(Brit. Her. Lysander riddles very prettily : Lys. She sees not Hermia : --Hermia, sleep thou Now much beshrew my manners and my pride, there; If Hermia meant to say, Lysander lied. And never mayst tbou come Lysander Dear! But, gentle friend, for love and courtesy Por, as a surfeit of the sweetest things Lie farther off; in human modesty The deepest loathing to the stomach brings; Such separation, as, may well be said, Or, as the heresies, that men do leave, Are hated most of those tbey did deceive; Lys. Amen, amen, to thai fair prayer, say ; And all my powers, address your love and might, To honour Helen, and to be her knight! (Exit. Here is my bed : sleep give thee all his rest! Her. [Starting . ] Help me, Lysander, help me! Her. W half that wish the wisber's eyes be do thy best, press'd! [They sleep. To pluck this crawling serpent from my breast ! Ah me, for pity !--- what a dream was here! Lysander, look, how I do quake with fear : Methought a serpent eat my heart away, And you sat smiling at his cruel prey : Lysander! what, remov'd! Lysander ! lord ! Alack, where are you I speak, an if you hear; Speak, of all loves; I swoon almost with fear. No! -Then I well perceive you are not nigh: Either death, or you, I'll find immediately. (Exit. ACT III. SCENE I. The same. The Queen of Fairies lying asleep. Enter Quince, Snug, Bottom, Flute, Spont, and Starveling Enter Demetrius and Helena, running. Bot. Are we all met! Hel. Stay, though thou kill me, sweet Demetrius. Quin. Pat, pat; and here's a marvellous conveDem. I charge, thee, hence, and do not haunt me nient place for our rehearsal: this green plot sball thus. be our stage, this hawthorn brake our tyring house e ; Hel. O, wilt thou darkling leave me I do not so. and we will do it in action, as we will do it before Dem. Stay, on thy peril; I alone will go. 1 the duke, Bot. Peter Quince, Bot. There are things in this comedy of Pyramus Happy is Hermia, wheresoe'er she lies; and Thisby, that will never please. First, Pyramus For the bath blessed and attractive eyes. must draw a sword to kill himself; which the laHow came her eyes so bright? Not with salt tears : dies cannot abide. How answer you that? If so, my eyes are oftener wash'd than bers. Snout. By'rlakin, a parlous fear. No, no, I am us agly as a bear; Star. I believe, we mast leave the killing out, Por beasts that meet me, run away for fear : when all is done. Therefore, no marvel, though Demetrius Bot. Not a whit; I have a device to make all Do, as a monster, Ay my presence thus, well. Write me a prologue: and let the prologue What wicked and dissembling glass of miue seem to say, we will do no harm with our swords; Made me compare with Hermia's sphery eype! and that Pyramus is not killed indeed, and for the Bat who is here!-Lysander ! on the ground ! more better assurance, tell them, that I, Pyramus, Dead I or asleep? I see no blood, no wound :- am not Pyramus, bat Bottom the weaver: this will Lysander, if you live, good sir, awake. put them out of fear. Lys. And run through fire I will, for thy sweet Quin. Well, we will have such a prologue; and sake. [Waking. it shall be written in eight and six. Transparent Helena! Nature here shows art, Bot. No, make it two more ; let it be written in That through thy bosom makes me see thy heart. eight and eight. Where is Demetrias? O, how fit a word Snout. Will not the ladies be a feard of the lion ? Is that vile name, to perish on my sword! Star. I fear it, I promise you. Hel. Do not say so, Lysander; say not so: Bot. Masters, you ought to consider with yourWhat though he love your Hermia? Lord, what selves: to bring in, God shield us! a lion among though! ladies, is a most dreadful thing; for there is not Yet Hermia still loves you : then be content. a more fearfal wild-fowl than your lion, living; and Lys. Content with Hermia? No: I do repent we ought to look to it. The tedions minutes I with her have spent. Snout. Therefore, another prologue must tell he Not Hermia, but Helena I love : is not a lion. Who will not change a raven for a dove? Bot. Nay, you must name his name, and half his The will of man is by his reason sway'd ; face must be seen through the lion's neck; and he And reason says you are the worthier maid. himself must speak through, saying thus, or to the Things growing are not ripe until their season : same defect,--Ladies, or fair ladies, I would wish So I, being young, till now