Help with scanning poetry appreciated

Cafe Society
1

Since I’m a non-native I have some trouble scanning the metrical pattern and therefore unable to recite poetry properly. This short passage is from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I have marked what I think are strong and weak stresses but it doesn’t seem right. First of all, excluding the first line, none of the lines is in iambic pentameter, which I understand was used a lot by Shakespeare. So I think it isn’t quite right. Any help would be…well helpful :slight_smile: (/=strong stress U=weak)

Ok, from the preview I noticed that the stresses won’t be properly aligned but I think it’s easy to understand what goes where in my version.

/ U / U / / U /
If we shadows have offended,

/ U / U / U U /
Think but this, and all is mended:

U / U / U / U
That you have but slumbered here

U / U / U U /
While these visions did appear;

U / U U U /
And this weak and idle theme,

/ U U / U U /
No more yielding but a dream,

/ U / U / U /
Gentles, do not reprehend ;

U / U / U / /
If you pardon , we will mend.

U U / / U U / /
And, as I am an honest Puck,

/ U / U / /
If we have unearnéd luck

2

Yes, the Bard was fond of iambic pentameter, but these particular lines are in trocheic tetrameter: Four feet of a long and a short each. In the seven-syllable lines, the last short is ommitted. The exception is the line “And as I am an honest Puck”, which is iambic: “And as I am an honest Puck”. Also note that in the last line, the accent mark over the e in “unearnéd” indicates that it’s three syllables: “unearnéd”.

3

This is how I’d scan the piece:

If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber’d here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend;
if you pardon, we will mend;
And, as I am an honest Puck
If we have unearned luck
Now to 'scape the serpent’s tongue
We will make amends ere long;
So, goodnight unto you all.
Give me your hands,
if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends."

And I’m sure you’ll hear a multitude of other opinions. Hope this helps, though!