Starveling Quotes

This man, with lanthorn, dog, and bush of thorn,
Presenteth "Moonshine;" for, if you will know,
By moonshine did these lovers think no scorn
To meet at Ninus’ tomb, there, there to woo.

– William Shakespeare

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 5, Scene 1. Quince, as Prologue, introduces Robin Starveling, the tailor playing the role of Moonshine in the play about Pyramus and Thisbe. He comes complete with dog, thorn bush and lantern – meant to represent the moon. Quince explains to the audience that the lovers met by moonlight at Ninus’ tomb to woo each other.

STARVELING [as Moonshine]: This lanthorn doth the hornèd moon present.
Myself the man i’ th’ moon do seem to be.
THESEUS: This is the greatest error of all the rest; the man should be put into the lanthorn. How is it else "the man i’ th’ moon"?

– William Shakespeare

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 5, Scene 1. The Mechanicals’ farcical version of the Pyramus and Thisbe classical myth continues, as Starveling pretends to be the man in the moon. Theseus points out the players’ biggest error here – Starveling should be put inside the lantern, which is representing the moon.
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