ripe not to reason ; you, or, I would request you, or I would entreat And touching now the point of human skill, you, not to fear, not to tremble: my life for yours. Reason becomes the marshal to my will, If you think I come hither as a lion, it were pity And leads me to your eyes; where I o'erlook of my life: no, I am no such thing; I am a man as Love's stories written in love's richest book. other men are :-and there, indeed, let hin name Hel. Wherefore was I to this keen mockery born ? bis name ; and tell them plainly, he is Spog the When, at your hands, did I deserve this scorn! joiner. Is't not enough, is't not enough, young man, Quin. Well, it shall be so. But there is two hard That I did never, no, nor bever can, things; that is, to bring the moonlight into a chamDeserve a sweet look from Demetrius' eye, ber: for you know, Pyramus and Thisby meet by But you must flout my insafficiency ! moonlight. Good troth, you do me wrong, good sooth, you do, Snug. Doth the moon sbine, that night we play In such disdainful manner me to woo. our play! But fare you well : perforce I must confess, Bot. A calendar, a calendar! look in the almaI thought you lord of more true gentleness. pack; find out moonshine, find out moonshine. o, that a lady, of one man refas'd, Quin. Yes, it doth shine that night. Should, of another, therefore be abus'a ! (Exit. Bot. Why, then you may leave a casement of the great chamber-window, where we play, open ; add Bot. The finch, the sparrow, and the lart, the moon may shine in at the casement. The plain song cuckoo gray, Quin. Ay; or else one must come in with a bush Whose note fult many a man doth mark, of thords and a lantern, and say, he comes to disfi And dares not answer, nay;-gare, or to present, the person of moonshine. Then for, indeed, who woald set his wit to so foolish a ibere is another thing: we must have a wall in the bird? who would give a bird the lie, though he cry, great chamber; for Pyramus and Thisby, says the cuckoo, never so ! story, did talk through the chink of a wall. Tita. I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing again : Snug. You never can bring in a wall.-What say Mine ear is much enamour'd of thy note, you, Bottom ? So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape; Bot. Some man or other must present wall : and And thy fair virtue's force perforco doth move me, let him bave some plaster, or some lome, or some On the first view, to say, to swear, I love thee. rough-cast about bim, to signify wall; or let him Bot. Methinks, mistress, you should have little hold his fingers thus, and through that cranny shall reason for that: and yet, to say the truth, reason Pyramus and Thisby whisper. aud love keep little company together now-a-days: Quin. If that may be, then all is well. Come, sit the more the pity, that some honest neighbours will down, every mother's son, and rehearse your parts. not make them friends. Nay, I can gleek upon Pyramus, you begin : when you have spoken your occasion. speecb, enter into that brake, and so every one ac- Tita. Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful. cording to his cue. Bot. Not so, neither : but if I bad wit enough to get out of this wood, I have enough to serve mine Enter Puck behind. own turn. Puck. What bempen home-spuns have we swag Tita. Out of this wood do not desire to go; gering bere, Thou shalt remain here, whether thou wilt or no. So near the cradle of the fairy queen! I am a spirit, of no common rate; What, a play toward ? I'll be an auditor ; The summer stil doth tend upon my state, An actor too, perhaps, if I see cause. And I do love thee : therefore, go with me; Quin. Speak, Pyramus :- Thisby, stand forth. I'll give thee fairies to attend on thee; Pyr. Thisby, the flowers of odious savours sweet, and they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep: Quin. Odours, odonrs. And sing, while thou on pressed flowers dost sleep: Pyr. ---- odours savours sweet : And I will parge thy mortal grossness so, So doth thy breath, my dearest Thisby dear. That thou shalt like an airy spirit go.But, hark, a voice ! stay thou but here a while, Peas-blossom ! Cobweb! Moth! and Mustard-seed ! And by and by I will to thee appear. (Exit. Enter four Fairies. Puck. A stranger Pyram us than e'er play'd here ! (Aside.