[Enter QUINCE, SNUG, BOTTOM, FLUTE, SNOUT, and STARVELING] -
Quince. Pat, pat; and here's a marvellous convenient place for
our rehearsal. This green plot shall be our stage, this
hawthorn-brake our tiring-house; and we will do it in action as
we will do it before the duke. - 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.