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Home » Quotes » Midsummer Night's Dream » Will it please you to see the Epilogue

Will it please you to see the Epilogue

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Will it please you to see the Epilogue or to hear
a Bergomask dance between two of our company?
Theseus
No epilogue, I pray you. For your play needs
no excuse. Never excuse. For when the players are
all dead, there need none to be blamed. Marry, if
he that writ it had played Pyramus and hanged
himself in Thisbe’s garter, it would have been a fine
tragedy; and so it is, truly, and very notably discharged.
But, come, your Bergomask. Let your epilogue alone.
   Dance, and the players exit.

The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve.
Lovers, to bed! ‘Tis almost fairy time.

Theseus
The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve.
Lovers, to bed! ‘Tis almost fairy time.
I fear we shall outsleep the coming morn
As much as we this night have overwatched.
This palpable-gross play hath well beguiled
The heavy gait of night. Sweet friends, to bed.
A fortnight hold we this solemnity
In nightly revels and new jollity.
   They exit. Enter Robin Goodfellow.
Robin
Now the hungry lion  roars,
  And the wolf behowls the moon,
Whilst the heavy plowman snores,
  All with weary task fordone.
Now the wasted brands do glow,
  Whilst the screech-owl, screeching loud,
Puts the wretch that lies in woe
  In remembrance of a shroud.
Now it is the time of night
  That the graves, all gaping wide,
Every one lets forth his sprite
  In the church-way paths to glide.
And we fairies, that do run
  By the triple Hecate's team
From the presence of the sun,
  Following darkness like a dream,
Now are frolic. Not a mouse
Shall disturb this hallowed house.
I am sent with broom before,
To sweep the dust behind the door.

 Enter Oberon and Titania, King and Queen of Fairies,
 with all their train.

Oberon
Through the house give glimmering light,
  By the dead and drowsy fire.
Every elf and fairy sprite,
  Hop as light as bird from brier,
And this ditty after me,
Sing and dance it trippingly.
Titania
First rehearse your song by rote,
To each word a warbling note.
Hand in hand, with fairy grace,
Will we sing and bless this place.
  Oberon leads the Fairies in song and dance.
Oberon

Now, until the break of day,
Through this house each fairy stray.
To the best bride-bed will we,
Which by us shall blessèd be,
And the issue there create
Ever shall be fortunate.
So shall all the couples three
Ever true in loving be,
And the blots of Nature's hand
Shall not in their issue stand.
Never mole, harelip, nor scar,
Nor mark prodigious, such as are
Despisèd in nativity,
Shall upon their children be.
With this field-dew consecrate
Every fairy take his gait,
And each several chamber bless,
Through this palace, with sweet peace.
And the owner of it blest,
Ever shall in safety rest.
Trip away. Make no stay.
Meet me all by break of day.

Source:
Act 5
Scene 1
Line 369

Source Type:
,

Spoken by:
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Themes:
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