Her. What love could press Lysander from my

side?

389

Lys. Lysander's love, that would not let him bide, Fair Helena; who more engilds the night

Than all yon fiery o's 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 spight of me. 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-day 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,

899

410

Two lovely berries molded on one stem :

So, with two seeming bodies, but one heart;

Two

Two of the first, like coats in heraldry,

Due but to one, and crowned with one crest.
And will you rent our ancient love asunder,

To join with men in scorning your poor friend? 420 It is not friendly, 'tis not maidenly:

Our sex, as well as I, may chide you for it ;

Though I alone do feel the injury.

Her. I am amazed at your passionate words :
I scorn you not; it seems that you scorn me.
Hel. Have you not set Lysander, as in scorn,
To follow me, and praise my eyes and face ?
And made your other love, Demetrius
(Who even but now did spurn me with his foot),
To call me goddess, nymph, divinę, and rare,
Precious, celestial? Wherefore speaks he this
To her he hates? and wherefore doth Lysander
Deny your love, so rich within his soul,
And tender me, forsooth, affection;
But by your setting on, by your consent?
What though I be not so in grace as you,
So hung upon with love, so fortunate;
But miserable most, to love unlov'd ?
This you should pity, rather than despise,

430

Her. I understand not what you mean by this. 440 Hel. Ay, do, persever, counterfeit sad looks, Make mouths upon me when I turn my back; Wink at each other; hold the sweet jest up: This sport, well carry'd, shall be chronicled. If you have any pity, grace, or manners, You would not make me such an argument.

But,

But, fare ye well: 'tis partly mine own fault;
Which death, or absence, soon shall remedy.
Lys. Stay, gentle Helena; hear my excuse;
My love, my life, my soul, fair Helena!
Hel. O excellent!

Her. Sweet, do not scorn her so.

Dem. If she cannot entreat, I can compel.

450

Lys. Thou canst compel no more than she entreat; Thy threats have no more strength, than her weak prayers.

Helen, I love thee; by my life, I do;

I swear by that which I will lose for thee,

Το prove him false, that says I love thee not.
Dem. I say, I love thee more than he can do.

Lys. If thou say so, withdraw, and prove it too.
Dem. Quick, come,-

Her. Lysander, whereto tends all this?

Lys. Away, you Ethiop!

Dem. No, no, sir, he'll

461

Seem to break loose; take on, as you would follow ;

But yet come not: You are a tame man, go!

Lys. Hang off, thou cat, thou burr: vile thing,

let loose;

Or I will shake thee from me, like a serpent.

Her. Why are you grown so rude? what change is

this,

Sweet love?

Lys. Thy love? out, tawny Tartar, out! Out, loathed medicine! hated potion, hence!

Her. Do you not jest?

F

470

Hel.

Hel. Yes, 'sooth; and so do you.

Lys. 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 trust your word. Lys. What, should I hurt her, strike her, kill her dead?

Although I hate her, I'll not harm her so.

Her. What, can you do me greater harm, than

hate ?

480 Hate me! wherefore? O me! what news, my love? Am not I Hermia? Are not you Lysander?

I am as fair now, as I was erewhile.

Since night, you lov'd me; yet, since night, you left

me:

Why, then you left me,-O the gods forbid !-

In earnest, shall I say ?

Lys. Ay, by my life;

And never did desire to see thee more.

Therefore, be out of hope, of question, doubt,
Be certain, nothing truer; 'tis no jest,

That I do hate thee, and love Helena.

490

Her. O me! you jugler! oh, you canker-blossom! You thief of love! what, have you come by night, And stol'n my love's heart from him?

Hel. Fine, i'faith!

Have you no modesty, no maiden shame,

No touch of bashfulness? What, will you tear
Impatient answers from my gentle tongue ?
Fie, fie! you counterfeit, you puppet, you!
Her. Puppet! why so? Ay, that way goes the game.

499

Now

Now I perceive that she hath made compare
Between our statures, she hath urg'd her height;
And with her personage, her tall personage,

Her height, forsooth, she hath prevail'd with him.-
And are you grown so high in his esteem,
Because I am so dwarfish, and so low?
How low am I, thou painted maypole speak;
How low am I? I am not yet so low,

But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes.

Hel. I pray you, though you mock me, gentle

men,

Let her not hurt me: I was never curst;

I have no gift at all in shrewishness;

I am a right maid for my cowardice;

510

Let her not strike me: You, perhaps, may think,
Because she's something lower than myself,
That I can match her.

Her. Lower! hark, again.

Hel. Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me.

I evermore did love you, Hermia,

Did ever keep your counsels, never wrong'd you;
Save that, in love unto Demetrius,

I told him of your stealth unto this wood :
He follow'd you; for love, I follow'd him.
But he hath chid me hence; and threaten'd me
To strike me, spurn me, nay, to kill me too :
And now, so you will let me quiet go,
To Athens will I bear my folly back,
And follow you no further: Let me go:
You see how simple and how fond I am.

Fij

521

Her.