Virginia Intermont College - Intermont Yearbook (Bristol, VA)

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Declar'd her washe'd-out eyes as bright as mine, And with such words, didst hold me up to scorn. Perdita: Why William Shakespeare, he di'd speak the truth of me Save that he gave me beauty such as I ne'er had. Hermia: 'Tis true indeed, for he was partial ever. Titania Cadvancingjz 'Tis said that misery loves company, And I could add my tears to yours, sweet maid. From you he lovers took, but worse, far worse, He made me love an ass. Hermia Caside to Perditajz And this is true. CAloudJ : My gentle queen, you much astonish me. But worse is yet to come. Titania: What worse? Impossible. Hermia: What can be worse, dear Queen, than having falsehood Of one told, and then to be enacted, By girls who dearly love a bit of gossip, And have not wit to know that Shakespeare never Did tell the truth. Titania: Who's 'been enacting us? Hermia.: The Elocution Class 4' 'l' ' Perdita: What's elocution ? Titania: Oh, thou poor, unsophisticated maid! Indeed, I've suffered full as much from it As from the lies of that man Shakespeare. Hermia: And I,- But on that point, 'dear Queen, he once spake truth. . Did not our sweet prince Hamlet. to the players say,- 'Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand, for in the very whirlwind of your passion, you must beget a temperance, that will give it smoothness. Be not too tame neither, but suit the action to the word, and the word to the action. Now this overdone, though it make the unskilful laugh, can not but make the judicious grieve: the censure of which one, must o'erweigh a whole theatre of others.' Titania: Oh yes, I do remember, yet the words Of one, a new light in the world of letters, George Madden Martin is the name, smack much of truth Who says to elocutionists, 'to suit The action to the word,' this meaning bears, That action is but gesture and that gesture 20

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Erhnrn Jlirnm Uhr Nighfa Flutnnian Shure Enter Titania. I'll ne'er forgive that varlet, William Shakespeare, For holding me to scorn 'fore all the worldg He knew 'twas but a dream, that I did love An ass, a human form with ass's head, Yet knowing this, in play as he doth claim, He holds me up with such a show of truth That all the world doth link my name, Titania, With that of Bottom, creature vile past all Endurance. Yet in this I find some comfort, That in these latter days, The Dream hath been Somewhat o'erlooked by th' world of men,'and if 'llhis thing abide, I trust I may regain My ol'd-time glory as the Queen of Fairylandf' Enter Hermia and Perdita. But soft: Methinks I know these maids approaching. Hermia: Dost thou remember, my Perdita., how In times long past, llirtation had with one Demetrius, much loved of Helena, A jade for whom I cherished no great love? Lysander was my Hame and those two youths Did love the very ground I trod upon. - Perdita: But not so much as Florizel, my love ' 4' ' Hermia: Oh fudge! because thy love wast born a prince, Thou deemest there is none other like him. But don't let's fuss. Perdita: Thou art the only one. Hermia: Well, be still and let me have my say, And I'll not quarrel. Hast thou not heard' What William Shakespeare told the world of me? He seemed to have a liking for that Helena, So took my lovers both from me and gave them unto her, T9 99

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ff! -nu Doth signify 'great sweeps and circles of the arm Hermia: Tis true, 'tis pity, and pity 'tis, 'tis true, And Oh, dear land, how it doth weary me, I'd rather far be killed outright than forced To suffer at the hands of such. b Yet this doth not concern the story I would tell, Which is but this. The Elocution Class, CYour wonder satisfied, Perdita, I trust You'll interrupt no more, a second Rosalindj Of one Virginia Institue, a school Of much renown, 'did in the year just past Enact the play o' Midsummer N ight's Dream, In which the man, this saucy William Shakespeare, Did forever fix us all. Perdita: Oh no,- For he did place me with my Florizel In Winter's Tale. Hermia: What matter is't indeed, For they do play those last two acts, in which You both appear, this very year 3 And then you'll understand what 'tis to be Forever talked about and gossipped of By giggling, foolish girls. Indeed The very prettiest speeches that I ever made They cut an'd cut until it 'scarce was recognizable by whom it left. For weeks and weeks, my Queen, our names and deeds Were brandished here and there on every tongue, Until my very brain did reel. Titania: And did they all believe those lies of you and me ? Perdita: And will I thus with my sweet F lorizel Be gossiped of? I can't endure such butting in On my affairs, by those who have no right. Enter Paulina and Puck. Paulina: Be still, you foolish child, Hermia, And you, my gentle Queen. Sweet Puck Invisible, hath heard you talk and told Of these your fancied woes. They are But fancied, for I know of surety That while your names were tossed here and there, a 21