Puck. Then fate o'er-rules; that one man ing troth,

hold-[When, I am sure, you hate me with your hearts.
You both are rivals, and love Herma
And now both rivals, to mock Helena:

A million fail, confounding oath on oath.
Obe. About the wood go swifter than the wind, A trim exploit, a manly enterprise,

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
By some illusion see thou bring her here;
I'll charm his eyes, against she do appear.
Puck. I go, I go; look, how I go;
Swifter than arrow from the Tartar's bow.
Obe. Flower of this purple dye,
Hit with Cupid's archery,

Sink in apple of his eye!
When his love he doth espy,
Let her shine as gloriously
As the Venus of the sky.-
When thou wak'st, if she be by,
Beg of her for remedy.

Re-enter Puck.

Puck. Captain of our fairy band,
Helena is here at hand;
And the youth, mistook by me,
Pleading for a lover's fee;

Shall we their fond pageant see?
Lord, what fools these mortals be!

Obe. Stand aside the noise they make,
Will cause Demetrius to awake.

To conjure tears up in a poor maid's eyes, With your derision! none, of noble sort, dear: Would so offend a virgin; and extort

[Exit.

Puck. Then will two at once, woo one;
That must needs be sport alone;
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 secm 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 Helen, goddess, nymph,
perfect, divine!

To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne?
Crystal is muddy. O, how ripe in show
Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow!
That pure congealed white, high Taurus' snow,
Fann'd with the eastern wind, turns to a crow,
When thou hold'st up thy hand: O let me kiss
This princess of pure white, this seal of bliss!

Hel. O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent
To set against me for your merriment.
If you were civil, and knew courtesy,
You would not do me thus much injury.
Can you not hate me, as I know you do,
But you must join, in souls, to mock me too?
If you were men, as men you are in show,
You would not use a gentle lady so;

To vow, and swear, and superpraise my parts,
(1) Love-sick. (2) Countenance.
(3) Heartily. (4) Degree. (5) Pay dearly for it.

A poor soul's patience, all to make you sport.

Lys. You are unkind, Demetrius; be not so;
For you love Hermia; this, you know, I know:
And here, with all good will, with all my heart,
In Hermia's love I yield you up my part;

And yours of Helena to me bequeath,
Whom I do love, and will do to my death.

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 Lome return'd,
There to remain.

Helen, it is not so.

Lys.
Dem. Disparage not the faith thou dost not know,
Lest, to thy peril, thou aby it dear."—

Look, where thy love comes; yonder is thy dear.

Enter Hermia.

Her. Dark night, that from the eye his function
takes,

The car more quick of apprehension makes;
Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense,
It pays the hearing double recompense:-
Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander, found;
Mine ear, I thank it, brought me to thy sound.
But why unkindly didst thou leave me so?

Lys. Why should he stay, whom love doth press

to go?

Her. What love could press Lysander from my side?

Lys. Lysander's love, that would not let him
'bide,

Fair Helena; who more engilds the night
Than all yon fiery oes and eyes of light.
Why seek'st thou me? could not this make thee
know,

The hate I bear thee made me leave thee so?
Her. You speak not as you think; it cannot be.
Hel. Lo, she is one of this confederacy!
Now I perceive they have conjoin'd, all three,
To fashion this false sport in spite of ine.
Injurious Hermia! most ungrateful maid!
Have you conspir'd, have you with these contriv'd
To bait me with this foul derision?

Is all the counsel that we two have shar'd,
The sisters' vows, the hours that we have spent,
When we have chid the hasty-footed time
For parting us,-O, and is all forgot?
All school-days' friendship, childhood innocence?
We, Hermia, like two artificial' gods,
Have with our neelds created both one flower,
Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,
Both warbling of one song, both in one key;
As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds,
Had been incorporate. So we grew together,
Like to a double cherry, seeming parted;
But yet a union in partition,

Two lovely berries moulded on one stem:
So, with two seeming bodies, but one heart;
Two of the first, like coats 'n heraldry,
Due but to one, and crown'd with one crest,
And will you rent our ancient love asunder,
To join with men in scorning your poor friend?
It is not friendly, 'tis not maidenly

Yes, 'sooth; and so do you. Lys. Demetrius, I will keep my word with thee. She was a vixen, when she went to school; Dem. I would, I had your bond; for, I perceive, And, though she be but little, she is fierce. A weak hond holds you; I'll not trust your word. Her. Little again?othing but low and little ?— Lys. What, should I hurt her, strike her, kill

Since night, you lov'd me; yet, since night you Take not her part: for if thou dost intend

MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM.

Thou shalt aby it.
Lys.
Now she holds me not;
Now follow, if thou dar'st, to try whose right,
Or thine or mine, is most in Helena.

