Welcome, good Robin. Seest thou this sweet sight?
Oberon
Welcome, good Robin. Seest thou this sweet sight?
Her dotage now I do begin to pity.
For, meeting her of late behind the wood,
Seeking sweet favors for this hateful fool,
I did upbraid her and fall out with her.
My Oberon, what visions have I seen!
Methought I was enamored of an ass.
For she his hairy temples then had rounded
With coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers;
And that same dew, which sometime on the buds
Was wont to swell like round and orient pearls,
Stood now within the pretty flouriets’ eyes,
Like tears that did their own disgrace bewail.
When I had at my pleasure taunted her,
And she in mild terms begged my patience,
I then did ask of her her changeling child,
Which straight she gave me, and her fairy sent
To bear him to my bower in Fairyland.
And now I have the boy, I will undo
This hateful imperfection of her eyes.
And, gentle Puck, take this transformèd scalp
From off the head of this Athenian swain,
That he, awaking when the other do,
May all to Athens back again repair
And think no more of this night’s accidents
But as the fierce vexation of a dream.
But first I will release the Fairy Queen.
He applies the nectar to her eyes.
Be as thou wast wont to be.
See as thou wast wont to see.
Dian’s bud o’er Cupid’s flower
Hath such force and blessèd power.
Now, my Titania, wake you, my sweet queen.
Titania, waking
My Oberon, what visions have I seen!
Methought I was enamored of an ass.
Oberon
There lies your love.
Titania
How came these things to pass?
O, how mine eyes do loathe his visage now
Oberon
Silence awhile.—Robin, take off this head.—
Titania, music call; and strike more dead
Than common sleep of all these fivethe sense.
Titania
Music, ho, music such as charmeth sleep!
Robin, removing the ass-head from Bottom
Now, when thou wak’st, with thine own fool’s eyes peep.
Oberon
Sound music. Music.
Come, my queen, take hands with me,
And rock the ground whereon these sleepers be.
Titania and Oberon dance.
Now thou and I are new in amity,
And will tomorrow midnight solemnly
Dance in Duke Theseus’ house triumphantly,
And bless it to all fair prosperity.
There shall the pairs of faithful lovers be
Wedded, with Theseus, all in jollity.