-Exit. 1 Fai. Ready. This. Must I speak now! 2 Fai. And I. 3 Fai. Quin. Ay, marry, must you for you must under And I. 4 Fai. stand, he goes but to see a noise that he heard, and Where shall we go? is to come again. Tita. Be kind and courteous to this gentleman ; This. Most radiant Pyramus, most lilly-rokite of Hop in his walks, and gambol in his eyes; hue, Feed him with apricocks and dewberries, Of colour like the red-rose on triumphant brier, With purple grapes, green figs, and mulberries; Most briskly juvenal, and eke most lovely Jew, The honey bags steal from the humble-bees, As true as in uest horse, that yet would never tire, And, for night tapers, crop their waxen thighs, I'll meet thee, Pyramus, at Ninny's tomb. And light them at the fiery glow-worm's eyes, Quin. Ninus tomb, man why you must not To have my love to bed, and to arise ; speak that yet; that you answer to Pyramus : yon And pluck the wings from painted butterflies, speak all your part at once, cues and all.–Pyramas To fan the moon-beams from his sleeping eyes: enter; your cue is past; it is, never tire. Nod to him, elves, and do him courtesies. 1 Fai. Hail, mortal! Re-enter Puck, and Bottom with an Ass's Head. 2 Fai. Hail! 3 Fai, Hail ! This. 0,- As true as truest horse, that yet would 4 Fai. Hail! never tire. Pyr. If I were fair, Thisby, I were only thine : Bot. I cry your worship's meroy, heartily.--I beQuin. O monstrous ! O strange! we are haunted. seecb, your worship's name. Cob. Cobweb. Pray, masters ! fly, masters! help! (Eseunt Clowns. Bot. I shall desire you of more acquaintance, Puck. I'll follow you, I'll lead you about a round, good master Cobweb: if I cut my finger, I shall Through bog, through bush, through brake, through make bold with you. Your name, honest gentle brier; Sometime a horse l'll be, sometime a bound, Peas. Peas-blossom. A hog, a headless bear, sometime a fire ; Bot. I pray you, commend me to mistress Squash, And neigh, and bark, and grunt, and roar, and burn, your mother, and to master Peasood, your father. Like horse, bound, hog, bear, fire, at every tarn. Good master Peas-blossom, I shall desire you of [Exit. more acquaintance too.-Your name, I beseech you, sir ? Bot. Why do they run away! this is a knavery of them, to make me afeard. Mus. Mustard-seed. Bot. Good master Mustard seed, I know your Re-enter Snout. patience well: that same cowardly, giant-like oxSnout. O Bottom, thou art changed! what do I house: I promise you, your kindred hath made my beef hath devoured many a gentleman of your see on thee! Bot. What do you see? you see an ass's head of eyes water ere now. I'desire your more acquaint ance, good master Mustard-seed. your own ; Do you? Tita. Come, wait upon him; lead him to my Re-enter Quince. bower. Quin. Bless thee, Bottom ! bless thee! thou art And when she weeps, weeps every little flower, The moon, nethinks, looks with a watery eye; translated. (Exit. Bot. I see their knavery: this is to make an ass Lamenting some enforced chastity. Tie ap my love's tongue, bring bim silently. of me; to fright me, if they could. But I will not [Exeunt. stir froin this place, do what they can ; I will walk up and down here, and I will sing, that they shall SCENE 11. Another Part of the Wood. hear I am not afraid. [Sings. Enter Oberon. Obe, I wonder if Titania be awak'd; Then, what it was that next came in her eye, Which she must dote on in extremity. Enter Puck. [Waking. What night-rale now about this haunted grove? man ? Puck. My mistress with a monster is in love. Obe. Wbat hast thou done I thou hast mistaken Near to her close and consecrated bower, quite, While she was in her dull and sleeping hour, And laid the love-juice on some true-love's sight : A crew of patches, rude mechanicals, Of thy misprision must perforce ensue That work for bread upon Athenian stalls, Some true-love turn'd, and not a false turn'd true. Were met together to rehearse a play, Puck. Then fate o'er-rules; that, one man holding Intended for great Theseas' nuptial day. troth, The shallowest thick-skin of that barren sort, A million fail, confounding oath on oath. Who Pyramus presented, in their sport Obe. About the wood go swifter than the wind, Forsook his scene, and enter'd in a brake: And Helena of Athens look tbou find : When I did him at this advantage take, All fancy-sick she is, and pale of cheer An ass's now! I fixed on his head ; With sighs of love, that cost the fresh blood dear : Anon, his Thisbe must be answered, By some ion see thou bring her here ; And forth my mimic