Her. Why are you grown fo rude? what change is this, Sweet love? Lyf. Thy love! out, tawny Tartar, out! Out, loathed medicine! hated poifon, hence! Her. Do you not jeft? Hel. Yes, 'footh; and fo do you. Lyf. Demetrius, I will keep my word with thee. Dem. I would I had your bond: for I perceive, A weak bond holds you; I'll not truft your word. Lyf. What, fhould I hurt her, ftrike her, kill her dead? Although I hate her, I'll not harm her fo. Her. What, can you do me greater harm than hate? Hate me! wherefore? O me! what news, my love? Am not I Hermia? Are not you Lyfander? I am as fair now, as I was erewhile. Since night, you lov'd me; yet fince night you left me: Why then you left me?-O the gods forbid !— In earneft, fhall I say? Lyf. Ay, by my life; And never did defire to see thee more. Therefore, be out of hope, of question, doubt, Be certain, nothing truer ; 'tis no jeft, That I do hate thee, and love Helena. Her. O me! you juggler! oh, you canker-bloffom ![9] You thief of love! what, have you come by night, And ftol'n my love's heart from him? Hel. Fine, i'faith! Have you no modefty, no maiden fhame, No touch of bashfulness? What, will you tear Fie, fie! you counterfeit, you puppet, you! Her. Puppet! why fo? Ay, that way goes the game. Now I perceive that the hath made compare Between our ftatures, she hath urg'd her height; Her height, forfooth, the hath prevail'd with him.- [9] The 'canker-bloffom' is not in this place the bloffom of the Canker or Wild Rofe, which our author alludes to in Much Ado About Nothing, act i. fc. 6. but a worm that preys on the leaves or buds of flowers, always beginning in the middle. So in the famous paffage, How low am I, thou painted may-pole? speak; But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes. Hel. I pray you, though you mock me, gentlemen, Let her not hurt me: I was never curft; I have no gift at all in fhrewishness ; I am a right maid for my cowardice; Her. Lower! hark, again. Hel. Good Hermia, do not be fo bitter with me. Did ever keep your counfels, never wrong'd you ; I told him of your stealth unto this wood : Her. Why, get you gone: who is't that hinders you? Hel. With Demetrius. Lyf. Be not afraid; the fhall not harm thee, Helena. And, though fhe be but little, fhe is fierce. Lyf. Get you gone, you dwarf, You minimus, of hind'ring knot-grafs made ;[1] Dem. You are too officious, In her behalf that fcorns your fervices. Let her alone; fpeak not of Helena ; [1] Of hind'ring knot-grafs made.] It appears that knot-grafs was an ciently fuppofed to prevent the growth of any animal or child. Dailyroots were fuppofed to have the fame effect, STEEV. Take not her part: for if thou doft intend Thou fhalt aby it. Lyf. Now he holds me not; Now follow, if thou dar'ft; to try whofe right, Dem. Follow ? nay, I'll go with thee, cheek by jowl. [Exe. LYSAN. and DEM. Her. You, miftrefs, all this coyl is long of you: Nay, go not back. Hel. I will not truft you, I ; Nor longer ftay in your curft company. Your hands, than mine, are quicker for a fray; Her. I am amaz'd, and know not what to say. [Exeunt: HERMIA pursuing HELENA. Ob. This is thy negligence: ftill thou mistak'st, Or elfe commit'ft thy knaveries willingly. Puck. Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook. Ob. Thou feeft thefe lovers feek a place to fight: The ftarry welkin cover thou anon With drooping fogs, as black as Acheron ; As one come not within another's way. With league, whose date, till death shall never end. At whofe approach, ghofts, wandering here and there, For fear left day fhould look their fhames upon, I with the morning's love have oft made sport; Puck. Up and down, up and down; Enter LYSANDER. [Exit OB. Lys. Where art thou, proud Demetrius? fpeak thou now. Puck. Here, villain: drawn and ready. Where art thou? Lyf. I will be with thee ftraight. Puck. Follow me then To plainer ground. [LYs. goes out, as following DEM. Enter DEMETRIUS. Dem. Lyfander! fpeak again. Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled? [2] i. e. The ghofts of felf-murderers, who are buried in crofs-roads; and of those who being drowned, were condemned (according to the opinion of the ancients) to wander for a hundred years, as the rites of fepulture had never been regularly beftowed on their bodies. STEEV. Puck. Thou coward, art thou bragging to the stars, Telling the bushes that thou look'ft for wars, And wilt not come? Come, recreant; come, thou child; Dem. Yea; art thou there? Puck. Follow my voice; we'll try no manhood here. Re-enter LYSANDER. [Exeunt. Lyf. He goes before me, and ftill dares me on ; And here will reft me. Come, thou gentle day! [Lies down. For if but once thou fhew me thy grey light, I'll find Demetrius, and revenge this fpight. Re-enter PUCK and DEMETRIUS. Puck. Ho, ho, ho! coward, why comeft thou not? Dem. Abide me, if thou dar'st: for well I wot, Thou runn'ft before me, fhifting every place; And dar'ft not ftand, nor look me in the face. Where art thou? Puck. Come hither; I am here. Dem. Nay, then thou mock'st me; thou shalt buy this dear, If ever I thy face by day-light fee. Now, go thy way. Faintnefs constraineth me Enter HELENA. [Lies down. Hel. O weary night, O long and tedious night, Abate thy hours: fhine, comforts, from the east; That I may back to Athens, by day-light, And sleep, that fometime shuts up forrow's eye, Puck. Yet but three? come one more : [Sleeps. |