'long of you:

Dem. Follow? nay, I'll go with thee, cheek by
jole.
Her. You, mistress, all this coil
[Exeunt Lys. and Deni.
Nay, go not back.
Hel.
I will not trust you,
Nor longer stay in your curst company.
I;
Your hands, than mine, are quicker for a fray;
My legs are longer though, to run away.
Her. I am amaz'd, and know not what to say.
Obe. This is thy negligence: still thou mistak'st,
[Exit, pursuing Helena.
Or else commit'st thy knaveries wilfully.

Exit.

Puck. Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook.
Dd not you tell me, I should know the man
By the A henian garments he had on?
And so far blameless proves my enterprise,
That I have 'nointed an Athenian's eyes:
And so far am I glad it so did sort,'

Here comes one.

Enter Lysander.

151

Lys. Where art thou, proud Demetrius? speak thou now.

Puck. Here, villain; drawn and ready. Where

art thou?

Lys. I will be with thee straight.
Puck.

To plainer ground.

Dem.

Follow me then

[Exit Lys. as following the voice.

Enter Demetrius.

Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled?
Lysander! speak again.
Speak. In some bush? Where dost thou hide thy
head?

Puck. Thou coward, art thou bragging to the
stars,

Telling the bushes that thou look'st for wars,
And wilt not come ? Come, recreant; come, thou
child;

I'll whip thee with a rod: He is defil'd

Obe. Thou seest, these lovers seek a place to fight: That draws a sword on thee.

As this their jangling I esteem a sport.

Hie therefore, Robin, overcast the night;

The starry welkin cover thou anon

With drooping fog, as black as Acheron:
And lead these testy rivals so astray,
As one come not within another's way.
Like to Lysander sometime frame thy tongue,
Then stir Demetrius up with bitter wrong;
And sometime rail thoit like Demetrius;
And from each other look thou lead them thus,
Till o'er their brows death-counterfeiting sleep
With leaden legs and batty wings doth creep:
Then crush this herb into Lysander's eye;
Whose liquor hath this virtuous property,
To take from thence all error, with his might,
And make his eye-bal's roll with wonted sight.
When they next wake, all this derision
Shall seem a dream, and fruitless vision;
And back to Athens shall the lovers wend,'

Lys. He goes before me, and still dares me on;
When I come where he calls, then he is gone.
The villain is much lighter heel'd than I:
I follow'd fast, but faster he did fly;
That fallen am I in dark uneven way,
And here will rest me. Come, thou gentle day!
[Lies down.

For if but once thou show me thy gray light,
I'll find Demetrius, and revenge this spite. [Sleeps.
Re-enter Puck and Demetrius.

Puck. Ho, ho ho, ho! Coward, why com'st
thou not?

Dem. Abide me, if thou dar'st; for well I wot,

With league, whose date till death shall never end. Thou runn'st before me, shifting every place;

Whiles I in this affair do thee employ,
I'll to my queen, and beg her Indian boy;
And then I will her charmed eye release
From monster's view, and all things shail be peace.
Puck. My fairy lord, this must be done with
haste;

For night's swift dragons cut the clouds full fast,
And yonder shines Aurora's harbinger;

At whose approach, ghosts, wandering here and

there,

Troop home to church-yards: damned spirits all,
That in cross-ways and floods have burial,
Already to their wormy beds are gone;

For fear lest day should look their shames upon,
They wilfully themselves exile from light,
And must for aye consort with black-brow'd night.
Obe. But we are spirits of another sort;
I with the Morning's Love have oft made sport;
And, like a forester, the groves may tread,
Even to the eastern gate, all fiery red,
Opening on Neptune with fair blessed beams,
Turns into yellow gold his salt-green streams.
But, notwithstanding, haste; make no delay:
We may effect this business yet ere day.

Puck. Up and down, up and down;
[Exit Oberon.

I will lead them up and down:

I am fear'd in field and town;
Goblin, lead them up and down.

(1) Happen. (2) Medicinal efficacy. (3) Go.

And dar'st not stand, 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,

Now, go thy way. Faintness constraineth me
If ever I thy face by day-light see:
To measure out my length on this cold bed.-

By day's approach look to be visited.

[Lies down and sleeps. Enter Helena.

Hel. O weary night, O long and tedious night,
Abate thy hours: shine, comforts, from the east;
That I may back to Athens, by day-light,
From these that my poor company detest:-
Steal me a while from mine own company. [Sleeps.
And, sleep, that sometimes shuts up sorrow's eye,
Puck. Yet but three? Come one more;
Two of both kinds makes up four.

Here she comes, curst and sad :

Cupid is a knavish lad,

Thus to make poor females mad.

Sleep sound:

I'll apply

To your eye,

Gentle lover, remedy.

[Squeezing the juice on Lysander's eye.
When thou wak'st,

Thou tak'st

True delight

In the sight

Of thy former lady's eye:

And the country proverb known,

That every man should take his own,
In your waking shall be shown:
Jack shall have Jill;

Nought shall go ill;

sweet sight?

Her dotage now I do begin to pity.