comes : when they him spy, l'll charm his eyes, against she do appear. As wild geese that the creeping fowler eye, Puck. I go, I go : look, how I go Or russet-pated oboughs, many in sort, Swifter than arrow from the Tartar's bow. [Exit. Rising and cawing at the gun's report Obe. Flower of this purple die, Sever themselves, and madly sweep the sky; Hit with Cupid's archery, So, at his sight, away his fellows fly : Sink in apple of his eye Apd, at our stamp, here o'er and o'er one falls; When his love he doth espy, He murder cries, and help from Athens calls. Let her shine as gloriously Their sense, thus weak, lost with their fears, thus As the Venus of the sky. strong, When thoa wak'st, if she be by, Made senseless things begin to do them wrong: Beg of her for remedy. For briers and thorns at their apparel snatch; Re-enter Puck. Some, sleeves; some, bats : from yielders all things catch. Puck. Captain of our fairy band, I led them on in this distracted fear, Helena is here at hand; And left sweet Pyramus translated there : And the youth, mistook by me, When in that moment (so it came to pass,) Pleading for a lover's fee; Titania wak'd, and straightway lov'd an ass. Shall we their fond pageant see? Obe. This falls out belier than I could devise. Lord, what fools these mortals be! But hast thou yet latch'd the Athenian's eyes Obe. Stand aside : the noise they make, With the love-juice, as I bid thee do? Will cause Demetrins awake. Puck. I took himn sleeping.--that is finish'd too, Puck. Then will two, at once, woo one; And the Athenian woman by his side ; That must needs be sport alone; That, when he wak'd, of force she must be ey'd. And those things do best please me, That befall preposterously. Enter Lysander und Helena. scorn! Lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe. Scorn and derision never come in tears : Her. Now I bat chide, but I should use thee Look, when I vow, I weep; and vows so born, In their nativity all truth appears. worse ; For thou, I fear, hast given me cause to curse. How can these things in me seem soor to you, If thou hast slain Lysander in his sleep, Bearing the badge of faith, to prove them true i Being o'er shoes in blood, plunge in the deep, Hel. You do advance your cunning more and more. And kill me too. When truth kills truth, O devilish-holy fray! The sun was not so true unto the day, These vows are Hermia's; Will you give her o'er? As he to me: Would he have stol'n away Weigh oath with oath, and you will nothing weigh; From sleeping Hermia ? I'll believe as soon, Your vows, to her and me, put in two scales, This whole earth may be bord; and that the moon Will even weigh; and both as light as tales. May through the centre creep, and so displease Lys. I had no judgment, when to her I swore. Her brother's noon-tide with the Antipodes. Hel. Nor pone, in my mind, now you give her o'er. It cannot be, but thou hast murder'd him ; Lys. Demetrius loves her, and he loves not yon. So should a murderer look; so dead, so grim. Dem. [Awaking.] O Helen, goddess, nymph, perDem. So should the murder'd look ; and so fect disine! should I, To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne ; Piere'd through the heart with your stern cruelty : Crystal is muddy: o, how ripe in show Yet you, the murderer, look as bright, as clear, Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow ! As yonder Venus in her glimmering sphere. That pure congealed white, high Tagrus soow, Her. What's this to my Lysander? where is he? Fann'd with the eastern wind, turns to a crow, Ah, good Demetrius, wili thou give him me? When thou hold'st up thy hand : O let me kiss Dem. I had rather give his carcass to my hounds. This princess of pure white, this seal of bliss ! Her. Out, dog! out, cur ! thou driv'st me past Hel. O spitel o hell! I see you all are bent the bounds To set against me, for your merriment. You wonld not do me thus much injury. You would not use a gentle lady so ; Tu vow, and swear and superpraise my parts, Than thine, thou serpent, never adder stung, When, I am sure, you hate me with your hearts. Dem. You spend your passion on a mispris'd You both are rivals, and love Hermia; mood : And now both rivals, to mock Helena : I am pot guilty of Lysander's blood ; A trim exploit, a manly enterprise, To conjure tears up in a poor maid's eyes, A poor soul's patience, all to make you sport. Lys. You are unkind, Demetrios; be not