Brick Shakespeare: The Comedies—A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Taming of the Shrew (24 page)

DEMETRIUS

No die, but an ace, for him; for he is but one.

LYSANDER

Less than an ace, man; for he is dead; he is nothing.

THESEUS

With the help of a surgeon he might yet recover, and prove an ass.

HIPPOLYTA

How chance Moonshine is gone before thisby comes back and finds her lover?

THESEUS

She will find him by starlight. Here she comes; and her passion ends the play.

HIPPOLYTA

Methinks she should not use a long one for such a

Pyramus: I hope she will be brief.

DEMETRIUS

A mote will turn the balance, which Pyramus, which

thisby, is the better; he for a man, God warrant us; she for a woman, God bless us.

LYSANDER

She hath spied him already with those sweet eyes.

DEMETRIUS

And thus she means, videlicet:—

FLUTE [as thisby]

Asleep, my love?

What, dead, my dove?

O Pyramus, arise!

Speak, speak. Quite dumb?

Dead, dead? A tomb

Must cover thy sweet eyes.

These my lips,

This cherry nose,

These yellow cowslip cheeks,

Are gone, are gone:

Lovers, make moan:

His eyes were green as leeks.

FLUTE [as thisby] (cont.)

O Sisters Three,

Come, come to me,

With hands as pale as milk;

Lay them in gore,

Since you have shore

With shears his thread of silk.

FLUTE [as thisby] (cont.)

Tongue, not a word:

Come, trusty sword;

Come, blade, my breast imbrue: