They met to rehearse a play they hope to perform on Theseus’ wedding day. While she was sleeping nearby in her secret bed beneath a canopy of flowers, there came a bunch of fools-ignorant manual workers who earn their money working in shops in Athens. When in that moment so it came to pass, Titania waked and straightway loved an ass. I led them on in this distracted fear And left sweet Pyramus translated there. For briers and thorns at their apparel snatch, Some sleeves, some hats-from yielders all things catch. Their sense thus weak, lost with their fears thus strong, Made senseless things begin to do them wrong. He “Murder!” cries and help from Athens calls. When they him spy, As wild geese that the creeping fowler eye, Or russet-pated choughs, many in sort, Rising and cawing at the gun’s report, Sever themselves and madly sweep the sky, So at his sight away his fellows fly And, at our stamp, here o'er and o'er one falls. Anon his Thisbe must be answerèd, And forth my mimic comes. The shallowest thick-skin of that barren sort, Who Pyramus presented in their sport, Forsook his scene and entered in a brake, When I did him at this advantage take, An ass’s nole I fixèd on his head. Near to her close and consecrated bower, While she was in her dull and sleeping hour, A crew of patches, rude mechanicals That work for bread upon Athenian stalls, Were met together to rehearse a play Intended for great Theseus' nuptial day.
