Speeches (Lines) for Quince
in "Midsummer Night's Dream"
Total: 40

1

I,2,265

Is all our company here?

2

I,2,268

Here is the scroll of every man's name, which is
thought fit, through all Athens, to play in our
interlude before the duke and the duchess, on his
wedding-day at night.

3

I,2,275

Marry, our play is, The most lamentable comedy, and
most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisby.

4

I,2,280

Answer as I call you. Nick Bottom, the weaver.

5

I,2,282

You, Nick Bottom, are set down for Pyramus.

6

I,2,284

A lover, that kills himself most gallant for love.

7

I,2,302

Francis Flute, the bellows-mender.

8

I,2,304

Flute, you must take Thisby on you.

9

I,2,306

It is the lady that Pyramus must love.

10

I,2,308

That's all one: you shall play it in a mask, and
you may speak as small as you will.

11

I,2,314

No, no; you must play Pyramus: and, Flute, you Thisby.

12

I,2,316

Robin Starveling, the tailor.

13

I,2,318

Robin Starveling, you must play Thisby's mother.
Tom Snout, the tinker.

14

I,2,321

You, Pyramus' father: myself, Thisby's father:
Snug, the joiner; you, the lion's part: and, I
hope, here is a play fitted.

15

I,2,326

You may do it extempore, for it is nothing but roaring.

16

I,2,331

An you should do it too terribly, you would fright
the duchess and the ladies, that they would shriek;
and that were enough to hang us all.

17

I,2,341

You can play no part but Pyramus; for Pyramus is a
sweet-faced man; a proper man, as one shall see in a
summer's day; a most lovely gentleman-like man:
therefore you must needs play Pyramus.

18

I,2,347

Why, what you will.

19

I,2,352

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 the palace wood, a mile without the
town, by moonlight; 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.

20

I,2,364

At the duke's oak we meet.

21

III,1,821

Pat, pat; and here's a marvellous convenient place
for our rehearsal. This green plot shall be our
stage, this hawthorn-brake our tiring-house; and we
will do it in action as we will do it before the duke.

22

III,1,826

What sayest thou, bully Bottom?

23

III,1,840

Well, we will have such a prologue; and it shall be
written in eight and six.

24

III,1,861

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 Thisby meet by moonlight.

25

III,1,867

Yes, it doth shine that night.

26

III,1,871

Ay; or else one must come in with a bush of thorns
and a lanthorn, and say he comes to disfigure, or to
present, the person of Moonshine. Then, there is
another thing: we must have a wall in the great
chamber; for Pyramus and Thisby says the story, did
talk through the chink of a wall.

27

III,1,883

If that may be, then all is well. Come, sit down,
every mother's son, and rehearse your parts.
Pyramus, you begin: when you have spoken your
speech, enter into that brake: and so every one
according to his cue.

28

III,1,893

Speak, Pyramus. Thisby, stand forth.

29

III,1,895

Odours, odours.

30

III,1,904

Ay, marry, must you; for you must understand he goes
but to see a noise that he heard, and is to come again.

31

III,1,911

'Ninus' tomb,' man: why, you must not speak that
yet; that you answer to Pyramus: you speak all your
part at once, cues and all Pyramus enter: your cue
is past; it is, 'never tire.'

32

III,1,919

O monstrous! O strange! we are haunted. Pray,
masters! fly, masters! Help!

33

III,1,937

Bless thee, Bottom! bless thee! thou art
translated.

34

IV,2,1784

Have you sent to Bottom's house? is he come home yet?

35

IV,2,1789

It is not possible: you have not a man in all
Athens able to discharge Pyramus but he.

36

IV,2,1793

Yea and the best person too; and he is a very
paramour for a sweet voice.

37

IV,2,1810

Bottom! O most courageous day! O most happy hour!

38

IV,2,1814

Let us hear, sweet Bottom.

39

V,1,1951

If we offend, it is with our good will.
That you should think, we come not to offend,
But with good will. To show our simple skill,
That is the true beginning of our end.
Consider then we come but in despite.
We do not come as minding to contest 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
You shall know all that you are like to know.

40

V,1,1970

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.
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 content
To whisper. At the which let no man wonder.
This man, with lanthorn, dog, and bush of thorn,
Presenteth Moonshine; for, if you will know,
By moonshine did these lovers think no scorn
To meet at Ninus' tomb, there, there to woo.
This grisly beast, which Lion hight by name,
The trusty Thisby, coming first by night,
Did scare away, or rather did affright;
And, as she fled, her mantle she did fall,
Which Lion vile with bloody mouth did stain.
Anon comes Pyramus, sweet youth and tall,
And finds his trusty Thisby's mantle slain:
Whereat, with blade, with bloody blameful blade,
He bravely broach'd is boiling bloody breast;
And Thisby, tarrying in mulberry shade,
His dagger drew, and died. For all the rest,
Let Lion, Moonshine, Wall, and lovers twain
At large discourse, while here they do remain.