so; See me no more, whether he be dead or no. [Erit. For you love Hermia ; this, you know, I know. Dem. There is no following her in this fierce vein: And here, with all good will, with all my heart, Here, therefore, for a while I will remain. In Hermia's love I yield you up my part; So sorrow's heaviness doth heavier grow And yours of Helena to me bequeath, For debt that bankrupt sleep doth sorrow owe; Whom I do love, and will do to my death, Which now, in some slight measure it will pay, Hel. Never did mockers waste more idle breath. If for his tender here I make some stay. Dem. Lysander, keep thy Hermia; I will done : (Lies doron. If e'er I lov'd her, all that love is gone. me: My heart with her but, as guest wise, sojourn'd; Dem. I say, I love thee more than he can do. And now to Helen is it home return'd, Lys. If thou say so, withdraw, and prove it too. There to remaia. Dem. Quick, come, - Her. Lysander, whereto tends all this? Dem. Disparage not the faith thou dost not know, Lys. Away, you Ethiop! Lest, to thy peril, thou aby it dear Dem. No, no, sir :- he will Look, where thy love comes; yonder is thy dear, Seem to break loose ; take on, as you would follow; But yet come pot : You are a ta me man, go ! Lys. Hang off, thou cat, thou burr: vile thing, let Her. Dark night, that from the eye his function loose ; takes, Or I will shake thee from me, like a serpent. The ear more quick of apprehension makes; Her. Why are you grown so rude? what change Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense, is this, It pays the hearing double recompense Sweet love! Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander, found; Lys. Thy love ? out, tawny Tartar, out! Mine ear, I thank it, brought me to thy sound. Out, loathed medicine ! hated potion, hence ! But why unkindly didst thou leave me so ! Her. Do you not jest? Lys. Why should he stay, whom love doth press Hel. Yes, 'sooth ; and so do you. to go! (side ? Lys. Demetrius, I will keep my word with thee. Her. What love could press Lysander from my Dem. I would, I had your bond; for, I perceive, Lys. Lysander's love, that would not let him bide, A weak bond holds you I'll not trust your word. Fair Helena ; who more engilds the night Lys. What, should I burt her, strike her, kill her Thas all you fiery oes and eyes of light. dead 1 Why seek'st thou me I could not this make thee Although I hate her, I'll not harm her so. know, Her. What, can you do me greater harm, than The hate I bare thee made me leave thee so? hate 1 Her. You speak not as you think; it cannot be. Hate me! wherefore 10 me! what news my love? Hel. Lo, she is one of this confederacy; Am not I Hermia ? Are not you Lysander ? Since night, you lor'd me; yet, since night, you left In earnest, shall I say? Is all the counsel that we two have shar'd, Lys. Ay, by my life; The sisters' vows, the hours that we have spent, And never did desire to see thee more. Wben we have chid the basty-footed time Therefore, be out of hope, of question, doubt, For parting us,-0, and is all forgot! Be certain, nothing truer ; 'lis no jest, All school-days' friendship, childhood innocence ? That I do hate thee, and love Helepa. We, Hermia, like two artificial gods, Her. O me! yoo juggler! you canker-hlossom ! Have with our neelds created both one flower, You thief of love! what, have you come by night, Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion, And stol'n my love's heart from him ! Both warbling of one song, both in one key; Hel. Fine, i'laith! As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds, Have you no modesty, no maiden shame, Had been incorporate. So we grew together, No touch of bashfulness? What, will you tear Like to a double cherry, seeming parted; Impatient answers from my gentle tongue ! But yet a union in partition, Fie, tie! you counterfeit, you puppet you! Two lovely berries inoulded on one stem : Her. Puppet! why so? Ay, that way goes the So, with two seeming bodies, bat one heart; game. Two of the first, like coats in beraldry, Now I perceive that she hath made compare Due but to one, and crowned with one crest. Between our statures, she hath arg'd her height; And will you rent our ancient love asunder, And with ber personage, her tall personage, To join with men in seorning your poor friend ! Her height, forsooth, she bath prevail'd with him.It is not friendly, 'tis pot maidenly : And are you grown so high in