In thy eye that shall appear When thou wak'st, it is thy dear; Wake, when some vile thing is near. Enter LYSANDER and HERMia. Lys. Fair love, you faint with wandering in the wood; And to speak troth, I have forgot our way; We'll rest us, Hermia, if you think it good, And tarry for the comfort of the day. Her. Be it so, Lysander: find you out a bed, For I upon this bank will rest my head. Such separation, as, may well be said, Becomes a virtuous bachelor and a maid: So far be distant; and good night, sweet friend: Thy love ne'er alter, till thy sweet life end! Lys. Amen, amen, to that fair prayer, say I'; And then end life, when I end loyalty! Here is my bed: Sleep give thee all his rest! Her. With half that wish the wisher's eyes be press'd! [They sleep. Enter PUCK. Puck. Through the forest have I gone, Churl, upon thy eyes I throw All the power this charm doth owe*: [Exit. Hel. Stay, though thou kill me, sweet Demetrius. [Exit DEMETRius. How came her eyes so bright? Not with salt tears: For beasts that meet me, run away for fear : sake. Lys. And run through fire I will, for thy sweet [Waking. Transparent Helena! Nature here shows art, That through thy bosom makes me see thy heart. Where is Demetrius? O, how fit a word Is that vile name, to perish on my sword! Hel. Do not say so, Lysander; say not so: 8 Possess. 9 In the dark. What though he love your Hermia? O, what though? Yet Hermia still loves you: then be content. Who will not change a raven for a dove? Hel. Wherefore was I to this keen mockery born? Good troth, you do me wrong, good sooth, you do, But fare you well: perforce I must confess, Should, of another, therefore be abus'd! [Exit. Lys. She sees not Hermia:- Hermia, sleep thou there; And never may'st thou come Lysander near! The deepest loathing to the stomach brings; And all my powers, address your love and might, [Exit. Her. [Starting.] Help me, Lysander, help me! do thy best, To pluck this scrawling serpent from my breast! The same. ACT THE THIRD. SCENE I. The Queen of Fairies lying asleep. Enter QUINCE, SNUG, BOTTOM, FLUTE, SNOUT, and STARVEling. Bot. Are we all met? Quin. Pat, pat; and here's a marvellous convenient place for our rehearsal: This green plot shall be our stage, this hawthorn brake our tyring-house; and we will do it in action, as we will do it before the duke. Bot. Peter Quince, Quin. What say'st thou, bully Bottom? Bot. There are things in this comedy of Pyramus and Thisbe, that will never please. First, Pyramus By all that is dear. that? must draw a sword to kill himself; which the ladies cannot abide. How'answer you Snout. By'rlakin', a parlous fear. Star. I believe, we must leave the killing out, when all is done. Bot. Not a whit; I have a device to make all well. Write me a prologue: and let the prologue seem to say, we will do no harm with our swords; and that Pyramus is not killed indeed: and, for the more better assurance, tell them, that I Pyramus am not Pyramus, but Bottom the weaver: This will put them out of fear. Quin. Well, we will have such a prologue; and it shall be written in eight and six. Bot. No, make it two more; let it be written in eight and eight. Snout. Will not the ladies be afeard of the lion? Bot. Masters, you ought to consider with yourselves to bring in a lion among ladies, is a most dreadful thing; for there is not a more fearful wildfowl than your lion, living; and we ought to look to it. Snout. Therefore, another prologue must tell, he is not a lion. Bot. Nay, you must name his name, and half his face must be seen through the lion's neck; and he himself must speak through, saying thus, or to the same defect, Ladies, or fair ladies, I would wish you, or, I would request you, or, I would entreat you, not to fear, not to tremble: my life for yours. If you think I come hither as a lion, it were pity of my life: No, I am no such thing; I am a man as other men are:-and there, indeed, let him name his name; and tell them plainly, he is Snug the joiner. Quin. Well, it shall be so. But there is two hard 2 By our ladykin. |