1 Lovers, to bed; 'tis almost fairy time.'
2 I never may believe These antique fables, nor these fairy toys.
3 Now, until the break of day, Through this house each fairy stray.
4 I have a venturous fairy that shall seek The squirrel's hoard, and fetch thee new nuts.
5 Captain of our fairy band, Helena is here at hand, And the youth mistook by me, Pleading for a lover's fee.
6 Every elf and fairy sprite Hop as light as bird from brier, And this ditty after me, Sing and dance it trippingly.
7 First rehearse your song by rote, To each word a warbling note; Hand in hand, with fairy grace, Will we sing, and bless this place.
8 The cowslips tall her pensioners be, In their gold coats spots you see; Those be rubies, fairy favours, In those freckles live their savours.
9 With this field-dew consecrate, Every fairy take his gait, And each several chamber bless, Through this palace, with sweet peace; And the owner of it blest.
10 There sleeps Titania sometime of the night, Lull'd in these flowers with dances and delight; And there the snake throws her enamell'd skin, Weed wide enough to wrap a fairy in.
11 And we fairies, that do run By the triple Hecate's team From the presence of the sun, Following darkness like a dream, Now are frolic; not a mouse Shall disturb this hallow'd house.
12 When I had at my pleasure taunted her, And she in mild terms begg'd my patience, I then did ask of her her changeling child; Which straight she gave me, and her fairy sent To bear him to my bower in fairyland.
13 My fairy lord, this must be done with haste, For night's swift dragons cut the clouds full fast; And yonder shines Aurora's harbinger, At whose approach, ghosts wandering here and there Troop home to churchyards.
14 Come, now a roundel and a fairy song; Then for the third part of a minute, hence; Some to kill cankers in the musk-rose buds; Some war with reremice for their leathern wings, To make my small elves coats; and some keep back The clamorous owl, that nightly hoots and wonders At our quaint spirits.