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Text
Titania's Song
English source:
William Shakespeare
What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?
I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing again.
Mine ear is much enamour'd of thy note.
So is mine eye enthrallèd to thy shape.
And thy fair virtue’s force perforce doth move me
On the first view to say, to swear, I love you.
Out of this wood do not desire to go.
Thou wilt remain here whether thou wilt or no.
I am a spirit of no common rate.
The summer still doth tend upon my state.
And I do love thee. Therefore go with me.
I’ll give thee fairies to attend on thee.
And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep,
And sing while thou on pressèd flowers dost sleep.
And I will purge thy mortal grossness so
That thou shalt like an airy spirit go.—
Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustardseed!
Be kind and courteous to this gentleman.
And pluck the wings from painted butterflies
To fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes.
Nod to him, elves, and do him courtesies.
The moon methinks looks with a watery eye.
And when she weeps, weeps every little flower,
Lamenting some enforcèd chastity.
Tie up my love’s tongue. Bring him silently.
I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing again.
Mine ear is much enamour'd of thy note.
So is mine eye enthrallèd to thy shape.
And thy fair virtue’s force perforce doth move me
On the first view to say, to swear, I love you.
Out of this wood do not desire to go.
Thou wilt remain here whether thou wilt or no.
I am a spirit of no common rate.
The summer still doth tend upon my state.
And I do love thee. Therefore go with me.
I’ll give thee fairies to attend on thee.
And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep,
And sing while thou on pressèd flowers dost sleep.
And I will purge thy mortal grossness so
That thou shalt like an airy spirit go.—
Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustardseed!
Be kind and courteous to this gentleman.
And pluck the wings from painted butterflies
To fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes.
Nod to him, elves, and do him courtesies.
The moon methinks looks with a watery eye.
And when she weeps, weeps every little flower,
Lamenting some enforcèd chastity.
Tie up my love’s tongue. Bring him silently.
Composer
Alison Bauld
Alison Margaret Bauld is an Australian writer and composer. She lives and works in London, England.
Poet
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet, and the "Bard of Avon". His extant…