For meeting her of late, behind the wood,
Seeking sweet savours for this hateful fool,

I did upbraid her, and fall out with her :
For she his hairy temples then had rounded
With coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers;
And that same dew which sometime on the buds
Was wont to swell, like round and orient pearls,
Stood now within the pretty flowrets' eyes,

The man shall have his mare again, and all shall Like tears, that did their own disgrace bewail.

be well. [Ex. Puck.-Dem. Hel. &c. sleep.

ACT IV.

When I had, at my pleasure, taunted her,
And she, in mild terms, begg'd my patience,
I then did ask of her her changeling child;
Which straight she gave me, and her fairy sent
To bear him to my bower in fairy land.
And now I have the boy, I will undo

SCENE I.-The same. Enter Titania and Bot-This hateful imperfection of her eyes.
tom, Fairies attending; Oberon behind unseen.

Tita. Come, sit thee down upon this flowery bed,
While I thy amiable cheeks do coy,'

And stick musk-roses in thy sleek smooth head,
And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy.
Bot. Where's Peas-blossom?

Peas. Ready.

Bot. Scratch my head, Peas-blossom.-Where's monsieur Cobweb?

Coo. Ready.

And, gentle Puck, take this transformed scalp
From off the head of this Athenian swain;
That he awaking when the other do,
May all to Athens back again repair;
And think no more of this night's accidents,
Bat as the fierce vexation of a dream.
But first I will release the fairy queen.
Be, as thou wast wont to be;

[Touching her eyes with an herb.
See, as thou wast wont to see:
Dian's bud o'er Cupid's flower
Hath such force and blessed power.
my Titania; wake you, my sweet queen.
Tita. My Oberon! What visions have I seen!
Methought, I was enamour'd of an ass.
Obe. There lies your love.

Bot. Monsieur Cobweb; good monsieur, get your weapons in your hand, and kill me a red-hip-Now, ped humble-bee on the top of a thistle; and, good monsieur, bring me the honey-bag. Do not fret yourself too much in the action, monsieur; and good monsieur, have a care the honey-bag break not; I would be loath to have you overflown with a honey bag, signior.-Where's monsieur Mustardseed?

Must. Ready.

Bot. Give me your neif,2 monsieur Mustard-seed. Prav you, leave your courtesy, good monsieur. Must. What's your will?

Bot. Nothing, good monsieur, but to help cavalero Cobweb to scratch. I must to the barber's,

Tita.

How came these things to pass?
O, how mine eyes do loath his visage now?
Obe. Silence, awhile-Robin, take off this head-
Titania, music call; and strike more dead
Than common sleep, of all these five the sense.
T ta. Music, ho! music; such as charmeth sleep.
Puck. Now, when thou wak'st, with thine own
fool's eyes peep.

Obe. Sound, music. [Still music.] Come, my
queen, take hands with me,

monsieur; for, methinks, I am marvellous hairy And rock the ground whereon these sleepers be. about the face and I am such a tender ass, if my hair do but tickle me, I inust scratch. Tita. What, wilt thou hear some music, my

sweet love?

Bot. I have a reasonable good ear in music: let us have the tongs and the bones.

Tita. Or, say, sweet love, what thou desir'st to eat. Bot. Truly, a peck of provender: I could munch] your good dry oats. Methinks, I have a great desire to a bottle of hay: good hay, sweet hay, hath no fellow.

Tita. I have a venturous fairy that shall seek The squirrel's hoard, and fetch thee new nuts.

Bot. I had rather have a handful, or two, of dried peas. But, I pray you, let none of your people stir me; I have an exposition of sleep come upon me.

Tita. Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms.
(1) Stroke.
(2) Fist.

Now thou and I are new in amity;
And will, to-morrow midnight, solemnly,
Dance in duke Theseus' house triumphantly,
And bless it to all fair posterity:
There shall the pairs of faithful lovers be
Wedded, with Theseus, all in jollity.

Puck. Fairy king, attend and mark;
I do hear the morning lark.

Obe. Then, my queen, in silence sad,
Trip we after the night's shade:
We the globe can compass soon,
Swifter than the wand'ring moon.
Tita. Come, my lord: and in our flight,
Tell me how it came this ni ht,
That I sleeping here was found,
With these mortals, on the ground. [Exeunt.
[Horns sound within.

Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, Egeus, and train.
The. Go, one of you, find out the forester:-

'Melted as doth the snow, seems to me now
As the remembrance of an idle gawd,
Which in my childhood I did dote upon:
And all the faith, the virtue of my heart,
The object, and the pleasure of mine eye,
Is only Helena. To her, my lord,
Was I betroth'd ere I saw Hermia:
But, like in sickness, did I loath this food:
But, as in health, come to my natural taste,
Now do I wish it, love it, long for it,
And will for evermore be true to it.

The. Fair lovers, you are fortunately met:
Of this discourse we more will hear anon.-
Egeus, I will overbear your will;
For in the temple, by and by with us,
These couples shall eternally be knit.
And, for the morning now is something worn,
Our purpos'd hunting shall be set aside.
Away, with us, to Athens: Three and three,
We'll hold a feast in great solemnity.-
Come, Hippolyta.