You spotted snakes

General information

Lyricist: William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act II,Sc 2

Settings by composers

• George Alexander Macfarren) SSAA
• Richard John Samuel Stevens S

Texts and Translations

English text

1  You spotted snakes with double tongue,
Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen;
Newts and blind-worms, do no wrong,
Come not near our fairy queen.

Chorus: 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.

2  Weaving spiders, come not here;
Hence, you long-legg'd spinners, hence!
Beetles black, approach not near;
Worm nor snail, do no offence.
Chorus: