ORIGINAL TEXT	MODERN TRANSLATION
ACT IV, SCENE i. The wood. Enter TITANIA and BOTTOM; PEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARDSEED, and other Fairies attending; OBERON behind unseen	ACT IV, SCENE i. The wood. TITANIA and BOTTOM; PEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARDSEED, and other FAIRIES enter while OBERON enters behind them unseen
TITANIA Come, sit thee down upon this flowery bed, While I thy amiable cheeks do coy, And stick musk-roses in thy sleek smooth head, And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy.	TITANIA (Fairy Queen) [to BOTTOM] Come, sit down on the flowers, while I caress your lovely cheeks adorn your head with roses, and kiss your lovely large ears, my darling.
BOTTOM Where's Peaseblossom?	BOTTOM (Weaver) Where's Peaseblossom?
PEASEBLOSSOM Ready.	PEASEBLOSSOM (Fairy) I'm here.
BOTTOM Scratch my head Peaseblossom. Where's Monsieur Cobweb?	BOTTOM (Weaver) Scratch my head, Peaseblossom. Where's Mr. Cobweb?
COBWEB Ready.	COBWEB (Fairy) I'm here.
BOTTOM Monsieur Cobweb, good monsieur, get you your weapons in your hand, and kill me a red-hipped humble-bee on the top of a thistle; and, good monsieur, bring me the honey-bag. Do not fret yourself too much in the action, monsieur; and, good monsieur, have a care the honey-bag break not; I would be loath to have you overflown with a honey-bag, signior. Where's Monsieur Mustardseed?	BOTTOM (Weaver) Mr. Cobweb, my good man, go get your weapons and kill me a bumblebee on top of a flower. And good sir, bring me its honey. Don't tire yourself too much, sir. And good sir, make sure the honey-bag doesn't break. I'd hate to see you drowned in honey, sir. Where is Mr. Mustardseed?
MUSTARDSEED Ready.	MUSTARDSEED (Fairy) I'm here.
BOTTOM Give me your neaf, Monsieur Mustardseed. Pray you, leave your courtesy, good monsieur.	BOTTOM (Weaver) Lend me your hand, Mr. Mustardseed. Please, stop bowing, my good man.
MUSTARDSEED What's your will?	MUSTARDSEED (Fairy) What can I do for you?
BOTTOM Nothing, good monsieur, but to help Cavalry Cobweb to scratch. I must to the barber's, monsieur; for methinks I am marvelous hairy about the face; and I am such a tender ass, if my hair do but tickle me, I must scratch.	BOTTOM (Weaver) Nothing much, good sir, other than helping Sir Cobweb scratch me. I must get to the barber's, sir. For I think my face is quite hairy, and I am such a sensitive donkey, if my hair tickles me, I must scratch.
TITANIA What, wilt thou hear some music, my sweet love?	TITANIA (Fairy Queen) Will you hear some music, sweetheart?
BOTTOM I have a reasonable good ear in music. Let's have the tongs and the bones.	BOTTOM (Weaver) I have a good ear for music. Let's hear the triangle and the clappers.
TITANIA Or say, sweet love, what thou desirest to eat.	TITANIA (Fairy Queen) Please tell me what you'd like to eat, sweetheart.
BOTTOM Truly, a peck of provender: I could munch your good dry oats. Methinks I have a great desire to a bottle of hay: good hay, sweet hay, hath no fellow.	BOTTOM (Weaver) I'd like some grass. I could eat some nice, dry oats. I'd also like some hay, good hay, sweet hay, has no equal.
TITANIA I have a venturous fairy that shall seek The squirrel's hoard, and fetch thee new nuts.	TITANIA (Fairy Queen) I have a adventurous fairy that will get you some fresh nuts from a squirrel's stash.
BOTTOM 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 exposition of sleep come upon me.	BOTTOM (Weaver) I'd rather have a handful or two of dried peas. But please, don't let your fairies bother me. I'm suddenly very sleepy.
TITANIA Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms. Fairies, begone, and be all ways away. So doth the woodbine the sweet honeysuckle Gently entwist; the female ivy so Enrings the barky fingers of the elm. O, how I love thee! how I dote on thee! [They sleep]	TITANIA (Fairy Queen) Sleep sweetheart, and I will hold you in my arms. Fairies, get lost in all directions. I'll wrap my arms around you, like woodbine around the honeysuckle and ivy around the branches of the elm tree. Oh, how I love you! How I adore you! [They sleep]
OBERON advances. Enter PUCK.	OBERON advances. PUCK enters.
