Are we all met? Pat, pat. This green plot shall be our stage, this hawthorn-brake our tiring-house, and we will do it in action as we will do it before the duke. Right on time. And this is a great place for us to rehearse. This clearing will be the stage, and this hawthorn bush will be our dressing room.
Peter Quince. What sayest thou, bully Bottom? There are things in this comedy of Pyramus and Thisbe that will never please. First, Pyramus must draw a sword to kill himself, which the ladies cannot abide. How answer you that? There are things in this comedy of Pyramus and Thisbe that will never please the audience. What do you think about that? By 'r lakin, a parlous fear. I believe we must leave the killing out, when all is done. Not a whit. I have a device to make all well. Write me a prologue, and let the prologue seem to say we will do no harm with our swords, and that Pyramus is not killed indeed.
(mh=J0XpIjrkMCv3fc98)0.jpg "Model Hooker Hawthorne")
And for the more better assurance, tell them that I, Pyramus, am not Pyramus, but Bottom the weaver. This will put them out of fear. Not at all! And to make everyone even more comfortable, explain that that while I look like Pyramus I'm not actually him, I'm really Bottom the weaver.
That will stop the audience from being afraid. We will have such a prologue, and it shall be written in eight and six. No, make it two more. Let it be written in eight and eight. No, add two more. Write it with alternating lines of eight and eight syllables. Will not the ladies be afeard of the lion? I fear it, I promise you. Masters, you ought to consider with yourselves.
To bring inβGod shield us! For there is not a more fearful wildfowl than your lion living. Sirs, you should all think about this: bringing inβGod protect us! Because there's not a more frightening wild bird living than the lion. We should remember that. Therefore another prologue must tell he is not a lion. If you think I come hither as a lion, it were pity of my life. No, I am no such thing. I am a man as other men are.
