Her. Out, dog! out, cur! thou driv'st me past the bounds Of mailen's patience. Hast thou slain him then? O! once tell true, tell true, even for my sake; I am not guilty of Lysander's blood; Nor is he dead, for aught that I can tell. Her. I pray thee, tell me then that he is well. Dem. An if I could, what should I get the refore? Her. A privilege, never to see me more. And from thy hated presence part I so: See me no more, whether he be dead or no. [Exit. Dem. There is no following her in this fierce vein: Here, therefore, for a while I will remain. [Lies down. Obe. What hast thou done? thou hast mistaken quite, And laid the love juice on some true - love's sight: Of thy misprision must perforce ensue Some true love turn'd, and not a false turn'd true. Puck. Then fate o'er- rules; that, one man held ing troth, A million fail, confounding oath on oath. Obe. About the wood go swifter than the wind, And Helena of Athens By some illusion see look thou find : thou bring her here; Puck. I go, I go; look, how I go; Swifter thau, arrow from the Tartar's bow. [Exit. Obe. Flower of this purple dye, Hit, with Cupid's archery, Sink in apple of his eye! When, his love he doth espy, As the Venus of the sky. When thou wak'st,, if she be by, Re-enter PUCK. Puck. Captain of our fairy band, And the youth, mistook by me, Shall we their fond pageant see? Lord, what fools these mortals be! Obe. Stand aside: the noise they make, Will cause Demetrius to awake. 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 neyer 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 seem 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, Lys. I had no judgement, when to her I swore. o'er. Lys. Demetrius loves her, and he loves not you. Dem. [awaking.] 0 Helen, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine! To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne? But you must join, in souls, to mock me too? To vow, and swear, and superpraise my parts, To conjure tears up in a poor maid's eyes, A poor soul's patience, all to make you sport. 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 guest wise, sojourn'd; And now to Helen it is home return'd, There to remain. Lys, Helen, it is not so. 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 ear more quick of apprehension makes ; Thou art not by my mine eye, Lysander, found; 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 bare 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, Tó fashion this false sport in spite 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, For parting us, O, and is all forgot? All school-days' friendship, childhood innocence? Have with our neelds created both one flower, Two lovely berries moulded on one stem: |