Were met together to rehearse a play, And forth my mimic3 comes: when they him spy, And, at our stamp, here o'er and o'er one falls; strong, Made senseless things begin to do them wrong: For briers and thorns at their apparel snatch; Some, sleeves; some, hats: from yielders all things catch. I led them on in this distracted fear, And left sweet Pyramus translated there : Obe. This falls out better than I could devise. But hast thou yet latch'd4 the Athenian's eyes With the love-juice, as I did bid thee do? Puck. I took him sleeping, that is finish'd too,— And the Athenian woman by his side; That, when he wak'd, of force she must be ey❜d. Enter Demetrius and Hermia. Obe. Stand close; this is the same Athenian. Puck. This is the woman, but not this the man. Dem. O why rebuke you him that loves you so? (1) Stupid company. (2) Head. (3) Actor. (4) Infected. Lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe. Her. Now I but chide, but I should use thee worse; For thou, I fear, hast given me cause to curse. Being o'er shoes in blood, plunge in the deep, The sun was not so true unto the day, As he to me: Would he have stol'n away This whole earth may be bor'd; and that the moon Pierc'd through the heart with your stern cruelty. Her. What's this to my Lysander? where is he? Of maiden's patience. Hast thou slain him then? I am not guilty of Lysander's blood; Nor is he dead, for aught that I can tell. Her. I pray thee, tell me then that he is well. Dem. And if I could, what should I get there fore? Her. A privilege, never to see me more.— And from thy hated presence part I so : See me no more, whether he be dead or 10. [Exit. Dem. There is no following her in this fierce vein: Here, therefore, for a while I will remain. [Lies down. Obe. What hast thou done? thou hast mistaken quite, And laid the love-juice on some true-love's sight: Of thy misprision must perforce ensue Some true-love turn'd, and not a false turn'd true. Puck. Then fate o'er-rules; that, one man holding troth, A million fail, confounding oath on oath. Obe. About the wood go swifter than the wind, And Helena of Athens look thou find : All fancy-sick she is, and pale of cheer2 With sighs of love, that cost the fresh blood dear: Swifter than arrow from the Tartar's bow. [Exit. Hit with Cupid's archery, (1) Love-sick. (2) Countenance. Re-enter Puck. Puck. Captain of our fairy band, And the youth, mistook by me, Shall we their fond pageant see? Lord, what fools these mortals be! Obe. Stand aside: the noise they make, Will cause Demetrius to awake. Puck. Then will two at once, woo one; And those things do best please me, That befal preposterously. Enter Lysander and Helena. Lys. Why should you think, that I should woo in scorn? Scorn and derision never come in tears: Look, when I vow, I weep; and vows so born, In their nativity all truth appears. How can these things in me seem scorn to you, Bearing the badge of faith, to prove them true? Hel. You do advance your cunning more and more. When truth kills truth, O devilish-holy fray! These vows are Hermia's; Will you give her o'er? Weigh oath with oath, and you will nothing weigh: Your vows, to her and me, put in two scales, Will even weigh; and both as light as tales. Lys. I had no judgment, when to her I swore. Hel. Nor none, in my mind, now you give her o'er. Lys. Demetrius loves her, and he loves not you. Dem. [Awaking.] O Helena, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine! To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne? When thou hold'st up thy hand: O let me kiss your hearts. To vow, Lys. You are unkind, Demetrius; be not so; Hel. Never did mockers waste more idle breath. Dem. Lysander, keep thy Hermia; I will none: If e'er I lov'd her, all that love is gone. My heart with her, but as guestwise, sojourn'd; And now to Helena is it home return'd, There to remain. Lys. Helen, it is not so. Dem. Disparage not the faith thou dost not know, Lest, to thy peril, thou aby it dear.3— Look, where thy love comes; yonder is thy dear. Enter Hermia. Her. Dark night, that from the eye his function takes, (1) Heartily. (2) Degree. (3) Pay dearly for it. |