his esteem, Our sex, as well as I, may chide you for it : Because I am so dwarfish, and so low Though I alone do feel the injury. How low am I, thou painted maypole! speak; Her. I am amazed at your passionate words : How low am 1! I am not yet so low, Hel. Have you not set Lysander, as in scorn, Hel. I pray you, though you mock me, genTo follow me, and praise my eyes and face ! tlemen, And made your other love, Demetrius, Let her not hurt me: I was never curst; (Who even but now did sparn me with his foot,) I have no gift at all in shrewisbuess; To call me goddes, nymph, divine, and rare, I am a right inaid for my cowardice: Precious, celestial 1 Wherefore speaks he this Let her not strike me : You, perhaps, inay think, To her he hates and wherefore dotb Lysander Because she's something lower than myself, Deny your love, so rich within his soul, That I can match her. And tender me, forsooth, affection ; Her. Lower ! hark, again. But by your setting on, by your consent! Hel. Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me. What though I be not so in grace as yon, I evermore did love you, Hermia, So hung upon with love, so fortunate; Did ever keep your counsels, never wrong'a you ; But miserable most, to love unlov'd ! Save, that in love unto Demetrius, This you sbould pity, rather than despise. I told him of your stealth unto this wood : Her. I understand not what you mean by this. He follow'd you; for love, I follow'd him, Hel. Ay, do persevere, counterfeit sad looks, But he hath chid me hence; and threaten'd me Make mows upon me when I turn my back; To strike me, spurn me, nay, to kill me too: Wink at each other ; hold the sweet jest ap; And now, so you will let me quiet go, This sport, well carried, shall be chronicled. To Athens will I bear my folly back, If you have any pity, grace, or manners, And follow you no further: Let me go : Yon would not make me such an argument. You see bow simple and how fond I am. But, fare ye well : 'tis partly mine own fault; Her. Why, gel you gone: Who is't that hinders Which death, or absence, soon shall remedy. you? Lys. Stay, gentle Helena; hear my excuse ; Hel. A foolish heart, that I leave here behind. My love, my life, my soul, fair Helena! Her. What, with Lysander ! Hel. O excellent! Hel. With Demetrius, Her. Sweet, do not scorn her so. Lys. Be not afraid : she shall not harm thee, HeDem. If she cannot entreat, I can compel. lena. Lys. Thou canst compel no more than she entreat: Dem. No, sir; she shall not, though you take her Thy threats have no more strength than her weak part. prayers. Hel. 0, when she's angry, she is keen and sbrewd: Helen, I love thee; by my life, I do; She was a vixen, when she went to scbool; I swear by that which I will lose for thee, And, though she be bat little, she is tierce. To prove him false, that says I love thee not. Her. Liitle again ? nothing but low and little! Why will you suffer her to flout me thus! Enter Demetrius. Let une come to her. Dem. Lysander! speak again. Lys. Get you gone, you dwarf, 'Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled ? You minimas, of hind'ring knot-grass made ; Speak. In some bush? Where dost thou hide thy You bead, you acorn, head? Dem. You are too officious, Puck. Thou coward, art thou bragging to the stars, To her behalf that scorns your services. Telling the bushes, that thou look'st for wars, Let her alone; speak not of Helena; And wilt not come ! Come, recreant; come, thou Take not her part: for it thou dost intend child; Never so little show of love to her, I'll whip thee with a rod : He is desil'd That draws a sword on thee. Dene. Yea; art thou there? Now follow, if thou dar'st, to try whose right, Puck. Follow my voice; we'll try no 'manbood Or thine or mine, is most in Helena. here. (Eseunt. Dem. Follow? nay, I'll go with thee, cheek by jole. Re-enter Lysander. (Exeunt Lys. and Dem. Her. Yon, mistress, all this coil is 'long of you : Lys. He goes before me, and still dares me on ; Nay, go not back. When I come where he calls, then he is goue. The villain is much lighter heel'd than 1: I follow'd fast, but faster he did fly; Yoar bands, tban mine, are quicker for a fray; That fallen am I in dark uneven way, My legs are longer though, to run away. L'Exit. And here will rest me. Come, thou gentle day! Her. I am amaz'd, and know not what to say. [Lies doron. [Exit, pursuing Helena. For if bat once thou show me thy