Page:Midsummer Night's Dream (1918) Yale.djvu/66

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54
A Midsummer

And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy.4

Bot. Where's Pease-blossom?

Peas. Ready.

Bot. Scratch my head, Pease-blossom. Where's
Mounsieur Cobweb?8

Cob. Ready.

Bot. Mounsieur Cobweb, good mounsieur, get
your weapons in your hand, and kill me a red-
hipped humble-bee on the top of a thistle; and,
good mounsieur, bring me the honey-bag. Do
not fret yourself too much in the action, moun-
sieur; and, good mounsieur, have a care the
honey-bag break not; I would be loath to have
you overflown with a honey-bag, signior. Where's
Mounsieur Mustard-seed?18

Must. Ready.

Bot. Give me your neaf, Mounsieur Mustard-
seed. Pray you, leave your courtesy, good
mounsieur.

Must. What's your will?23

Bot. Nothing, good mounsieur, but to help
Cavalery Cobweb to scratch. I must to the
barber's, mounsieur, for methinks I am marvel-
lous hairy about the face; and I am such a
tender ass, if my hair do but tickle me, I must
scratch.29

Tita. What, wilt thou hear some music, my sweet
love?

Bot. I have a reasonable good ear in music:
let us have the tongs and the bones.33

Tita. Or say, sweet love, what thou desir'st to eat.

Bot. Truly, a peck of provender: I could

20 neaf: fist
21 leave your courtesy: omit formality
25 Cavalery: i.e., cavalier
33 the tongs and the bones: rude musical instruments