most lovely, gentleman-like man; therefore, you
must needs play Pyramus.92
Bot. Well, I will undertake it. What beard
were I best to play it in?
Quin. Why, what you will.95
Bot. 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.99
Quin. 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 the105
palace wood, a mile without the town, by moon-
light: 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.110
Bot. We will meet; and there we may re-
hearse more obscenely and courageously. Take
pains; be perfect; adieu.
Quin. At the duke's oak we meet.
Bot. Enough; hold, or cut bow-strings.115
Exeunt.
96 discharge: perform
98 purple-in-grain: fast-dyed purple
French-crown colour: color of a gold coin
104 con: learn by heart
109 bill: list
115 Cf. n.
