A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Come, dance in a circle and sing a fairy song, and then go off for a while to do your work. Some of you will kill the worms infesting the rosebuds, some of you will fight with bats to get their leathery wings, so we can make coats for my small elves. Some of you will keep that loud owl away, the one that hoots and wonders every night at us dainty fairies. Sing me to sleep now, and then go off to do your duties and let me rest.

(singing)

 Snakes with forked tongues,

 And porcupines, don’t be seen.

 Deadly lizards, don’t be mean.

 Don’t come near our fairy queen.

(singing)

 Nightingale, melodiously

 Sing our sweet lullaby.

 Lulla, lulla, lullaby, lulla, lulla, lullaby.

 Let no harm

 Or spell or charm

 Come near our lovely lady.

 Say good night with a lullaby.

(singing)

 Spiders with your webs, stay away.

 You long-legged things, begone!