when he opened his eyes; and so powerful was the lovecharm, that his love for Hermia vanished, and he fell in love with Helena.

Had he first seen Hermia when he awoke, the blunder Puck committed would have been of no consequence, but for Lysander to be forced by a love-charm to forget Hermia, and to run after another lady, and leave Hermia asleep in a wood at midnight, was a sad chance.

1 Athens, a city in Greece (App.) refractory, sullen or perverse; obstinate; disobedient; unmanageable. 3 fairies, imaginary beings met with chiefly in the writings of the poets. As described by Shakespeare, they are tiny spirits dwelling on the earth and in the air, dancing in the fields and passing an existence of a light and joyous kind, playing tricks on human beings, and sometimes quarrelling among themselves. revels, feastings, merry-makings. 3elves, plural of elf, a kind of fairy. courtier, one who attends or frequents the courts of princes. privy counsellor, a private adviser of the sovereign, a member of the privy council, which is appointed to aid the king or queen with advice on matters of state. sprite, a spirit. canopy, a raised covering to a pulpit, throne, bower, etc. 10 newt, an eft, a small lizard. conjecture, to guess, suppose.

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HELENA, as before related, endeavoured to keep pace with Demetrius when he ran away from her; but she could not continue the race long, and soon lost sight of him, and as she was wandering about she arrived at the place where Lysander was sleeping. Ah!" said she,

6:

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this is Lysander, is he dead or asleep?"

Then touching

him, he opened his eyes, and (the charm beginning to work) he addressed her in terms of love and admiration : telling her she as much excelled Hermia in beauty as a dove does a raven, and that he would run through fire for her sake. Helena, knowing Lysander was her friend Hermia's lover, and that he was engaged to marry her, was in a rage when she heard herself addressed thus; for she thought that Lysander was making a jest of her. "Oh!" said she, "why was I born to be mocked by every one? Is it not enough that I can never get a sweet look or a kind word from Demetrius; but you, sir, must pretend in this manner to court me?" Saying these words in anger, she ran away, Lysander following her, forgetful of Hermia, who was still asleep.

When Hermia awoke, she was in a fright at finding herself alone. She wandered about the wood, not knowing what had become of Lysander. In the meantime Demetrius, not being able to find Hermia and his rival Lysander, and fatigued with his search, was observed by Oberon fast asleep. Oberon had learnt from Puck that he had applied the charm to the wrong person's eyes; and now, having found the person first intended, he touched with the love-juice the eyelids of the sleeping Demetrius, who instantly awoke. The first thing he saw being Helena, he, as Lysander had done, began to address love-speeches to her. Just at that moment Lysander, followed by Hermia (for through Puck's unlucky mistake it was now become Hermia's turn to run after her lover), made his appearance; and then Lysander and Demetrius, speaking together, made love to Helena, each being under the influence of the charm. The astonished Helena thought that Demetrius, Lysander, and Hermia were all in a plot together to make a jest of her.

Hermia was as much surprised as Helena, not knowing

why Lysander and Demetrius were now the lovers of Helena; and the ladies, who before had been the dearest of friends, began to quarrel.

“Unkind Hermia," said Helena, "it is you who have set Lysander to vex me with mock praises; and your other lover, Demetrius, who used almost to spurn me, have you not bidden him call me goddess, precious, and 1celestial? Unkind Hermia, have you forgotton our school friendship? How often have we reclined on one cushion, singing the same song, with our needles working the same flower, growing up together in fashion of a double cherry, scarcely seeming parted!"

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"I am amazed at your words," said Hermia: "I scorn you not; it seems you scorn me."

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Ay, do," returned Helena, "persevere, counterfeit serious looks, and make mouths at me when I turn my back. If you had any pity, you would not use me thus."

While Helena and Hermia were thus engaged, Demetrius and Lysander left them in order to fight; and when the ladies found they were alone, they once more wandered in the wood in search of their lovers.

As soon as they were gone, the fairy king, who with Puck had been listening to their quarrels, said, "This is your negligence, Puck; or did you do it wilfully?"

"Believe me," returned Puck, "it was a mistake."

"You heard," said Oberon, "that Demetrius and Lysander are gone to seek a convenient place to fight. I command you to overhang the night with a fog, and lead these quarrelsome lovers so astray in the dark, that they shall not be able to find each other. Counterfeit each of their voices to the other, and with taunts provoke them to follow you, while they think it is their rival's tongue they hear. See you do this, till they are so weary they can go no farther; and when you find they are asleep,

drop the juice of this other flower into Lysander's eyes, and when he awakes he will forget his new love for Helena, and return to his old passion for Hermia. Then the two ladies may each be happy with the man she loves, and they will think all that has passed a vexatious dream. About this quickly, Puck; and I will go and see what sweet love my Titania has found.”

Titania was still sleeping, and Oberon seeing a clown near her, who had lost his way in the wood, and was likewise asleep: "This fellow," said he, “shall be my Titania's truelove," at the same time placing an ass's head over the clown's. Though Oberon fixed the ass's head on gently, it awakened him, and rising up, unconscious of what Oberon had done, he went towards the bower where the fairy queen slept.

"Ah! what angel is that I see?" said Titania, opening her eyes, the juice of the little purple flower beginning to take effect. "Are you as wise as you are beautiful?"

"Why, mistress," said the foolish clown, "if I have wit enough to find the way out of this wood, I have enough."

"Out of the wood do not desire to go," said the queen. "I am a spirit. I love you. Go with me, and I will give you fairies to attend upon you." She then called four of her fairies, named Peas-blossom, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustard-seed.

"Attend," said the queen, "upon this gentleman; feed him with grapes and apricots, and steal for him the honeybags from the bees. Come, sit with me," said she to the clown, "and let me play with your hairy cheeks, and kiss your fair large ears."

"Where is Peas-blossom ?" asked the ass-headed clown, not regarding the queen's courtship, but proud of his attendants.

"Here, sir," said little Peas-blossom.

"Scratch my head," said the clown. Cobweb?"

"Here, sir," said Cobweb.

"Where is

"Good Mr. Cobweb," said the foolish clown, “kill me the humble-bee on the top of that thistle; and bring me the honey-bag, and take care the honey-bag break not. Where is Mustard-seed?"

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"Here, sir," said Mustard-seed; "what is your will?” Nothing," said the clown, "good Mr. Mustard-seed, but to help Mr. Peas-blossom to scratch: I must go to a barber's, Mr. Mustard-seed, for methinks I am marvellous hairy about the face." "My sweet love," said the queen, "what will you have to eat? I have a fairy who shall seek the squirrel's hoard, and fetch you some nuts."

"I had rather have a handful of dried peas," said the clown, who with his ass's head had got an ass's appetite. But, I pray, let none of your people disturb me, for I have a mind to sleep."

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"Sleep, then," said the queen. How I dote upon you!"

"O how I love you;

When the fairy king saw the clown sleeping by the side of his queen, he advanced and reproached her with being in love with an ass, and this she could not deny : so when Oberon had teased her for some time, he again demanded the boy, whom she did not dare longer to refuse him.

Oberon, having thus obtained the boy he had so long desired for his page, took pity on the condition of Titania, and threw some of the juice of the other flower into her eyes. The fairy queen immediately recovered her senses, saying she loathed the sight of the strange monster. Oberon removed the ass's head from the clown, and left him to finish his nap.