Consider then we come but in despite.112
We do not come as minding to content you,
Our true intent is. All for your delight,
We are not here. That you should here repent you,
The actors are at hand; and, by their show,116
You shall know all that you are like to know.
The. This fellow doth not stand upon points.
Lys. He hath rid his prologue like a rough
colt; he knows not the stop. A good moral, my
lord: it is not enough to speak, but to speak
true.122
Hip. Indeed he hath played on his prologue
like a child on a recorder; a sound, but not in
government.
The. His speech was like a tangled chain;
nothing impaired, but all disordered. Who is
next?128
Enter Pyramus and Thisbe, Wall, Moonshine, and Lion, Tawyer with a trumpet before them.
Prol. Gentles, perchance you wonder at this show;
But wonder on, till truth make all things plain.
This man is Pyramus, if you would know;
This beauteous lady Thisby is, certain.132
This man, with lime and rough-cast, doth present
Wall, that vile Wall which did these lovers sunder;
And through Wall's chink, poor souls, they are content135
To whisper, at the which let no man wonder.
This man, with lantern, dog, and bush of thorn,
Presenteth Moonshine; for, if you will know,
By moonshine did these lovers think no scorn
118 stand upon points: pun on senses 'mind punctuation' and 'be over-careful'
120 stop: both 'period' and 'method of stopping a horse'
124 recorder: wind instrument of flute type
128 S. d. Tawyer; cf. n.
