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| Sunday, 8 June 2003 |
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The 'Camelot' Ball Still the breathless hush of late spring evenings. After our short vacation everyone feels refreshed although some say that they would like more 'away days. 'Of course that means that they would like to be out of the forest doing their own thing, each one. But Oberon frowns on the idea because he knows what Bottom and Puck can get up to, not to, mention some of the rest as well. After the hilarious happenings of the week before when Snout and Starveling gave poor old Botty a fright, pretending to be a lion, roars and all, things quietened again and it was back to the bluebells and cowslips and what have you. Bottom was feeling the effects of the charade and was a bit exhausted, also complaining of feeling depressed after the episode of the lion. 'What's wrong, Bottom?' I overheard Oberon asking Botty. 'Well, your maj, nothing much, your maj, except that I think that things are getting pretty dull around here with everyone lazing around and sleeping in foxgloves and bluebells,' Bottom said. 'Who is sleeping in foxgloves and bluebells, Botty?' Ob asked. Almost everyone, your maj,' came the reply. 'Well, if you are really under the weather, what would you suggest by way of a pick-me-up?' That was just what Bottom needed, but he can sometimes be shrewd and sidestep the question or put the ball into your court. 'Your maj, I wouldn't dream of offering any suggestions. We will await your royal majesty's ideas to be expressed before we express our views. And Bottom can look wily when the things he should look look wily. 'I was thinking of a good old ball in the forest - with champagne and salmon, of course -' (here, Oberon watched Bottom closely) 'what do you say to that, Botty?' Bottom pretended to look coy about it because he knew Ob knew exactly what he was thinking. 'Well, Botty? Would you like that? Do you think it will revive sagging spirits?' asked Oberon. Bottom cleared his throat. 'Well er... your maj, that's a capital idea. But I fear the others might think that it was my idea because I like parties and so on,' Bottom said. 'Oh don't worry about such trivial things. This is a royal order. A party it shall be! So get on with the arrangements,' ordered Ob with mock seriousness. Then he turned to me and said: 'Poor old Botty. I think party will pep up his spirits and those of the rest as well. Besides, we have that vintage 600 AD champagne which they say King Arthur once samples in Camelot,' Oberon said with a rather faraway look in his eyes. He adores the Camelot stories and says that he wishes he could live at that time. He once told this to Merlin who said that was an easy matter for him, Merlin, to arrange, and take me along too back over 500 years to the days of the Round Table, of Lancelot and Guinevere and the rest who figure in one of the most enchanting legends of all. I never liked the Camelot days being called a legend because all those things truly happened. 'Didn't they, my Lord Oberon? Did't they?' I asked the king. 'Yes, they did, my dear, they did. They are all true stories that took place in the days of King Arthur who ruled in the days of Camelot which they say is in Cornwall,' Ob said. We didn't know that Bottom was at the bottom of our tree listening to the whole conversation. Then I heard a rush of air through the trees and it was Bottom speeding off, no doubt, to tell the rest about the Camelot thing. Then Ob summoned Bottom. 'Bottom, we have decided to let the ball take the form of one in Camelot,' Ob said, much to Bottom's delight. 'Your maj, may I rush off and tell the rest about the party plans?' 'You may do just that, Botty,' said Ob, smiling, adding as Bottom sped off: 'Merlin will have to be summoned to advise on the costumes, backdrops, etc.' 'Very good, your maj. It shall be done.' 'Starveling! Snout! Where is everyone?' shouted Bottom as he rushed through our garden in great delight. 'We're all here, Botty,' said a chorus of voices, and believe it or not, the rest were all crushed up in a bluebell, with Puck prancing about. 'What's the buzz?' asked Mustard in a wee voice. 'His Majesty King Oberon has decided to throw a grand ball because we are not in good spirits after the vacation,' Bottom said. A big cheer went up, with Puck breaking off a branch of a tree and waving it in the air as he danced and cavorted all over the place. 'But first, we have to summon Merlin because he has to advise us about the whole background of the ball which is going to be set in Camelot,' Bottom said. 'Merlin! Merlin! Let's get Merlin!,' they all shouted in one voice. They all liked Merlin although they were rather afraid of him. 'How shall we summon him?' Bottom asked. Let's all go to where he lives, backward in time, in his imagined, beloved Camelot and the court of King Arthur. 'Get a lanthorn! Get a lanthorn!' That was Starveling. 'It will be night before we return and it is always scary in the forest when dusk falls,' Starveling said. 'Ask Pyramus and This be to bring a lanthorn and also come with us to Merlin's domain,' Bottom said. They were bracing themselves for the long journey through the forest to where Merlin lived when suddenly, Bottom stopped in his tracks, saying: 'We cant go all the way and back and back without some liquid refreshment, now, can we?' Bottom asked. 'No, of course we cant, chorused the rest.' So off they went to the forest cellar, rushing backs few minutes later with the 'refreshment.' 'It's mead and wine for me,' Starveling said. 'It's ale and beer for me!. That was Snout. 'And it's bubbly for me!' Bottom shouted, clapping his hand over his mouth lest Quince, who also kept the household purse, might say they were being too extravagant and that bubbly was by no means cheap and all that sort of thing. But before all that could happen, Bottom had managed to bring about six bottles of the satiny stuff and proceeded to pop the corks right there. 'To Camelot!' he proposed, raising his twisted glass flute with the light amber stuff looking very inviting indeed. Titania |
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