let the prologue seem to say, we will not do harm
with our swords, and that Pyramus is not killed indeed; and for the
more better assurance, tell them that I, Pyramus, am not Pyramus,
but Bottom the weaver; this will put them out of fear.

* * * * *

_Snout._ Will not the ladies be afeard of the lion?

_Sta._ I fear it, I promise you.

_Bottom._ Masters, you ought to consider with yourselves to bring
in--God shield us! a lion among ladies is a most dreadful thing;
for there is not a more fearful wildfowl than your lion living, and
we ought to look to it.

_Snout._ Therefore another prologue must tell, he is not a lion.

_Bottom._ Nay, you must name his name, and half his face must be
seen through the lion's neck; and he must himself speak through,
saying thus, or to the same effect--"Ladies," or "Fair ladies, I
would wish you," or "I would request you," or "I would entreat you
not to fear, nor to tremble: my life for yours. If you think I come
hither as a lion, it were pity of my life: no, I am no such thing.
I am a man as other men are," and there then let him name his name
and tell them plainly he is Snug the joiner.

When the play comes on for performance and Snug the joiner roars "like
any sucking dove," the Duke Theseus remarks--

A very gentle beast, and of a good conscience.

_Demetrius._ The very best as a beast, my lord, that e'er I saw.

_Lysander._ This lion is a very fox for his valour.

_Theseus._ True, and a goose for his discretion.

_Demetrius._ Not so, my lord, for his valour cannot carry his
discretion, and the fox carries the goose.

_Theseus._ His discretion, I am sure, cannot carry his valour, for
the goose carries not the fox.

The enigmas and logical quibbles, which he occasionally intermingles
with his verbal conceits, remind us of the old philosophic paradoxes.
Sometimes a riddle is attempted; thus, he asks--"What was a month old at
Cain's birth, that's not five weeks old now?" Answer--"The Moon."

Taken generally, there is such a remarkable uniformity in Shakespeare's
humour as must acquit him of all charge of plagiarism in this respect,
and may go some way towards proving the general originality of his
plays. Certainly, verbal conceits were then in high favour, and the
character of Shakespeare's humour is only one