Original
Modern English
Is all our company here?
Is everyone here for our play?
You were best to call them generally, man by man, according to the scrip.
You’d better call them one by one, man by man, just like it says on the list.
Here is the scroll of every man’s name, which is thought fit, through all Athens, to play in our interlude before the duke and the duchess, on his wedding-day at night.
Here’s the list of everyone’s name who is considered fit, all across Athens, to perform in our play before the duke and duchess, on his wedding night.
First, good Peter Quince, say what the play treats on, then read the names of the actors, and so grow to a point.
First, good Peter Quince, tell us what the play is about, then read the actors’ names, and let’s get to it.
Marry, our play is, The most lamentable comedy, and most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisby.
Well, our play is called *The Most Lamentable Comedy, and Most Cruel Death of Pyramus and Thisby.*
A very good piece of work, I assure you, and a merry. Now, good Peter Quince, call forth your actors by the scroll. Masters, spread yourselves.
A very good play, I assure you, and funny too. Now, good Peter Quince, call out the actors by name. Everyone, get ready.
Answer as I call you. Nick Bottom, the weaver.
Answer when I call you. Nick Bottom, the weaver.
Ready. Name what part I am for, and proceed.
Ready. Tell me what part I’m playing, and let’s go.
You, Nick Bottom, are set down for Pyramus.
You, Nick Bottom, are playing Pyramus.
What is Pyramus? a lover, or a tyrant?
Who is Pyramus? A lover, or a tyrant?
A lover, that kills himself most gallant for love.
A lover, who kills himself very dramatically for love.
That will ask some tears in the true performing of it: if I do it, let the audience look to their eyes; I will move storms, I will condole in some measure. To the rest: yet my chief humour is for a tyrant: I could play Ercles rarely, or a part to tear a cat in, to make all split. The raging rocks And shivering shocks Shall break the locks Of prison gates; And Phibbus’ car Shall shine from far And make and mar The foolish Fates. This was lofty! Now name the rest of the players. This is Ercles’ vein, a tyrant’s vein; a lover is more condoling.
That will require some real tears when I perform it: if I do it, let the audience watch their eyes; I’ll bring on the storms, I’ll make them feel some sadness. But my real strength is for playing a tyrant: I could play Heracles (Hercules) wonderfully, or a role that tears a cat apart to make everyone go crazy. The raging rocks And crashing shocks Will break the locks Of prison gates; And Phibbus’ chariot Will shine from far And mess with The foolish Fates. That was powerful! Now, tell me who the rest of the actors are. This is Heracles’ style, a tyrant’s style; a lover would be more gentle.
Francis Flute, the bellows-mender.
Francis Flute, the bellows-mender.
Here, Peter Quince.
Here, Peter Quince.
Flute, you must take Thisby on you.
Flute, you have to play Thisby.
What is Thisby? a wandering knight?
Who’s Thisby? A wandering knight?
It is the lady that Pyramus must love.
She’s the lady Pyramus has to love.
Nay, faith, let me not play a woman; I have a beard coming.
No way, I can’t play a woman; I’m growing a beard.
That’s all one: you shall play it in a mask, and you may speak as small as you will.
It doesn’t matter: you’ll wear a mask, and you can talk as quietly as you want.
An I may hide my face, let me play Thisby too, I’ll speak in a monstrous little voice. ’Thisne, Thisne;’ ’Ah, Pyramus, lover dear! thy Thisby dear, and lady dear!’
If I can hide my face, let me play Thisby too. I’ll speak in a really high voice. ’Thisne, Thisne;’ ’Oh, Pyramus, my love! your Thisby loves you, and dear lady!’
No, no; you must play Pyramus: and, Flute, you Thisby.
No, no; you have to play Pyramus, and Flute, you play Thisby.
Well, proceed.
Fine, go ahead.
Robin Starveling, the tailor.
Robin Starveling, the tailor.
Here, Peter Quince.
Here, Peter Quince.
Robin Starveling, you must play Thisby’s mother. Tom Snout, the tinker.
Robin Starveling, you play Thisby’s mother. Tom Snout, the tinker.
Here, Peter Quince.
Here, Peter Quince.
You, Pyramus’ father: myself, Thisby’s father: Snug, the joiner; you, the lion’s part: and, I hope, here is a play fitted.
You’re Pyramus’ father: I’ll be Thisby’s father. Snug, the joiner; you’re the lion: and I hope this play will work.
Have you the lion’s part written? pray you, if it be, give it me, for I am slow of study.
Do you have the lion’s part written? If you do, give it to me, because I’m slow to learn.
You may do it extempore, for it is nothing but roaring.
You can improvise it, it’s just roaring.
Let me play the lion too: I will roar, that I will do any man’s heart good to hear me; I will roar, that I will make the duke say ’Let him roar again, let him roar again.’
Let me play the lion too. I’ll roar so loudly that it’ll do anyone good to hear me; I’ll roar so loud the duke will say, ’Let him roar again, let him roar again.’
An you should do it too terribly, you would fright the duchess and the ladies, that they would shriek; and that were enough to hang us all.
If you do it too badly, you’ll scare the duchess and the ladies, and they’ll scream; and that would be enough to get us all hanged.
That would hang us, every mother’s son.
That would get us hanged, every single one of us.
I grant you, friends, if that you should fright the ladies out of their wits, they would have no more discretion but to hang us: but I will aggravate my voice so that I will roar you as gently as any sucking dove; I will roar you an ’twere any nightingale.
I agree with you, friends, if you scare the ladies so much they lose their minds, they’ll have no choice but to hang us: but I’ll make my voice so loud and fierce that I’ll roar like a soft dove; I’ll roar like a nightingale.
You can play no part but Pyramus; for Pyramus is a sweet-faced man; a proper man, as one shall see in a summer’s day; a most lovely gentleman-like man: therefore you must needs play Pyramus.
You can only play Pyramus; because Pyramus is a good-looking man, a handsome man, someone you’d see on a summer day; a truly charming, gentlemanly man: so you must play Pyramus.
Well, I will undertake it. What beard were I best to play it in?
Alright, I’ll do it. Which beard should I wear for it?
Why, what you will.
Wear whatever you like.
I will discharge it in either your straw-colour beard, your orange-tawny beard, your purple-in-grain beard, or your French-crown-colour beard, your perfect yellow.
I’ll wear either your straw-colored beard, your orange-brown beard, your deep purple beard, or your French-gold-colored beard, your perfect yellow.
Some of your French crowns have no hair at all, and then you will play bare-faced. But, masters, here are your parts: and I am to entreat you, request you and desire you, to con them by to-morrow night; and meet me in the palace wood, a mile without the town, by moonlight; there will we rehearse, for if we meet in the city, we shall be dogged with company, and our devices known. In the meantime I will draw a bill of properties, such as our play wants. I pray you, fail me not.
Some of your French-gold beards have no hair at all, and then you’ll be playing with no beard. But, gentlemen, here are your parts: and I ask you, urge you, and beg you, to memorize them by tomorrow night; and meet me in the palace wood, a mile outside the town, by moonlight; we’ll rehearse there, because if we meet in the city, we’ll be followed by crowds, and our plans will be found out. In the meantime, I’ll prepare a list of the props we need for the play. Please, don’t fail me.
We will meet; and there we may rehearse most obscenely and courageously. Take pains; be perfect: adieu.
We’ll meet; and there we can rehearse very boldly and thoroughly. Work hard; be perfect: goodbye.
At the duke’s oak we meet.
We’ll meet at the duke’s oak.
Enough; hold or cut bow-strings.
That’s enough; good luck.