OBERON Welcome, good Robin. See'st thou this sweet sight? Her dotage now I do begin to pity: For, meeting her of late behind the wood, Seeking sweet favors from this hateful fool, I did upbraid her and fall out with her; For she his hairy temples then had rounded With a 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 flowerets' eyes Like tears that did their own disgrace bewail. When I had at my pleasure taunted her And she in mild terms begg'd my patience, I then did ask of her changeling child; Which straight she gave me, and her fairy sent To bear him to my bower in fairy land. And now I have the boy, I will undo This hateful imperfection of her eyes: And, gentle Puck, take this transformed 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. [Touching her eyes with an herb] 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 blessed power. Now, my Titania; wake you, my sweet queen.	OBERON (Fairy King) Welcome, good Puck. Isn't this a sweet sight? I'm beginning to feel sorry for Titania. I recently saw her near the forest, seeking the love of this ugly donkey. I did scold her and argue with her. She's crowned the hairy head of this donkey with a wreath of sweet-smelling flowers. The pearls of dew on the flowers looked like tears of despair. When I teased her and she begged me to stop, I asked her for the Indian boy. She gave him to me, and had her fairy bring the boy to my home in fairy land. Now that I have the boy, I'll reverse this horrible enchantment of her eyes. Dear Puck, take the donkey head off the head of this Athenian pig. So that he may return to Athens with the others, all back to normal. The Athenians will believe what happened last night, was only a troubling dream. But first I will undo Titania's enchantment. [Oberon squeezes the flower cure into Titania's eyes] Be like you used to be, see like you used to see, Diana's flower has the power to reverse the enchantment of Cupid's love flower. Now wake up, my sweet queen, Titania.
TITANIA My Oberon! what visions have I seen! Methought I was enamour'd of an ass.	TITANIA (Fairy Queen) Oberon, I've had such crazy dreams. I dreamed I loved a donkey.
OBERON There lies your love.	OBERON (Fairy King) There lies your darling donkey.
TITANIA How came these things to pass? O, how mine eyes do loathe his visage now!	TITANIA (Fairy Queen) How did these things happen? Oh, my eyes hate that donkey's face now!
OBERON Silence awhile. Robin, take off this head. Titania, music call; and strike more dead Than common sleep of all these five the sense.	OBERON (Fairy King) Be quiet a bit. Puck, take off the donkey head. Titania, have the fairies play some music. Make the humans all sleep the sleep of the dead.
TITANIA Music, ho! music, such as charmeth sleep!	TITANIA (Fairy Queen) Fairies, play some music to keep these humans asleep.
PUCK Now, when thou wakest, with thine own fool's eyes peep.	PUCK (Trickster Fairy) [Takes the donkey head off BOTTOM] When you wake up, you'll see again with your own foolish eyes.
OBERON Sound, music! [Still music.] Come, my queen, take hands with me, And rock the ground whereon these sleepers be. 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.	OBERON (Fairy King) Fairies, keep playing music! [Music continues to play.] Titania, take my hands and dance with me to keep them asleep. Now that we've made up, tomorrow at midnight we'll dance at Duke Theseus' wedding and bless his marriage. There Hermia and Lysander, and Helena and Demetris, will be married alongside Theseus and Hippolyta, with great happiness.
PUCK Fairy king, attend, and mark: I do hear the morning lark.	PUCK (Trickster Fairy) Listen, fairy king, I hear the lark. Morning's arrived.
OBERON Then, my queen, in silence sad, Trip we after the night's shade: We the globe can compass soon, Swifter than the wandering moon.	OBERON (Fairy King) Then, Titania, we'll travel quietly and sadly, chasing the nighttime around the globe, swifter than the orbiting moon.
TITANIA Come, my lord, and in our flight Tell me how it came this night That I sleeping here was found With these mortals on the ground.	TITANIA (Fairy Queen) Come, Oberon, and while we run Tell me what happened last night. How I wound up sleeping with these humans on the ground.
Exeunt	OBERON, TITANIA, and ROBIN leave
Horns sound within	A horn blows
Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, EGEUS, and train	THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, EGEUS, and their servants enter
THESEUS Go, one of you, find out the forester; For now our observation is perform'd; And since we have the vaward of the day, My love shall hear the music of my hounds. Uncouple in the western valley; Go: Dispatch, I say, and find the forester.	THESEUS (Duke of Athens) One of you find the forest ranger. Since we're done with our rituals and have the rest of the day, We'll hunt so Hippolyta can enjoy the music of the dogs barking. Unleash the dogs in the western valley. Now go and find the forest ranger.
Exit an Attendant	One servant leaves to fetch the ranger
THESEUS We will, fair queen, up to the mountain's top, And mark the musical confusion Of hounds and echo in conjunction.	THESEUS (Duke of Athens) We will climb to the top of the mountain, Hippolyta. We'll listen to the echoes of the barking hunting dogs.
