Then to Silvia let us sing,
That Silvia is excelling;
She excels each mortal thing,
Upon the dull earth dwelling:
To her let us garlands bring.

FROM MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.

FIRST FAIRY.

You spotted snakes, with double tongue, Thorny hedge-hogs, be not seen; Newts, and blind-worms, do no wrong; Come not near our fairy queen:

CHORUS.

Philomel, with melody,

Sing in our sweet lullaby;

Lulla, lulla, lullaby; lulla, lulla, lullaby;

Never harm, nor spell nor charm,

Come our lovely lady nigh;

So, good night, with lullaby.

SECOND FAIRY.

Weaving spiders, come not here;

Hence, you long-legg'd spinners, hence;

Beetles black, approach not near;

Worm, nor snail, do no offence.

CHORUS.

Philomel with melody, &c.

FIRST FAIRY.

Hence, away; now all is well :
One, aloof, stand centinel.

PUCK.

Now the hungry lion roars,
And the wolf behowls the moon ;
Whilst the heavy ploughman snores,
All with weary task fordone.
Now the wasted brands do glow,

Whilst the scritch-owl, scritching loud, Puts the wretch, that lies in woe,

In remembrance of a shroud. Now it is the time of night,

That the graves, all gaping wide, Every one lets forth his sprite,

In the church-way paths to glide:
And we fairies that do run

By the triple Hecat's team,
From the presence of the sun,
Following darkness like a dream,
Now are frolick; not a mouse
Shall disturb this hallow'd house:
I am sent, with broom, before,
To sweep the dust behind the door.

OBERON.

Through this house give glimmering lig
By the dead and drowsy fire;
Every elf, and fairy sprite,

Hop as light as bird from brier;
And this ditty, after me,

Sing, and dance it trippingly.

TITANIA.

First, rehearse this song by rote:
To each word a warbling note,
Hand in hand, with fairy grace,
Will we sing, and bless this place

OBERON.

Now, until the break of day,
Through this house each fairy stray.
To the best bride bed will we,

Which by us shall blessed be;
And the issue, there create,
Ever shall be fortunate.

So shall all the couples three
Ever true in loving be:

And the blots of nature's hand
Shall not in their issue stand;
Never mole, hare-lip, nor scar,
Nor mark prodigious, such as are
Despised in nativity,

Shall upon their children be.

With this field-dew consecrate,
Every fairy take his gait;

And each several chamber bless,
Through this palace with sweet peace:
E'er shall it in safety rest,

And the owner of it blest.

Trip away;

Make no stay;

Meet me all by break of day.

FROM MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR.

FIE on sinful fantasy!

Fie on lust and luxury!

Lust is but a bloody fire,

Kindled with unchaste desire,

Fed in heart; whose flames aspire,

As thoughts do blow them, higher and higher
Pinch him, fairies, mutually;

Pinch him for his villany;

Pinch him, and burn him, and turn him about,
Till candles, and star-light, and moonshine be out

I am slain by a fair cruel maid.
My shroud of white, stuck all with yew,
O prepare it;

My part of death no one so true
Did share it.

On

Not a flower, not a flower sweet,

my black coffin let there be strown; Not a friend, not a friend greet

My poor corpse, where my

bones shall be thr

A thousand thousand sighs to save,

Lay me, O, where

Sad true lover never find my grave,
To weep there.

FROM MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

SIGH no more, ladies, sigh no more,
Men were deceivers ever:

One foot in sea, and one on shore;
To one thing constant never :
Then sigh not so,

But let them go,

And be you blithe and bonny;
Converting all your sounds of woe
Into, Hey nonny, nonny.

Sing no more ditties, sing no mo
Of dumps so dull and heavy;