it is their rival's tongue they hear. See you do this, till they
are so weary they can go no farther; and when you find they are asleep,
drop the juice of this other flower into Lysander's eyes, and when he
awakes he will forget his new love for Helena, and return to his old
passion for Hermia; and then the two fair ladies may each one be happy
with the man she loves, and they will think all that has passed a
vexatious dream. About this quickly, Puck, and I will go and see what
sweet love my Titania has found."

Titania was still sleeping, and Oberon seeing a clown near her, who had
lost his way in the wood, and was likewise asleep: "This fellow," said
he, "shall be my Titania's true love;" and clapping an ass's head over
the clown's, it seemed to fit him as well as if it had grown upon his
own shoulders. Though Oberon fixed the ass's head on very gently, it
awakened him, and rising up, unconscious of what Oberon had done to him,
he went towards the bower where the fairy queen slept.

"Ah! what angel is that I see?" said Titania, opening her eyes, and the
juice of the little purple flower beginning to take effect: "are you as
wise as you are beautiful?"

"Why, mistress," said the foolish clown, "if I have wit enough to find
the way out of this wood, I have enough to serve my turn."

"Out of the wood do not desire to go," said the enamoured queen. "I am a
spirit of no common rate. I love you. Go with me, and I will give you
fairies to attend upon you."

She then called four of her fairies: their names were, Pease-blossom,
Cobweb, Moth, and Mustard-seed.

[Illustration: WHERE IS PEASE-BLOSSOM?]

"Attend," said the queen, "upon this sweet gentleman; hop in his walks,
and gambol in his sight; feed him with grapes and apricots, and steal
for him the honey-bags from the bees. Come, sit with me," said she to
the clown, "and let me play with your amiable hairy cheeks, my beautiful
ass! and kiss your fair large ears, my gentle joy!"

"Where is Pease-blossom?" said the ass-headed clown, not much regarding
the fairy queen's courtship, but very proud of his new attendants.

"Here, sir," said little Pease-blossom.

"Scratch my head," said the clown. "Where is Cobweb?"

"Here, sir," said Cobweb.

"Good Mr. Cobweb," said the foolish clown, "kill me the red humble bee
on the top of that thistle yonder; and, good Mr. Cobweb, bring me the
honey-bag. Do not fret yourself too much in the action, Mr. Cobweb, and
take care the