Page:A Midsummer-Nights Dream (Rackham).djvu/198

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
130
A MIDSUMMER-NIGHT’S DREAM
act v

And, farewell, friends;
Thus Thisby ends:
Adieu, adieu, adieu. [Dies.

Theseus.

Moonshine and Lion are left to bury the dead.

Demetrius.

Ay, and Wall too.

Bottom.

[Starting up] No, I assure you; the wall is down that parted their fathers. Will it please you to see the epilogue, or to hear a Bergomask dance between two of our company?

Theseus.

No epilogue, I pray you; for your play needs no excuse. Never excuse; for when the players are all dead, there need none to be blamed. Marry, if he that writ it had played Pyramus and hanged himself in Thisbe’s garter, it would have been a fine tragedy: and so it is, truly; and very notably discharged. But, come, your Bergomask: let your epilogue alone. [A dance.
The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve:
Lovers, to bed; ’tis almost fairy time.
I fear we shall out-sleep the coming morn
As much as we this night have overwatch’d.