gray light, Obe. This is thy negligence : still thou mistak'st, I'll find Demetrius, and revenge this spite. (Sleeps. Or else committ'si thy knaveries wilfully. Re-enter Puck and Demetrius. Puck. Believe me, king of shadows, I'mistook. Puck. Ho, ho ho, ho! Coward, why com'st thou Did not you tell me, I should know the man noti By the Athenian garments he had on! Dem. Abide me, if thon dar'st ; for well I wot, And so far blameless proves my enterprise, Thou rann'st before me, shifting every place ; 'That I have 'pointed an Athenian's eyes : And dar'st not stand, por look me in the face. And so far am I glad it so did sort, Where art thou ! As this their jangling I esteem a sport. Puck. Come hither; I am here. Obe. Thou seest, these lovers seek a place to fight: Dem. Nay, then thou mock'st me. Thou shalt Hie therefore, Robin, overcast the night; buy this dear, The starry welkin cover thou anon If ever I thy face by daylight see : With drooping fog, as black as Acheron : Now, go thy way. Faintness constrajneth me And lead these testy rivals so astray, To measure out my length on this cold bed.-As one come not within another's way. By day's approach look to be visited. Like to Lysander sometime frame thy tongue, (Lies down and sleeps. Then stir Demetrius up with bitter wrong i Enter Helena. Hel. O weary night. O long and tedious night, Till o'er their brows death-counterfeiting sleep Abate thy hours : shine, comforts, from the east; With leaden legs and batty wings doth creep: That I may back to Athens, by daylight, Then crush this herb into Lysander's eye; From these that my poor company detest :Whose liquor bath this virtuous property, And, sleep, that sometimes shuts up sorrow's eye, To take from thence all error, with his might, Steal me awhile from mine own company. [Sleeps. And make his eyeballs roll with wonted sight. Puck. Yet but three ! Come one more; When they next wake, all this derision Two of both kinds makes up four. Shall seem a dream, and fruitless vision; Here she comes, cost and sad : And back to Athens shall the lovers wend, Cupid is a knavish lad, With league, whose date till death shall never end. Thus to make poor females mad. Whiles I in this affair do thee employ, Enter Hermia. I'll to my queen, and beg her Indian boy; Her. Never so weary, never so in woe, And then I will her charmed eye release Bedabbled with the dew, and torn with briers; From monster's view, and all things sball be peace. I can no further crawl, no further go; Puck. My fairy lord, this must be done with My legs can keep no pace with my desires. haste, Here will I rest me, till the break of day. For night's swift dragons cat the clouds full fast, Heavens shield Lysander, if they mean a fray ! And yonder shines Aurora's barbinger; (Lies down. At whose approach, ghosts, wandering here and there, Puck. On the ground Troop home to church-yards : damned spirits all, Sleep sound: That in cross-ways and floods have barial, I'll apply Already to their wormy beds are gone ; To your eye, For fear lest day should look their shames upon, Gentle lover, remedy. Tbey wilfully themselves exile from light, (Squeezing the juice in Lysander's eye. And must for aye consort with black-brow'd night. When thou wak'st, Obe. But we are spirits of another sort : 'Thou tak'st I witb the Morning's Love have oft made sport; True delight And, like a forester, the groves may tread, In the sight Even till the eastern gate, all fiery red, of thy former lady's eye: Opening on Neptune with fair blessed beams, And the country proverb known, Turns into yellow gold bis salt-green streams. That every man should take his own, But, notwithstanding, baste ; make no delay : In your waking shall be shown: Jack shall have Jill ; Nought shall go ill; The man shall have his mare again, and all shall be well. [Exit Puck. - Dem. Hel. &c. sleep. Goblin, lead them up and down. Here comes one. Enter Lysander, ACT IV. Lys. Where art thou, proad Demetrius! speak SCENE I. The same. thou now. Puck. Here, villain; drawn and ready. Where Enter Titania and Bottom, Fairies attending ; Oberon behind unseen. art thou ! Lys. I will be with thee straight. Tita. Come, sit thee down upon this towery bed, Puck. Follow me then While I thy amiable cheeks do coy, To plainer ground. And stick musk-roses in thy sleek smooth head, į Exit Lysander, as following the Voice. And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy. |