Читать книгу The Complete Works of Shakespeare онлайн

482 страница из 942

More witnesseth than fancy’s images,

And grows to something of great constancy;

But howsoever, strange and admirable.

Enter lovers, Lysander, Demetrius, Hermia, and Helena.

The.

Here come the lovers, full of joy and mirth.

Joy, gentle friends, joy and fresh days of love

Accompany your hearts!

Lys.

More than to us

Wait in your royal walks, your board, your bed!

The.

Come now; what masques, what dances shall we have,

To wear away this long age of three hours

Between [our] after-supper and bed-time?

Where is our usual manager of mirth?

What revels are in hand? Is there no play

To ease the anguish of a torturing hour?

Call Philostrate.

Phil.

Here, mighty Theseus.

The.

Say, what abridgment have you for this evening?

What masque? what music? How shall we beguile

The lazy time, if not with some delight?

Phil.

There is a brief how many sports are ripe.

Make choice of which your Highness will see first.

[Giving a paper.]

The. [Reads.]

“The battle with the Centaurs, to be sung

By an Athenian eunuch to the harp.”