. And so it is, | MND V.i.350 |
truely, and very notably discharg'd. But come, your | truly, and very notably discharged. But come, your | MND V.i.351 |
Burgomaske; let your Epilogue alone. | Bergomask; let your epilogue alone. | MND V.i.352 |
| | |
The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelue. | The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve. | MND V.i.353 |
Louers to bed, 'tis almost Fairy time. | Lovers, to bed; 'tis almost fairy time. | MND V.i.354 |
I feare we shall out-sleepe the comming morne, | I fear we shall outsleep the coming morn | MND V.i.355 |
As much as we this night haue ouer-watcht. | As much as we this night have overwatched. | MND V.i.356 |
This palpable grosse play hath well beguil'd | This palpable-gross play hath well beguiled | MND V.i.357 |
The heauy gate of night. Sweet friends to bed. | The heavy gait of night. Sweet friends, to bed. | MND V.i.358 |
A fortnight hold we this solemnity. | A fortnight hold we this solemnity | MND V.i.359 |
In nightly Reuels; and new iollitie. | In nightly revels and new jollity. | MND V.i.360 |