HIPPOLYTA I was with Hercules and Cadmus once, When in a wood of Crete they bay'd the bear With hounds of Sparta: never did I hear Such gallant chiding: for, besides the groves, The skies, the fountains, every region near Seem'd all one mutual cry: I never heard So musical a discord, such sweet thunder.	HIPPOLYTA (Amazon Queen) Once, when I was with Hercules and Cadmus in a Crete forest, the Spartan dogs trapped a bear. I'd never heard such a heroic barking before. The trees, the skies, everything near combined the echoes into a single cry. I'd never heard such thunderous music before.
THESEUS My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind, So flew'd, so sanded, and their heads are hung With ears that sweep away the morning dew; Crook-knee'd, and dew-lapp'd like Thessalian bulls; Slow in pursuit, but match'd in mouth like bells, Each under each. A cry more tunable Was never holla'd to, nor cheer'd with horn, In Crete, in Sparta, nor in Thessaly: Judge when you hear. But, soft! what nymphs are these?	THESEUS (Duke of Athens) My dogs are also Spartan. They have the same coloring and long ears that brush dew off the grass. They have crooked knees and necks like the Spartan dogs. They may be slow, but their barks ring like bells. Their barks are in tune. No one can match their barking, Not Crete, Sparta, or Thessaly. Listen and judge for yourself. But wait, who are these people sleeping here?
EGEUS My lord, this is my daughter here asleep; And this, Lysander; this Demetrius is; This Helena, old Nedar's Helena: I wonder of their being here together.	EGEUS (Hermia's father) My lord Theseus, this is my daughter, Hermia. This is Lysander, Demetrius, and Nadar's daughter, Helena. I wonder how they ended up here together.
THESEUS No doubt they rose up early to observe The rite of May, and hearing our intent, Came here in grace our solemnity. But speak, Egeus; is not this the day That Hermia should give answer of her choice?	THESEUS (Duke of Athens) They must have rose early to watch the rite of May, and learning we'd be here, came to celebrate with us. But tell me, Egeus. Isn't this the day that Hermia must tell you whether she'll marry Demetrius, become a nun, or choose death?
EGEUS It is, my lord.	EGEUS (Hermia's father) It is, my lord.
THESEUS Go, bid the huntsmen wake them with their horns.	THESEUS (Duke of Athens) Tell the hunters to blow their horns and wake them up.
Horns and shout within. DEMETRIUS, LYSANDER, HERMIA, and HELENA awake and start up	Horns blow. DEMETRIUS, LYSANDER, HERMIA, and HELEN wake up
THESEUS Good morrow, friends. Saint Valentine is past: Begin these wood-birds but to couple now?	THESEUS (Duke of Athens) Good morning, friends. Valentine's day is over. Have you formed couples now?
LYSANDER Pardon, my lord.	LYSANDER (Loves Hermia) Excuse me, my lord.
He and the rest kneel to THESEUS.	He and the rest kneel to THESEUS.
THESEUS I pray you all, stand up. I know you two are rival enemies: How comes this gentle concord in the world, That hatred is so far from jealousy, To sleep by hate, and fear no enmity?	THESEUS (Duke of Athens) Please, stand up. I know Lysander and Demetrius are jealous rivals. How are you here together, as hate isn't too far from jealousy, sleeping side-by-side without fear?
LYSANDER My lord, I shall reply amazedly, Half sleep, half waking: but as yet, I swear, I cannot truly say how I came here; But, as I think,--for truly would I speak, And now do I bethink me, so it is,-- I came with Hermia hither: our intent Was to be gone from Athens, where we might be, Without the peril of the Athenian law.	LYSANDER (Loves Hermia) My lord, I'm still only half awake, but I swear I don't know how I ended up here. All I truly know is that I came here with Hermia. We were fleeing Athens to escape Athenian law and be married.
EGEUS Enough, enough, my lord; you have enough: I beg the law, the law, upon his head. They would have stolen away; they would, Demetrius, Thereby to have defeated you and me, You of your wife and me of my consent, Of my consent that she should be your wife.	EGEUS (Hermia's father) You have enough, my lord. to punish Lysander according to law. Lysander and Hermia were running away to thwart the plans of Demetrius and myself Stolen Demetrius' wife and me of my wishes Of my wishes that Hermia marry Demetrius.
