(I’m fascinated that someone listed the ‘original’ as a ‘monologue for teens. Nevertheless, the text’s not hard to find. You can seek it out at Goodreads, under William Shakespeare.
But this, of course, is the true and actual ending of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. How Jeff Mach came upon this information is unknown, and frankly, we generally assume that we ought not ask.
Some say that Jeff stole the true words from Titania. Some say it was a fair exchange–but we know not what strange currencies were involved.
Some say simply this:
You never really know what’s going to happen, when you’re dealing with the Puck.)
___________________
If we shadows have offended,
Note my knee is yet unbended
Think you have but slumber’d here?
Let that illusion disappear
That’s some weak and idle theme,
Crushed by the force of unpent dream
Gentles, do not reprehend:
That’s breath you’d better elsewhere spend
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If you’re unscathed, know it was luck
Now to ‘scape the serpent’s tongue,
Behold! A Fairyland unsprung
Else the Puck a liar call:
Magic rise, and reason fall.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
For Villainy comes. Reality bends.
~Jeff Mach (and Puck, of course)
The Dark Lord Jeff Mach frequently seeks new, interesting ways to rewrite this part, and then often ends up just shifting a few words around and hitting “Publish”. Don’t tell anyone.
Jeff is a writer and creator who has long aspired to be the sort of person who neither needs to promote his other work at the bottom of his short stories, nor need speak of himself in the third person. Sadly, in both regards, he has failed.
