Deare Puck (quoth he) my wife is gone
    As ere thou lou’st King Oberon,
    Let euery thing but this alone
      With vengeance, and pursue her; 300
    Bring her to me aliue or dead,
    Or that vilde thief, Pigwiggins head,
    That villaine hath defil’d my bed
      He to this folly drew her.

    Quoth Puck, My Liege Ile neuer lin,
    But I will thorough thicke and thinne,
    Vntill at length I bring her in,
      My dearest Lord nere doubt it: 
    Thorough Brake, thorough Brier,
    Thorough Muck, thorough Mier, 310
    Thorough Water, thorough Fier,
      And thus goes Puck about it.

    This thing Nimphidia ouer hard
    That on this mad King had a guard
    Not doubting of a great reward,
      For first this businesse broching;
    And through the ayre away doth goe
    Swift as an Arrow from the Bowe,
    To let her Soueraigne Mab to know,
      What perill was approaching. 320

    The Queene bound with Loues powerfulst charme
    Sate with Pigwiggen arme in arme,
    Her Merry Maydes that thought no harme,
      About the roome were skipping: 
    A Humble-Bee their Minstrell, playde
    Vpon his Hoboy; eu’ry Mayde
    Fit for this Reuells was arayde,
      The Hornepype neatly tripping.

    In comes Nimphidia, and doth crie,
    My Soueraigne for your safety flie, 330
    For there is danger but too nie,
      I posted to forewarne you: 
    The King hath sent Hobgoblin out,
    To seeke you all the Fields about,
    And of your safety you may doubt,
      If he but once discerne you.

    When like an vprore in a Towne,
    Before them euery thing went downe,
    Some tore a Ruffe, and some a Gowne,
      Gainst one another iustling:  340
    They flewe about like Chaffe i’ th winde,
    For hast some left their Maskes behinde;
    Some could not stay their Gloues to finde,
      There neuer was such bustling.

    Forth ranne they by a secret way,
    Into a brake that neere them lay;
    Yet much they doubted there to stay,
      Lest Hob should hap to find them: 
    He had a sharpe and piercing sight,
    All one to him the day and night, 350
    And therefore were resolu’d by flight,
      To leave this place behind them.

    At length one chanc’d to find a Nut,
    In th’ end of which a hole was cut,
    Which lay vpon a Hazell roote,
      There scatt’red by a Squirill: 
    Which out the kernell gotten had;
    When quoth this Fay deare Queene be glad,
    Let Oberon be ne’r so mad,
      Ile set you safe from perill. 360