"A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare, Act IV

Come, sit thee down upon this flow’ry bed, While I thy amiable cheeks do coy, And stick muskroses in thy sleek smooth head, And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy.

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.

I have a venturous fairy that shall seek The squirrel’s hoard and fetch thee new nuts.

O, how I love thee! How I dote on thee!

For, meeting her of late behind the wood, Seeking sweet favors for this hateful fool, I did upbraid her and fall out with her.

My Oberon, what visions have I seen! Methought I was enamored of an ass.

O, how mine eyes do loathe his visage now!

No doubt they rose up early to observe The rite of May, and hearing our intent, Came here in grace of our solemnity.

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?

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?

To her, my lord, Was I betrothed ere I saw Hermia.

But like a 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 forevermore be true to it.

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.

If he come not, then the play is marred. It goes not forward, doth it?

You must say “paragon.” A “paramour” is (God bless us) a thing of naught.

Masters, I am to discourse wonders. But ask me not what; for, if I tell you, I am not true Athenian. I will tell you everything right as it fell out.