When one of the friends heard my footsteps, he fell head over heels, shouted “Murder!” and called for help from Athens. When they saw him, his friends ran away, like wild geese that spot an approaching hunter, or like a flock of red-headed jackdaws rising, cawing, and madly flying across the sky at the sound of a gunshot. Soon it was time for him to respond to his Thisbe, and he came out of the bushes. While he sat there I played a prank on him, and stuck an ass' head on him. The silliest blockhead of that whole dumb group, who played Pyramus in their play, finished his scene and went offstage to sit in the bushes. They met to rehearse a play they hope to perform on Theseus’ wedding day. While she was sleeping nearby in her secret bed beneath a canopy of flowers, there came a bunch of fools-ignorant manual workers who earn their money working in shops in Athens. When in that moment so it came to pass, Titania waked and straightway loved an ass. I led them on in this distracted fear And left sweet Pyramus translated there. For briers and thorns at their apparel snatch, Some sleeves, some hats-from yielders all things catch. Their sense thus weak, lost with their fears thus strong, Made senseless things begin to do them wrong. He “Murder!” cries and help from Athens calls. When they him spy, As wild geese that the creeping fowler eye, Or russet-pated choughs, many in sort, Rising and cawing at the gun’s report, Sever themselves and madly sweep the sky, So at his sight away his fellows fly And, at our stamp, here o'er and o'er one falls.

Anon his Thisbe must be answerèd, And forth my mimic comes. The shallowest thick-skin of that barren sort, Who Pyramus presented in their sport, Forsook his scene and entered in a brake, When I did him at this advantage take, An ass’s nole I fixèd on his head. Near to her close and consecrated bower, While she was in her dull and sleeping hour, A crew of patches, rude mechanicals That work for bread upon Athenian stalls, Were met together to rehearse a play Intended for great Theseus' nuptial day.

Sweets illusion English patch