Get your apparel together, good strings to your beards, new ribbons to your pumps; meet presently at the palace; every man look o'er his part; for the short and the long is, our play is preferred. In any case, let Thisbe have clean linen; and let not him that plays the lion pare his nails, for they shall hang out for the lion's claws. And, most dear actors, eat no onions nor garlic, for we are to utter sweet breath, and I do not doubt but to hear them say, it is a sweet comedy. No more words: away! go; away. - William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 4, Scene 2. The irrepressible Bottom, ass-head gone and magically restored to normal, gives his fellow actors advice on how to best please the royal audience with their play. With comic irony he warns them to avoid onions and garlic so that they will have agreeable breath for the "sweet comedy" they are to perform for the Duke.

Get your apparel together, good strings to your beards, new ribbons to your pumps; meet presently at the palace; every man look o’er his part; for the short and the long is, our play is preferred. In any case, let Thisbe have clean linen; and let not him that plays the lion pare his nails, for they shall hang out for the lion’s claws. And, most dear actors, eat no onions nor garlic, for we are to utter sweet breath, and I do not doubt but to hear them say, it is a sweet comedy. No more words: away! go; away.

– William Shakespeare

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 4, Scene 2. The irrepressible Bottom, ass-head gone and magically restored to normal, gives his fellow actors advice on how to best please the royal audience with their play. With comic irony he warns them to avoid onions and garlic so that they will have agreeable breath for the "sweet comedy" they are to perform for the Duke.

William Shakespeare Quotes