Bottom.
Peter Quince,—
Quince.
What sayest thou, Bully Bottom?
Bottom.
There are things in this comedy of Pyramus and Thisby that will never please. First, Pyramus must draw a sword to kill himself; which the ladies cannot abide. How answer you that?
Snout.
By’r lakin, a parlous fear.
Starveling.
I believe we must leave the killing out, when all is done.
Bottom.
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; 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.
Quince.
Well, we will have such a prologue; and it shall be written in eight and six.
