Page:Midsummer Night's Dream (1918) Yale.djvu/79

Night's Dream, V. i  

The. Why, gentle sweet, you shall see no such thing.

Hip. He says they can do nothing in this kind.

The. The kinder we, to give them thanks for nothing. Our sport shall be to take what they mistake: And what poor duty cannot do, noble respect Takes it in might, not merit. Where I have come, great clerks have purposed To greet me with premeditated welcomes; Where I have seen them shiver and look pale, Make periods in the midst of sentences, Throttle their practis'd accent in their fears, And, in conclusion, dumbly have broke off, Not paying me a welcome. Trust me, sweet, Out of this silence yet I pick'd a welcome; And in the modesty of fearful duty I read as much as from the rattling tongue Of saucy and audacious eloquence. Love, therefore, and tongue-tied simplicity In least speak most, to my capacity.

Philost. So please your Grace, the Prologue is address'd.

The. Let him approach.

Flour[ish of] Trum[pets].

Prol. If we offend, it is with our good will. &emsp;That you should think, we come not to offend, But with good will. To show our simple skill, &emsp;That is the true beginning of our end.  92 I.e., takes the will for the deed 93 clerks: scholars 105 capacity: understanding 106 address'd: ready 107 S. d. Flourish: blast 