A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 1, Scene 2

Is all our company here?

Is our whole company here?

You were best to call them generally, man by man, according to the scrip.

You'd do best to call them all out, one man at a time, according to the script.

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 Duchess, on his wedding-day at night.

Here is the list of the name of every man in all Athens who is considered suitable to act in our play before the Duke and Duchess on the night of his wedding day.

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, say what the play is about; then read out the names of the actors; and so come to the point.

Marry, our play is The most lamentable comedy and most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisbe.

Well then, our play is The Most Pitiful Comedy and Most Cruel Death of Pyramus and Thisbe.

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 piece of work, I promise you, and a funny one. Now, good Peter Quince, call out your actors from the list. Gentlemen, spread out.

Answer, as I call you. Nick Bottom, the weaver.

Answer as I call you. Nick Bottom, the weaver.

Ready. Name what part I am for, and proceed.

Here. Name the part I'm cast for, and carry on.

You, Nick Bottom, are set down for Pyramus.

You, Nick Bottom, are down for Pyramus.

What is Pyramus—a lover, or a tyrant?

What is Pyramus — a lover, or a tyrant?

A lover, that kills himself most gallantly for love.

A lover, who kills himself most nobly 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.

That will call for some tears if it's performed properly. If I do it, let the audience watch out for their eyes. I will stir up storms; I will do my share of grieving. Now for the rest — though my real taste is for a tyrant. I could play Ercles splendidly, or any part that lets me rant and rage, to bring the house down.

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.

The raging rocks and shuddering blows shall break the locks of prison gates, and Phibbus' chariot shall shine from far off, and make and ruin 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 was grand. Now name the rest of the actors. That's Ercles' style, a tyrant's style; a lover is more mournful.

Francis Flute, the bellows-mender.

Francis Flute, the bellows-mender.

Here, Peter Quince.

Here, Peter Quince.

Flute, you must take Thisbe on you.

Flute, you must take on the part of Thisbe.

What is Thisbe? A wandering knight?

What is Thisbe? A knight travelling in search of adventures?

It is the lady that Pyramus must love.

She's the lady that Pyramus has to love.

Nay, faith, let not me play a woman. I have a beard coming.

No, honestly, don't make me play a woman. I have a beard coming in.

That’s all one. You shall play it in a mask, and you may speak as small as you will.

That makes no difference. You'll play it wearing a mask, and you can speak in as high a voice as you like.

And I may hide my face, let me play Thisbe too. I’ll speak in a monstrous little voice; ‘Thisne, Thisne!’—‘Ah, Pyramus, my lover dear! thy Thisbe dear! and lady dear!’

If I can hide my face, let me play Thisbe as well. I'll speak in a fantastically tiny voice: 'Thisne, Thisne!' — 'Ah, Pyramus, my dear lover! your dear Thisbe! and dear lady!'

No, no, you must play Pyramus; and, Flute, you Thisbe.

No, no, you must play Pyramus; and, Flute, you play Thisbe.

Well, proceed.

All right, carry on.

Robin Starveling, the tailor.

Robin Starveling, the tailor.

Here, Peter Quince.

Here, Peter Quince.

Robin Starveling, you must play Thisbe’s mother. Tom Snout, the tinker.

Robin Starveling, you must play Thisbe's mother. Tom Snout, the tinker.

SNOUT Here, Peter Quince.

SNOUT Here, Peter Quince.

You, Pyramus’ father; myself, Thisbe’s father; Snug, the joiner, you, the lion’s part. And, I hope here is a play fitted.

You, Pyramus' father; myself, Thisbe's father; Snug, the joiner, you take the lion's part. And I hope we have a play well cast here.

SNUG Have you the lion’s part written? Pray you, if it be, give it me, for I am slow of study.

SNUG Do you have the lion's part written out? Please, if you do, give it to me, because I'm slow at learning lines.

You may do it extempore, for it is nothing but roaring.

You can make it up on the spot, since it's nothing but 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 as well. I'll roar so that it will do any man's heart good to hear me. I'll roar so that I'll make the Duke say, 'Let him roar again, let him roar again.'

If 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 did it too frighteningly, you'd terrify the Duchess and the ladies so that they'd scream; and that would be enough to get us all hanged.

ALL That would hang us every mother’s son.

ALL That would hang every last one of us.

I grant you, friends, if 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 admit, friends, that if you frightened the ladies out of their senses, they'd have no more judgement than to hang us. But I will build up my voice in such a way that I'll roar for you as gently as any nursing dove; I'll roar for you as if I were 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 play no part but Pyramus, because Pyramus is a sweet-faced man; as handsome a man as you'll see on a summer's day; a most lovely, gentlemanly man. So you simply must play Pyramus.

Well, I will undertake it. What beard were I best to play it in?

All right, I'll take it on. What beard would be best for me to play it in?

Why, what you will.

Why, whichever 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 perform it in either a straw-coloured beard, an orange-brown beard, a deep-dyed purple beard, or a French-crown-coloured beard, a 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 tomorrow 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 dogg’d 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 crowns have no hair on them at all, and then you'd be playing it clean-shaven. But, gentlemen, here are your parts, and I have to beg you, ask you, and urge you to learn them by tomorrow night; and meet me in the palace wood, a mile outside the town, by moonlight. There we'll rehearse, because if we meet in the city we'll be followed by a crowd, and our plans will get out. In the meantime I'll draw up a list of the props our play needs. Please don't let me down.

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 most obscenely and boldly. Work hard, learn your lines perfectly; goodbye.

At the Duke’s oak we meet.

We'll meet at the Duke's oak.

Enough. Hold, or cut bow-strings.

That's settled. Keep your word, or be disgraced.