But, notwithstanding, haste, make no delay.
We may effect this business yet ere day.

Robin. Up and down, up and down,

I will lead them up and down.

I am fear'd in field and town.

Goblin, lead them up and down.
Here comes one.

Re-enter Lysander.

395

[Exit.]

400

Lys. Where art thou, proud Demetrius? Speak thou

now.

Robin. Here, villain; drawn and ready. Where art

thou?

Lys. I will be with thee straight.

Robin.

Dem.

To plainer ground.

Follow me, then,

[Exit Lysander, as following the voice.]

Re-enter Demetrius.

Lysander, speak again!

Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled? 405 Speak! In some bush? Where dost thou hide thy head?

Robin. 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,

410

Dem.

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

That draws a sword on thee.

Oh Yea, art thou there?

Robin. Follow my voice. We'll try no manhood here.

[Re-enter Lysander.]

Exeunt.

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 followed fast, but faster he did fly,
That fallen am I in dark uneven way,

415

And here will rest me. Come, thou gentle day!

Lies down.

For if but once thou show me thy grey light,
I'll find Demetrius and revenge this spite.

Re-enter Robin Goodfellow and Demetrius.

420

[Sleeps.]

Robin. Ho, ho, ho! Coward, why com'st thou not? Dem. Abide me, if thou dar'st; for well I wot

Thou runn'st before me, shifting every place,

And dar'st not stand, nor look me in the face.
Where art thou now?

Robin.

Come hither; I am here.
Thou shalt buy

Dem. Nay, then, thou mock'st me.

this dear,

If ever I thy face by daylight see.

426

Now, go thy way. Faintness constraineth me
To measure out my length on this cold bed.
By day's approach look to be visited.

430

[Lies down and sleeps.]

Re-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 daylight,

From these that my poor company detest.
And sleep, that sometimes shuts up sorrow's

eye,

Steal me awhile from mine own company.

435

[Lies down and] sleeps.

Robin. Yet but three? Come one more;
Two of both kinds makes up four.
Here she comes, curst and sad.
Cupid is a knavish lad,

Re-enter Hermia.

Thus to make poor females mad.

Her. Never so weary, never so in woe,

Bedabbled with the dew and torn with briers,

I can no further crawl, no further go;

440

446

My legs can keep no pace with my desires.
Here will I rest me till the break of day.
Heavens shield Lysander, if they mean a fray!
[Lies down and sleeps.]

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;

455

460

The man shall have his mare again, and all shall

ACT FOURTH

SCENE I

[The same.]

[Lysander, Demetrius, Helena, and Hermia, lying asleep.]

Enter Titania and Clown [Bottom; Pease blossom, Cobweb, Moth, Mustardseed,] and [other] 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 Peaseblossom?

Peas. Ready.

5

Bot. Scratch my head, Peaseblossom. Where's Mounsieur Cobweb?

Cob. Ready.

Bot. Mounsieur Cobweb, good mounsieur, get you 10 your weapons in your hand, and kill me a red-hipp'd humble-bee on the top of a thistle ; and, good mounsieur, bring me the honey-bag. Do not fret yourself too much in the action, mounsieur; and, good mounsieur, have a care the honey-bag break not; I would be loath to

15