Midsummer Night's Prologue,
or Good Will Writing

by Steven H. Cullinane

The following lines from Shakespeare were punctuated by S. H. Cullinane on June 23, 1993 -- Midsummer Night's Eve, and also the day that Andrew Wiles announced his attempted proof of Fermat's Last Theorem. This occasion is also known as St. John's Eve, since it precedes the saint's-day of John the Baptist. It was formerly believed to be a time when witches caused mischief.

Midsummer Night's Prologue

by Steven H. Cullinane on June 23, 1993

A Midsummer-Night's Dream
by Will Shakespeare,
Act V, Scene I

Midsummer Night's Prologue
by S. H. Cullinane,
June 23, 1993

Enter Quince for the Prologue. 
If we offend, it is with our 
    good will.
   That you should think,we come 
    not to offend,
But with good will.  To show our 
    simple skill,
   That is the true beginning of 
    our end.
Consider then we come but in 
    despite.
   We do not come as minding to 
    content you,
Our true intent is.  All for your 
    delight,
   We are not here.  That you should 
    here repent you,
The actors are at hand; and, by their 
    show, 
You shall know all that you are like 
    to know.
 Midsummer Night's Prologue. 
If we offend, it is
With our good will
That you should think.
We come not to offend.

But with good Will
To show our simple skill:
That is the true beginning.
Of our end, consider then -

We come, but in despite
We do not come.  As minding two,
Content you, our true intent is all.
For your delight we are not here.

That you should here repent you,
The actors are at hand, and 
By their show you shall know
All that you are.  Like to know?

Original note:

Original June 23 note

Page created March 6, 2001 shc759.
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