DEMETRIUS My lord, fair Helen told me of their stealth, Of this their purpose hither to this wood; And I in fury hither follow'd them, Fair Helena in fancy following me. But, my good lord, I wot not by what power,-- But by some power it is,--my love to Hermia, Melted as the snow, seems to me now As the remembrance of an idle gaud Which in my childhood I did dote upon; And all the faith, the virtue of my heart, The object and the pleasure of mine eye, Is only Helena. To her, my lord, Was I betroth'd ere I saw Hermia: But, like in sickness, did I loathe this food; But, as in health, come to my natural taste, Now I do wish it, love it, long for it, And will for evermore be true to it.	DEMETRIUS (Enchanted to love Helena) My lord, Helen told me of Lysander and Hermia's plan to flee through these woods. In my anger, I followed them, and Helena followed me. But, my good lord, I don't know by what power, But somehow my love for Hermia melted like the snow. My love for Hermia is now like a memory of some silly toy that I adored long ago during childhood. Now with all my belief and my heart, the thing that pleases my eyes, is only Helena. My lord, I was once engaged to Helena before I saw Hermia. Then I hated Helena, like hating food during a sickness. Now that I'm healthy, I love food again. Now I wish for Helena, love her, long for her, and will be true to her forever.
THESEUS Fair lovers, you are fortunately met: Of this discourse we more will hear anon. Egeus, I will overbear your will; For in the temple by and by with us These couples shall eternally be knit: And, for the morning now is something worn, Our purposed hunting shall be set aside. Away with us to Athens; three and three, We'll hold a feast in great solemnity. Come, Hippolyta.	THESEUS (Duke of Athens) Lovely couples, you are in luck. We'll discuss this later. Egeus, I'll no longer force Hermia to marry Demetrius. For Hermia and Lysander along with Helena and Demetrius will be married in the temple with Hippolyta and myself. Now that morning has passed, we'll save hunting for another time. Let's return to Athens. We three couples will enjoy a great feast. Come with me, Hippolyta.
Exeunt THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, EGEUS, and train	THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, EGEUS, and their servants leave
DEMETRIUS These things seem small and undistinguishable, Like far-off mountains turned into clouds.	DEMETRIUS (Enchanted to love Helena) What happened seems far off and fuzzy, like far-off mountains that look like clouds.
HERMIA Methinks I see these things with parted eye, When everything seems double.	HERMIA (Loves Lysander) My memories are foggy, like I'm seeing double.
HELENA So methinks: And I have found Demetrius like a jewel, Mine own, and not mine own.	HELENA (Loves Demetrius) Me too. Although I stumbled upon Demetrius like some lost jewel. He's mine, but might be lost again.
DEMETRIUS It seems to me that yet we sleep, we dream. Do not you think the duke was here, and bid us follow him?	DEMETRIUS (Enchanted to love Helena) Perhaps we're still sleeping and dreaming. Do you really think the Duke of Athens was here in the forest and asked us to follow him back to Athens?
HERMIA Yea; and my father.	HERMIA (Loves Lysander) Yes, the Duke was here. My father was here alse.
HELENA And Hippolyta.	HELENA (Loves Demetrius) And Hippolyta too.
LYSANDER And he did bid us follow to the temple.	LYSANDER (Loves Hermia) And the Duke asked us to follow him to the temple.
DEMETRIUS Why, then, we are awake: let's follow him And by the way let us recount our dreams.	DEMETRIUS (Enchanted to love Helena) We remember it the same. We must be awake. Let's follow the Duke back to Athens. On the way back, we'll tell each other about our dreams.
Exeunt. As they go out, BOTTOM awakes.	LYSANDER, DEMETRIUS, HELENA, and HERMIA leave. As they depart, BOTTOM awakes.
BOTTOM When my cue comes, call me, and I will answer: my next is, 'Most fair Pyramus.' Heigh-ho! Peter Quince! Flute, the bellows-mender! Snout, the tinker! Starveling! God's my life, stolen hence, and left me asleep! I have had a most rare vision. I have had a dream, past the wit of man to say what dream it was: man is but an ass, if he go about to expound this dream. Methought I was--there is no man can tell what. Methought I was,--and methought I had,--but man is but a patched fool, if he will offer to say what methought I had. The eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, man's hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceive, nor his heart to report, what my dream was. I will get Peter Quince to write a ballad of this dream: it shall be called Bottom's Dream, because it hath no bottom; and I will sing it in the latter end of a play, before the duke: peradventure, to make it the more gracious, I shall sing it at her death.	BOTTOM (Weaver) Let me know when my cue comes, and I will answer. The line is, 'Most fair Pyramus.' Where is everyone? Peter Quince! Flute, the bellows-mender! Snout, the tinker! Starveling! I fell asleep and they left me here. What a strange dream. It was so strange, that I can't describe it. I'd be a donkey, if I tried to describe it. I thought I was...I thought I had...but I'd be a fool If I said what I thought I had. No one has ever seen or heard or tasted or imagined anything like my dream. I will ask Peter Quince to write a song about my dream. I'll call it Bottom's Dream because it has no bottom. I will sing it during the latter part of a play in front of Duke Theseus. Perhaps, to make it more touching, I'll sing it when a lady character dies.
Exit	BOTTOM leaves