Ye Spotted Snakes

 

Richard John Samuel Stevens (1757-1837)

Text: Shakespeare A Midsummer Night’s Dream Act II scene ii

You spotted snakes, with double tongue,
Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen;
Newts and blind-worms do no wrong;
Come not near our fairy queen:
Philomel, with melody,
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.
Weaving spiders, come not here;
Hence, you long-legg'd spinners, hence;
Beetles black, approach not near;
Worm nor snail do no offence.

 

 

This piece was performed on Octarium’s The Shakespeare Concert, May 2004.