Snout

Sonh

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 wel . 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.

3.1 Entram os Palhaços: NOVELO, CUNHA, BICO, 3.1

FAMINTO, JUSTO e FLAUTA. TITÂNIA fica no palco, adormecida

NOVELO

Estamos todos reunidos?

CUNHA

Na hora, e aqui é um maravilhoso e conveniente lugar para o nosso ensaio. Este gramado será nosso palco, o espinheiro nosso camarim e vamos representar como faremos na presença do Duque.

NOVELO

Pedro Cunha!

79

CUNHA

O que tem a dizer, amigo Novelo?

e

NOVELO

peares

Há coisas na comédia de Píramo e Tisbe que nunca irão hak

agradar. Primeiro, Píramo tem que desembainhar uma am S

10

espada para se matar, o que assustará as damas. Como illiW

responde a isso?

BICO

Pela Virgem, um susto arriscado!

FAMINTO

Creio que é melhor deixar a matança de fora, quando for representada.

NOVELO

De modo algum; tenho um artifício para tudo correr bem.

Escreva-me um prólogo para dizer que não faremos mal com nossas espadas e que Píramo não será morto de verdade.

E, para melhor garantia, diga-lhes que eu, Píramo, não sou Píramo, mas Novelo, o tecelão: isso lhes espantará o medo.

3.1

QUINCE

Wel , we will have such a prologue; and it shall be written 20

in eight and six.

BOTTOM

No, make it two more: let it be written in eight and eight.

SNOUT

Will not the ladies be afeard of the lion?

STARVELING

I fear it, I promise you.

BOTTOM

Masters, you ought to consider with yourself, to bring in

– God shield us! – a lion among ladies is a most dreadful 80

thing; for there is not a more fearful wildfowl than your lion living; and we ought to look to’t.

ãoer

SNOUT

e v

Therefore another prologue must tell he is not a lion.

oite d

BOTTOM

a n

Nay, you must name his name, and half his face must be 30 e um

seen through the lion’s neck, and he himself must speak o d

through, saying thus, or to the same defect: ‘Ladies’, or Sonh

‘Fair ladies, I would wish you’, or ‘I would request you’, or

‘I would entreat you, not to fear, not to tremble: my life for yours. If you think I come hither as a lion, it were pity of my life. No, I am no such thing: I am a man, as other men are’ – and there indeed let him name his name, and tell them plainly he is Snug the joiner.

QUINCE

Wel , it shall be so. But there is two hard things: that is, to bring the moonlight into a chamber; for, you know, 40

Pyramus and Thisbe meet by moonlight.

CUNHA