No Fear Shakespeare
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Get this No Fear to go!
Act 3, Scene 1, Page 2
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QUINCE
Well. We will have such a prologue, and it shall be written in
eight and six.
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QUINCE
All right, we’ll have a prologue then. We’ll
write it in alternating eight- and six-syllable lines, just like in
a ballad.
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BOTTOM
No, make it two more. Let it be written in eight and eight.
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BOTTOM
No, add a couple more syllables. Make it eight and eight.
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SNOUT
Will not the ladies be afeard of the lion?
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SNOUT
Won’t the ladies be scared of the lion?
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STARVELING
I fear it, I promise you.
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STARVELING
I’m really worried about that.
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BOTTOM
Masters, you ought to consider with yourselves. To bring
in—God shield us!—a lion among ladies is a
most dreadful thing. For there is not a more fearful wildfowl than
your lion living. And we ought to look to ’t.
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BOTTOM
Sirs, you ought to think to yourself, bringing in—God
forbid!—a lion amongst ladies is really terrible.
There’s no scarier wild bird than the living lion, and we
should remember that.
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SNOUT
Therefore another prologue must tell he is not a lion.
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SNOUT
So we need another prologue to tell everyone he’s not a
real lion.
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BOTTOM
Nay, you must name his name, and half his face must be seen
through the lion’s neck. And he himself must speak
through, saying thus—or to the same
defect—“Ladies,” or
“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.
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BOTTOM
No, we can just announce the actor’s name, and let his
face show through the lion costume, and have him say something
himself. He should say the following, or something else to the same defect—“Ladies,” or
“Lovely ladies,” “I would like to
ask you” or “I would like to request of
you” or “I would like to beg you”
“not to be afraid, and not to tremble with fear. I value
your lives as highly as my own. If you thought I was a real lion, I
would be risking my life. But no, I am not at all a lion. I am a
man, just like other men.” And then he should say his
name, and tell them plainly that he’s Snug the
carpenter.
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QUINCE
Well, it shall be so. But there is two hard things: that is, to
bring the moonlight into a chamber. For, you know, Pyramus and
Thisbe meet by moonlight.
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QUINCE
All right, that’s what we’ll do then. But
there are two things we still have to figure out. How are we going
to bring moonlight into a room? Because, you know, Pyramus and
Thisbe meet by moonlight.
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