William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Elizabethan Verse. 1907.
You Spotted SnakesWilliam Shakespeare (15641616)
From “A Midsummer-Night’s Dream,” Act II. Scene 2
Y
Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen;
Newts and blind-worms, do no wrong;
Come not near our fairy queen.
Sing in our sweet lullaby;
Lulla, lulla, lullaby; lulla, lulla, lullaby:
Never harm,
Nor spell nor charm,
Come our lovely lady nigh;
So, good night, with lullaby.
Hence, you long-legg’d spinners, hence!
Beetles black, approach not near;
Worm, nor snail, do no offence.
Sing in our sweet lullaby;
Lulla, lulla, lullaby; lulla, lulla, lullaby;
Never harm,
Nor spell nor charm,
Come our lovely lady nigh;
So, good night, with lullaby.